Phetchaburi is a relatively important city in T Country. Although it can't compare to Bangkok, it is still extremely prosperous. After parting ways with those tourists, Aiden and his group immediately found a hotel to check in.
Having fought for most of the night and traveled for an entire day, aside from Aiden and Roberta, these two monsters with abundant physical strength, the others were already exhausted. They didn't even think about directly heading to Bangkok along the way. After taking a shower and eating some food, they each went to their rooms to rest.
That night, Aiden and Roberta shared a room, and as soon as Aiden returned to the room, he pulled out his phone and made a call to Balalaika to report his safety, while also telling her about the day's experiences.
Balalaika wasn't surprised, because she knew something had happened to the train. Even if the T Country government wanted to cover it up, a train being blown up and over a thousand passengers dying, no country could cover up such a thing. So that afternoon, Balalaika already learned about the incident through the news.
While chatting with Balalaika, Aiden also casually turned on the TV. At that moment, the television was broadcasting news coverage of the incident.
Only, that country's official statement had some discrepancies from the actual events. It claimed that terrorists released a bio-virus on the train, infecting the entire train of passengers.
To prevent the spread of the virus, armed helicopters blew up the entire train. There was not a single mention of the survivors on the train, and of course, even less so of the matter where the armed helicopters hunted the survivors, either to silence them or to prevent the virus from leaking.
This point, Aiden could understand. No official agency would ever admit to doing shameful things.
Only, recalling the scene at dawn of being hunted by the armed helicopters, Aiden still felt a bit displeased, considering he must find a chance to get revenge in the future.
After chatting with Balalaika for a while longer, Aiden finally hung up the call. Then, he thought about those few tourists who had parted ways with him.
Although he didn't want to have too many interactions with them, after all they were fellow countrymen. He couldn't help but worry whether the T Country authorities might silence them.
However, the surviving passengers weren't stupid. The first thing they should have done after splitting up was to call their home country's consulate directly. So after thinking that through, he felt much more relieved.
After that, he lay on the bed and hugged Roberta to rest.
———
The next day, after a full night's rest, everyone directly chartered a bus to Bangkok after breakfast.
Taking the train from Phetchaburi to Bangkok only takes two hours. The bus might be a bit slower, but they were expected to arrive before noon.
Although yesterday's bioterrorist attack wasn't aimed at them and was just an accident, after setting off, no one on the bus relaxed. Whenever a vehicle passed by, they would look more than once.
Just like that, around noon, the bus smoothly entered Bangkok.
However, after entering Bangkok, the group didn't get off. Aiden gave the driver more money to send them to the meeting place with the Triad people.
Not long after, they arrived at the meeting spot. But the place where they were to meet the Triad wasn't some place where kind and decent people go, instead, it was the well-known red-light district of Bangkok.
Only, since it was noon, it outwardly didn't look much different from any regular street. So naturally, there was no situation where a crowd rushed over inviting them to "sit for a while" right after they got out.
"Welcome to Patpong. I'm really glad to see you've arrived safely."
Greeting them was Shenhua, who had arrived in Bangkok early. She was still dressed in a qipao, her waist-length hair neatly tied, her face seemingly with carefully applied makeup.
Quite a few passing tourists lit up when they saw her. Only, the dog-leg knife and pistol holsters openly strapped to her thighs made people realize she wasn't to be trifled with. Those who wanted to flirt instantly gave up.
And she immediately gave Aiden a hug, while also telling everyone else that she was already taken.
Shenhua had the figure of a full-fledged "mature woman." Although her embrace was very comfortable, Aiden still patted her on the back to remind her that she was hugging too long, while saying, "Is this street under your Triad's protection?"
Although she wanted to hug a bit longer, Shenhua noticed several unfriendly gazes on her. She had no choice but to reluctantly let go of him, then spoke as she led everyone along.
"It's not entirely under our protection. Moscow Hotel also has a share. Of course, there are some local Bangkok gangs too. But mainly, the Triads and Moscow Hotel take the largest share. If you want to come here to play later, just mention our name."
This sentence was directed at the others.
Soi shook her head, "I heard this is a paradise for men, so I'm not too interested in it. I just want to quickly meet my friend."
Shenhua shrugged, "Don't worry, Miss Soi. It's noon now. We Z Country folks have an old saying, 'People are iron, food is steel.' At the very least, you have to eat before we talk."
"I'm just worried something unexpected might happen again." Soi said.
"No need to worry about that. I've already arranged people to go near your friend's residence—all top hands from the Triad." Shenhua showed a reassuring expression as she spoke.
"So let's eat first, an authentic Z Country restaurant, a hotpot place opened by Sichuan-Chongqing people."
Since Shenhua said so, Soi didn't press further. Besides, she was also very interested in Z Country cuisine. Thinking that they were already delayed by a day, a little more time wouldn't hurt.
After walking a while down Patpong Street, a restaurant with a sign reading "Authentic Sichuan-Chongqing Hotpot" appeared before them.
However, since Patpong is a red-light district and one of Bangkok's largest places for spending money, the sky-high land prices made this restaurant's storefront look quite small.
"Hiss, the smell of chili."
As soon as she entered, Choi Ji-yoon took a deep breath. Being from H Country, she was particularly sensitive to chili peppers.
Then she smiled while looking at Irina, "Miss Maid, do you like spicy food?"
Irina originally wanted to say no, since she was of Russian-Japanese mixed blood. But after glancing at Aiden, who was curiously looking at the menu on the wall, she said, "If Aiden likes it, then I'll eat it."
"Looks like you've already confirmed your identity, tsk tsk!" Choi Ji-yoon clicked her tongue.
Irina shot her a cold look and didn't respond, only moved a bit closer to Aiden.
"Ji-yoon, can you read what's written up there?"
"Of course, I studied it on purpose." Choi Ji-yoon stared at the menu on the wall, licking her lips. Finally, she could have a proper meal. It was just a pity it wasn't Jill who was paying, otherwise, she'd be even happier.
This hotpot restaurant didn't have private rooms, only placed over a dozen round tables in the not-so-large main hall. At this time it was midday, and the restaurant was already full of people. However, Shenhua had made a reservation in advance, and with the Triad backing her, the hotpot restaurant owner saved the best seat for her.
Everyone sat down one by one. Shenhua waved her hand, signaling the owner who received them to bring the dishes. Not long after, plates of ingredients were brought up.
Aiden was already hungry long ago, and he didn't stand on ceremony. In one breath, he dumped several stacks of ingredients into the pot.
The restaurant owner on the side enthusiastically reminded him, saying that putting in too much at once would affect the taste, but he didn't listen. After estimating it was about done, he fished it out and ate.
Compared to the texture of the ingredients, he cared more about the flavor. But compared to filling his belly, flavor also became unimportant. After all, when he was hungry, he could even finish food made by Roberta.
"So spicy, but so tasty." Choi Ji-yoon truly lived up to being from H Country. Every time she took a bite, she would say it was delicious. In the end, she even directly started speaking in her mother tongue.
But she herself already had half a Z Country stomach. Compared to her, Jill and the others couldn't handle it. It wasn't that it wasn't delicious, but the flavor was too overwhelming. In the end, Jill even asked the owner to bring up a sweet-flavored dish, so she could change it up a bit.
If it were someone else, Aiden would probably have said something like "a wild boar can't appreciate fine bran," but toward Jill, he could only shake his head and sigh that M Country people really do prefer sweet food.
Because there were still things to do in the afternoon, everyone tacitly didn't order alcohol, afraid that drinking would mess things up.
However, how could one eat hotpot without ordering alcohol? So Shenhua still called for some beer. Everyone didn't refuse either. After all, aside from Aiden and Choi Ji-yoon, most people weren't used to spicy food.
Especially Irina. Although she was born in the frigid E Country and had a stomach that could handle high-proof liquor, she still couldn't take spicy food at all. She awkwardly held her chopsticks, staring blankly at the red soup in the pot.
Choi Ji-yoon picked up a slice of ultra-spicy beef, swished it in the pot, and seeing the hesitant Irina, she slyly smiled, "If you're really not used to it, then order some other dishes. No one will say you're a coward."
As she said this, her beef was ready. She picked it up, dipped it in the dry dish full of chili powder until it was completely coated in spice, waved it in front of Irina, and then with an owu sound, stuffed it into her mouth.
Seeing that the other party was clearly provoking her, Irina's temper flared. She also picked up a piece of ultra-spicy beef and put it into the pot. But after it was cooked, she stared at the dry dish for a while, and in the end still couldn't overcome the fear in her stomach. She just directly ate it without dipping.
Even without the chili powder, the hotpot base was already spicy enough. Sure enough, Irina's face immediately turned red, and then her eyes filled with mist.
"She's from H Country, naturally used to eating spicy food. Why are you trying to compete with her?" Aiden handed her his beer, then said to Shenhua, "Have the boss bring some milder dishes."
"Okay." Shenhua nodded and waved to call the boss over.
After Irina drank that glass of beer, she felt a little better. Then she heard Choi Ji-yoon muttering quietly, "Damn it, trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice, turned into a reward for her."
Aiden glanced at her, then filled his glass with beer again, pushed it in front of her and said, "Want me to reward you once?"
Choi Ji-yoon licked her lips and giggled, "Once isn't enough. I won't be satisfied."
Pa!
Jill smacked her on the head with her chopsticks and said coldly, "So thirsty? How about after your shower tonight, you just go to his room?"
"If you don't mind, I have no objections." Choi Ji-yoon rubbed her head with a wronged expression, but her tone was abnormally excited.
Jill, "..."
Aiden, "..."
Others, "..."
———
After finishing lunch, everyone rested for a while before setting off to this time's final destination, a residential community next to a biological research institute.
At the community gate, a few Triad members were squatting there eating boxed lunches. Seeing Aiden and the others coming, they immediately put down their lunches and came over.
"Big sis." One of the Triad members bowed slightly to Shenhua.
"No suspicious people went in, right?" Shenhua asked.
That member shook his head, "No."
"That's good. Thanks for the hard work." Shenhua nodded, then said to Aiden and the others, "Let's go in."
Because Soi only said the person she wanted to find was in a certain community, without mentioning exactly where they lived, once inside the community, she took the lead in front.
Everyone followed her, circling around inside the community for a while, and entered a unit building. Following her, they took the elevator to the top floor.
There was only one apartment on the top floor, which made everyone feel a bit curious, but no one asked. Then they watched her knock on the door.
Not long after, the door opened. A young girl poked her head out. Seeing the crowd in front of her, her gaze immediately landed on Soi, "Soi? I saw the news, I thought you wouldn't come!"
Soi patted her head and smiled lightly, "My Haley, what's in the news isn't necessarily all true."
'Haley...'
Hearing the girl's name, Aiden froze for a moment, then silently said nothing. This plot could already be described as bizarre.
Soi didn't speak much with the girl Haley. She only handed over the suitcase she had brought with her, then left.
Everyone didn't understand her action. After so many hardships, she only gave the other party a suitcase? It didn't seem necessary.
However, since Soi was unwilling to explain, no one asked after they left. This matter was considered over.
After leaving the community, Soi said she wanted to go see Koko, the one who had sent people to save her. But Choi Ji-yoon wanted to take her to the United Nations' Biological Virus Research Institute.
After thinking for a while, she finally agreed to Choi Ji-yoon's invitation. After all, Soi was a person with a righteous character. Official organizations were still more appealing than private ones.
Choi Ji-yoon quickly contacted her organization's superiors and bought the plane ticket. And next, it was time for farewell.
Three days later, Bangkok Airport, inside the departure lounge. Behind Choi Ji-yoon followed four or five agents from the United Nations counter-terrorism department, who had arrived by private jet. They surrounded Soi, and anyone who got close to them was repelled by their gazes.
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