Chapter 192: Last Minute Details, And Returning To Eurasia!

Chapter 192: Last Minute Details, And Returning To Eurasia!

The day following the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, the entire world stood completely ablaze as the international community struggled to comprehend the bizarre string of global events.

North America had miraculously avoided a total government coup, while the main hidden settlements of the criminal nation in Antarctica were simultaneously ravaged by falling military satellites. For both unprecedented events to occur at the exact same moment raised intense suspicions across every foreign intelligence agency, prompting the same lingering question.

Had the world's primary superpowers secretly formed a joint tactical effort to cripple the rapidly growing Southern Cross, coordinating a kinetic orbital strike the very same day the syndicate bared its fangs on America?

The China Empire's official response to the global press was immediate, sharp, and dripping with defensive posturing. "The Oz group had internal conflicts with their neighbor Southern Cross, and used their satellites as weapons of mass destruction, war crimes worthy of cowards!" their foreign minister declared.

The Japan Empire immediately released their own counter-statement, shifting the focus completely away from their regional neighbors. "We believe it was not a single country at fault for all of our military satellite losses," their spokesperson announced to the international press. "Even our friends of the China Empire lost most of them, leaving them with a mere one left."

The official statement grew increasingly pointed as they leveled their own accusations against the West. "This must have been a secret plan of the United Kingdom, using their own Mercenary Group and their King's own brother to cripple us!" they added.

South America's coalition of leaders released a furious, heavily disgruntled response regarding their own collateral damage. "Who will refund our lost satellites?!" their trade representative demanded during an emergency broadcast. "Everyone is finger-pointing, but what about the innocent nations, like us?"

He leaned into the podium, his eyes narrowing as he looked directly into the news cameras. "Ask yourselves, who benefits the most in this event? That is right, we are watching you... Eurasia?!" he warned.

North America's response was delivered directly by the King himself, his somber figure addressing the deeply shaken population from the royal palace. "Yesterday was a dark day for our nation," the monarch stated, his voice heavy with a mixture of grief and relief. "It was discovered the main culprit was none other than my own younger brother."

He paused, gripping the edges of the podium as he prepared to deliver the fabricated historical narrative. "The only reason the United Kingdom still stands, is due to early warning by a young hero feeling guilty for betraying our Kingdom," the King announced. "So I would like to give a moment of silence and thanks for a great American... Ralph Colt."

Finally, Prime Minister Lee of Eurasia delivered a carefully structured, highly diplomatic response to calm the turbulent markets. "We give our well wishes to our loyal ally, the North Americans, and are immediately sending aid for the disasters that have befallen your great nation," the Prime Minister stated smoothly. "We in the nation of Eurasia believe no one should jump to conclusions without a thorough investigation of the two incidents..."

He offered a steady, reassuring smile to the assembly, projecting absolute neutrality. "If the two incidents are truly connected, our peaceful world is going to be turbulent," he cautioned. "Let us all work together to find the truth, and let us move forward together!"

I chuckled softly to myself as I reviewed the data feeds on my monitor, realizing those guys in South America were actually incredibly sharp to suspect us.

That specific Lee Prime Minister wasn't a member of the aggressive Traditionalist Li bloodline, but belonged to the smaller, highly administrative Political Li family that governed the internal structural workings of our nation. Their branch functioned essentially like an internal police force tasked with keeping the four expansive states connected as a singular, cohesive empire. Their Li family was widely recognized as the most neutral, level-headed, and bureaucratic of the three distinct bloodlines, though they historically tended to never produce a Yellow Emperor. However, they had recently grown incredibly weary of the Traditionalist faction's brutal methods, especially after they nearly exterminated my own side of the Lee line, leaving only my Grandfather and myself alive.

Absolutely no one in the active government knew for certain that my Grandmother was already dead, though persistent rumors of her passing continued to circulate through the upper echelons of Star City.

Putting the global politics aside, I adjusted my collar as I stood speaking quietly with Sergeant Landon in the ruined front yard of the Smith home, right where the main firefight had taken place.

"Leader, don't worry, your name will be fully left out," the tall, athletic officer reassured me, his dark eyes scanning the perimeter to ensure our conversation remained completely private. "And I have decided to just add some of the Mad Hatters men to the list of bodies here, to show a betrayal."

He shifted his weight, gesturing toward the scorched driveway where the armored personnel carrier had been cleared away. "I will also use the narrative that Scott Tang had infiltrated the group to ruin their plans, and turned the group against each-other," Landon explained with a firm nod. "With all of the chaos in the streets, and no working camera's other than a few smartphones filming, no security camera has caught a glimpse of anyone but your officer persona."

I nodded back at the massive, basketball-player-sized man, reaching out to shake his hand with a sense of genuine satisfaction. "Great work Mr Landon, I will make sure you and your crew get bonuses after all this settles," I promised, looking over the recovering courtyard. "We will expand in Boston more in the next few years, so make a list of potential recruits for us."

I checked the time on my wrist, noting the visible exhaustion lined under his eyes from the brutal shift layout. "Try and get some rest, I know this incident has caused the Police to burn overtime," I added. "Oh, and what about the Wall-Mart cruiser incident?"

Landon's serious expression instantly dissolved into a wide grin, and he confidently gave me a definitive thumbs up. "Our driver got there first, and threw the car, bodies, and all into the crusher, so no one will ever find their bodies," he reported with a low chuckle. "They will just disappear in the chaos like many other Americans did yesterday."

"Good, I did not have the heart to tell the family that I killed them," I admitted, exhaling a quiet sigh of relief. "Call me if any problems crop up, and I will handle them, goodbye Sargent Landon."

Landon and the remaining Fire Birds officers present all brought their hands up, executing a crisp salute as they bid me a respectful goodbye.

The royal military forces had already finished combing through the Oz command villa, and their forensic teams had taken extensive photos of the active battlefield surrounding our estate. They fully believed the Smith family had been singled out as a high-value target under the assumption that the hit was ordered by the Colt family. That specific piece of misinformation was exactly what I had planted inside Ralph Colt's written suicide memorandum, which had already been delivered directly to the high command.

Sure, letting the entire world think that a pathetic criminal like Ralph was a reformed hero turned savior sucked, but I absolutely needed to cover my tracks for the foreseeable future.

Kim noticed the police units finally driving away from the property, stepping out from the front double doors to quickly approach my side.

She wrapped her slender arms firmly around my left bicep, leaning her head gently against my shoulder as we stared out at the reconstructed security gates. "Did all of this happen because we are married?" Kim whispered, her voice laced with a faint hint of lingering anxiety. "If we had not come together, what would have happened?"

I pulled her closer into my chest, wrapping my arms completely around her waist as I let out a soft, warm chuckle to ease her mind. "If I did not come to marry my beautiful American wife, the country would be ruled by the Mad Hatters," I murmured, kissing the top of her head. "So imagine a United Kingdom under that madman?"

I squeezed her waist gently, looking down into her dark eyes to replace her doubt with absolute certainty. "So, in a way... you are the main reason America gets to stay the same," I added with a smile. "Never think any of this was your fault my wife."

A bright, beautiful smile broke across her face, and she leaned up on her tippes to give me a deep, affectionate kiss, feeling immensely better after hearing my reassurance. Even to this very day, when I look back on the vast layout of bodies and destruction from that chaotic week, Kim has never once asked me a single question regarding the sudden disappearance of her two younger brothers. She possessed the deep emotional intelligence to know that she absolutely did not want to find out the truth.

The final three days of our stay in the United Kingdom passed in an absolute blur of quiet domesticity. We remained strictly confined to the interior of the mansion, avoiding the lingering civil unrest and localized curfews that choked the streets of Boston and the other twelve capital cities.

The only significant administrative task I completed during our downtime was successfully filing the paperwork for my official dual citizenship within the UK. I was now legally recognized as an American citizen alongside my sovereign Eurasian status, creating a perfect emergency fallback for my future plans.

If I ever found my complex political duties in Eurasia to be too much of a continuous bother, I could easily packed up my entire household and make the United Kingdom my permanent home.

Knowing exactly how incredibly swamped with work I would become the absolute second my boots touched down in Star City, both Hinata and Lan became intensely proactive. The two martial artists continuously found creative, seductive ways to corner me and make love to me throughout the final forty-eight hours, eager to claim my full attention while they still could.

Kim didn't mind the two women's clever little tricks at all, completely ignoring their frequent trips to my quarters because she knew with absolute certainty that I slept soundly by her side every single night. In many ways, Kim was turning out to be the perfect American counterpart to Hana's yielding nature, plus her body was still incredibly sore and recovering from our intense marital relations earlier in the week.

The departure lounge at the Boston International boarding gates was packed with bustling travelers trying to flee the aftermath of the blackout.

Kim's mother, Carol, was already wrapped tightly around her daughter, weeping a continuous stream of happy, sentimental tears as they prepared to separate. The two women were remarkably alike in their overly emotional behavior, making the scene a loud affair.

Big Rick stepped up beside me, clapping a heavy, calloused hand against my shoulder as he offered his final piece of paternal guidance. "Alright my son, just wait for it," the older man said, his eyes gleaming with pride. "In three years, the main headquarters and new factory will be in Star City."

He leaned closer, lowering his voice to discuss the corporate distribution strategy we had locked down. "You will be in full control of everything, with Kim in name only," Big Rick added with a hearty chuckle. "But let her do something in the company, even if it is just going to social gatherings for you."

He glanced over at his daughter, his expression softening with a smirk. "She is not very good with things like this, but as her husband, your job is to make her feel useful, ha-ha, but you are a husband professionally!" he teased loudly. "Personally, I feel you have the most enviable harem behind mine, ha-ha. Goodbye Rick!"

I grinned back at him, remembering how during one late-night drinking session, I had drunkenly admitted that his legendary harem of five biological sisters was the only arrangement I had ever truly envied.

He clearly relished the memory, puffing his chest out in absolute masculine pride at having secured the genuine respect of a master like myself.

Carol unexpectedly broke away from Kim, surprising the entire group by pulling both Lan and Hinata into a fierce, suffocating maternal hug. She squeezed them tightly, declaring loudly to the surrounding travelers that they were officially recognized as Smith girls now. Both deadly women immediately flushed a brilliant shade of crimson, completely flustered by how incredibly open and physically affectionate Westerners could be in public.

Finally, with fresh tears welling in her eyes, Carol threw her arms around my neck and pulled me down for a warm embrace. "You are a good boy. You waited for my Kimmy..." she sobbed softly against my suit shirt. "Now, get me my grand-babies, ha-ha. Go go go, before I cry more!"

[Now boarding First Class at this time. Flight 947 is now boarding.]

The sharp, automated chime of the airport PA system echoed through the terminal, signaling our final call. And with that final announcement, my dramatic excursion to the American continent had officially come to its definitive end.

I had lost and gained a massive variety of things over the course of this single tumultuous week, but the promise of a far brighter, unyielding future was my hard-earned reward...

The climate of Eurasia hit me the moment we exited the secure customs terminal, the sleek layout of the arrival hall feeling familiar.

Mei was already waiting for our group near the crowded baggage claim carousel, her eyes tracking my movement through the throng of passengers.

The absolute second she spotted my face, a look of pure, unadulterated longing flashed across her features, as if she wanted to completely cast aside her duties and leap directly into my arms. She quickly caught herself, forcing her posture back into a stiff, perfectly disciplined professional appearance to maintain optics in the public space.

I smirked at her restraint, stepping past the luggage carts to lean down and plant a fast, affectionate peck directly onto her soft lips to show my appreciation. Even though the sudden warmth in her eyes betrayed just how incredibly ecstatic she was to have me back, she immediately put on a show for our companions. She turned her head away with a theatrical pout, texturing her voice to pretend as if she had just been reluctantly molested by her overbearing master for the sake of public appearance.

Upon getting to the car, Mercy stood waiting in her long, traditional maid outfit that pulled slightly against her prominently showing belly. She maintained her typical, intensely serious professional look for the sake of public appearance, but much like Mei, her striking blue eyes immediately softened to convey a deep sense of absolute calm the exact second she verified I was truly safe and unharmed.

Soon we were fully packed and on our way back toward our residential district, though Lan chose to alter her path, remaining under her normal civilian guise to return directly to the Velvet Tower so she could look after and stay with Lucy.

When she opened the vehicle door to depart, our eyes locked in a quiet, intense exchange that perfectly communicated the deep romantic feelings we had freshly cultivated over the course of our harrowing American excursion. But like a disciplined, high-level martial master, she understood with absolute certainty that we would possess an abundance of time to explore our bond in the near future, turning to walk into the high-rise with immense dignity without looking back a single time.

The exact second we finally arrived back at our home estate, absolute chaos erupted to greet my return.

With my expansive layout of beautiful wives, eager children, and even our adjacent neighbors all gathered in the main driveway to welcome me and Kim back, the festive mood stretched long into the dark hours of the night.

After the heavy celebratory dinner wound down, James and I retreated to the quiet sanctuary of the back porch, casually sipping a pair of cold beers while looking up into the clear sky at the brilliant radiance of the full moon.

The distant, chaotic symphony of noisy women laughing and talking inside the house served as the perfect background music to anchor our quiet conversation.

James took a slow drink from his bottle, his expression turning uncharacteristically serious as he broke the silence. "Brother, we will start our second year in a week," James muttered, turning his gaze from the lunar glow to look at me. "I feel this year will be different..."

I took a slow sip of my own cold beer, remaining perfectly quiet as I watched James adjust his posture to deliver his thoughts.

"Jenny is now pregnant, and with my now three children, I want to do better in my business degree," he explained, a genuine warmth softening his voice. "My son while I hold him, has eyes telling me he is proud of me, as a baby, ha-ha!"

He shook his head slightly, a profound sense of paternal responsibility settling over his features. "So, I want to be a father he is proud of," James added, looking to me for confirmation. "Does that make sense to you, well with all of your children?"

"First, congrats on getting Jenny pregnant, she is a really beautiful woman," I replied, a proud smile breaking across my face as I clinked my bottle against his. "As for our kids' expectations? Yeah, I want my children to grow up not hating me."

I leaned back against the porch railing, looking back toward the brightly lit living room windows where the babies were playing. "So I will try and be the man they want me to be," I reasoned softly. "I think the kids make me want to be better, even more than my wives. Well, I gave you all of my business books I made, so studying should be easier for you."

"I hung out with Luke last week, and he and Cat are also happy for their new family to come," James shared, his enthusiasm returning as he thought about our expanding inner circle. "I really cant wait for us to build the business giant you have planned. Don't let me become too cocky brother, just slap my head if I do."

Before I could answer, the rear screen door clicked open, and two beautiful women stepped onto the deck to sit comfortably in our laps and join our conversation about old friendship stories.

The newcomers were Jenny and Kate, both of them eager to hear more embarrassing tales from our chaotic high school past, prompting us to gladly spoil the two women with old secrets.

James immediately grinned, leaning over to tell Kate all about my highly embarrassing simp days of worshiping her as a distant crush, a revelation that naturally pleased Kate immensely and fueled her massive romantic ego.

Jenny, who had spent the last several weeks closely working alongside Ashley, had finally started fully integrating into our core friendship circle, looking completely relaxed and comfortable in our presence as she laughed along with the jokes.

And finally, the long evening drew to its natural conclusion, with the young children being put to bed after making their own stubborn choices as babies, and the Tang family finally walking back across the lawn to their own home.

Tonight, I retired to the comfort of Victoria's bedroom, and after we shared a gentle, deeply passionate exchange of marital love, I collapsed back against the pillows to hold my lovely, pleasantly sweaty first wife securely in my arms.

Victoria traced a slow line up my forearm, her sharp eyes searching my face as she broached a highly sensitive political subject. "Rick, as the Long Head, I know more..." Victoria murmured, her voice dripping with calculating intelligence. "Will you marry Helen?"

I leaned down to plant a soft kiss against her forehead, completely unperturbed by the question before revealing exactly what was in my heart. "Unless you object, I believe I will," I answered honestly, wrapping her curls around my fingers. "I care deeply for her, and she and Anthony want me. I can tell she loves me, and I would not like it if she was with a man she did not love. So my wife, what is your opinion?"

Victoria's lips instantly curved into a brilliant, vindictive grin, and she playfully poked the center of my chest to tease me. "Well, I like Helen as a person," Victoria admitted, a wicked glint flashing behind her eyes. "And the thought of the next Tang Head being in a lower wife position, will only make me look stronger. Well for the fools who care about status."

She shifted her weight, resting her chin against my chest as her demeanor softened into a display of pure, unadulterated pride. "But me personally, I will love to be able to talk about the real you with Helen, when she finds out," she whispered happily. "Not being able to brag about you is annoying."

I smiled at her honesty, knowing with absolute certainty that Victoria would never genuinely mind another addition, but as a respectful husband, I still prioritized asking for her explicit permission before locking down a lifetime commitment.

I pulled her body significantly closer into my embrace, prompting her to giggle cutely and plant a series of playful kisses along the warm skin of my neck.

Suddenly, she paused as a specific piece of corporate gossip returned to her mind, her eyes widening as she looked up at me. "I almost forgot with our fun, but Gretta Yang said she would be more than happy to take Helen under her wing," Victoria revealed, a mischievous chuckle escaping her lips. "She said it was another excuse to see you in the office, fufu."

She leaned closer, her voice dropping into a teasing purr to watch my reaction. "Now I am worried she will divorce her husband for you!" Victoria laughed aloud. "Ha ha, Just kidding, don't look scared, I was joking!"

I let out a soft groan of relief, knowing I could truly never forgive myself for wrecking a legitimate marriage, though obviously Scott's situation had been an entirely different matter of survival.

To punish her for the scare, I immediately reached down and began aggressively tickling her small baby bump, causing Victoria to instantly collapse into fits of breathless laughter before surrendering completely to my touch.

The playful struggle eventually wound down, and the two of us fell into a pleasant, deeply satisfying sleep inside the quiet bedroom.

Now, my highly anticipated second year of university was scheduled to officially begin a week from Monday, and I could only hope we would enjoy a brief period of significantly less drama for a bit.