Chapter 310: The Brother’s Choice

Chen Qingdi walked into the basement where Kojima Hideko was being held, his expression cold and unfeeling.

Kojima Hideko sat in a corner, bound with coarse hemp rope. He looked at Chen Qingdi, his eyes filled with fear and despair.

"You should get ready. After all, you can’t die here," Chen Qingdi said coolly. "Your brother, Kojima Tetsumaro, has already started preparing to pay the ransom for your release."

Hearing his brother’s name, a flicker of hope appeared in Kojima Hideko’s eyes. He asked hurriedly, "Really? Is my brother coming to save me?"

Chen Qingdi replied coldly, "Yes, he’s already making his move. However, I gave him a price. Ten million US Dollars."

Kojima Hideko was stunned to hear the number.

He knew he was a great asset to his family, but he never imagined Chen Qingdi’s asking price would be so outrageous.

"I imagine he might find the price difficult to accept," Chen Qingdi continued. "But that’s none of my business. Whether or not you leave this place depends entirely on if your brother is willing to pay the price to get you back."

Desperate to live, Kojima Hideko knelt on the floor, crying and begging Chen Qingdi to spare him. He said he would do anything, as long as he could leave this godforsaken place.

But Chen Qingdi just shook his head and said,

"Your life is no longer entirely in your hands, nor is it in mine. We’ll just have to see if your brother can pay the ransom."

Hearing this, despair washed over Kojima Hideko. He knew his fate was now in someone else’s hands. All he could do was pray that his brother could raise enough money to bring him home soon.

Chen Qingdi left the basement, leaving Kojima Hideko alone to face the darkness and his despair.

In this strange country, Kojima Hideko didn’t know if he would survive this ordeal. He began to recall the efforts his brother, Tie Wulang, had made to save him.

He couldn’t help but lament his own powerlessness and insignificance while admiring his brother’s strength and perseverance.

As time went on, Kojima Hideko grew increasingly anxious and irritable. He constantly asked himself, ’Will my brother be able to raise enough money to bring me home?’

Whenever someone entered the basement, he would look up in anticipation, only to be met with disappointment every time.

During the long wait, Kojima Hideko began to ponder his fate and his life.

Kojima Tetsumaro strode confidently into the office of Chen Qingdi, Chairman of the Mingyue Group.

He glanced around at the luxurious decor and high-end furniture, his heart swelling with satisfaction.

He had once paid a hefty sum to obtain such things, but now, he held a new bargaining chip that gave him the upper hand in this room.

"Mr. Chen, it seems you have no intention of accepting my terms." Kojima Tetsumaro sat down on the sofa and smiled faintly. "In that case, I believe we may need to reconsider our relationship."

Chen Qingdi looked up from his desk. Staring at the confident man before him, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt.

’What could he possibly know? What’s his leverage?’

"Mr. Kojima, I don’t understand what you’re talking about," Chen Qingdi replied calmly. "What is there for us to reconsider?"

Kojima Tetsumaro smiled and took a slip of paper from his pocket. On it was a series of numbers and characters.

"These are your company’s trade secrets. I know quite a few of them, and I promise you, I can leak this information whenever I please," he said, looking pleased with himself.

"When that happens, your competitors will get their hands on this information, and your company could suffer a fatal blow."

Chen Qingdi was silent for a moment, but his eyes showed a firm resolve.

"Mr. Kojima, I truly admire your courage, but I must tell you, I’m not afraid of your threats."

Chen Qingdi stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the view. "My company has weathered countless storms. I’m confident we can handle any challenge."

Kojima Tetsumaro looked at him, somewhat surprised. "So you’d rather take the loss than meet my demands?" he asked.

"Yes," Chen Qingdi replied firmly. "I would rather take a loss than be threatened."

Kojima Tetsumaro laughed. "Fine. Then let’s see what happens." He stood up. "I guarantee you’ll regret this."

"We shall see," Chen Qingdi replied coldly.

Kojima Tetsumaro turned and headed for the door. Suddenly, the door was thrown open, and a group of security guards rushed in.

"Mr. Kojima, I think you should stay," Chen Qingdi’s voice was cold. "I’d rather our conversation not be overheard."

Kojima Tetsumaro froze. Looking at the guards in front of him, he knew there was no escape.

He turned to face Chen Qingdi, his eyes filled with rage and resignation.

"Mr. Chen, you will regret this," he said through gritted teeth. "I’ll make you pay."

"By all means, try," Chen Qingdi replied calmly.

Kojima Tetsumaro was led away by the guards, his figure disappearing down the hall. The office fell silent once more.

Chen Qingdi sat at his desk, knowing this confrontation was only just beginning.

He didn’t know what Kojima Tetsumaro’s reaction would be, but he was prepared for anything. The game had only just begun...

Chen Yuan walked into the office, his expression grave. He watched Chen Qingdi, who sat at his desk engrossed in his documents. Chen Yuan’s brow was tightly furrowed, clearly deep in thought.

"Cyan Emperor, how should we deal with that Kojima Hideko now?" Chen Yuan finally asked.

Chen Qingdi looked up, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He smiled and said,

"We’ll wait three more days. If Kojima Tetsumaro hasn’t decided to pay up by then, chop off one of Kojima Hideko’s arms and send it to his brother."

Chen Yuan’s expression turned grim. "Cyan Emperor, isn’t that going too far? He’s just a hostage, after all."

"Too far?" Chen Qingdi sneered. "They dared to provoke us, so they must face the consequences. We can’t have them thinking we’re just bluffing. This will also serve as a warning and make them understand that submission is their only option."

Chen Yuan was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Alright. We’ll wait three more days."

The three days passed quickly. During that time, Chen Qingdi waited in his office for news.

He knew that if Kojima Tetsumaro wanted to save his brother...