A New Chapter for Charlie Lee
"Mr. Li, the director is waiting for you." A voice came from behind, leading the way.
"Ha ha, Mr. Li!" From a distance, Grant was already standing near the office door, the wooden door wide open, awaiting his arrival.
"Mr. Director, you're too kind." Charlie Lee stepped inside the office, leaving the bodyguard outside. He couldn't help but feel a little unsure about Grant's intentions.
Once the door was closed behind them, Grant turned and adopted a more serious tone. "Mr. Lee, my men found a group of Italians of unknown origin. They're from Sicily."
The mention of Sicily sent a jolt through Charlie. His mind immediately flashed to Paul's earlier warning and the ominous expression on Luciano's face.
"Do they have firearms?" Charlie asked, placing his hat down on the desk.
"It's not just any ordinary gun," Grant replied, his voice tinged with mystery.
Grant bent down, retrieving two long, cloth-wrapped objects from beneath his desk. He unwrapped them carefully. "This is a Mauser G98, a precision rifle made in Germany. It's capable of long-range kills, having claimed many enemy officers during World War I. And this one," Grant paused, holding up another rifle, "is a Weyworth rifle, made in State Y. Known for its incredible accuracy, it holds the record for an 800-yard kill during the Civil War."
Charlie Lee froze, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. The thought of an enemy sniper capable of such precision, especially from 800 yards, unnerved him.
"These men are not here for hunting," he thought grimly. "From Sicily, with such advanced weapons—what have I underestimated?"
"What do you plan to do with them?" Charlie asked, maintaining his composure.
"I've locked them up and had my men teach them some… serious lessons," Grant said with a smug tone.
"Let them go," Charlie replied after a brief pause, his voice calm but resolute.
"Excuse me?" Grant seemed surprised.
"I said, let them go. Not now, but in about thirty minutes," Charlie said, standing up and walking toward the door. He turned before exiting and added, "We'll have dinner tonight."
Grant nodded, though his confusion was evident. "Of course, I'd be honored."
Outside the police station, the cold wind helped clear Charlie's mind. The pressure he'd been under in the past few days suddenly seemed to lift, though it was still far from over. He realized just how weak his own position was. Without Grant's intervention, who knew if he'd even still be alive?
"Many friends, many roads," Charlie murmured to himself, clenching his fist. "There's still much for me to learn."
He climbed into the car, his thoughts racing. He couldn't afford to leave now, not when he was on the brink of building something substantial. His wealth was growing, but it wasn't enough yet. Not by far.
"Sammy, take a few men to the police station. We've got a big gift coming our way," Charlie instructed as he got back to Area 22.
After giving the order, he retreated to his room, awaiting updates. Two hours later, Sammy returned, holding a sackcloth that was tightly wrapped. He unwrapped it to reveal the contents.
"They're gone. They should be on the east beach by now," Sammy said nonchalantly.
Charlie nodded. "Good work."
Though the immediate danger was handled, Charlie knew better than to think this was the end. The Godfather was unlikely to let this pass.
Charlie dialed another number. "Nuki, I think we need to make some adjustments…" His voice hardened.
Later, Charlie sat across from George Johnson, his trusted former soldier.
"Boss, what's the problem?" George asked cautiously.
Charlie sighed. "It's the Mafia. We need protection in Atlantic City. There's someone I need you to watch over. And there might be some… other issues to deal with."
"No problem, boss," George said, his face brightening. "You need me to take care of something, it's already done."
Charlie's eyes narrowed. "Be careful. The other side plays dirty."
"Don't worry," George grinned. "They didn't get me last time."
Charlie turned to Nuki and made a few more arrangements. "I need a new headquarters for Aegis. Also, start recruiting more staff—20 operators, 15 receptionists. I want young, attractive ones, preferably with university education."
Lao Huang, Charlie's ever-efficient housekeeper, nodded quietly, showing no signs of surprise.
"Yes, boss," Lao Huang responded.
Charlie continued, his tone casual but firm. "Also, I want to set up a legal team—about 50 people, and a secretary room with 6 to 10 people. Make sure they are reliable."
Lao Huang, always ready with his compliments, chuckled softly. "Boss, you're the savior of the legal world."
Charlie smiled, not responding to the flattery. His mind was already on the next steps. "The most important thing right now is the secretary. You understand?"
"Yes, boss," Lao Huang said with a knowing nod.
Charlie Lee wasn't picky about the secretary, but he did want someone who could handle the job—competence over appearance. With Hollywood's growth and the booming entertainment industry, there was plenty of talent to choose from.
As he reflected on the rise of the industry, Charlie's thoughts shifted. First things first, though: dinner with Police Chief Grant. It felt odd to think of two powerful men sharing a meal, but this dinner was important for his growing network.
"Aria, how about you join us for dinner tonight?" Charlie asked as he opened the door to his think tank.
Inside, four round tables were arranged, each occupied by unfamiliar faces. Ben was standing at the center, microphone in hand, preparing to address the room.
"I'm here to introduce you to the new think tank," Ben announced, making his way around the room. "This is where Aegis's future begins."
Charlie's gaze swept the room. His think tank, once small, was now filled with talent—elites from top financial institutions, including the First National Bank. They all looked to him with eager, inquisitive eyes.
Ben paused his speech. "Welcome to the Aegis think tank. I'm your boss, Charlie Lee. It's a great honor to work with all of you, and I believe that together, we'll build a new legend for Aegis."
Charlie allowed Ben to continue, but his thoughts were elsewhere. His new empire was slowly taking shape.
"Boss, do you want a girl for dinner?" Aria, ever the businesswoman, approached him with a knowing look.
"Of course," Charlie replied, his mind already shifting. "Ben, continue."
As he stepped out of the club with Aria, Charlie let out a deep breath. The car ride felt relaxing, though a sense of tension still lingered in the air.
"Feeling tired?" Charlie asked, glancing at Aria.
Aria smirked, giving him a flirtatious glance. "Do you ever relax, boss?"
Charlie chuckled. "Don't forget your bonus, Aria."
"You really are boring, aren't you? Don't you know women need comfort?" she teased.
Charlie rolled his eyes. "By the way, when are you leaving?"
Aria feigned surprise. "I thought you didn't care when I mentioned it before."
Charlie gave her a deadpan look. "I leave professional matters to professionals."
The conversation turned to business. "We'll be pulling out from most investments starting next month. I'll keep the long-term stocks, but everything else should be liquidated within a month."
"And the ultimate profit?" Aria asked, eager for numbers.
"Four to five times," Charlie replied.
"Congratulations on becoming a millionaire," he added, his voice softening.
With Charlie's guidance, the think tank was already seeing significant returns. On $400 million, they would each receive an average payout of $3.5 million. It was enough to launch several of them into the millionaire club.
"Do you need my congratulations, boss?" Aria asked, her tone teasing.
Charlie smiled, but his mind was already on the next move. This was just the beginning.