Zombie Bodyguard
Chapter 193 - 192: Eliminating the Traitor

"What were the results?" Xiao Manxue had already accepted Lin Tian’s view and suspected that the gambling stone master was the traitor, but she just didn’t have any evidence yet.

"Miss, you might not expect this, but Old Wei and the others actually colluded with the Bai Family, betraying Xiao Group..." Elder Han stopped halfway through his sentence because there was not much shock on Xiao Manxue’s face. Surprised, he looked at her and couldn’t help but say, "Miss, had you already guessed it was them?"

Xiao Manxue nodded expressionlessly. She and Lin Tian had only speculated before, and now that the facts were confirmed by Elder Han, she still found it hard to accept. People who had followed the Xiao Family for many years, could they really be looking for a way out just because the Xiao Family was beginning to decline? What was even more unsettling was, how many more such people were there inside Xiao Group?

"Alas... I have known Old Wei and them for a full thirty years, thirty years! Even though I am a few years their senior, we treated each other as peers and were good friends. Why would they...? They’ve lost their minds!" Elder Han interrupted himself several times in a single sentence, each time sighing deeply.

The Miss understood his feelings well. In terms of relationship, Elder Han was closer to them, so knowing of their betrayal made him more distressed than anyone. Elder Han had followed the Xiao Family even before the gambling stone masters, watching them grow from green youths to mature figures with status in the gambling stone circle. Who would have thought they would make such a grave mistake when they had achieved success and fame?

Elder Han could accept if they had resigned and left; everyone could have parted on good terms. But to conspire with the Bai Family and tamper with the jadeite raw stone supply to harm their own employer was unforgivable. If the matter were to be exposed, they were sure to be ruined and disgraced.

"Elder Han, human hearts are the most unpredictable. Not everyone can hold on to their true selves in the face of great temptation," Lin Tian consoled. He had been an orphan from a young age and had been fending for himself in society since he was sixteen. He was not new to such incidents.

"Let’s not talk about them, Miss, there is something even more unexpected," Elder Han took a moment to compose himself and then continued with even more gravity.

"More?" The Miss was taken aback by his words. So far, she was only certain of the gambling stone masters being traitors. What else could there be?

After a moment’s hesitation, Elder Han looked at Mrs. Xiao. After she nodded, he went on, "Your second paternal uncle and your third paternal uncle are involved in this matter, and they are among the principal plotters."

"What?" The Xiao sisters were genuinely shocked now. Although their paternal uncles could be a bit difficult to get along with, they were still part of the Xiao Family and had not reached the point of outright hostility. At most, there were arguments over disagreements.

They simply couldn’t accept that their own relatives would help outsiders attack their own family, to bring down Xiao Group. This was a clear case of betrayal from within, even more despicable than the gambling stone masters’ treachery. Were they all eager to take a bite out of the Xiao Family now that it seemed to be faltering, competing for profits?

"Fuck!" Lin Tian couldn’t hold back a curse. He couldn’t help but grumble in a low voice, "I knew they were no good the last time I saw them. Now they’re outright inviting predators into the house. Motherfuckers, showered with so much money for a comfortable life and respectable living, and this is how they repay you. Are they even human!"

"Have you informed them yet?" Xiao Manxue calmed down, her tone turning icy.

As a Sword Dao Ancient Martial Artist, she had an inherent decisiveness, not hesitating when it came to matters that could determine the fate of the group.

"Not yet, we were waiting for the Miss to conclude her trip to Zhonghai City before making a decision," Elder Han replied.

The Miss looked at her mother and then declared word by word, "Notify everyone, today at noon, a tribunal!"

"Sigh..." Elder Han sighed and hurriedly went out to make the arrangements.

He knew what a family trial meant, gathering all the adult members of the Xiao Family to announce the investigation results in front of everyone, signified that there was no turning back.

Not long after Elder Han left, Secretary Xu came to report that the jade was successfully loaded onto the truck and ready to go. Zhou Botong and Ou Mengmeng took another car, knowing that the Xiao Family was about to face a significant event, they didn’t suggest joining them for fun.

Guided by Secretary Xu, Lin Tian and the others arrived at the edge of the tarmac, where a truck and two cars were parked, with the invaluable jade loaded inside the truck.

For safety, Lin Tian scanned the truck again with his x-ray vision. With everything that had happened recently, he had to be careful. If there was a problem with the truck, and it exploded, the jade inside would be destroyed, and it could even cost lives.

He now suspected that the plane might have been tampered with, otherwise the incidents that occurred on board were somewhat inexplicable. It had flown many times without issue, but the problem arose only when it was transporting the jade.

"Lin Tian, you should also attend the family trial," Xiao Manxue murmured after getting into the car.

"Why should I participate, it’s the Xiao Family’s matter. What role would I be there in, your boyfriend?" In the car, it was just Lin Tian and the Miss, with Secretary Xu driving personally. He really did not want to be involved in these troublesome matters.

"Hmph, you’re the largest shareholder of Tianxue Jewelry, and you know about that batch of jade rough stones, so will you attend or not?" Xiao Manxue glared at him with annoyance, dissatisfied with his talking nonsense when there were others around, wasn’t it embarrassing.

Since the reasoning was so sound, Lin Tian didn’t oppose it anymore and just leaned back in his seat to rest with his eyes closed. His indifferent and relaxed demeanor annoyed the Miss quite a bit, making her grit her teeth in frustration and stomp her feet several times in anger.

"Miss, are your feet numb from sitting on the plane so long? Would you like me to give you a couple of needles?" Lin Tian glanced at her perky behind, speaking earnestly, but internally, he was lecherously contemplating giving her pert buttocks a try with the needle.

"Needle yourself, hmph!" The Miss really feared he would act rashly, shifting her bottom away a few times, still vividly remembering the last time he had hit her there.

Secretary Xu was looking back through the rearview mirror. Seeing her vigilantly protect the boss, Lin Tian felt embarrassed to tease his direct superior any further and continued to rest with his eyes closed.

Upon returning to the Xiao Mansion, it was almost eleven o’clock. After storing the jade, Secretary Xu left. Mrs. Xiao had already arranged for lunch to be prepared, and after eating, it was nearly time for the family trial.

The table had just been cleared when the first family member arrived. He initially wanted to greet Mrs. Xiao familiarly, but seeing her and the Miss sitting at the head of the table with a cold expression, he nodded and found a seat.

More family members gradually arrived, and they all felt that today’s atmosphere was unusual, as if something significant was about to happen. Everyone sat upright, not engaging in the usual chatter. At noon, the villa’s hall was full of people—young and old, everyone without a serious excuse was present.

The only discordant note was that the two seats next to the main seat were empty, and the two most important characters had yet to arrive.

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