Kalen entered, his hands cuffed.
He wore a gray-blue suit, his face as dark as chocolate, his hair very short, making it impossible to tell if it was straight or curly.
According to his file, he was an old man, but his face looked as young as twenty. After all, he was immensely wealthy and in the beauty industry; eternal youth was not surprising.
"What brings you here?" Jiang Ye asked.
"This lady has been tracking me across several planets. I believe there must be some misunderstanding, so I've come to explain," Kalen bowed to Jiang Ye.
"There's no misunderstanding, I have ample evidence," Park Yi-jiang said with disgust, as if she had encountered a foul-smelling hyena.
"How did you know she was here? How did you know we were here?" Jiang Ye asked suspiciously.
"I've planted some people in the Interstellar Stains Organization," Kalen winked. "Not only do I know this lady's whereabouts, but I also know about the information regarding me in her luggage. I must point out that her information contains no direct evidence of my crimes, only the resurfacing of old affairs from my father and grandfather. Those matters are so ancient they could be in history textbooks, and the related evidence is enough for a museum. They have little to do with me personally."
"A rat's offspring knows how to dig holes, and you've managed to distance yourself quite cleanly!" Park Yi-jiang did not hide her disgust. "What good cub can crawl out of a dog's den!"
"Sit down, I have something I want to ask you," Jiang Ye said.
"Please, ask away." Kalen sat down, still cuffed.
"Are you the third generation of the Kalen family?" Jiang Ye asked.
"The Kalen lineage didn't just pop out of a rock. From ancient times to the present, it's hard to say which generation. However, people always like to list the founder as the first generation. My grandfather was the one who made his fortune, so I am indeed the third generation," Kalen smiled.
"Does your family deal in human trafficking?" Jiang Ye asked.
"What you say is absolutely true. All three generations of us have been in the human trafficking business."
"You are involved too?" Jiang Ye's eyes flashed with sternness.
"Beauty, hair, and body care, isn't that a business involving humans?"
"I don't like sly people," Jiang Ye frowned slightly. "Did you participate in your father's human trafficking business?"
"It would be a lie to say I had no involvement at all," Kalen said. "My father trained me to take over from a young age. I often visited human markets in various places. I learned a lot about everything from production, transportation, to transactions and even after-sales service."
"For example?"
"Do you know the difference between a dog worth ten thousand and a dog worth a hundred thousand?" Kalen suddenly asked.
Jiang Ye stared at him, remaining silent.
"A dog worth ten thousand and a dog worth a hundred thousand look the same, run the same, and train for various actions the same. The only difference is whether they bark when they smell chicken legs in the cargo," Kalen said.
"Clean human skulls that have been stored for a period of time emit a smell similar to fried chicken. It sounds incredible, but it's true. These bones are transported to alien planets in sealed containers, waiting to pass customs. The search dogs on large planets are very expensive; they only bark when they sniff out poisons and dangerous goods. However, the search dogs on smaller planets are cheaper. They will bark if they smell fried chicken, and their mouths will water. Therefore, it's more convenient to sell bone specimens to large planets."
Jiang Ye thought to himself that this was truly an expert. Such obscure knowledge would be hard to find even in a library.
"Although I know a lot, you've also seen the files. My father's business collapsed. After a hundred years of painstaking effort, a mere order from the Galactic Empire caused the entire operation to collapse within five days," Kalen said. "I realized that power is irresistible. Our family was wealthy and influential, but under true power, we were like ants being crushed by a finger. Therefore, my life's creed is to not resist true power, but to join it, obey it, and be loyal to it. To resist is to court death without a burial place; it's better to lean against a big tree for shade."
"Jiang Ye Star is the big tree I want to lean on. You are the embodiment of Jiang Ye Star's supreme power, and also the Grand General supported by the Galactic Empire. I will not do anything to defy you. I can kneel and kiss the sole of your foot." As Kalen spoke, he stood up and knelt directly at Jiang Ye's feet, preparing to bow down.
Jiang Ye placed a hand on his shoulder and helped him up.
"No need, I am not the Pharaoh of Egypt," Jiang Ye said. "Please sit."
Park Yi-jiang glared at Kalen, her eyes almost spitting fire.
"I am very satisfied with your attitude," Jiang Ye said, looking at Kalen. "Did you do anything bad when you came to me? I'll give you a chance to confess."
"Yes."
Park Yi-jiang's eyes lit up, and her expression immediately became, "I knew it! This guy is no good!"
Jiang Ye remained expressionless, waiting for him to speak.
"I often insult my subordinates, and I insult most those who want my investment the most. Yesterday, a small local boss from Jiang Ye Star came to me for investment, and I cursed him for nearly forty minutes."
Jiang Ye narrowed his eyes.
Kalen spoke unhurriedly, pausing for several seconds before continuing, "I curse my subordinates because I need to ensure their loyalty. I entrust a lot of money to them, and when I curse them, I observe their expressions. If I detect even a hint of disobedience or anger, I become wary. I curse those who want to invest because I need to gauge their character. The business world is like a battlefield; if they can't even endure an hour of scolding, how can I confidently entrust tens or hundreds of millions of dollars to them?"
"Anything else?"
"Nothing else. I am law-abiding and can even be called simple and honest," Kalen's tone was always calm. "My face is still young, but my mindset is old. I am just a common man. My company is my small plot of land; a simple meal is enough. I have no ambitions."
"Please, Grand General, pity this old man and let me live my life honestly and simply," Kalen said.
Jiang Ye's expression was subtle.
He had eyes and ears everywhere in the Interstellar Stains Organization, he was arrogant and constantly cursing people, he came from a family of criminals, was worth billions, and now stood before the Grand General, fawning without fear, and called himself simple and honest?
Simple and honest, who would believe that?
If this guy was simple and honest, then there would be no sly people in the world.
However, Kalen's attitude greatly pleased Jiang Ye.
The self-cultivation of a loyal dog.
The only thing that unsettled Jiang Ye was that he smelled something akin to An Lushan from Kalen. An Lushan was also adept at expressing loyalty and flattering with honeyed words.
"I'll ask you two more questions, and then you can leave," Jiang Ye said, holding up his fingers. "First question, are you willing to use thirty percent of your total assets to establish a charitable foundation? I mean a genuine charitable foundation."
"I have about two thousand in assets, and I am willing to use six hundred for a charitable foundation, registered locally," Kalen said immediately.
"Nonsense, you don't have that much money! Your family's assets are only a thousand!" Park Yi-jiang slammed the table.
"Miss Park, I know your background, but it seems you don't know mine. A wealthy person always has many ways to hide their wealth," Kalen said calmly, then looked at Jiang Ye again. "Please, ask your next question."
"Second question." Jiang Ye gazed at him for a moment. "There are many planets in the universe, why did you choose Jiang Ye Star to establish your company?"
"Jiang Ye Star has the potential to grow into a large planet. The water level is low now. If I launch a small boat, I can wait for the tide to rise, and the boat will naturally float higher. It will be much more effortless for me."
Jiang Ye nodded. "You may leave."
Park Yi-jiang stood up. "You're just going to let him go?"
Jiang Ye smiled. "Madam Park, do not be anxious. What I told you earlier still stands. Let this matter rest."