After all, the assassin profession was different from other professions.
Although respect for the elderly and care for the young existed there too, the relationships were far from being as solid as outsiders imagined. These days, news of an apprentice hacking their master to death was not unheard of; it existed in other industries too, it was just that the assassin profession fell into a high-risk zone.
According to the orthodox tradition of assassin master-apprentice lineage, when the apprentice finished their training and stepped out on their own, the master needed to retire. In this way, all unnecessary trouble could be avoided.
Just like Locke and Chester.
Locke finished his training, and Chester retired gracefully with his belongings to New York, leaving the battlefield to Locke completely and without reservation.
In fact, Locke took the Bourbon handed over by the waiter and waited until the waiter was far away before looking at Arthur sitting opposite him, shaking his head.
"Originally, Chester had made an appointment to retire together with Harry."
Hearing this, Arthur also shook his head and let out a bitter smile.
His master Harry originally wanted to retire, but some trouble arose in his private life. In short, he needed a large sum of money. Without that money, he would not be at peace even if he retired.
And the amount of money was not small.
So Harry delayed his retirement until now, gathering intelligence and doing things like that for Arthur. That company was also very humane, arranging a superficially decent job for Harry, even making him an office director. Checking in every day and such was actually considered semi-retirement, just not as carefree as Chester.
After three drinks down.
Over there, Tyler King also walked out from the elevator.
Locke snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Arthur.
"Set a time to have a meal together."
Arthur nodded. "Alright."
Locke stood up, tossed two Continental gold coins onto the table, then turned and left.
He was familiar with Arthur.
But they were not close enough to the point where Arthur knew his true identity was only seventeen years old. Even his master Harry did not know. After all, as long as Locke was unwilling, no one could even take off his glasses.
Returning to Room 1208 once again.
Tyler King's attendants had already packed and cleared up the items.
Soon.
Locke wrote down his name on the power of attorney authorizing Tyler King to auction this Voodoo Compendium for him.
The next second.
Locke put down the pen, looked up at Tyler King.
"How about I give you a blank notification card? I think no one would dare to impersonate me anymore now."
Tyler King froze slightly. In an instant, sweat broke out on his forehead, and he managed a strained smile.
He smiled very reluctantly.
Locke laughed out loud, patted Tyler King's shoulder.
"I'm joking. I'll wait for your good news, Mr. Tyler King."
The corner of Tyler King's mouth twitched, revealing a dry laugh. "Please rest assured, Mr. Peerless..."
With a bang.
Locke had already left the room again.
He was not afraid of Tyler King embezzling his auction funds, just as he was not worried at all that Tyler King would swap his authentic item for a counterfeit after he left.
The King family was built on credibility. Furthermore, with the current status of the Peerless assassin, he would not dare to play any small tricks or petty cleverness on Locke's things.
When Locke returned to the Astral Building, he called Chester and mentioned meeting Arthur at the Continental Hotel tonight, suggesting they find a time to gather.
Chester laughed out loud on the other end. "Of course. It's been a long time since I've seen that old fellow Harry either. I only heard from others that he's in a wheelchair now."
His retirement was completely clean.
Except for that one time Locke asked him to help find the giant rancher, he had no connection whatsoever with the criminal underworld. Nowadays, he was just the most renowned chef in New York City.
What a pity...
Chester always felt it was a great regret that he couldn't find the whereabouts of that Chef Hannibal whom Locke admired. He had planned that if he could find him, he would discuss the pairing of ingredients and such with him.
Hanging up the phone.
Locke took a shower and went to sleep.
King's auctions were generally held based on the number of auction items available, and this particular auction would be placed at the end of next month, which was around the end of August.
During this period of time.
Continue to relax.
For instance, by the sixth day, the yacht Locke purchased, the Gwen, had been delivered over.
To be precise, it arrived yesterday. Locke found someone to inspect and accept it, and by the way, filled up the wine cabinet inside to the brim.
Manhattan Harbor Dock.
"Wow!"
Gwen, wearing a sun hat, gazed out at the yacht that was the most silver-white among the cluster of yachts at the dock, featuring a Little Bird helicopter and the words "The Gwen" printed largely on the hull. Her face was full of surprise and excitement.
"So beautiful."
Rebecca, who had been staying at Gwen's house for the past few days, whispered with a smile to Helen, who was also dressed in casual attire next to her.
"Do you regret not accepting the pursuit of that multimillionaire back then?"
Not far away, George, who was lifting a fishing rod and telling Hank about Locke's good luck, froze slightly. Then, he couldn't help but turn around with a dark face.
"Hey, hey, hey, Rebecca, I can hear you, you know?"
Isn't it just a yacht.
How big of a deal.
George said to Hank,
"If I were slightly more flexible, I would even have a private jet."
Hank nodded. "I believe that."
He was the same.
However...
Compared to George being very principled, his own principles were actually relatively flexible. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been targeted by the Internal Affairs Department.
Fortunately.
Hank thought about the deal made with the Homeland Security Department, thinking this way in his heart, he looked at George and joked,
"How about forgetting it, just accept it. Look how miserably you were rebuffed by your father-in-law back then, this isn't good."
The corner of George's mouth twitched.
It was precisely because he was rebuffed by Helen's father to the point of utter helplessness that, now that it was finally his turn, how could he not try to experience this kind of taste.
But Locke simply didn't give him a single chance to rebuff him, not even once.
Fishing?
The fish bit his hook as if they were possessed by some evil spirit.
Hunting?
While hunting, the outcome turned into a story where Locke saved his life. He even felt that the deal he made with the Homeland Security Department was all due to Locke's credit.
Think about it.
If there were no Locke, what would he use to negotiate a deal with the Homeland Security Department? At the very least, the Homeland Security Department had absolutely no interest in discussing keeping a secret with an urn of ashes.
Therefore.
George had been holding in his frustration. From the very beginning, just to rebuff him once, just one time would be fine as long as it felt good. Up until now, he didn't know if Locke was annoyed, but he felt that he himself was choked up with anger again.
This wasn't right.
Wasn't it said that only the son-in-law suffers setbacks? How come when it came to his turn, good heavens, he suffered setbacks when he was a son-in-law, and when he was about to be a future father-in-law, how come he was still the one suffering setbacks?
On what grounds.
George raised his eyebrows and looked at Hank, who showed signs of defecting for the second time.
"I'm warning you, Hank, you are on my side, don't be a traitor. Otherwise, I'm afraid my daughter will be sad—I won't throw my daughter down, but if I throw you down, Rebecca won't be sad for you. Erin will be sad, but I'm not afraid, so remember that for me."
Hank wiped his face, looking at his old friend with some speechlessness.
"I just offered a friendly suggestion, old pal, stopping losses in time is the best choice."
George snorted twice, shaking the fishing rod in his hand. "Look, a pure titanium fishing rod, I spent a large sum of money on it."
His empty-handed return from fishing wasn't a problem with his technique.
But the equipment.
So, just taking advantage of Hank coming over this time, George had a reason to replace a new batch of equipment, and then let Hank use the old ones while he used the new ones, wasting nothing at all.
Soon.
Boarding the yacht, without a doubt, several people were attracted again by the interior layout of the yacht, which had a somewhat sci-fi, futuristic minimalist style.
Gwen poked Locke's waist with her finger, then directed Locke's gaze down toward the Bourbon filled to the brim in the wine cabinet.
Locke let out a laugh.
Gwen said to Locke,
"Even if it's a yacht, it still complies with federal laws, as long as you haven't gone out to the high seas."
Locke smiled and said,
"I know, so in order to evade such risks, this boat is temporarily still under the yacht company and the transfer procedures haven't been completed yet."
Saying that.
Locke looked at George over there.
"Mr. Stacy, in this case, it doesn't count as breaking the law, right."
George was left speechless.
Hank next to him couldn't help but laugh.
Just when coming in, Hank noticed his old friend's eyes lighting up as he stared at that full wine cabinet, and then, while Locke was explaining to Gwen, the light in his old friend's eyes diminished rapidly.
Detestable!
Just as detestable as the Peerless assassin!
George thought fiercely in his heart as he looked at Locke, who pulled Gwen toward the control room right after saying this to him.
One day, I will catch you!
George wanted to catch the Peerless assassin to draw a perfect period to his detective career.
Now, he had one more goal, which was that he must win a rebuff against Locke in the capacity of a father-in-law, otherwise, even if beaten to death, he would not acknowledge Locke.
He wouldn't.
Absolutely wouldn't!
Just at this moment.
Hum.
"Gentlemen and ladies, please find a seat. The Gwen is about to set sail."
"..."
In the control room, Gwen put down the intercom, the smile on her face very happy. Then, as if thinking of something, she found a captain's hat placed nearby, tilted her head, and looked at Locke who was starting the yacht.
The next second.
Gwen walked over, stood on her tiptoes, placed the captain's hat properly on Locke, and then said with a face full of pleasant surprise,
"So handsome."
The corner of Locke's mouth curled up!
Inside the cabin.
George looked up, listening to his daughter's happy and sweet voice coming from the loudspeaker just now.
Hank let out a sigh, patted George's shoulder, and walked toward the wine cabinet. Coming into view were all expensive prices. He could only look and pick out one that appeared to be the cheapest, then took a few wine glasses and handed them to Erin who came over standing aside.
These past few days, Erin had been undergoing comprehensive testing inside a laboratory said to belong to the Homeland Security Department.
***
Bonus here you go
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