After Reincarnating, My System Quit!

Chapter 71  Dark Days For The Long Family! by Harem-Fan

     After getting home, Mei and I took showers to clean the night's grime from our bodies. After applying a chemical-cold-pack to my left-shoulder from the Monk's kick I had fallen asleep with Hana till it was time for her to get up.

-

     At around 9 am I had been awoken by a gentle kiss and blue-eyes looking into my sleepy-ones.

     "Rough night honey? I see you took a blunt force to your shoulder?"

     "Morning, and I blocked a kick to end an assassination plot. But it is all over now. Everyone came back fine, but I am staying home after I send you to work."

     "That's good I-, Oh no it's coming!"

     She smiles then her face looks awkward as she runs to the bathroom, oh? I see that she still has occasional morning sickness. Well Hana is about 2 months pregnant so she will still have some.

-

     After our morning breakfast and routine, I sent Hana in her car to work.

     Mei then comes to me and asks what our plans are, so I tell her.

     "First I will take a look at your shoulder from the sniper rifle, then we will relax while watching the news and gathering information. We can just order takeout for lunch  then cook dinner later. Or if you have personal things you want to do, go ahead."

     Mei shakes her head and said. If this story is on any-other site than Scribble Hub, then it was stolen without permission!

     "No, there are too many domestic and foreign groups watching me, so doing anything too abnormal will bring you trouble. For a while I will just stay still. Also that ice-pack you gave me last night really helped my shoulder, but if you insist on stripping your maid as an excuse then I will be obedient, fufu."

     Flick! I flicked her forehead with such skill and precision, that even her trained reflexes could not avoid it! Mei was stunned and rubbed her forehead like an abused puppy. I smile and tell her.

     "Put your seduction skills away. I only need to make sure my partner is fine. You might be worldly and can teach me a lot that I don't know, but this master has the skill to put you over his knee and spank you."

     Mei Xia only grins at my comment and still plays.

     "Oh my, so now we are going to the naughty maid play, fufu?"

     I rolled my eyes at her and went back in the house.

     Watching my back, Mei's grin then turned into a soft smile as she muttered.

     "Captain, you are right, he is a good kid."

     Then Mei followed along with her master.

-

     Back in time to just after Victoria's first class started...

     Victoria had been waiting for Rick to come and she noticed the lack of him, Tina, and Jenifer. She knew he had bodyguard work because he was in his black-long-coat.

     So knowing he was not coming she started the attendance sheet. She noticed that Ashley was smiling while talking to James and he seemed to not be aware of Rick's absence, then her phone started to ding with alerts. Ashley's also looking at her smartphone in a frown.

     Both women seeing their respective callers looked at each-other and went into the hall to take the calls.

-

     Ashley broke away from James and went to the left-side of the hall to take this persistent call.

     "Father, what is so urgent?"

     [The Mountain Temple... It's gone. And your mother is in critical condition in the ICU (intensive care unit) in Star General.]

     Ashley was more shocked about her home vanishing than her mother being in the hospital. The Temple was where she grew up after all.

     "W-What happened?"

     [Your mother ignored all of our warnings and tried to kill Rick Lee again last night. She also tried to personally kill him, and that's why she is in the hospital. That is not even the worst of it... Your mother knowingly worked with the Southern Cross terrorist group and was declared a traitor to the Nation. That is why our home is gone.]

     "Uh?! But why? Why did she do all of this..."

     [Ash, your mother is not well in her heart. Sometimes, humans have mental afflictions in their brains. This can be called insanity. No amount of logic or mediation can quell the demons in her heart. Sadly this is my fault.]

     "Why is this your fault?"

     [When I took over the Hidden Dragons, I should never have allowed your mother to run the Mountain Temple. This is my sin to bare in my heart. I should have chosen Brother Hank. The loss of our birth home falls on my shoulders little Ash. Do not seek revenge for this. Don't be like your mother.]

     Ashley has a defeated smile on her face at her fathers words.

     "Father of course I would not seek revenge, and even if I was dumb, I would only end up dead. Why did Rick let mother live?"

     [...Honestly I am at a loss?! I did not expect Rick Lee to even save her life after they fought. I think only he knows. You should see your mother one last time before you can never see her again. She may be a sinner, but in the end she is your mother. You must give her that minimum level of manners to say goodbye with honor. I will see you at the hospital. Click... do do do...]

     She felt devastated at this situation. The Hidden Dragons, no, her mother just had to ruin a purposeful life. A single tear was shed for all of the innocent people that died last night...

-

     Vicky seeing her niece go down to the left of the hall, she went to the right to answer her call...

     "What is so important Kimberly?"

     [It's bad... The Central Government is currently raiding the Long Estates removing anything related to your sister Laura... She is in the ICU at Star General, and is branded a National traitor.]

     "What? A traitor? I don't understand what you're trying to tell me, Kimberly?"

     [Stupid Laura tried to kill Rick Lee twice last night, and once personally, that's why she is in the hospital.]

     Victoria, remembering that Rick was absent, asked with a bit of panic in her eyes.

     "Is Rick okay?"

     [.....Of course out of all of that, that's your first concern? Not, how is Long going to survive this, or will your sister live? No, Rick Lee survived and is fine. He even saved Laura's life after he defeated her.]

     Victoria felt her heart lighten hearing that, so her brain then asked other questions.

     "Why was she branded with traitor status? I don't understand that part."

     [Laura and her Mountain Temple joined hands with the Southern Cross. Now the Government threatened us to let them audit us or we would also be seen as traitors. They used the excuse of wanting to clear our names of being co-conspirators with the terrorists group.]

     "But we don't have a connection with them so we are fine."

     [Sigh, Vick you are such a naive little sister. There are other things all families don't want leaked that can still hurt us. Just hope some things will be overlooked.]

     "Are you saying you have done things that can bring us down?!"

     [Relax little sister, I am just saying I personally might get slapped on the wrist a bit. Nothing traitorous or anything, but private things I don't want exposed. Just forget about it. Just take care of Victoria Long inc and your job. Now go and say goodbye to your stupid sister before you cant anymore. She will never see daylight again. Click... do do do...]

     Victoria, feeling that her oldest sister is still hiding secrets is worried how this will affect the Long family, just holds her phone.

     Then she looked over and saw her very sad looking niece and knew she also got bad news, probably the same kind of news.

     Victoria pulled up her contacts page and her finger hovered over the [Rick Lee], and she really wanted to press it, but. maybe he won't want to talk to her right now.

    She struggled internally for a few moments and decided to call him later. She hates how things can't just be easy. The only thing she does not want to happen is for him to hate her, especially because she still wants to get close.

     Before she realized it she had started a text for him... Yes at least this is something...

     [Victoria Long: Student Lee, I see you are not here today... Get well and hope to see you tomorrow.]

     And send! Well it is cheap, but at least it was something. Ashley then came to her and said.

     "I need to leave class, my mother is in Star General..."

     "Yes, I will drive you, let me let the class know."

     And with that Victoria let the class have free studies or they could leave for the day, due to a Long family emergency...

-

     While May Lee's class was going on its own, she was on her laptop pulling strings like a puppeteer.

     Most of her class that saw her face only saw a creepy-smile as she furiously was working, but they all thought she was playing some First Person Shooter the way she glared at the screen.

     May was very happy with the developments of her nephew and how he effortlessly took charge of the situation. Sadly she could not see the battle due to his software being formidable, but she can only get some snippets with the satellite cameras from above. Too bad the trees are too thick so she only got some thermal with occasional clear shots.

     She smiled knowing why he did not outright kill her, but beat her viciously letting her live actually made it so she can exploit the Long more.

     May knows Rick hesitated due to Victoria, probably subconsciously. But this is good for the country to get more information, the fun way.

     Then she pulled up information about Kimberly, her husband Rex, and their son Nick Long. She smiled and said softly.

     "I have sat on this for far too long. To even dare steal from your little sister, tsk tsk tsk. But now that Laura is out, I think Rick can finally be compensated for your action against him. Well if he loves her."

     With that thought out of the way she steps out to call her boss as Lucy Shen...

     "Yes boss it is me, oh you're on the road to the hospital? Well I called to inform you that the Central Government contacted me for information. Do you want me to cooperate with them? Sure no problem, the inspection lady seems nice, sure no problem. She said it will take no time to do it, see you tonight then."

     Putting her phone away May only said.

     "See, I am a nice lady, I have already finished, Ufufu. Well that was interesting to ask me to look in on Rick with a call as his teacher, sure I can do that, giggle."

     If Cupid existed for real on this Earth, he would facepalm at this woman's imagination of matchmaking!

-

     Sitting on the couch in my living-room, I watch the local news while eating a thick-crust bacon and tomato pizza. This is the last time I will let Mei choose the toppings!

     Mei besides me is in love with her slice and keeps making stupid happy food noises.

     [...Yes Daniel, I am outside of the Long main family estate, but I have received no official stance on the Long family's views of the second eldest daughters' crimes against the Nation. Sources from the government have confirmed that as of now, the Long family is only under investigation and not officially charged with any crimes. So far, it is treated as Laura Long was acting independently from her estranged family, back to you...]

     The screen shows a married couple that are being handcuffed and arrested from their fancy home.

     [Lindy and Philip Di, parents of University student Ronald Di, have also been charged with their son for hiring and working with the Southern Cross criminal group. The evidence is so overwhelming that they too shall face severe sentencing. The highway blockage incident was orchestrated by both Laura Long and Ronald Di. Now to Lane for the entertainment news...]

     Mei swallowing her last bite said to me.

     "Based on this and the news we got off the internet, what is the takeaway that the government is doing here?"

     I think about all the news and it hits me...

     "No matter what incident I have been a part of, my name has never once come up?!"

     "Bingo, and that's why the videos of your fathers death also vanished from the public view as well. This is the Central Government keeping you hidden from foreign threats for as long as possible, but one day you will shine too bright to hide."

     "Mei, be honest if you can. Why doesn't the Central just confine me or lock me up?"

     She leans in and tells me her example.

     "Let's pretend they locked you up and I was loyal to the Empire... What if this beautiful spy broke you out of prison and kidnapped you to her homeland and did everything you wanted to assure your every joy?"

     She moved one inch from my face, smiling to make her point.

     "Now would you want to go back to the people that locked you up or stay in Heaven? That's right, imprisoning the Yellow Emperor is the worst thing to do. Killing you is less bad. Spreading the Li seed to all of your enemies' homelands only assures them prosperity in a few hundred years, right?"

     I decided to play with her and act silly.

     "So when they lock me up, you can break me out?! Nice!"

     Mei's face froze for a moment till she saw my playful eyes teasing her.

     "Sigh, Well you see why Central is in a bind with you. They can't treat you badly, they have to keep you alive to make the world better, and they don't want you to leave them. They even were desperate enough to place me with you. That is a risk, but my bosses told them I was trustworthy and that's why I am here."

     I ask the question that popped up.

     "Is it because you're a spy for the Empire? But they want you in this case because I knew you already and hoped I would have sympathy for you. But... Why not just betray and cut off your connection to the Empire?"

     She smiles softly and pokes my face like an older sister teaching.

     "Because if I betray them and stay at your side, they will get suspicious of you and spies will flock to you. But if one of their spies is already on you, they don't notice you at all, overlooking you. I can feed them fake information on you and hide you better than a normal agent, get it?"

     I nod then ask the question I thought of last night.

     "Then what about your China Empire mission?"

     She stopped being playful and swatted the top of my head and said.

     "Well naturally it's the same as I had with Scott. But I have years till I have to show major progress, so for at least one to two years, we only need to be normal master and maid. Honestly I have not thought that far. I might die before that with all of your enemies."

     I nodded due to appreciating her not sugar-coating things.

     Seeing me just accept it she puts on her playful side and covers her mouth.

     "Oh?! Is the young master planning on pushing this helpless maid down, fufu."

     "Har Har, you are real fun-?"

     Ring Ring Ring! My phone was ringing with an unknown number so I answered it.

     "Rick Lee here, hello?"

     [Ah! Student Lee, this is teacher Shen. I know you are out today, but I was asked to look in on you.]

     "I am fine, but who asked you?"

     [Ufufu, My Boss Victoria Long was very worried about you and was too embarrassed to call you, so she had me do it.]

     "But she texted me earlier already?"

     [Sigh, You young boys are stupid. Rick, she had a family issue at the hospital, and she would not tell me how it was tied to you being out, but, she is very worried for you, do you get me? But she is concerned about her teacher's appearance and cant look like she cares if you are fine, so just say yes you understand and hang up, sigh.]

     "I understand."

     Then with a grin, I hang up on this woman for being nosy! Yes this is the second time I got to hang up on someone like that!

     I then scratch my head and look at Teacher Long's text again.

     [Victoria Long: Student Lee, I see you are not here today... Get well and hope to see you tomorrow.]

     I think about it and respond to it, because I hadn't planned on it before.

     [Rick Lee: Thanks for wishing me well. I will be in class tomorrow. Keep being a great teacher, and a nice woman.]

     Looking at it, I think of her seeing what I did to her sister.

     I wish life could be simple and less complicated... I then hit send!