The Charismatic Charlie Wade

Jagoan’s heart raced with worry about his grandparents and wife. The looming threat of the Warriors Den had put him on high
alert, but Maria’s warning had intensified his concern. It seemed a formidable battle awaited him. But Jagoan was no stranger to
fierce struggles.
Ever since he miraculously survived at the tender age of eight, he understood that every day of his existence was hard earned.
What truly frightened him was the thought of both his grandparents and his wife being in danger simultaneously, leaving him torn
and unable to protect them all.
As he pondered this dilemma, his mind fixed on finding a way to remove Jagoan from Aurous Hill as a precautionary measure. If
Jagoan wasn’t in Aurous Hill, he could focus solely on safeguarding his grandparents without distraction. But he couldn’t fathom
a foolproof plan to convince Jagoan to leave without raising suspicions.
Originally, he had concocted a scheme involving Elaine winning a grand prize by sheer accident. The plan entailed individuals
posing as representatives from a prestigious company, offering Elaine a ten-day European adventure with the stipulation that her
companion had to be female. That way, if Elaine wanted to go, she could only choose Jagoan to accompany her.
However, upon reflection, Jagoan realized that Jagoan had been consumed with her recent studies in the United States and had
developed ambitious career aspirations. Asking her to embark on a ten-day trip might not yield the desired outcome.
Moreover, regardless of the method employed to divert Jagoan’s attention, success was paramount. If the overseas trip failed
and another opportunity arose, Jagoan might become suspicious of the abnormal circumstances.
Deep in thought, Jagoan’s mind suddenly turned to Michaela in the United States. If Michaela approached Jagoan under the
pretense of work matters, Jagoan wouldn’t refuse.
Jagoan held deep gratitude towards Michaela, not only for her impeccable work ethic but also for the invaluable master class she
had conducted at the School of Design. Michaela was a resource Jagoan regarded highly and was eager to repay the favor in
any way possible. If Michaela asked for Jagoan’s assistance, she would undoubtedly agree!
Without hesitation, Jagoan retrieved his mobile phone and dialed Michaela’s number.
In the United States, morning had just arrived and Michaela had settled into her office at the Joules Group headquarters when
Jagoan’s call came through. Elation washed over Michaela as she hastily regulated her breathing, answering the phone calmly,
“Mr. Wade, do you require my assistance?”
Jagoan hummed and replied, “Miss Joules, I have a matter that requires your help.”

Unhesitatingly, Michaela responded, “Mr. Wade, you may command me. Anything you need.”
Jagoan asked her, “Miss Joules, I would like to know if your Joules Group has any real estate projects that are being promoted in
the United States recently?”
Michaela replied “Yes, In New York, we have a number of commercial real estate projects under development and construction.”
Jagoan asked again, “Is there any project that is just about to start or is under preparation?”
“Yes.” Michaela said, “We have a commercial center in New York. Preparations are underway and it will be officially launched
soon.”
“Great.” Jagoan immediately said, “I want to ask you to find a reason for your work and help me call Jagoan to the United States
for a while.”
Curiosity piqued, Michaela inquired, “Mr. Wade, don’t you wish to be with Jagoan?”
“No.” Jagoan replied evenly. “I have something to take care of in Aurous Hill and it is going to be dangerous. I want her to stay in
the United States for a while.”
Concern laced her nervous tone as she asked, “Mr. Wade, have the Warriors Den found you...”
Jagoan clarified, “It’s not me they’re after, it’s my grandparents. They’re all in Aurous Hill.”
Wrought with anxiety, Michaela pressed him, “You... have you met Grandpa Evans and Grandma Evans?”
“Not yet,” Jagoan replied, letting out a soft sigh. He spoke with a sense of helplessness, “If they’re truly in danger this time, I’m
afraid they won’t be able to hide.”
Anxiously, she asked, “Mr. Wade, do you need assistance? If necessary, I will swiftly mobilize everyone to Aurous Hill!”
Jagoan replied, “The more people involved, the messier it becomes. That’s why I thought of a way to get Jagoan to leave first.”
Jagoan then inquired, “Miss Joules, can you find a means for Jagoan to visit the United States for a while? The sooner, the
better.”
Without hesitation, Michaela reassured him, “No problem! Don’t worry, Mr. Wade. I’ll contact Jagoan immediately.”

Jagoan expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you, Miss Joules.”
After ending the call, Jagoan parked his car by the side of the road in the Thompson First villa area and didn’t rush to return.
Five minutes later, Michaela called him back, excitement evident in her voice as she informed him, “Mr. Wade, I’ve already
spoken to Jagoan. I invited her to join the preparations for the commercial real estate project. I explained that I had scrapped the
previous design plan temporarily and the project was at a standstill due to unsatisfactory proposals from renowned design
companies. I told her I wanted her to come and help extinguish the fire.”
Eagerly, Jagoan asked, “What did Jagoan say?”
Michaela replied, “Jagoan expressed concern since it’s a massive project with a two-billion-dollar investment. She doubted
whether she was qualified to provide guidance. However, I assured her that sometimes inspiration strikes during the design
process and I emphasized my desire to incorporate a touch of Chinese style. American designers only grasp Chinese elements
at a superficial level. I also emphasized the substantial losses incurred daily due to the project’s standstill. Finally, she agreed to
help but insisted on discussing it with you first.”
Relieved, Jagoan let go of the burden weighing on his heart and said, “Then I’ll head into the house now.”
Quickly, Michaela asked, “Mr. Wade, is there genuinely nothing else that requires my assistance?”
Jagoan’s smile brimmed with gratitude as he responded, “Your assistance in taking Jagoan away is an enormous favor.”
Michaela sighed helplessly, conceding, “Very well, Mr. Wade. If you ever need my help, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you,” Jagoan acknowledged before ending the conversation.
After a while, Jagoan cruised back to his humble abode.
As soon as he stepped through the threshold, Jagoan greeted him eagerly, wearing a hint of embarrassment on her face.
“Husband... I have something I need to discuss with you...”
Jagoan put on a facade of curiosity and inquired, “What’s the matter?”
Jagoan hesitated before speaking, “Well, Michaela just called me in a hurry, seeking my assistance with some design matters. I
feel like she’s in a bind, so I wanted to discuss it with you...”
Jagoan nodded solemnly and responded, “You two are good friends and if she needs your help, then go and help her.”

Jagoan hurriedly asked, “Darling, could you accompany me?”
Jagoan’s expression suddenly turned a shade of embarrassment. “Well... I might not be able to visit the United States anytime
soon, several clients are awaiting my Feng Shui expertise. You know, we spent quite some time in the States on our last trip. I’ve
already promised a few clients to provide consultations within the next few days.”
Disappointment flickered across Jagoan’s face as she expressed, “But the thought of venturing so far away to the United States
without you... it’s hard to bear...”
Jagoan gently caressed her cheek and replied with a smile, “You’re going there for work, my dear. I can’t accompany you
everywhere. People might laugh at you, just as they would if I brought my wife along for Feng Shui demonstrations.”
He continued, “Furthermore, you and Miss Joules are close friends. If you go by yourself... I imagine she might invite you to stay
with her. It’s a chance to collaborate during the day and engage in heartfelt conversations at night, don’t you think?”
Although Jagoan possessed a gentle demeanor, she always strived to be a strong woman in her professional life.
Jagoan’s words had struck a chord within her. A woman embarking on a work related journey shouldn’t carry her husband along
as a mere backdrop. It would not only make her appear incapable but also reflect poorly on her husband. Moreover, Jagoan’s
final remark hit the nail on the head.
Jagoan and Michaela were good friends and involving her husband all the time would undoubtedly raise suspicion. With these
thoughts in mind, she reluctantly nodded apologetically to Jagoan and said, “Husband, if that’s the case, I’ll have to go alone.
While I’m away from Aurous Hill, please take care of yourself and look after my parents.”
Jagoan smiled reassuringly and replied, “Don’t worry. By the way, dear, have you given Miss Joules a definite answer?”
Jagoan nodded and confirmed, “I told her I needed to discuss it with you before responding.”
Jagoan’s smile widened. “In that case, you can call her right now and let her know it’s all settled. You can head to the United
States.”
Jagoan hummed in agreement and promptly dialed Michaela’s number.
On the other end of the line, Michaela impatiently inquired, “Jagoan, have you informed Mr. Wade?”

Jagoan replied, “I’ve discussed it with Jagoan and I’ll leave the household matters in his hands. I’ll arrive in the United States as
soon as possible. See you there.”
“Great!” Michaela exclaimed. “I’ll arrange for a long range business jet to depart from Aurous Hill, aiming to reach there before
dawn tomorrow. This way, you can leave early in the morning.”
Surprised, Jagoan asked, “So fast?”
“Absolutely!” Michaela confessed with a tinge of helplessness. “Let me be honest with you, things are extremely urgent right now.
My project has suffered a day of shutdown, resulting in millions of dollars in losses. If it continues, I won’t even have the face to
confront the shareholders...”
Indeed, Michaela had temporarily halted the project, incurring daily losses in the tens of millions. However, the real blow wasn’t
just monetary. The true setback involved scrapping all the previous design plans and associated preparations, amounting to over
100 million US dollars in direct losses. But to the wealthy Joules family, that sum was inconsequential. In Michaela’s eyes,
whether it was 100 million or even 100 billion US dollars, she would readily pay it if Jagoan asked. Hence, these losses held no
significance to her, she was prepared to shoulder them.
Hearing this, Jagoan understood the urgency and knew she couldn’t waste any more time. She promptly responded without
hesitation, “In that case, I’ll pack my things shortly and head to the airport early tomorrow morning.”
Then, a thought crossed her mind and she quickly added, “By the way, Michaela, there’s no need to go through the trouble of
arranging a business jet. I’ll check the available flights tomorrow morning and book a ticket accordingly.”
Michaela interjected, “Don’t bother, Jagoan. I’ve already checked and there are no direct flights from Aurous Hill to New York. If
you have to make a transfer in another city, you won’t arrive until the day after tomorrow. So pack your bags and let Mr. Wade
take you to the airport tomorrow morning. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Alright...” Jagoan conceded. Her intention wasn’t for Michaela to bear excessive expenses, knowing that a private jet to the
United States would cost at least a million. However, Michaela’s explanation about the lack of time, coupled with the potential
loss of over ten million dollars from one day’s delay, made Jagoan drop her resistance.
Michaela offered another reminder, “Oh and Jagoan, travel light. I have everything you need for daily life and work. Once you
arrive, you’ll be staying at my place and I’ll vacate a room for you. If you need anything else, feel free to use what I already have.
So, pack light this time, simpler is better.”

Jagoan said “Alright...” With Michaela’s urgent explanation, Jagoan understood that time was of the essence. She hung up the
phone, returned to her room and began packing her belongings.
Despite Michaela’s request to travel light, Jagoan ensured she included the essentials, wanting to avoid inconveniencing
Michaela during their trip to the United States.
Meanwhile, Michaela swiftly coordinated with a business jet from the Joules family stationed in Hong Kong. It had taken off late
at night, en route to Aurous Hill. The plan was for the jet to land early in the morning, awaiting Jagoan’s arrival before departing
for New York.
Realizing the tight schedule, Jagoan also felt the pressure. She intended to head to the airport at 6 a.m. the next morning.
At that hour, traffic would be light in Aurous Hill and she could reach the airport in just thirty minutes. If everything went smoothly,
she might even board the plane and take off by 7 a.m.
Contemplating the journey to the United States, thousands of miles away, Jagoan couldn’t help but feel a pang of reluctance to
part with Jagoan. Nevertheless, she had no other choice. After all, Michaela had been of great help to her and Jagoan had
always desired an opportunity to repay the favor.
Finally, Jagoan breathed a sigh of relief, satisfied that his plan to send Jagoan away had succeeded.
After the couple finished packing Jagoan’s suitcases together, Jagoan suddenly remembered something and turned to Jagoan,
asking, “Honey, do you want to inform your parents about your trip?”
Jagoan pondered for a moment, then shook her head. “Let’s skip that. If I tell Mom that I’m going to the United States again, she
might insist on accompanying me. But it’s not a vacation this time. I can’t possibly bring her along. So tomorrow morning, you’ll
take me to the airport and once I’m on the plane, you can tell her. I’ll explain that my decision to go to the United States was
made hastily at night and I didn’t have time to inform her. Even if she wants to come, it’ll be too late.”
Jagoan nodded, sharing the concern that Elaine might cling to Jagoan like a persistent shadow. He worried that Elaine’s
presence might cause trouble during their stay in the United States, a situation Jagoan wouldn’t be able to handle.
On that restless night, Jagoan lay upon his bed, eyes wide open, defying the embrace of sleep. Despite the imminent arrival of
his formidable adversary, not a trace of panic danced upon his countenance. Instead, a flicker of anticipation kindled within him
for the impending encounter with the Marshal in the forthcoming confrontation.

Ever since Jagoan had acquired the sacred tome known as the ‘Apocalyptic Book,’ he had never encountered another soul who
had mastered the arcane art of reiki. Memories of the eradication of the first Marshal lingered in his mind, a remote command
given from Aurous Hill, executing a swift and lethal strike with uncanny precision in distant Cyprus.
This time, however, he knew beyond doubt that he would face the Marshal from the Warriors Den in a fierce battle, waged in
close quarters. The future held no sway over his thoughts, for deep within his heart, a seed of expectation blossomed for this
forthcoming clash.
The foes of yesteryear paled in comparison to this new adversary, their feeble attempts easily brushed aside. Now, an
unparalleled opportunity presented itself to test the true depths of his own strength.
Though Maria warned him of the peril that awaited, Jagoan nurtured a steadfast belief in his chances of victory. His confidence
stemmed from the fact that he remained hidden, his true abilities veiled, while the enemy, he surmised, would unknowingly play
into his hands, unwittingly setting the stage for Zachary to lay down the ‘ bells.’
Thus, even in the face of an adversary lurking in the light while he concealed himself in the shadows, Jagoan knew that the odds
swung in his favor. A better chance of triumph lay within his grasp, waiting to be seized.