Darkstone Code

"An island?"

"Are you kidding me?"

That was how Horn responded to the person at the time.

If you talk about doing something illegal, he might accept it to some extent, but directly building an artificial island in Bupen always felt unsettling.

After all, it’s Bupen, the heart of the Federation’s politics, economy, and culture!

Everywhere was filled with people he couldn’t afford to offend or those who could easily crush him!

But ultimately, the young man convinced him.

"Why you?" the Major asked, "There are many more outstanding or capable people, why did they choose you?"

Horn pouted, "Did my previous request have any results?"

He didn’t answer directly but instead posed a question.

Previously, he had requested the President to issue a pardon for all his crimes; otherwise, he wouldn’t say anything.

He knew well that if those things he did were exposed, without a pardon, even if he didn’t die, he would spend his life in prison.

Being so wealthy, how could he accept such a result?

A pardon is the key!

Seeing the two people opposite him, Horn realized the application hadn’t gone through. He wasn’t anxious and merely smiled silently.

Applying for a presidential pardon isn’t easy because the pardoned individuals are often those with serious criminal records, and this allows some to use it as a means to target the President.

Things like harboring criminals and offenders.

So most presidents would rather plead privately for the criminals than issue a pardon.

This time, the President didn’t want to sign it either; he asked his staff to try and see if they could resolve it without signing.

The Major cleared his throat, "As you know, in cases like this, we handle things thoroughly with the purpose of protecting the witness. You won’t have any names."

"People will only know that a Tom or a Jerry did these things, not Horn White."

"People won’t know these, so you don’t need to bear too many crimes. I can promise that we’ll plead with the Judge for you, and considering your assistance in advancing the case, even if you are heavily charged, you’ll be out soon!"

This approach is quite practical. People don’t have a concrete target for their anger, and as long as you don’t creatively seek your own demise, you can pretty much escape public scrutiny.

People will only see many names in the judgment but won’t be able to associate them with "Tom" or "Jerry."

Horn remained unmoved, not even bothering to respond.

The Major and the FBI officer exchanged a glance, and the Major realized Horn’s charges might be significant, not something pleading could solve. He then actually moved outside to call the President.

At that moment, the President was in a good mood. In the past few years, due to Mr. Truman’s "non-cooperation," he had to suspend Truman for a period.

It seemed... not much of a deal, but don’t forget, he was nominally the Federation’s highest leader!

This group of capitalists forced the country’s leader to do something he didn’t want to do lightly.

On the surface, they were targeting Mr. Truman, but in reality, they also demonstrated their "domination" to the upper society.

What about the President?

The people we want to get rid of, even the President can’t protect!

This also inevitably makes one think, what if they wanted to get rid of the President himself?

Thus, when everything was ready, the President immediately launched an investigation into the Duncan Clan.

The investigation made good progress, initially, those who spoke for the Duncan Clan turned around and expressed that the Federation cannot allow such a criminal family, willing to contribute their part to purify Federation Society.

The President was well aware that these people’s thoughts were not simple.

They previously didn’t think the President could really suppress the Duncan Clan, so they sided with them.

Now seeing the Federation Government is serious and making good progress, they side with the Federation Government.

After all, when the Duncan Clan collapses, someone needs to take over those large and complex enterprises, and they can acquire most of them at a very low price.

For capitalists, this is their ultimate pursuit.

Gently picking up the receiver, the President spoke as always with a pleasant tone but quickly frowned.

"Isn’t there any way to avoid signing it? Can you try a bit more?"

"Maybe you’re just one step away from success."

The Major recounted what he knew and speculated, and the President frowned even more after hearing it.

If Horn was indeed someone who committed many wrongdoings, issuing a pardon for him would become a blemish on his political career!

Sometimes the people of the Federation are very reasonable, and sometimes they aren’t.

As long as they think poorly of you, no explanation will help!

"Let me think about it..."

The President did not respond immediately. He needed to consult someone.

Not long after, Mr. Truman was sitting in his office, where the President explained the problems he was facing. Mr. Truman was the person he trusted the most.

Truman had helped him win the election using his connections with the Military. Plus, he was so competent and lacked any ambition; the President trusted him greatly.

Listening to the President’s words, Truman pursed his lips; in reality, he didn’t have any good solutions.

Horn was a shrewd man who knew how to secure the greatest advantage for himself. Trying to decline his demands and keep him from revealing what he knew was an impossible task!

"Perhaps the Lord will punish him!" Mr. Truman said softly.

The President’s eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded in agreement, "Yes, the Lord will surely punish him!"

Mr. Truman seemed to think of something and frowned.

He spoke those words purely as a resigned lament; a villain held crucial evidence and wouldn’t speak a single letter without a pardon.

Once he got the pardon, who else but the Lord could punish him?

But this was not an implication, at least not Truman’s intention.

He wanted to explain, but ultimately gave up. Sometimes, people need to be flexible.

It wasn’t long before the President personally issued a legally binding document co-signed by the Chief Justice and sent it to the FBI Headquarters. Upon seeing this document, Horn breathed a heavy sigh of relief, his face plastered with smiles.

"Can you talk now?"

"Mr. Horn!"

Horn nodded repeatedly, "Of course, of course!"

"The Duncan Clan is simply inhuman!"

In Horn’s description, Paradise Island, a place of ultimate pleasure, indeed became a paradise of enjoyment for the upper echelons.

But it is also Hell!

"They are no longer satisfied with the slaves we brought from outside the Federation, and started targeting internal subjects."

The special guests on Paradise Island always have some peculiar quirks, and as Horn recounted these things, the recorder responsible for taking notes even forgot to write anything down!

He was utterly shocked by Horn’s stories, which shattered his perceptions, and even made him doubt whether Horn was just concocting something.

Could there really be so many perverted people in the world?

And they are the social celebrities and political figures, hiding such ugly souls beneath their glamorous exteriors, truly eye-opening!

"Generally, we solve these problems with money; you know, many people in the Federation need money."

"These people don’t mind paying some price for it, even if it’s a little harm?"

"At the very least, it allows them or their families to break away from their original paths."

"Of course, some people are not so cooperative, so we would drive their companies to bankruptcy, or acquire their companies and then fire them."

"We force them, by various means, to re-enter our plans..."

"These are relatively gentle methods, but there are always some people who refuse to cooperate, so we employ more extreme measures."

"For instance, kidnapping, after which they are treated cruelly; wealth and poverty won’t make them bow, but pain will."

"In the end, they will all become the toys we want!"

The Major officer took a while to regain his senses, "What about the missing people?"

Horn licked his lips, his eyes slightly red, "We have a Phase Five Project, and they’re all in the foundation!"

Those who didn’t cooperate, or were accidentally tortured to death, couldn’t just be discarded without handling.

There’s a construction site on the island that has never been completed, and it’s meant for dealing with these bodies.

They are mixed with concrete and layered down; no one knows how many bodies are inside, but it won’t be few!

"Do you remember these people?"

The Major officer’s expression was stern; he now understood why Horn refused to speak without a pardon. Because he was not just involved in the kidnappings, he probably... no, he definitely was involved in the murder, even massacre!

Without a pardon, no matter how they pleaded with the Judge or sought leniency within the judicial process, the law would never forgive an executioner with blood on his hands.

Horn nodded gracefully, "Of course, I not only remember them, but also have a list documenting everything each one did, at least everything I know is recorded on there."

The FBI Director General’s face grew increasingly somber; he had a feeling this might become a rare major case in the Federation’s history!

The Major officer subsequently stood up, dialing the military district’s phone; he now felt that even here wasn’t very safe!

There were simply too many people involved!

The matter of the President issuing a pardon didn’t escape certain people’s notice; after all, the affair also required the signature of the Chief Justice, and there were always ways for it to leak out.

This seemingly insignificant matter was enough to make Mr. Jeruno realize that the Duncan Clan is about to face the greatest challenge in its history!