Chapter 811: Chapter 55: Twilight Years
“Harry, where are you going? The changing room is this way.” The security guard pointed in the adjacent direction.
Previously, “Harry” seemed to have lost his way.
Arno, hearing this, instinctively reached to adjust his glasses—only to remember that Caroline had taken them away. He quickly changed the gesture to a nose touch and hurriedly said, “I know, I just planned to use the toilet.”
The security guard shrugged, “There’s a restroom inside the changing room.”
“Ha… really, yes, there’s one inside, hehe.” Arno nodded.
“Harry!” Unexpectedly, the security guard suddenly stared at Arno, eyes unblinking, and stepped closer, “Could it be that you…”
“I… what about me?” Arno turned his head.
“Could it be you…” The security guard almost leaned over, making Arno instinctively step back until he was against the wall. Then the security guard suddenly said, “You aren’t planning to sneak off and steal from the bar, are you?”
“Steal liquor?” Arno was taken aback.
The security guard glanced around and lowered his voice, “Let me tell you, the supervisor found some good liquor missing. Someone tipped off that someone’s been sneaking it out to sell… It’s been a long time since I’ve taken action; you’ve just returned, don’t get yourself in trouble!”
“Oh… oh, okay, thank you.” Arno nodded.
The security guard chuckled, “Alright, hurry in, grab your stuff, and go greet your lady boss… By the way, Harry, you seem a bit different?”
“Do I?” Arno quickly pushed the door open, leaving the security guard with a view of his back, “Maybe my hair’s gotten longer, I haven’t had a haircut recently.”
“Really?” The security guard shrugged, not paying further attention.
He soon unlocked “Harry’s” locker in the changing room and peeked in, seemingly curious about its contents. Arno, however, covered the locker door and glanced at the security guard.
The security guard walked away whistling, “I’ll wait outside for you, hurry up!”
Arno nodded, then used a flashlight to inspect inside the locker. Seeing a black bag inside, he quickly stashed everything inside into the bag, regardless of size, checking one last time to ensure nothing was missed…
Soon after, Arno exited, with the security guard smoking outside. Seeing “Harry,” he chatted cheerfully and acpanied him out of the Qata Clubhouse.
Caroline seemed somewhat impatient by now, walking over with an unpleasant expression that amused the security guard.
“Friend, take care,” the security guard patted him on the shoulder before heading back to the guard booth with his flashlight.
When Arno saw Caroline approach, he patted the bag in his hand, signaling he got the items. Caroline nodded, seemingly relieved.
Arno suddenly murmured, “Oscar owes you a Little Golden Man!”
Caroline rolled her eyes at Arno, snatched the bag from his hand, and whispered, “Let’s hurry up and get out of here.”
Arno nodded, and they quickly slipped away under the dim streetlights, planning to check the contents of the bag in a safer place.
But not long after, a group of men in floral short-sleeve shirts appeared, blocking their path.
Robbery? Caroline’s first thought; but she quickly dismissed it, as locals rarely get robbed.
Generally, foreigners or tourists are more likely to encounter theft.
“What do you want?” Caroline, somewhat experienced in gray areas, wasn’t entirely panicked.
One man sneered, “Finally bold enough to appear, Harry? Seize them!”
The man waved, and several strong men charged forward and quickly subdued Arno and Caroline, leaving them unable to struggle.
“What are you doing! Let me go! Let me go!!” Caroline tried to bite the person holding her, but soon a bag was pulled over her head and upper body.
She could only hear screams, Arno’s cries of pain as he seemed to be beaten by the men.
Ah—!! Ah—!!
“I’m not Harry… ah—! I’m really not…”
“Bastard! Swallowed our goods and thought disappearing meant we’re helpless!”
“Take them! We’ll bring him back and make him cough up the stuff!”
Caroline grew increasingly terrified, unable to see anything, only feeling herself dragged and moved, eventually being placed into a vehicle, where someone reached in to cover her nose with a cloth.
She smelled an almond scent, then lost consciousness.
…
…
Static buzzed from the car radio on all channels, as Mr. Ofi shook his head and turned it off.
The traffic was terrible—power outages stopped the main road’s traffic lights, leaving police to direct by hand, resulting in chaotic conditions.
The car halted on the road; Mr. Ofi, agitated, grabbed a bottle of water, took a sip, and carelessly tossed it onto the passenger seat—the bottle landed on something.
It was a work ID, bearing Mr. Ofi’s photo and credentials—he was the nation’s Security Minister.
After relentless persuasion from the secretary, Mr. Ofi eventually decided to pause work and head home for a shower and clothing change.
But he felt that his time would probably be wasted on this congested road.
At this moment, Ofi’s phone suddenly rang—his phone wasn’t affected by the strange pulse during the storm outside since he’s been at the control center of the Security Department all along.
“Hello, this is Ofi.” Ofi activated the Bluetooth: “Bara, what’s the matter?”
The caller was Bara, a Filipino helper he employed.
Bara cheerfully said, “Oh! God, Mr. Ofi, I finally got through to you, it seems the munication has been restored, I’ve been looking for you all along!”
“It seems that some areas are starting to restore, I’m just in the service area.” Ofi casually said, “Go ahead, what’s the matter?”
“Sir, the school is closed, I picked Louis up from the school dormitory and just coaxed him to sleep.” Bara dutifully said, “Sir, you haven’t been home for several days, I want to ask if you’ll be back tonight? If not, then I won’t leave work yet.”
“Oh… sorry, Bara, I’m too busy.” Ofi squeezed his brow: “Here’s the plan, I should be home soon, so once I return, you can leave.”
“Sir, do I need to prepare dinner for you?”
“No need, I’m not hungry. You pack up a bit, and once I get home you can go.” Ofi casually instructed, then asked about Louis’s condition.
The child was enrolled in a boarding school, usually staying there, only ing home during holidays. Naturally, this wasn’t a holiday, but if the school experienced a power outage, classes being cancelled was normal.
“Louis is very good, hasn’t fussed, only wants you to e back early.” Bara sighed and said, “Sir, you know that Louis is too young, you’re busy, and Dr. Ferenc often doesn’t e home, Louis is feeling lonely.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Bara.” Ofi didn’t seem willing to talk more on this topic, hurriedly said, “I’m driving, let’s not talk for now, see you when I get back.”
…
“Then, I’ll head home first, I also want to go back and see.”
In front of the apartment, Bara, nearly forty years old, nodded to Ofi, and then rode her bicycle away. After watching her leave, Ofi yawned and returned to his room.
He went upstairs, then arrived at his son Louis’s room. Ofi quietly entered Louis’s room, didn’t turn on the light, just came to the bedside with the light from the hallway.
He leaned down and kissed his sleeping son’s forehead, then tucked the child’s arm under the quilt, but felt something inside the quilt.
Ofi pulled it out to see, it was a photo frame.
Ofi’s expression turned slightly plex, finally sighed, placed the photo frame on the bedside table, then closed the door and left, walking downstairs—the residential area here had already restored power.
Ofi took a fizzy water from the fridge, gulped half of it down, planning to shower, but heard a noise—the house door was opened by someone.
He frowned and went to the living room.
Just saw a staggering figure walk in… holding a half-drunk bottle of alcohol, then sat down in the shoe-changing area at the entrance, looking drunk.
This person turned out to be Dr. Ferenc.
“How did you e back?” Ofi walked up to Dr. Ferenc, but didn’t seem to intend to help him up, just stood there.
Dr. Ferenc heard the sound, lifted his head, eyes half-open half-closed, seeming blurred. Dr. Ferenc hiccupped, “Ofi… oh… you came back…”
Saying this, Dr. Ferenc supported the wall, struggled to stand up, but lost balance quickly, seemingly about to fall to the ground. Ofi frowned slightly, reached out to block him, then directly dragged him to the living room sofa.
He directly pushed Dr. Ferenc onto the sofa, “Look at you! The school is closed, Bara picked Louis up! So, get rid of your alcohol smell quickly, I don’t want Louis to think his grandfather is a drunkard!”
For a moment, Dr. Ferenc seemed to freeze, but soon flipped over, directly lying on the sofa with eyes closed, falling asleep.
Ofi gritted his teeth, seemed filled with nameless anger, but had nowhere to vent. He paced quickly in the living room, finally wiped his face hard with both hands, and sat down abruptly.
The single sofa and the long sofa were separated by just an arm’s distance, he looked intensely at the alcohol-filled Dr. Ferenc. He knew the old man hadn’t truly fallen asleep.
“The day before yesterday, what did you see Belgium in the theater for?” Ofi asked with a furrowed brow.
Although he had some guesses in his heart, he still wanted to hear Dr. Ferenc’s answer himself. But the doctor had no response at this time, seeming to be deeply asleep.
Ofi wiped his face again, “Actually, even if you don’t say it, I can guess a bit. Now this government won’t fund your project anymore, at least not in these few years. Belgium, he plans to sponsor you, right? Indeed, if we could launch our own satellite, it would greatly affect the future situation.”
The doctor snored.
Ofi chuckled coldly, “Huh, seeing you now, you’ve probably been shown the door by Belgium, right? Now the Senate Speaker is dead, the various factions need a reshuffle. Plus, the theater’s case has this current leadership overwhelmed, it’s a great opportunity for those outsiders. Give up, with this opportunity, Belgium won’t invest a lot in you temporarily. Don’t view those politicians as patriots, sticking to someone’s cold shoulder!
The snoring immediately lightened.
“Every time Louis asks me where his mom is, I haven’t told him the truth…” Ofi looked at Dr. Ferenc’s back, bitterly said, “How should I tell him? That his mom, your student, my wife, due to her grandfather’s dictatorial actions and stubbornness, insisted on launching an unstable rocket without all the safety data, ultimately causing the whole…”
“Enough!” Ofi suddenly stood up, “You just keep dreaming without waking up… anyway, over these years, I’ve already bee accustomed to it. But I’m asking you, research whatever you want, but you’d better not get involved in the vortex of power. You’re already old, if you want to retire, you can at any time.”
“I’m going to take a bath, got to head back later. Many things recently, the president issued a directive…” Ofi headed upstairs, “School’s on break for two days, Louis at home, if you have time, spend it with him. If you don’t have time, I’ll let Bara e earlier, that’s it… goodnight.”
The footsteps gradually faded, the living room left with just a wall light.
Like a wanderer on the streets, he curled up on the sofa.
Suddenly, the doctor pulled out the cushion, covered his head, turning the world pletely dark.
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