Selfish
Because they had anticipated that Karim would have to transport Steve through Moga, Tean had already planted his own people at all the airports in Moga where private planes could potentially take off.
These people will make sure that T'An doesn't lose track of Steve.
This is a grand scheme, and the refinement of each task's details began long before the task officially started.
After confirming that Karim's plane had taken off, Chen Chao connected with Raman on the phone.
When Raman saw that the contact was from Nutag, he initially thought it was from Chen Fei, so he was slightly taken aback when he saw Chen Chao appear on the screen.
“Prince Raman, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Chen Chao.”
"Hello, please give my regards to your father."
"My father is doing well, thank you for your concern."
Since Chen Fei is unharmed, based on the principle of diplomatic reciprocity, Chen Fei should contact Raman personally. Raman looked at Chen Chao with some doubt, waiting for his explanation.
"The reason I sought out the Prince this time is to discuss a cooperation plan. Since I was in charge of this plan, I am more familiar with the details, so my father asked me to contact you directly. I hope the Prince will forgive me." Chen Chao's tone was unhurried and not at all impolite.
"What's up?"
Raman was a very pragmatic politician, not as concerned with formalities as most members of the royal family. Since Chen Chao had provided a reasonable explanation, he wouldn't dwell on it too much. He only cared about what Chen Chao wanted to discuss.
“Your son is currently on Karim’s private jet.” Chen Chao’s opening was very direct.
Raman took about two seconds to process what he was saying. When he spoke again, his tone was slightly annoyed: "What do you mean by that? I thought that based on our cooperative relationship, you should at least protect his safety."
Raman knew about Karim's bounty on Steve on the black market and, at Tean's suggestion, purged the mole within his own ranks.
He had considered taking Steve under his wing for protection, but firstly, Steve refused to acknowledge him, and secondly, he believed Nutag was capable of protecting Steve, so he didn't insist. But now?
“We deliberately let him fall into Karim’s hands. The plane carrying him has already taken off from Moga. Karim reported that the flight path was to land in Beka, but I think this is just a smokescreen. The plane will eventually land in West Africa.”
We already have people on standby at the airports in Bekaa and Sifies. But I think that if we could get the Prince's help, our plan would be much more effective.
"Hmph! You're using my son as bait and expect me to help you?" Raman instantly understood Chen Chao's meaning.
Don't you want him to be safe?
“He doesn’t want to acknowledge me, so you’d better have a better reason to convince me.”
Chen Chao was not intimidated by Raman's anger; his statement remained composed and steady, maintaining its own rhythm.
"King Sazara's health has become increasingly worrying in recent years, and the struggle between you and your brother has intensified. We have reached an agreement with you, and I think you are aware that your brother's backer is Migal."
On the surface, it seems that you have the strongest voice domestically, but I'm sure you're aware of Miguel's consistently blatant interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
"Go on," Chen Chao said, having successfully piqued Raman's interest.
“But if Karim dies, you will have nothing to worry about.”
"Kill him? You'll take the blame for me?"
Murder is the simplest, yet also the most base. If Raman were to be accused of killing his own brother in a power struggle, he would be completely ineligible for the throne.
“Nutag would not do something like murdering a foreign royal. But what if Karim kidnapped your son first, and you, out of love for your son, lost control during the rescue? I think everyone would understand you.”
Raman narrowed his eyes, clearly finding Chen Chao's words interesting.
“But Steve’s existence has remained unknown. Even if Karim did kidnap him, some people will say that I’m using this as an excuse, and that Karim doesn’t really know that he’s my son.”
“I have the kinship test report that Karim did for Steve, as well as witnesses who can prove that he knew about Steve’s relationship with you before the kidnapping.”
“You’ve made thorough preparations. But this will make Steve’s existence known to the world, and I will have to bring him back to the West African royal family. My wife won’t be happy, and he himself won’t want to either.”
"So all you'll do is rescue his body."
Karim harbors resentment towards you due to the power struggle, but unable to harm you, he can only vent his anger on your son.
Your son was abused to death, and in your attempt to rescue him, you accidentally killed Karim because you couldn't accept his death.
This is a story that everyone can accept, isn't it? This outcome won't upset your wife either.
“Very good, you’ve thought of everything.” At this moment, Raman’s gaze towards Chen Chao had changed. He began to treat Chen Chao with the respect due to a partner of the same level. “But you couldn’t have gone to such lengths just to help me, could you?”
"West Africa is a resource-based country, and we hope to maintain a good long-term cooperative relationship with West Africa."
"Anything else?" Raman naturally didn't want to hear this kind of pointless chatter.
“Karim kidnapped someone three months ago, and we can’t find out where he hid them. This time, we want to find his secret stronghold through Steve,” Chen Chao said frankly.
"Is this person more important to you than my son?"
"yes."
“Very good, you’re sincere enough. How would you like me to cooperate with you?” Raman finally agreed.
"After Karim's plane lands, make him feel that you seem to have noticed something and are having someone monitor him. Make him have no choice but to hide Steve."
“I’ve sensed something, but I’m not sure, right?” Raman immediately understood what Chen Chao meant.
"Yes."
"Can."
"grateful."
"Please tell Chen Jiu for me that I admire him. Similarly, I admire you very much. It seems that the Chen family members are all very good at negotiating."
Raman's words caused Chen Chao's pupils to involuntarily contract, but he quickly regained his composure: "Your Highness is too kind."
After the communication was cut off, Chen Chao suddenly felt nauseous. He immediately rushed to the office restroom and vomited uncontrollably.
The moment reason departed, emotions began to surge and retaliate.
Chen Chao didn't stop until he had vomited until his stomach was empty and his mouth was full of bile and bitter fluid.
He forced himself to turn on the tap to clean himself, and when he looked up at himself in the mirror, he saw that his face was pale and his whole body was trembling slightly.
Just now, when he was on the phone with Raman, he had to tightly grip his wrist off-camera to maintain a calm demeanor.
His heart had long since stopped hurting, and he even felt that there was a hollow part in his chest cavity.
He looked in the mirror and despairingly realized that he was about to give up.
He stayed in the bathroom for a while, giving himself enough time to calm down, then mustered his last bit of strength and returned to his desk, weakly pressing the communicator on the desk: "Trott, call a doctor for me."
Trot contacted the doctor, but Chen Fei was the one who arrived.
When Chen Fei appeared at the door of Chen Chao's office, Trot hurriedly got up to greet him, and at Chen Fei's prompting, did not inform Chen Chao.
Chen Chao was clearly startled by Chen Fei's arrival. He tried to get up, but Chen Fei stopped him.
"Sit down, I just came to see you."
“Dad.” Chen Chao vaguely guessed Chen Fei’s intention in coming in person, but he didn’t want to face it.
"Where do you feel unwell? You should call a doctor."
"I..." He felt a little wronged in front of his father, but he didn't want to show his vulnerability.
Chen Fei was well aware of what was happening to the Chen Dynasty, but as a king and general, he always had to pass this test.
“You’re coming back to our house with me to rest today,” Chen Fei said.
"Dad, I still have work to do," Chen Chao said instinctively.
"How many days has it been since you left your office? I had no idea you needed to be this busy. Are all your subordinates useless?"
"..." Chen Chao couldn't defend himself; this was his problem, and had nothing to do with his subordinates.
“The plan has reached this stage. The rest is mainly up to Chen Jiu. You don’t need to worry about it. You’re coming back with me today.” After Chen Fei finished speaking, seeing that Chen Chao’s expression seemed to want to argue further, he added, “This is an order.”
“…Yes.” Chen Chao finally conceded.
Chen Chao barely ate any dinner. He only stayed at the table for the shortest time required by politeness before getting up and going upstairs to his room.
Chen Fei saw it all, but said nothing.
After dinner, Chen Fei went upstairs and knocked on Chen Chao's door. The moment Chen Chao opened the door, there was a barely perceptible flicker and avoidance in his eyes.
"dad."
"Shall we talk?"
Chen Chao stepped aside to let Chen Fei in, then stood with his head bowed by the desk.
"Sit down together. Today's conversation is between father and son, and has nothing to do with the family or Te'an."
Chen Chao hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Chen Fei and sat down in the chair next to him.
"If I had signed that order back then, you wouldn't be in so much pain." Chen Fei was never one to beat around the bush; his first sentence made his purpose clear.
Chen Chao lowered his gaze, but the deep pain in his eyes could not be concealed: "But Father, I must sign his order. I cannot run away, otherwise I will feel even more despicable."
Faith is something that needs to be shared; he couldn't abandon Steve and run away alone.
"That's all?"
Chen Chao lowered his head and turned his face slightly away, not daring to look at Chen Fei.
"It's true that you don't want to shirk your responsibilities, but at the same time, you're afraid that if I signed the order, you might not be able to control your hatred towards me."
"Dad..." Chen Chao's voice was filled with painful struggle. He had to admit that Chen Fei was right.
The pain of pushing his beloved to hell forced him to hate, but since he was the one signing the order, he could only hate himself and wouldn't drag others down with him.
“Sigh…” Chen Fei shook his head helplessly, “You don’t have to push yourself like this, and you can hate me without feeling guilty.”
Chen Chao looked at Chen Fei, not understanding what he meant.
“You and Chen Jiu are both too kind and not suitable for Te An,” Chen Fei said regretfully. “But you were born with the surname Chen, so you had no choice.”
“Dad, I have never regretted having the surname Chen,” Chen Chao hurriedly explained.
"I know." Chen Fei used gestures to soothe Chen Chao's emotions. "Let me finish speaking first."
You know, I admit I was wrong about what happened with Chen Jiu. If Chen Jiu wanted to hate me, I would accept it, but he didn't. And although I promised to set him free, he still chose to retain his identity. That shows his kindness and fearlessness.
Chen Jiu's matter has nothing to do with you, yet you feel indebted to him. At the same time, you issue orders based on national interests, but still feel guilty towards those who sacrificed their lives out of personal feelings—this is your compassion and magnanimity.
Chen Chao, in our position, we certainly need to have such qualities, after all, we hold human lives in our hands, and we need to maintain respect for life.
However, if you want to stay in this position for a long time, you must learn to forgive yourself.
I admit I wronged Chen Jiu, and I can make it up to him, and I can accept his hatred for me, but I won't repeatedly question myself about why I did what I did. It's pointless.
Behind us lies a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood; dwelling on every single one would be unbearable for our souls. We sit in a position where we cannot afford to make a mistake, but we are, after all, human. Do you understand?
Chen Chao, leaving yourself room for maneuver before reaching your limits is a conscious choice a leader should have. For example, if you know you'll be pushed to your limit with this order, you should make me sign it, even if you'll hate me.
I can bear your hatred, but I cannot accept your breakdown.
"I'm sorry, Dad." Chen Chao understood; he knew Chen Fei was trying to teach him something.
He suddenly remembered that a long time ago, Kagarina had also told him not to push himself too hard. At the time, he thought it was just polite talk, but now he realized that this extraordinary woman must have already seen through something back then.
"Chen Chao, don't say sorry. Your position doesn't allow you to say those three words lightly. Look forward, and allow yourself to be selfish. Our sacrifices are worthy of a certain degree of selfishness."
“Dad.” Chen Chao looked at Chen Fei, his voice filled with gratitude. He felt that something that had been blocking his heart had finally been released.
Allowing yourself to be selfish, to be imperfect, and to make mistakes is the only way to make everything last longer.
He is a human being, not a god.
He cannot dwell on the past; he must look forward and strive to create the best possible future.
"You've always been very smart." Seeing Chen Chao's reaction, Chen Fei nodded in satisfaction. "I'll go call the family doctor up. You get some rest."
"Yes, Dad."
Chen Chao was finally able to fall asleep that day. Although it wasn't as sleepless as when Steve was by his side, he was finally able to let go of some of his inhibitions.
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