Keith sensed that he was quite depressed. Noticing that he was impatient and upset, he became serious immediately. He gently coughed and said, “All right. You can tell me about your private affairs when you are in the mood. I came to you today mainly for WZ Buddha Beads.”
Ewan’s eyes darkened, his tone becoming more serious. “Please give me some time.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to give you time. It’s those country bumpkins who don’t want to give us time.” Keith folded his hands, leaning forward. He whispered with a frown, “I can do nothing. Give me tens of thousands of elites from your troops. I’m sure there would be a war between the two countries.”
Ewan rejected him without any hesitation, “A war would only plunge the innocent people into misery and suffering. Although the excuse to start a war is magnificent, I can’t abide by it.”
“You are so stubborn.” Keith stood up in anger. With his hands in the pockets of his trousers, he paced back and forth in front of Ewan. He murmured in fretful voice, “Now the Congress has approved the second plan, and we should take action when necessary. If WZ Buddha Beads cannot be found, the small country indulged in religious belief will start a war with all kinds of pretexts.”
“Then, find and return it to them.”
Keith went furious. “Isn’t it just Buddha beads? Why did they act like I’ve invaded their land?”
“For a country with religion, its national treasure is considered more important than its terrorist.” Ewan stood up slowly. He seriously made a promise, “I’m not willing to see a war in this era of advanced science and technology. The sting of beads was lost during the exhibition in our national museum. We should be responsible for finding and giving it back to them.”
Keith smiled bitterly. He walked to Ewan, stressing each syllable, “You chased to the high seas and just found a few clues. Now Eve who could help you find the sting of beads has been killed. Do you think there’s still possibility to find out the truth?”
Ewan answered firmly, stressing each syllable as well, “We still have the murderer who killed Eve.”
“Didn’t you say it was a crime of passion?”
“Who knows what else is hidden?”
Keith quieted down.
Ewan walked to Keith, stretched his hand, and tidied up the tie for him. He said confidently, “You are the leader of our country. I believe you are able to buy a little more time.”
“Don’t you know how difficult to deal with those country pumpkins? They believe in God and Buddha, talking nonsense. I believe they are all birdbrain.”
Ewan smiled slightly. “It all depends on your capability to deal with them. If there would be a war, it’s obvious who would be the winner. I believe they are more afraid of a war. They just use it as an excuse to push us, so the sting of beads could be found as soon as possible to comfort their citizens. After all, it’s their national condition. That sting of beads is their belief, which is more important than their own lives.”
“Ewan, please give me a certain answer. When the bead could be found?”
“I’m not sure,” Ewan answered in an indifferent town, both hands in his trouser belt.
Keith was enraged instantly. He cursed, “Damn you! Are you kidding me? You asked me to buy more time from them but you have no confidence.”
“So you must buy as much time as possible from them. The person, who could take away the bead from a heavily-guarded exhibition without being noticed, shouldn’t be a run-of-the-mill thief. There should be a big organization supporting him or her behind.”
“Before Eve died, she said she had seen this string of beads. Is it for real?”
Ewan answered, “Of course. She didn’t know anything. She just told me casually about it based on her impression when accidentally seeing the information map. She didn’t need to lie to me.”
“Now she’s dead. We don’t know.”
“She’s dead, which means she got to know something that she shouldn’t know. Someone was freaked out. The person should be close at hand.”
With an ironical smile, Keith looked into Ewan’s eyes, saying slowly, “Your Hill family is really full of unnoticed talents. As the first nobility family in C Country, you are really worthy of the name. You could even touch to the sacred thing borrowed by the state. Bravo!”
Ewan went silent. His clear eyes became gloomy. He stared back at Keith. Both of them looked dignified.
After a long while, Ewan broke the silence, “Leave the matter of the beads to me. I’ll continue investigating on it after going home.”
With an evil but attractive smile, Keith nodded. Pointing at the oranges on the tea table, he said, “That’s imported tribute orange with red pulp, sweet as honey. Usually it’s not sold in the market. It’s pure natural organic. Go ahead take some to Rachel.”
Ewan never valued things with ingenious names, but Keith mentioned about Rachel. His heart softened. He looked towards the tea table.
He had been in the office for a long time but didn’t notice that there were several lovely oranges on the table. They all had smooth light-pink peel, which he had never seen before.
Pink peel, red pulp, and sweet as honey?
Ewan wondered if Richard would be surprised when seeing this kind of oranges and feel better.
After pondering for a moment, Ewan quietly walked to the oranges and picked up one. He said faintly, “Thanks.” Then he turned around and left.
Keith was stunned. Looking at Ewan’s back, he asked, “Is one enough? Such sweet and lovely orange. I’m afraid it’s not enough for Rachel. Take more.”
Ignoring Keith’s words, Ewan strode out of the door.
On the way back, Ewan observed the tender orange in his hand. It looked like an orange in shape but looked like a pink peach with the peel. Its aroma smelt like an apple.
Organic tribute?
Ewan sneered, ‘Only Keith is that stupid to believe and treasure it so much!’
He took it as a hybrid cultivar of orange.
Whatever the fruit was, as long as it would make Rachel to smile, even just smiling at the orange, Ewan felt that it was more than enough.
After a long drive, Ewan arrived at the military district. Instead of going back to his office, he rushed to the dormitory.
At the door of the suite, he held the hand with the orange behind his back, took a heavy breath, and pushed the door open.
With both hands behind his back, he walked into the room.
Right then, Rachel was about to go out with a backpack. She wore the outfits, which she had worn when she came. She ran into Ewan in a hurry.
Seeing Ewan, Rachel was also stunned. She stopped and looked at him.
Ewan frowned. He had planned to please her with the orange in his hand, as the apology for what he did in the morning. Seeing Rachel with the backpack, his heart sank.
“Where are you going?” asked the man in a strict and aloof tone.
Rachel was still mad. She answered, looking away from him, “I’m going home, back to the White family.”
“You are not permitted,” he said sharply.
Rachel sneered. She narrowed her eyes, raised her eyebrows, and asked, “As long as I don’t betray this marriage, I can live in whichever way I want. Who said that?”
Hearing that, Ewan felt that his heart was severely hammered, surging a sharp pain. He held the orange more tightly.
The orange that he wanted to give her as a gift was squeezed. His tone became indifferent. “I said it.”
“That’s good then. I’m an ordinary woman. I can’t fight against the general of the state, nor can I do anything if you don’t want to divorce. I’d better stay away from you instead of pestering you any longer.”