The next day, as expected.
The Empire had indeed been summoned by those three individuals, and all the regional heads of the Empire were present.
A group of people surrounded Hui Hengxingren, Zhang Haiyong, and Paul, chattering about something.
Paul: "I received news that Tang died several weeks ago!!!"
Crowd: "Is your news reliable?"
Paul: "Absolutely true. I went to great lengths to obtain photos."
Crowd: "Quick, show us."
Paul and Hui Hengxingren exchanged glances. Hui Hengxingren took out a paper bag from his embrace, containing several photos taken from a distance, the scene being Greenwood Cemetery.
Some people were gathered around a tomb, and standing at the front, wiping away tears with a handkerchief, was the one dressed in black.
Paul: "Miss Michelle, we have no intention of arguing with you. We are all just following the rules here. If Axe were still alive, he wouldn't leave a woman like you to chair such an important meeting!"
"You must understand that everyone present today exists for the Tang Empire. Our interests are built on trust!"
"You've certainly handled many matters for Axe over the past month, but at crucial times, it's still necessary for Axe himself to appear, according to protocol."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Michelle: "I've already said, he's very busy..."
A notebook was flung at Michelle, its sharp corner grazing her neck.
Crowd: "Stop the nonsense. Dead is dead. Hand over your authority today!"
Paul gave Hui Hengxingren a look. He retrieved a folder from his briefcase and handed it to Lawyer Yan.
Paul: "We won't make it difficult for you. Sign this declaration of automatic relinquishment of proxy, and you can leave this room safely."
Lawyer Yan quickly scanned the contents of the declaration for Michelle. Besides relinquishing her proxy, it also required her to vacate Tang's mansion and return all assets not under her name.
Michelle: "What if I refuse?"
Paul pulled out something formidable. The room fell silent. Everyone had expected the meeting to conclude with Michelle's acquiescence, never imagining this man would be so ruthless as to harm Tang's woman.
Paul pointed swiftly at Michelle.
Paul: "With Tang here, you were our respected sister-in-law. Now that Tang is gone and you're still clinging on, don't blame us for being impolite."
As Paul stepped closer to Michelle, he forced her to slowly stand. When Paul sat in the proxy's seat...
Paul: "Don't be nervous, everyone. Someone has to take the proxy position, right?"
At this moment, the men realized that Paul had planned this all along. The main event of the day seemed to be securing everyone's approval for him.
Hui Hengxingren and two other men restrained Michelle. One held her head down, another grabbed her hand, forcing her to quickly press her fingerprint on the declaration.
Paul: "Let's proceed with this now. Just raise your hand high. Those who agree to me taking this position, do as I say."
However, as soon as the words left his mouth, no one moved.
Paul: "It seems everyone has objections to my election. That's fine, anyone who objects can speak up loudly."
A man stood up and shouted at Paul, "Who do you think you are? This is not your decision to make!"
At this point, a group of men in black stormed in, each carrying a weapon. They stood behind everyone. Paul nodded, and that man would forever be silenced.
Paul: "Does anyone else object?"
The room was terrifyingly silent.
Paul: "Then let's try again. Those who agree, please raise your hands high."
Hui Hengxingren and Zhang Haiyong were the first to express their agreement. The rest looked at each other. They didn't want Paul in that position, but they were afraid of his men. Some were already preparing to agree...
And at that very moment, the conference room windows shattered from shots fired from outside!
Glass shards flew everywhere. The men in black standing outside fell one by one. The men at the conference table quickly ducked under it. A smoke bomb was thrown in from somewhere.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Lawyer Yan quickly grabbed Michelle, and they hid behind the door.
Glass was flying everywhere in the room. It looked like someone wanted no one to escape alive!
Those who wanted to live could only hide as best they could, waiting for the hail of bullets to end.
After a while, the world fell silent. The smoke gradually cleared from the windows. The men waved away the dust, helping each other out from under the table.
When they stood up again, they discovered that Paul, who had been sitting in the proxy's seat, was dead on the chair, mangled and torn. Paul's men also lay in pools of blood.
The conference room door hung precariously. With a loud bang, it was kicked open from the outside. When they saw who had entered, most of them stared with wide eyes and open mouths.
Someone pointed at Axe, exclaiming, "It's Tang!!! He's not dead!!!"
Axe walked to the door and helped Michelle up. Her face was pale, and her hands were ice-cold from fear.
Axe gently lifted Michelle's chin. The wound on her neck from the notebook was bleeding. Axe took out a white handkerchief from his chest pocket, wiped away the blood, and then pulled her to stand before everyone.
Subordinates threw the dead man on the chair onto the floor. A new chair was brought in from outside.
When Axe sat down, everyone else hastily found chairs to sit on.
Axe: "Why did you trouble my woman?"
Hui Hengxingren: "We thought you were dead."
Axe: "Then do you want to come over and see if I'm dead or alive?"
Hui Hengxingren glanced at Paul's position. The man hadn't even had time to close his eyes when he died. Now, Hui Hengxingren could only pray that Axe would spare him.
Axe: "Can someone tell me what you wanted me to be here for today? What were you discussing?"
The scene remained deathly silent. No one dared to make the slightest sound at this moment.
Axe: "Lawyer Yan, you tell me. What was their purpose in insisting I be here today?"
Lawyer Yan: "They..."
Michelle suddenly interrupted Lawyer Yan. She lowered her head and spoke first, "I'm sorry, it's my fault for not handling things effectively. We haven't provided a better solution for the sea damage case."
Lawyer Yan was taken aback. Michelle's answer was undoubtedly a plea to Tang to spare these men. She was magnanimous enough not to mention how the men had threatened and intimidated her to Tang.
Hearing Michelle plead for them, the sensible men chimed in with agreement. They no longer looked at the woman in red with hostility.
They began to change their attitudes. After all, every word she spoke could cost these men their lives, yet she chose forgiveness.
Axe: "State your thoughts. As long as you can persuade them, my good brothers, Hui Hengxingren and Zhang Haiyong, won't make things difficult for you, will they?"
Hui Hengxingren and Zhang Haiyong quickly nodded, unable to meet Tang's eyes.
Michelle: "Lawyer Yan, please distribute the materials to everyone."
When everyone held a copy of the report, Michelle began her presentation. She meticulously listed all the stakeholders in this sea damage case.
Every compensation payment was calculated down to each individual cargo owner.
This meant that if the high compensation amount was increased from the original three parties (ship owner, carrier, and insurance company) to hundreds of cargo owners, the per capita compensation would be greatly reduced, lessening the Empire's losses.
After listening to Michelle's report, the men present nodded in agreement.
They discussed in small groups and finally approved this joint compensation. It was indeed a faster and more effective outcome than prolonged stalemate.
Axe: "Ship owner and carrier, what do you two think?"
The two men nodded vigorously, almost as if they hadn't heard anything, their minds solely focused on not being killed.
Axe: "Then it's settled. Michelle will be responsible for this matter."
Axe sat in his chair, twirling the signet ring on his little finger, and surveyed everyone present.
His authority was such that even without speaking, he could make these men, with their divergent intentions, bow their heads.
The signet ring on his hand was the symbol of the entire Empire's power. Anyone wearing it could control the Empire, and all were compelled to obey his orders.
Axe: "Alright, today's meeting is adjourned."
Michelle helped Axe up, sensing he was enduring physical discomfort.
When they finally returned to the car, Axe was almost collapsed in the back seat. The doctor quickly attached a breathing apparatus to him, and the sweat had soaked his entire back.
Michelle started crying again. She skillfully helped the doctor roll up Axe's sleeve, then cleaned the vein with iodine, waiting for the doctor to administer the IV.
She had done these things countless times.
Michelle: "Why did you have to do this?"
Axe desperately wanted to tell the woman to stop crying. He couldn't stand to see those men bully his woman!
But his eyelids were growing heavy. To ensure he could reach the scene safely, the doctor had given him adrenaline. However, his weakened body could only hold up for so long; it was now Axe's limit.
After Axe had fallen asleep, Michelle made a decision!
Even if she had to steal, she would get an artificial heart from Gu Yilong!