Manhattan Reborn 1978

Island country, Tokyo.

14-2, Keiya-mae, Shibuya-ku.

Mag Ludwig chatted and laughed with his old friend Jeffrey Rand (Jerry) for a while.

Jerry suddenly said with an apologetic and serious expression: "At the time when your accident happened, I was also very busy in the Senate campaign..."

"Also, my ex-wife also divorced me during that time, so I couldn't provide you with some... help from friends!"

"Haha~" Mag said with a nonchalant smile.

"During that time, I only received three calls from friends."

"You are the one who touches me the most!"

"You're right, don't apologize for this in the future~"

"Yeah!" Jerry let out a long breath and felt relieved all over.

"When we were in Washington, you once said that if you want to go high and far on this road, friends will become more and more luxurious."

"At that time, I still didn't understand what you said."

"Now.."

"Haha~" Jerry stood up and walked to the wine cabinet and said while pouring wine.

"After you disappeared, I got divorced..."

"The Tracy who loved me the most also ran away with a writer..."

"You also know that I have always liked drinking..."

"So during that period, I was drunk almost every day, trying to be a coward and escaping from the frustrations and blows of reality."

Mag took the wine glass from his old friend and mocked without any "pity": "I didn't expect that you really have the same potential to become a bad drunkard like me!?"

"Hahaha~"

Ji Rui nodded in agreement and raised his glass to Mag: "Here's to you, you damned but not dead bastard!"

"Here's to you, poor and hateful fool!"

"Hahaha~" The two looked at each other and laughed, raising their necks and drinking down their drinks.

. . .

After laughing.

Both of them felt that the strangeness and estrangement accumulated during that time had disappeared~

Jerry took the initiative to throw away the wine glass, sat down next to Mag and asked: "You definitely didn't come to Tokyo just to see me this time, right?"

"Of course!"

Mag played with the wine glass in his hand, crossed his legs and explained: "The fact that you can still see me now is all thanks to my boss."

"This time I came over to see you just to help him come to Tokyo for business!"

"fxxxyou!"

"You damn bastard, you still have such bad breath!"

"Hahaha~ Isn't it the same for you?"

"By the way, you've been here for a year, right? How do you feel?"

Jerry waved his right hand, pointed out some antique furnishings in the living room to his old friend, and said, "It feels good to have them with me."

Mag glanced at the antiques he didn't recognize and said jokingly: "Don't you really like Elvis and rock and roll?"

"Why have you become a collector now?"

Jerry's mood suddenly seemed very low, he shook his head slightly and sighed.

"Theking! He's dead..."

(Note: Elvis Presley’s real name is Elvis Presley. The nickname Elvis Presley originated from the nickname The Hillbillycat given to him by fans in the southern United States. After his sudden death in 77, Americans Usually they use the nickname Theking for him, or call him by his first name ELVIS.)

"..."

Mag looked at the sadness in his old friend's expression and stopped joking: "At least, he left us many good memories."

"..yes!"

Jerry, who was already over forty years old, lay back on the sofa with great emotion, looked at the ceiling with wandering eyes, and whispered.

"When I celebrated the New Year last month, I dreamed about the movie "Blue Hawaii" starring him."

"Hehe~"

Seeing that he was even more depressed, Ma Ge immediately changed the subject and said, "Last month, Xueer got divorced again... Did you know?"

(Note: Cher (formerly known as Cherilyn Sarkisian) was born in California in 1946. She made her debut in 65 with her first single "Just You". Before the mid-80s, she was the most daring and revealing person in the United States, and the most willing to tease the public's attention. and a well-known female singer and actress who stimulates male hormones. At the same time, she is also the actress with the most young girls around her, no one! At the 88th Oscar in 60, she won the best award for the movie "Moonlight" Best Actress Award, the male protagonist of this film is the king of bad movies in his youth, Nicolas Cage.)

"Cher!?"

When Jerry heard the name, he seemed to regain some energy and asked: "I heard she is going to have a concert tour today?"

"Can you help me get the tickets with the best seats?"

"Of course~" Mag raised his right hand, rubbed his fingers and smiled.

"As long as you're willing to spend the money... No!"

"As long as you are sincere enough, these are minor problems~"

"Wow~ Hahaha!"

Jerry moved closer excitedly, raised his eyebrows and asked in a low voice: "Can you help me...ask her to have dinner?"

"Oh?"

Mag tilted his head and looked at his old friend in surprise, curled his lips and asked, "Do you want her to come to Tokyo to have dinner with you?"

"No, no, no!"

"I can fly back to Los Angeles!"

"anytime!"

"..." Mag resisted the urge to say something, thought about it seriously, and nodded.

"I can try, but there's no guarantee she'll say yes."

"Yes!"

"yes!!"

Jerry jumped up from the sofa excitedly, like a "silly" boy who learned for the first time that he could date his favorite goddess, running back and forth in front of Mag and screaming. .

Seeing his "stupid" look, Mag couldn't help but cover his forehead and laugh~

changed.

A lot has changed.

Fortunately, this "stupid" guy has not been completely changed yet!

. . .

After about half an hour.

Jerry "conjured" a box of the best Cuban cigars from somewhere, lit it, took a long puff, and smiled at Mag.

"Hey~ bastard!"

"When are you leaving Tokyo? I can't wait!"

Mag sniffed the cigar in his hand, rolled his eyes wildly and replied: "I'm here to work, not to help you fulfill your wish!"

"Um...that's right!"

Jerry blinked a few times quickly, tilted his head and looked at the clock not far away, and said something strange.

"Did you just say that you invited someone over?"

"He's going to be late soon, isn't he?"

"Ok!"

Mag raised his hand and glanced at his watch. Just as he was about to say something, he heard footsteps coming from outside the living room.

Jerry's attention was also drawn to the door by the sound of footsteps. When he saw a middle-aged man walking in with his maid, he raised his eyebrows and smiled.

"You are Mr. Galid."

"Yes!"

Davis Leahy, the first five-star general in the history of the United States and a descendant of General William D. Lacey, Galide, the agent in the island country, elegantly took off his hat and said to Jerry, who was still sitting on the sofa. He Mag, smiled.

"Good morning, gentlemen!"

"I am Galid."

"...Please sit down." Jerry waved to the smaller island maid, stared at Galid for a while, and said.

"Okay." Galid took a deep breath, walked to the opposite side of Jerry and slowly sat down, keeping his upper body straight, looking at the silent Mag, and asked.

"Are you Mr. Mag Ludwig?"

"Um...Davis, have you spoken to me?"

"Yes."

"Then has he made everything clear to you?"

"very clear!"

Galide gently placed the hat beside him with both hands, looked at Jerry, and smiled.

"You two should be able to tell from my appearance... that I am a mixed race."

"The reason why I can become Mr. Leahy's agent is not because of my impure blood, but because I can help him carefully manage various assets in the island country."

Galid looked at Mag again and said with a smile: "I'm sorry that I couldn't help with what happened to Mr. Yuri Orlov and Ms. Ava Fangtian."

"But I assure you, this matter has nothing to do with me, Mr. Davis Leahy or his friends."

"As for Lieutenant Colonel Red Miller, who received the call but chose to sit idly by..."

"At the end of this month, he will be transferred to the Middle East."

"Mr. Ludwig, are you satisfied with this arrangement?"

"..." Mag moved his body, looked directly at Galid, and said after a moment of silence.

"Who did this disgusting trick?"

"Sorry, I don't know..." Galid put away his smile and explained calmly.

"When I was on the phone with Mr. Leahy, he asked me the same question."

"But according to my analysis, people who use these annoying tricks definitely don't want us to continue to cooperate happily."

"..." After hearing his meaningless "nonsense", Mag turned his head silently and glanced at Jerry, shrugging.

"This business is not suitable for you."

"My boss is a businessman, and only a businessman."

"You are different!"

Jerry was stunned for two seconds, nodded to his old friend and said with a smile, "I'm not short of money!"

"Hehe~"

Ma Ge could only give a dry laugh in response to the "unintentional showing off" of a rich second generation like him, then turned to look at Galid and said.

"This time I made a special trip from New York to Hawaii, and then came to Tokyo...just to make this matter clear!"

"Starting from today, our cooperation income distribution must be changed."

"Regarding the income from the crude oil spot business, we only take [-]%, and you can go to the Yasuda family to discuss the rest."

“As for opening a trade channel in the Nakhodka commercial port to conduct business of civilian goods and industrial and commercial production of raw materials, we can jointly establish an international trading company and distribute all profits equally.”

"Also~"

"My boss is very interested in the island country's real estate industry."

"After some time, when our real estate investment trusts (REITs) in New York are established, I hope you can help more."

"Okay!" Galid smiled and nodded when he heard that Mag was so "pleasant".

"Don't worry, I will do my best!"

"ok~"

Mag deliberately raised his wrist, looked at his watch and said, "Mr. Galid, you are very punctual!"

"The time agreed upon with us is almost exact~"

"I personally hope you can continue this good habit and make our cooperation more enjoyable."

"...I will!" Galide picked up the hat next to him wisely, stood up and nodded to Jerry with a smile, then turned and left.

After Jerry "watched" him leave, he looked at his old friend with a strange expression and joked.

"Why did you start talking like this?"

Mag lowered his head and was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head and said, "Because I'm no longer young."

"Tsk~" Jerry sighed helplessly, feeling the aroma of cigar in his mouth.

"Yes!"

"We are not young anymore..."

"Is there anything else you need my help with?"

"Yes~"

"My fiancee, Janet, is pregnant~"

"Take me around Tokyo and buy her some gifts."

"..That's it?"

"Ok!"

Jerry raised his middle finger to him, fell down on the sofa, and muttered unhappily.

"Those who choose to get married and have children...are all big fools!"

"Hahaha~"

Mag laughed and countered, "Hey~ I'll let you be the child's godfather, how about that?"

"what!!"

"Okay~"

Jerry fiddled with the cigar in his hand, his eyes became brighter and brighter, and he smiled: "Godfather... Not bad!"

"Let's go to my future godson and buy a gift~"

"Hahaha~" Mag laughed and pointed at Jerry with his hand, and his mood became more cheerful.

----

new York.

night~

The southeastern side of Manhattan Island, Brooklyn.

A middle-aged man wearing a shabby military green coat walked into an old apartment building with heavy steps.

When his footsteps stopped on the fourth floor, the door in front of him was opened from the inside, and a voice came out.

"Come in~"

The middle-aged man hesitated for two seconds, then stepped into the room and saw the private detective who called himself Dodge, sitting on a shabby brown sofa with a cigarette in the corner of his mouth.

"Close the door," Dodge said, pointing to the door.

The middle-aged man closed the door and stood there, asking in a slightly hoarse voice: "Did you find out?"

"Yes!"

"Where's the money?" Dodge raised his left hand and made a gesture of counting money.

The middle-aged man put his left hand into the inner pocket of his coat and took out a small stack of cash, which he held between his fingertips.

Dodge visually inspected its thickness and nodded: "I have to say, you are a lucky guy."

"Your daughter's case was entrusted by a big shot to the CIA to join forces with the FBI and the New York police for investigation."

"If nothing else happens, you will soon receive news that the murderer has been brought to justice."

The middle-aged man's dim eyes flickered several times in succession, and he walked up to Dodge holding up the cash in his hand.

"anything else?"

"What else?"

"Gone!"

Dodge held on to the sofa, grabbed the cash directly from the middle-aged man's fingertips, roughly counted it, nodded with satisfaction and smiled.

“This is a business that’s been around for hundreds of years!”

"The thieves and robbers who were once exiled by the European nobles, when they were hungry and cold and had no other way out, they had already begun to capture Indian indigenous girls everywhere, transport them back to Europe and sell them to those mentally distorted big shots."

"Not to mention the later business of selling African slaves, and the business of selling minors into mines for child labor..."

"Those human traffickers who have no bottom line existed in the past, are not lacking now, and will not disappear in the future~"

"As long as there are people buying, there will be people selling!"

"This is business, understand?"

The middle-aged man exuded "low pressure" all over his body. He looked down at Dodge coldly and said nothing.

Dodge also felt that something was wrong with the "customer's" mood. He shrugged, put the money away, and said with a show of his hands.

"I know you want to find those beasts that sold, raised, abused, and killed your daughter, and let them taste the fury of revenge."

"But they all hide themselves deeply in the dark, and it is difficult for ordinary people to find clues!"

"You have also seen relevant news reports and police reports~"

"Almost all the suspects or witnesses directly related to this case are dead..."

"If it weren't for that unknown big shot who wants to investigate this case thoroughly, don't talk about me. Even if you hire private detectives from all over New York, you may not be able to investigate it thoroughly."

Dodge took a long drag on the cigarette in his mouth, threw the cigarette butt on the ground and stamped it out: "So I just said you are a lucky guy, I am absolutely telling the truth!"

"Cases like the sudden death of an unidentified girl on the street have appeared almost every night in New York in the past few years."

"But do you know what happened to them in the end?"

"Hehe~"

"They were all turned into case files, and eventually they were locked in a small room in the police station and ate dust..."

"and then?"

"Gone!"

Dodge stood up and walked up to the middle-aged man, met his "murderous" eyes, and said calmly.

"Rationality, selfishness, indifference, ruthlessness, madness, glamor..."

"You said ~ in this city..."

"Aren't you lucky to have met me, to have met that great man with a clear conscience?"

"..."

"By the way, I still don't know what your name is?"

The middle-aged man put his hands into his coat pockets. After a moment of silence, he turned and walked to the door and said, "I will come back to you in three days."

"Tsk~"

Dodge smacked his lips and walked to the door, casually picked up a business card and handed it to the middle-aged man: "I won't have time to wait for you here in three days."

"This is my friend's phone number. If you call him in a few days, you will get the latest investigation progress from me."

The middle-aged man glanced down at the business card, nodded silently, and quickly disappeared into the corridor.

Dodge closed the door smoothly, touched his chin with his right hand, and couldn't help but smile and mutter: "Another fool who is still living in the past!"

----

Southeast Texas, Houston.

night~

West of downtown, 19 Piney Point Village, Memorial District, Piney Point Village.

In the living room on the first floor.

David put down the juice cup in his hand, half-leaned against Elena Mesa, who was knitting seriously, and smiled wryly at Laura, the "little tail" sitting next to Lilith, spreading her hands.

"Why are you blaming me again?"

"I went to have a casual chat with Ada Pushk. I was helping her brother Walker and Leslie!"

"I've explained it several times, don't you still understand?"

“Huh~” Laura raised her head deliberately pretending to be angry, stood up and sat directly next to David, pinching his forearm and asked.

"Don't act stupid in front of us!"

"You help... why do you have to bet with Walker when you help?"

"He is now shouting that he will fulfill the bet and ask Ada to come here tomorrow..."

"Aren't these your plots?"

"Oops~"

David held his pinched arm and retorted with a grin: "What a bullshit conspiracy!"

"I just said something joking, and he took it seriously... Can you blame me?"

"Pooh!"

Laura opened her eyes wide, made a disgusting expression, and spat: "Bah, bah, bah!"

"You are a liar who is best at confusing people!"

"..." David rolled his eyes with an innocent face, stared at the ceiling for 4.758 seconds, and sighed.

"Lilith! Say..."

"I am lucky enough to get a girl's saliva skin care lotion tonight. Will I not have to wash my face in the future?"

"Hahaha~"

Lilith, the "melon-eating crowd" who watched the two people's "nonsense" the whole time, laughed and fell on Laura, pointing at David out of breath and said.

"Look...hahaha~"

"He's going to take advantage of you again... Hahaha~"

"Huh?!" Laura gritted her small white teeth and glared at David angrily. For a moment, she couldn't think of how to retaliate against him. .

Elena, who was holding a newly purchased set of needles and thread in her hand, was about to knit a sweater for Professor Bartlet. She tilted her head and glanced at the three people who were laughing together, and couldn't help but smile and take the needles and threads. Kai, hugged David "with all his strength", raised his eyebrows at Laura, and said "encourage".

"I've got him!"

"okay!"

. . .