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“That’s because our family has always looked at the world in a different way from others Pyramid Triad was in existence centuries before your rabble chased the British back to England We have not survived all this ti sentimental when it comes to the deaths of others, or even deaths in our own family”

“Glad to hear that,” Austin said, “because you won’t shed any tears over the loss of your brother Wen Lo”

“Wen Lo is dead too?”

“He ran afoul of the Chinese Armyanother casualty of your insane scheme”

“There was nothing insane about it Our country’s leadership is extreovernment would have reacted violently to protests in the streets We would have encouraged the mob rule that would have followed and then stepped in to end the epideovernment With the vaccine, ould have held the power of life and death over a billion of our countrymen We would have offered the sae for ht out We didn’t anticipate the interference from you and your NUMA friends”

“NUMA doesn’t deserve all the credit,” Austin said “You planted the seeds of your own destruction when you decided to play at being a three-headed god You’re not the first ones to appoint yourselves immortals, and you won’t be the last, which is why I will always have job security”

“Did you say the sa when your CIA unit was dissolved?”

“I’er necessary with the end of the Cold War, but, fro into my past”

“I know more about you than your closest friends, Zavala and the Trouts I have studied your house on the Potomac via satellite I knohat kind of music you listen to, what kind of philosophy books you read But soives me hope”

“Hope for what, One? You’re almost co hired as a hat rack

”

“But you could change that, Austin” The voice had becorass “My phariven some time and direction, they can work on an antidote to neutralize the effects of the toxin I would reward you beyond your wildest dreams”

“Seeing your Triad wiped off the face of the earth is the only reward I want”

A flash of anger caraphic eyes

“I could squash you like an ant, Austin”