Was Bates Capital important to him?
Of course it was!
But compared to his current situation, what was happening at Bates Capital was like two apple trees catching fire while his entire eight-thousand-square-meter backyard went up in flames.
“Richard,” Alexander Pierce’s voice sounded cold, weary, and impatient, “listen to me.
I don’t have the resources to spare right now to deal with your feud with that little brat from the Lane family.
You’ll deal with the consequences yourself.” “But…” “No buts!” Alexander Pierce cut him off sharply and roared, “Drop any illusions you’re still holding onto.
The Bates Capital shell is finished.
Listen carefully, because this is my final order to you: use whatever channels you still control to completely wipe everything of value to us from the core database.
Then move every bit of clean cash you can through the ‘old channels’ to the Swiss account as fast as possible.
After that, pray to God, damn it, that you survive.
Find a place to hide and wait for my next message.
And remember, cover your tracks before you die.
If you leave behind a single clue pointing back to us…
I will drag you up from hell myself and flay you alive.” Alexander Pierce’s voice was like a poisoned ice pick, piercing the last shred of hope Richard had left.
“This…
this is too heartless, Mr.
Pierce!
We’ve been working for the organization…” “The organization has no use for failures, let alone liabilities!” Alexander Pierce’s voice suddenly rose, cold and absolute.
“Bates Capital is nothing but a pawn, Richard.
A pawn that has been exposed and lost its value.
Now carry out the order, and then disappear.
That’s the last thing you’ll be good for.” “Beep beep beep…” The call cut off without mercy.
The cold busy signal echoed through the empty warehouse like a death knell.
Richard Bates stood in the darkness, shaking like a leaf in the wind.
He understood now that he and the company he had spent half his life building had been tossed aside like trash by his master.
All his former power and wealth, his life of luxury and indulgence, had given way to fear and despair that cut to the bone.
Richard staggered back against the cold wall, then slowly slid down until he was sitting on the floor, burying his hands deep in his hair.
He felt deeply wronged.
The plan to take over the Lane family had been authorized by Pierce from the very beginning.
Bringing in the Clay Doll Squad to assassinate the Lane Group executives had also been approved and personally arranged by him.
How could he just wash his hands of the whole thing?
But on the other end, after hanging up, Alexander Pierce looked at the useless lot standing in front of him and let out a heavy sigh.
He suddenly realized that Hydra was no longer what it once was, and that now, in the middle of such a major crisis, the Bates family had always been loyal.
If he abandoned them outright, what would the other members of the organization think?
Would they lose heart?
Once morale collapsed, the team would be impossible to lead!
He sighed, picked up the phone again, chose his words carefully, and called back.
At that moment, Richard Bates, already sunk in despair, saw the familiar number light up on his phone and his eyes brightened.
He answered at once, terrified the caller might hang up the next second.
“Richard, I was a bit out of line just now.” Hearing this, Richard shot to his feet as if deeply honored.
“Not at all, not at all.
It was all for the organization.” “Mm, as long as you understand.
Last time, when you hired the Clay Doll Squad through me to assassinate the Lane family and it failed, I should have stepped in then.
But I underestimated the enemy, so I share some of the responsibility too.” “No, no, no, Mr.
Pierce, it’s entirely my fault for not looking into the Lane family’s background thoroughly.
It’s all on me.” Richard was so frightened he could barely speak coherently, stumbling over his words as he rushed to take the blame.
Alexander Pierce shook his head.
“It’s too late for any of that.
Listen, I’ll arrange for you to leave the United States and guarantee your safety.
I trust the assets you’ve moved during this time are enough for you to live comfortably in any country for the rest of your life…
Hmm…
that’s all…” “Beep…
beep…” Richard was just about to speak when he heard the busy tone again.
At that moment in the Triskelion, Nick Fury was still working late when the communicator in front of him lit up.
When he saw Pierce’s name, his eye narrowed slightly.
Alexander Pierce had thought it through.
The only person who could truly protect the Bates family, and who was completely reliable, was Nick Fury.
He planned to pass the promise he had made to the Bates family on to Fury.
At the same time, he would hand over some information Fury wanted, such as certain research results from the Witch Project, in hopes of getting Fury to temporarily back off the investigation.
He was certain Nick Fury would be interested in witches known as walking natural disasters.
Although the destroyed Busan base had been the Witch Project’s earliest, largest, and most important base, the one that had produced T0-level and T1-level witches like Koo Ziyun, Shin Si-ah, and the Clay Doll Squad, it was not the only base belonging to Hydra and the Head Organization.
The Head Organization was the founding body behind the Witch Project, formerly the Gene Editing Parent Company, and it controlled a large number of completed witch operatives.
It was an organization as old as Hydra, deeply entrenched in East Asia and Europe.
“Hello, Pierce.” Fury’s voice carried its usual hint of ease, as if he were just taking a casual call from an old friend, but his one eye had narrowed sharply, like a searchlight locking onto a target.
“Nick.” Alexander Pierce’s voice sounded strained as he tried to stay calm, but Fury caught every hint of the weariness and irritation he was working hard to suppress underneath.
“Working overtime this late?
You really do work hard for world peace.” Fury grinned, flashing his white teeth, and leaned back in his chair.
“Serving the people, I suppose.
But you, Alexander, sound like you just finished a marathon.
By the way, how are you handling the Korea situation?” The other end of the line went silent for half a second, then Alexander Pierce said through gritted teeth, “We’ve hit some rough waters.
Nick, I need a favor.
A private matter.” He decided to cut straight to the point.
“Oh?” Fury’s tone brightened with curiosity.
“A private favor big enough to make you ask for help.
Do tell.” “Bates Capital is finished.” Alexander Pierce’s voice dropped, heavy with finality.
“Richard Bates and his core team are in serious trouble.
That young wolf from the Lane family, Hawk, has sunk his teeth in deep, and they can’t hold on much longer.
Wolves are circling outside, and on the inside…
they’ve already collapsed.
I need you to get them safely out of the United States and find somewhere they can quietly ‘retire.'” Fury rubbed a hand over his dark, bald head, hissing softly in frustration.