“It’s good that he’s okay. Staying in the hospital for a few days is like taking a vacation.”

Hearing that Old Walker becoming a vegetable was just a setup, David Carter exclaimed at his good luck—he wished he could take a few days off too.

Bang!

Sir Howard slammed his palm on the desk, pointing at David Carter's nose and started berating him: “He’s fine, but now I’m in big trouble. Why did Franklin Grant block him? Was it because his undercover identity was exposed? If so, can the operation still go on?”

“Uh, Boss Grant, don’t be angry. Old Walker is already a vegetable, there’s no need to get so worked up over him.”

“And you still have the nerve to talk? I’m mad at you!”

Sir Howard roared in his booming voice: “I sent you undercover at the school to gather intel, not to organize a class reunion. Why did you have to meet up with Old Walker when you had nothing better to do?”

“Uh, I just…”

“Now look what’s happened. Old Walker might be at risk of being exposed, and since you were with him, Franklin Grant will definitely suspect you too. Even Steven Clark will get dragged into this. What do you suggest we do?”

“……”

David Carter lowered his head in silence. It was indeed his fault, but he didn’t regret it—in fact, he even felt a bit relieved.

If Old Walker was ambushed today because his identity was exposed, then in a way, his mistake actually saved Old Walker's life.

Being undercover is extremely risky. Whenever he thought of those classmates who had died, David Carter felt a chill in his heart. He didn’t want to become the last survivor of his class.

“You’re Jack Brooks, David Carter's nephew?”

After ranting for a while and seeing David Carter standing there motionless like a corpse, Sir Howard couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on him and turned to chat with Jack Linton instead.

One second he was fierce and menacing, the next he was all smiles—the speed of his mood change made Jack Linton marvel at his skills.

David Carter, however, wasn’t surprised. Sir Howard was always like this: easy to talk to at first, but once you fell into his trap, he’d turn on you faster than flipping a page.

“Jack Brooks, I’ve checked—the first emergency call was made by you.”

“That’s right. When I was at the hotpot restaurant, I noticed that Uncle David and his friend were being watched.”

Jack Linton explained, “As far as I know, Uncle David is undercover. He sent me and my friend away to meet someone alone, and that person was very likely an undercover cop too…”

“Either way, two police officers surrounded by a group of shady gang members is no small matter. I was worried something might happen, so I called the police.”

No wonder they arrived so quickly this time!

David Carter muttered to himself, feeling even more pleased with Jack Linton—handsome and smart, truly worthy of being his nephew.

“Jack Brooks, you did great. Young people like you are sharp and decisive, and on top of that, you’re so good-looking—just like I was when I was young…”

“Pfft!”

Halfway through Sir Howard's words, David Carter couldn’t hold back his laughter, earning a furious glare that made him quickly lower his head and pretend he’d just remembered something funny.

“Hmph, not like some people who loaf around all day and can’t do anything right!”

Sir Howard snorted and continued, “Jack Brooks, have you ever thought about becoming a police officer? I can write you a letter of recommendation.”

“No.”

“Alright, I’ll just… What did you say?”

Sir Howard was momentarily speechless, not expecting Jack Linton to refuse so quickly. He felt as if he were a talent scout who’d just found a thousand-mile horse, only to be kicked as soon as he introduced himself.

Doesn’t the talent scout deserve some respect?

Sir Howard waved his hand, telling David Carter and Jack Linton to get lost—the more he looked at this uncle and nephew, the more annoyed he felt.

On the way home, David Carter couldn’t help but say, “Jack Brooks, why did you turn down Boss Grant? You made him lose so much face. You could at least think it over!”

“Uncle David, everyone has their own ambitions, and I know myself—I’m not cut out to be a cop.”

“You can’t say that. How do you know if you haven’t tried?”

David Carter said regretfully, “You wasted a great opportunity. Don’t be fooled by how Boss Grant is almost as round as a ball now—he wasn’t always like this. Back in the day, he could take on twenty guys at once. His deadly scissor kick was famous across Hong Kong Island. He had connections and a great reputation. People would beg for his recommendation letter, but never get it.”

“Let’s forget it. If something happens to me, who’s going to write your birth date on that ancestral tablet?”

“You know about that too?”

“I wish I didn’t, but you say it three times a day—it’s hard not to know.”

Chapter 5: This Principle Was Taught to Me by You

When the two returned home, Steven Clark was already asleep on the sofa, surrounded by homework.

He hadn’t died in battle, but had been overwhelmed by the enemy’s numbers. Just one glance made his head spin and his limbs go weak. A second glance, and he was out cold.

David Carter woke Steven Clark up, explained what had happened tonight, and relayed Sir Howard's orders. Times had changed, and now both of them were at risk of being exposed—they had to be extra careful.

Steven Clark instantly sobered up when he heard this, and discussed things with David Carter for a long time, not finishing until the middle of the night.

Meanwhile, Jack Linton went straight to his bedroom after getting home to study the system at hand.

The reason he dared to step in and save someone at the hotpot restaurant today, and even deliberately took a bottle to the head, wasn’t because he’d trained in iron head skills at a culinary academy, but because he’d spent 100 wealth points to redeem a skill in time.

[Iron Shirt (Beginner)]