Zhao Kai looked at the lifeless Zhao Minghan and turned to Bai Xi, kneeling before her. "Zhao Minghan has been executed. Zhao Kai, for insubordination and attacking the Eldest Miss, I beg the Eldest Miss to grant me death."
To do otherwise was a grave offense in the Dark Department, punishable by death.
Moreover, he had dared to lay hands on the very pinnacle of the Dark Department, the God of War.
To kill him would be the lightest of sentences.
Bai Xi said faintly, "Do you have any last words?"
Zhao Kai was slightly stunned, his eyes suddenly lighting up.
He knew he couldn't escape death, that it would be swift and brutal, yet he hadn't expected the Eldest Miss to grant him a chance to speak.
He kowtowed directly. "If it is possible, I hope the Eldest Miss will spare the rest of the Zhao family. Let Minghan and I bear the consequences of our mistakes alone."
Bai Xi raised an eyebrow and said faintly, "Very well."
Upon hearing this, a hint of joy appeared in Zhao Kai's eyes. "Thank you, Eldest Miss."
For him, this was the greatest mercy.
He raised his hand, his palm strike transforming into an invisible blade, aimed at his own throat. But at the last second, Bai Xi flicked it away with a lollipop.
Zhao Kai was slightly stunned and looked at Bai Xi, confused.
Bai Xi said calmly, "Zhao Kai, a mid-level commander of the Dark Department, committed insubordination and has taken his own life to atone. You, now, are merely Zhao Kai of the Zhao family. All of the Zhao family's assets have been seized by Shen Mingxun and will be transferred to the Dark Department. I am giving you twenty-four hours to evacuate with everyone from the Zhao family."
A flicker of fear flashed in Zhao Kai's eyes as he nodded solemnly, "Zhao Kai understands."
Zhao Mingxun's stern expression softened into a smile. "Mr. Zhao, you must understand that your life today is entirely due to the Eldest Miss's benevolence. I hope Mr. Zhao will distinguish right from wrong in the future, cultivate both virtue and skill, and take care of yourself."
Zhao Kai clasped his hands, bowing once more to Zhao Mingxun and Bai Xi. "Zhao Kai remembers."
After Zhao Kai left, Zhao Mingxun looked at Bai Xi. "Zhao Minghan had quite the nerve to hire mercenaries to surround Bai Shen's home, even threatening to blow up the Bai family villa. It's truly letting him off easy, dying like this."
Bai Xi said faintly, "It wasn't entirely his nerve. It was only after the mercenaries he sent to the Bai family villa failed to find me that someone gave him this idea."
Shen Mingxun was slightly stunned. "Does Bai Shen know who it was? I'll take my men to deal with him today."
He had initially thought Zhao Minghan was the most deserving of death, but now it seemed there was someone even more so.
Bai Xi said faintly, "Naturally, I know who values the Bai family villa the most."
Zhao Minghan had suffered a setback at her hands yesterday, so he naturally sought trouble with Bai Qian. Bai Qian had likely told him about her reclaiming the Bai family villa and the company. Today, after she spent the night at the hotel with Tong Yao, Bai Qian had given him this idea, informing him of the villa's importance to her and suggesting he use it to force her return.
To use Zhao Minghan to find trouble for him, Bai Qian underestimated her too much.
Shen Mingxun instantly understood who Bai Xi was referring to.
However, these people from the Bai family were not within his purview. Bai Shen had said that one's own revenge was the most satisfying. While he liked to take credit, he wasn't that foolish.
With that thought, Zhao Mingxun stepped forward. "Bai Shen is in a good mood today, showing such leniency to this Zhao Kai."
Bai Xi glanced at him and said faintly, "Wasn't it you who gave him a chance to redeem himself just now?"
Zhao Mingxun immediately knelt. "This subordinate overstepped."
He truly didn't want Zhao Kai to die just yet, as Zhao Kai had climbed his way to the position of mid-level commander through his own strength.
"Get up."
Zhao Mingxun then stood. "Thank you, Bai Shen."
Bai Xi said faintly, "Everyone in the Dark Department has grown through bloodshed. Each of them has made significant contributions to the Dark Department and Huaguo. As long as their hearts are not entirely lost and they can distinguish right from wrong, I have no interest in eradicating them all."
Combining both authority and kindness was the path to governance.
Zhao Mingxun nodded, a hint of admiration in his eyes.
It was precisely because the God of War had always governed with a balance of authority and kindness that his subordinates were so loyal. These words were spoken of Zhao Kai, but also to himself.
Seeing that Zhao Mingxun understood, Bai Xi did not dwell on the topic further. "Have the tasks I assigned you been completed?"
Zhao Mingxun immediately produced two file bags. "How could I come to you without completing the tasks Bai Shen assigned me? This one is the entirety of the Zhao family's assets, frozen as Bai Shen instructed. They will be transferred to the Dark Department's R&D department upon Bai Shen's order. And this other one is the investigation into Han Mo..."
Bai Xi was not particularly interested in the Zhao family's assets and directly took the file bag concerning Han Mo.
Opening the file bag, she found an excellent resume. It confirmed his apprenticeship under Master Gao, a revered figure in the Chinese medical community, and his specialization in neurology.
According to the file, he possessed exceptional intellect and had dedicated his life to the study of medicine. He was as pure as the moonlight, untainted by any stain.
However... this purity made her feel a subtle sense of unease.
Yet, upon reflection, she felt her own mind was perhaps too dark. Perhaps such pure individuals did exist in this world, and was not her purpose to protect these untarnished souls?
Shen Mingxun said, "Bai Shen entrusting my brother to Han Mo for treatment should be fine."
Bai Xi nodded and handed the file bag back to Shen Mingxun. "What about the Eldest Miss of the Tong family?"
Shen Mingxun replied, "After you left, Miss Tong went home, saying you should remember to contact her when you have time to look at furniture together. Shall we go see her now?"
Bai Xi looked at the setting sun through the glass roof above the swimming pool and said faintly, "It's too late today. I should go check on my brother at the hospital."
At the M City Central Hospital, in the VIP ward on the 16th floor.
As Bai Xi approached the ward door, she heard her brother's enraged voice from inside. "I don't want to take medicine! I don't want to take medicine! Go away, go away!"
Just then, she detected a faint scent of blood.
She had grown up amidst the baptism of blood; this smell was all too familiar to her.
Had her brother been injured again? Thinking of this, her gaze sharpened.