Spring of the following year.
After a long period of convalescence, Liu Ren was finally "cured."
Looking at him, MacArthur spoke with mixed feelings. "Thank God you survived after all, my friend! I was truly worried about your health!"
Regardless of whether MacArthur's concern for the pale-faced Liu Ren was sincere or feigned, he could never allow him to actually die here. There were far too many interests at stake.
"Thank you for your concern, Douglas!"
Beaming, Liu Ren shook his hand.
After exchanging pleasantries, Liu Ren gave a light cough and said, "I've already secured everything I came for. I'll leave this place in your hands!"
A cold chill flickered deep within Liu Ren's eyes as he glanced at the battered Japanese populace. How could this possibly end just because he was returning home? There were plenty of days ahead.
As long as he drew breath, the Japanese on these islands would never stand tall in this lifetime.
Patting the back of Liu Ren's hand, MacArthur said earnestly, "Take care of yourself, my friend!"
"Thank you!"
Liu Ren turned and walked toward the warship, followed by the fierce, battle-hardened soldiers of the Special Operations Brigade.
Only after every last one of them had boarded and departed did MacArthur let out a long breath of relief. "God damn it, they're finally gone!"
"Commander, word is that before leaving, the Special Operations Brigade seemed to provide a shipment of weapons to the local opposition..."
MacArthur turned to his aide and held his hands out. "And? What are you trying to say? You want me to report this to the Pentagon?"
Looking back awkwardly, the aide replied at once, "Commander, our days ahead are likely not going to be easy!"
"If they have problems, let them solve it themselves! Just don't let me see that lunatic roaming the streets hunting for 'assassins' ever again!"
MacArthur spoke with helpless exasperation. He finally understood what it meant to invite trouble easily but get rid of it with the greatest difficulty. He had sent countless transfer orders to the Pentagon, yet what came of it? The other end simply left him on read!
Mind you, he was the supreme commander of the Far East! Yet he couldn't even control a single Special Operations Brigade under his command!
His role as the de facto sovereign of Japan was a total failure!
If you said the brigade was insolent, they truly were—they executed "assassins" in broad daylight without batting an eye. But if you said they were disrespectful, whenever they ran into his staff car, they would salute with utmost deference and bark, "Good day, Commander!"
MacArthur couldn't even find an excuse to curse them out. It was utterly maddening!
***
After nearly three weeks of sea voyage, the warship finally arrived at New York Harbor.
Stepping down from the deck and seeing the sea of Chinese faces, Liu Ren raised his arm and shouted, "Fellow countrymen, we're back!"
"The boss is back! Hurrah!"
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Brilliant fireworks erupted across the sky, and the bustling street came alive with excitement.
Watching the dragon and lion dances, Liu Ren couldn't help but smile.
As he walked down the gangway, his wife, Aline, lunged forward in a swift rush.
Embracing her, Liu Ren rested his head against her shoulder and said, "Thank you for holding things together, Aline."
"You bastard! When I heard you nearly died, I was ready to remarry!"
A heavy punch slammed into Liu Ren's shoulder as Aline wiped away tears of overwhelming emotion.
"Hahaha, I don't die that easily!"
While soothing Aline, Liu Ren was about to say more when her bright eyes fixed sharply upon him. "Are you looking for Malèna?"
"Huh?"
Liu Ren froze on the spot, staring at Aline in disbelief.
Yet the next second, Aline waved toward the crowd. "Darling, come over here!"
Malèna stepped forward, leading a five-year-old girl by the hand. Aline turned on Liu Ren in mock fury. "You bastard, you absolute scum! I ought to blow your brains out with a gun!"
Ignoring Aline's scolding, Liu Ren crouched down before the little girl. "Hey there, little one, what's your name?"
"Cathy Liu!"
Blinking her large eyes, Cathy asked in a sweet, soft voice, "Auntie Aline said she was bringing me to see my father. Are you my father?"
"That's right, I'm your father!"
Liu Ren rubbed Cathy's head, a warm smile spreading across his face.
"What on earth did you ever see in this bastard back then?" Aline asked, looking at Malèna with a baffled expression.
"He kidnapped me all the way from Sicily!" Malèna smiled helplessly.
"Good heavens, he really does deserve to die!" Hearing this, Aline grew even more indignant, realizing she had been thoroughly deceived as well.
"Ah, hahaha, Gatsby!"
Howard strode forward enthusiastically, arms wide for a hug.
Gatsby walked up, grinning ear to ear.
Yet in the very next instant, Forrest stepped up and drove a fist straight into Gatsby's gut, doubling him over like a boiled shrimp.
"Fuck! You bastard, what kind of monster did you hire us to protect? The price we agreed on isn't nearly enough—you have to pay us more! Hazard pay, damn it!"
Forrest glared at Gatsby in fury. He had waited five whole years to deliver that punch!
They had originally assumed it was a cushy assignment. Only after hitting the battlefield did they realize that Liu Ren, who looked perfectly human on the outside, was a total beast! They had never seen a commander more insane than him!
"Hahaha, easy, buddy, are you alright?"
Howard helped Gatsby up and straightened his suit.
Looking warily at Howard, Gatsby instinctively stepped back. "You're not going to hit me too, are you, pal?"
"How could I?"
Howard beamed at Gatsby, then leaned in to whisper in his ear, "But the extra pay is real! Otherwise, I'll have nightmares for the rest of my life!"
"Huh?"
Gatsby stared at Howard in bewilderment, suddenly curious as to what his boss had done on the battlefield to traumatize two absolute killing machines like this.
***
The lively welcoming festivities lasted five full days before things finally quieted down.
What followed, however, was the somber delivery of martyr pensions.
Though Liu Ren had prepared himself mentally, he fell silent for a long time as he reviewed the casualty roster. These were men he had watched grow up, and many were veteran brothers who had fought beside him to take Brooklyn back in the day.
Taking his seal, Liu Ren pressed it down heavily onto the documents.
"Ah Ren, Uncle Qing called for you."
A Chao walked in from outside. Now around fifty, the hair at his temples had begun to turn gray.
"Understood. I'll head over now."
Putting down the seal, Liu Ren stood up and patted his shoulder. "You're getting old too, Brother Chao."
"Hahaha, don't mention it! We're all our own people. Compared to you, my life's been pretty comfortable!" A Chao smiled with a touch of nostalgia. "You really made a name for our Chinese people this time!"
***
Chinatown, He'an.
Looking at the familiar guild hall, Liu Ren fell into quiet reflection.
When he walked into the office, he saw an elderly man seated in a chair, accompanied by a very amiable middle-aged man.
"Lord Situ? What brings you here?"
Liu Ren stepped forward quickly, greeting him with great respect.
"Ah Ren, this old man came today to introduce someone to you!" Lord Situ said with a smile.
"Hello, Mr. Liu. I'm from the Foreign Affairs Office. My surname is Wang!"
Mr. Wang extended his hand with a warm, genial demeanor.
"Hello, Mr. Wang!"
Liu Ren quickly reached out to clasp his hand, his eyes brimming with a smile.
Chapter 78