5:30 PM Monday
After coming back from the construction site, Takeda San approached Remo on his seat.
"What's the status of the construction materials for the admin building? We need to hurry up before moving you to a new place of work."
"Uh…well, Sir, it's available. The local shop has enough stock!"
Although uncomfortable, Remo has to mislead a false statement. His travel last Sunday was completely a different matter!
"Alright fine…fine. Can we get them this week?"
"Ahh yeah!" he said anxiously. "However, the supplier could not transport them their truck currently at the repair shop."
"Okay, okay we can use our mounted crane truck bring it here the day after tomorrow. It's busy at the site right now!"
"Ummm. Wakarimashita Sir. I will arrange the transport!"
"Our timetable is three months, Remo San. We have to hand-over the building!"
Surprisingly while in the process of settling matters, Mayi approached them to hand a document.
"Sir, here's the cover letter of request for the joint inspection with the Consultant."
"Ahhh… fate is really resourceful!" Remo nodded as he grabs the printout.
"Thank you, Mayi!"
"Alright, Remo San. It's a critical moment. Please attend on this. By the way, Mayi, make a tea for me and send it to my office." Takeda San asked.
"I'll get going." … he smiled and left.
Once the manager was off with her secretary, Remo was in a state of uncertainty of what to do.
"Damn it!" … He scolded himself. "I'm in trouble!"
It was a good thing Mayi was not in the loop when the manager discussed his relocation to another project.
How could he explain to her about it if she heard the news.
As much as it sucked, he was not prepared to debate the issues.
Suddenly he remembered Han Htoo.
Swiftly he got up from his desk and head over at the visitors lounge where no one could hear him.
He found himself dialing his number.
"Mingala ba?…who's this?" a feminine voice took his call.
"I'm a friend of Han Htoo. Tell him he gave me his phone number last Sunday at the restaurant."
The lady turned to his husband who was recuperating in a private hospital from his gunshot wounds.
"Han Htoo, someone wants to speak to you. He said you give your number to him last Sunday."
The silence of the wounded Han Htoo was deafening. He instantly remembered the extraordinary guy.
"Hello! Can you ask him to take the call?" Remo became impatient.
After an excruciatingly long time, Han Htoo took the smartphone.
"Y…yes Sir. This is Han Too. What can I do for you?" he finally spoke.
"Where are you?"
"I…I am at the hospital S…sir. The one who pick up your call was my wife, Thanda Tun."
"Okay, let's cut the chase here! I know you have unsanctioned and illegal connections. I need your help!"
Remo doesn't need to be serious, but he has to command assertively.
"Do you have any underground markets for construction materials?"
"W…what do you mean, Sir?
"I need to know a merchant who sells illegal products like steel bars and timbers."
Han Htoo became silent for a moment before replying.
"W..we have a warehouse five miles from the town where we drop off near the river dock. It's all there, Sir!"
"Excellent!" Remo heaves a sigh of relief.
"It should satisfy the demand of my friend. He asks 25T of steel bars and wooden timbers. Share the location by google map. He'll pay the goods." Remo instructed.
For a moment Han Htoo was speechless with barely a noticeable smile.
"Tell him to get ready by tomorrow morning. A crane truck would pick them up!"
Han Htoo was still silent. At first, he thought it was a trick from his aging mind.
Unlike any other request, this one was different. It does not involve him asking large sums of money.
The young man knows that he just inherited an enormous illegal business from the death of Khun Saul.
"Still on guard, aren't you?"
"N…no Sir not at all ...Y…yes Sir. I mean, I'll give you what you needed! Is that all, Sir?"
Han Htoo was so stressed to say the right words like ..." Do you need money Sir?" due to his nervousness.
"Yes, that's all!"
Han Htoo felt the smile of the young man on the other end of the line. Brief... secret... a reminder of his power over to him. Over everything.
He's a real cold-hearted killer, pure and simple. But is morally an upright man.
"You're wounds Han Htoo is far from your vital organs. You're now a promising businessman who is enjoying the result of your freedom. You will not die yet. Just be careful!" Remo added.
A sense of relief washed over Han Htoo.
The guy just gave him a rare gift of vision to a future he couldn't have.
Deep inside him, although not a legal profession, he held a dream of a better life.
Now he was in command of the illicit drug trade at the golden triangle.
"What a luck!"
He was very happy cracking a smile and called out his men.
"Maung Maung Khin. This is Han Htoo speaking."
"Yes comrade. Anything important?"
"Very, very important. Listen carefully. Tomorrow morning, a big brother of mine will come to pick up 25 T of rebars and assorted timbers at the warehouse."
A moment of silence at the other end.
"You received smuggled goods early this month from Thailand. Give them what they wanted. Do not ask for payments!"
"But Sir, these goods were intended for new storages of incoming drugs and firearms."
"Knock it off, you moron! Just do what I said! Is that clear?"
Mang Maung Khin eyes fluttered shut for a couple of seconds. His heart pump faster as he caught his breath.
Han Htoo took over the reins from the organizations when Kyaw Myint went missing. He was nowhere to be found.
"Sir, yes Sir! I will handle it!"
He jumps out from his seat and turned his attention to his comrade in arms beside him.
He's a dead man walking if he disobeys orders! That's how this organizations works.