Chapter 131 He's Gone
It was a little past ten in the morning.
William sped out of Stardust City in a car, constantly urging the driver, "Hurry up, please, hurry up."
About half an hour later, inside the training hospital building.
Benjamin had already been pushed out by the military doctor and thrown directly into an empty, unused ward, while Matthew was still being treated.
In the lobby downstairs, Christopher, wearing a trench coat, strode forward and extended his hand. "Hello, hello, thank you."
A soldier reached out to shake Christopher's hand and immediately stepped aside, saying, "Terry is on the third floor."
"Not him first,. I want to see the old man."
"He's on the fourth floor."
"Is he awake? Can he talk?" Christopher asked.
"His injuries aren't critical; he can talk." The soldier nodded.
"Thank you."
"No problem. Just following orders." The soldier led Christopher upstairs.
A few minutes later, the group arrived at the unused ward. Christopher, along with Dylan and Brandon, entered while the others waited outside.
Inside, Benjamin lay quietly on the bed, receiving intravenous treatment, his eyes wide open and his face pale.
Christopher took off his leather gloves and slapped Benjamin on the shoulder. "You old man are quite strong!"
"Even if I am strong, I can't beat the capitalists." Benjamin sighed in response.
Christopher, hands behind his back, walked to the bedside and looked down at Benjamin. "Alright, let's get to the point."
"About what?"
"Don't play dumb. Where's Tyler?" Christopher asked.
Benjamin turned to Christopher, grinning. "Let me ask you a few questions first, then we'll talk business."
Christopher frowned. "Alright."
"Your medicine and my medicine cost the same to produce. Why do you sell yours so much more expensive?" Benjamin asked.
"No, our costs are different." Christopher shook his head. "We have different burdens. I have to support people at all levels, so the costs are definitely different."
Benjamin thought for a moment and replied, "Alright, I admit that."
"What else do you want to ask?"
"You need to make money to support people at all levels, but don't we at the bottom also need to eat? I sell goods in Pine City at a lower price, but the supply is limited. I've never actively tried to take over your market, so why don't you even give us a chance to survive?" Benjamin asked, "Why do you have to drive us to extinction?"
Christopher, looking impatient, pondered for a moment before responding emotionlessly, "I'm not afraid of the little money you make, but because of your low prices, we would lose our reputation. The company can't allow that."
"You collaborate with local gangs to sell overpriced medicine, squeezing money from the poor to feed corrupt officials. You have no right to talk to me about reputation."
"There's no choice. For a businessman, clean money and blood money are the same," Christopher replied expressionlessly, "For me, I only ensure the company's interests. What you did affected us, and since we couldn't reach an agreement, we have to settle it."
"Do you think that just because I'm in your hands, I have no right to negotiate?" Benjamin asked.
Christopher smiled. "I don't even need to negotiate with you. I just need to call your family and tell them you're with me, and Tyler will naturally come back."
Benjamin laughed when he heard this.
Christopher frowned at Benjamin. "Do you know why you lost?"
Benjamin remained silent.
"Because you still don't understand this era, or rather, the role a businessman should play today," Christopher said, pacing the room. "A few guns, some desperate thugs, and a group of poor people selling cheap medicine—you think that's enough to build a business. You're thinking too simply!"
"I think you're also thinking too simply," Benjamin replied calmly.
Downstairs.
William rushed into the lobby, his eyes frantic as he headed to the reception desk. "Excuse me, which room is Terry in?"
"On the third floor," the receptionist replied.
Upon hearing this, William rushed upstairs as fast as he could.
Seconds later, in the third-floor corridor, William, pale-faced, shouted, "Raymond!"
"Over here."
Raymond ran out from a side corridor and waved at William.
William rushed over, panting. "Is he in this emergency room?"
"Yes, go in quickly." Raymond pulled William to the emergency room door.
William clenched his fists, pushed the door open, and looked at the hospital bed.
"Who are you?" the lead surgeon asked.
"I'm his younger brother."
"You're finally here." The lead surgeon removed his mask and said briefly, "We've done our best to buy some time."
William's mind went blank when he heard this.
On the hospital bed, Terry turned his head, his neck trembling, to look at William at the door.
William stared at him, momentarily at a loss.
Terry raised his arm, whispering weakly, "William... you were right. I was wrong."
William burst into tears and rushed over.
"Take care of the company. Don't let down those who followed me. From now on, the Patrick family, you call the shots." Terry's eyes slowly closed, and his arm fell limp. "I... I see our parents."
A beeping sound rang out, and the heart monitor flatlined.
"Terry!"
William knelt by the bed, his suppressed emotions exploding as he sobbed uncontrollably.
On the fourth floor, in the unused ward.
Christopher looked down at Benjamin, frowning. "So, are you going to talk, or should I contact your family?"
"Christopher, are you always confident in what you do?"
"I don't do things I'm not confident about."
Benjamin smiled, tilting his head to look at Christopher. "There's one thing you're definitely not confident about."
Christopher, losing patience, turned to the door, "Benjamin, from now on, I don't need you to say anything."
"Christopher, we definitely won't return your son. If you really want to see him, I can tell you where he's buried," Benjamin said calmly from the bed.
Christopher turned back, smiling. "Are you messing with me?"
"He's dead. The day we met at Memorial Square, I killed him with my own hands. I have witnesses in the training ground," Benjamin said, staring at Christopher. "Your son wasn't a good person either. At my age, trading my life for his is worth it."
Christopher's face turned pale, no longer as calm as before.
"What is this? This is punishment. This is the consequence of your disrespect for others!" Benjamin said hoarsely.
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