This item, he would never forget.
The token of the Modu Tongmen!
And this token was something only a helmsman could possess!
At this moment, Father Xia felt his heart tremble minutely, overwhelmed by an endless despair that washed over him like a tide.
No matter how much he wanted to escape, he couldn't break free from this encirclement.
While he was lost in thought, Song Qiao suddenly let out a soft chuckle.
"It seems you recognize it."
His gentle voice caused Father Xia's lips to quiver, but he couldn't utter a single word.
How could he not recognize it?
The token of the Modu Tongmen was truly a huge surprise.
After an unknown period, Father Xia finally overcame his internal struggle. His eyes filled with disbelief, and he abruptly looked up at Song Qiao, gritting his teeth with difficulty.
"How... how could it be in your hands!"
Could it be...
Could it be that Song Qiao was the helmsman of the Modu Tongmen?
No!
That was impossible!
In fact, there was another possibility: Song Qiao had killed the former helmsman of the Tongmen and seized the token from him.
It must have been like this!
Father Xia kept telling himself.
However, as if guessing his thoughts, Song Qiao looked at him deeply and said softly.
"Don't you already know?"
Upon hearing this, Father Xia's pupils contracted slightly, and he immediately shrieked in distress.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"What's impossible about it?" Song Qiao lowered his head, toying with the token in his hand. After a long while, he looked up again, facing Father Xia, but the emotions in his eyes were now dark and unfathomable.
Without waiting for Father Xia to speak, Song Qiao shook his head and said.
"Before, Sun Tengfei approached me and asked me to take on the role of Modu Tongmen helmsman, so he gave me this token."
Playing with it in his hand, Song Qiao smacked his lips. When he looked up at Father Xia again, his expression was laced with a hint of playfulness.
"I originally thought this token was useless, but I didn't expect it could be used to test your resolve."
Father Xia's face turned as pale as paper. At this point, he had nothing more to say.
In his ears, only Song Qiao's leisurely words gently echoed.
"You must understand that if I were to kill you, it wouldn't be considered offending the entire Tongmen, but rather purging a traitor. Moreover, I am part of the Security Department, which gives me even stronger justification. Do you think it's difficult for me to take your life?"
His words were filled with killing intent, and Father Xia's expression became somewhat dazed.
If he hadn't allied himself with Hanado, would his fate have been less tragic?
But what was the use of thinking about that now? It was all too late.
Perhaps the only thing left to do was to slowly close his eyes and await death.
The moment he saw the Tongmen token, his heart had already completely shattered.
President Sun Tengfei himself had approached Song Qiao!
This news alone was enough to shock and chill him to the bone.
At this very moment, despair and immense fear enveloped him.
While awaiting death, he was constantly anticipating and dreading it.
Song Qiao looked at him without any particular expression. As he waited for death, Song Qiao patted his shoulder and raised his hand.
Under the complex gazes of the onlookers.
BANG—
Another loud gunshot echoed.
The air was filled with the faint smell of gunpowder. With the sound of the shot, Father Xia's head was also blown open, and he slowly fell.
Blood quickly stained the ground. Song Qiao glanced around the now-ruined hotel.
The hotel's structure was already heavily damaged. Song Qiao was satisfied with this speed.
Having publicly killed two people in broad daylight, the soldiers' hearts trembled slightly at the sound of the two gunshots.
They couldn't help but admire Song Qiao's courage.
While they marveled, Song Qiao casually glanced at the bleeding corpse at his feet. After a moment's thought, he took out his phone and dialed a number.
The phone rang, and the call was answered almost immediately, as if they were afraid of keeping him waiting.
"Mr. Song, why are you calling me so suddenly? Do you have something to instruct me? Please, just say it. As long as it's within my capabilities, I will spare no effort!"
As he spoke, Sun Tengfei felt a flicker of excitement. His mood was very similar to when he had lured Song Qiao last time and the latter had accepted the Tongmen token.
Song Qiao, impatient with pleasantries, got straight to the point.
"There is a member within the Tongmen named Father Xia. He colluded with foreign enemies and collaborated with Xueguo spies, so I have executed him. I am informing you of this."
Upon hearing this, Sun Tengfei was startled.
If he hadn't reacted in time, he might have dropped his phone.
He opened his mouth: "Mr. Song..."
Unfortunately, Song Qiao gave him no opportunity to speak. After stating the matter, he cut straight to the chase: "I have informed you. That's all. Goodbye."
At this moment, Sun Tengfei stared blankly at the darkened phone screen, feeling a sense of disorientation.
But he quickly regained his composure and, in a fit of rage, set the phone aside.
"Someone!"
Abruptly hung up on, Sun Tengfei was now seething with anger.
When someone appeared, seeing Sun Tengfei in this state, they immediately cowered like quail, remaining silent.
"Go! Investigate the situation regarding this member, Father Xia!"
"Yes!"
The subordinate acknowledged the order and left. Sun Tengfei's expression darkened slightly, and he stared at his phone screen, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, at Song Qiao's end, after the matter was concluded, he waved his hand, instructing the soldiers to clean up.
"Finish this as soon as possible. I have other matters to attend to. Once you're done cleaning up, return to your respective posts and don't wander around."
After issuing the orders, Song Qiao turned and left without another word, heading directly to the International Security Department.
By now, there were already quite a few people at the International Security Department. Seeing Song Qiao arrive, most of them wore expressions of deep mockery.
They had received news that Alice was to be handed over to Hanado at 6 PM that day.
"Mr. Song, are you here to watch the person being sent away?"
"Not necessarily. Perhaps he's here to discuss friendships with our minister or something..."
"..."
Ignoring the surrounding chatter, Song Qiao raised his head and stepped inside.
No one had faith in him.
To them, the matter of sending Alice away at six o'clock was already settled, and Song Qiao's previous claims were merely boasts.
Recalling Song Qiao's attitude towards them before, many felt a sense of schadenfreude.
Du Yang, who was already preparing to hand over the person, frowned when he saw Song Qiao arrive. He quickly stood up and said coldly.
"What are you doing here?"
"What else? Of course, I'm here to pick her up. Release Alice immediately."
"Release her? Are you joking?" Du Yang's voice rose, filled with anger and disbelief as he looked at Song Qiao. "I'm supposed to hand her over to Hanado at six. You want me to release her to you? Are you out of your mind?"
Song Qiao's gaze was cold as he looked at him.
"Hanado is already dead. How can I hand her over to him?"