Chapter 44

"William? I was just about to call you." Director Gu saw William heading towards the technical department and quickly intercepted him.

"Director, I'm on leave. You gave me half a year off to woo my husband, I'm not accepting any assignments." William tried to escape. He had finally managed to steal a kiss, he didn't want to be sent on a mission that could last a year. Brian would undoubtedly leave him without a second thought.

"Let's chat for a bit." Director Gu chuckled. William had never resisted assignments like this before. He used to accept any task given to him. Now, he was completely focused on courting his husband.

"I'm just here to check in. My arm and leg have been aching since my last mission, the doctor said I need at least a year or so to recover. Director Gu, Health is the foundation of all our endeavors, right?" As he spoke, William tried to make a run for it, but Director Gu grabbed his arm and dragged him into his office.

"Do you and Brian get along better now?"

"I'm trying. We're at a critical stage. If I leave now, we'll definitely get a divorce. Director, look at my husband, he's talented and outstanding. If he leaves me because I'm sent on another mission, even if you gave me ten beautiful women, I'd still hang myself at your doorstep."

"Don't speak such alarming things. Come in, come in." William clung to the door frame, refusing to enter. Director Gu couldn't pull him in. He noticed William's unique red nail polish.

"Have you become a pervert after staying at home for a few days?"

"This is a symbol of love, proof that I hold my husband dear! You wouldn't understand, so don't make baseless comments." He proudly extended his hand to show Director Gu. Look, a symbol of love. Don't use words like 'pervert' that carry such contempt. Love, do you understand it?

Director Gu circled around him, looking somewhat pleased.

"Not bad, not bad. You even understand the symbol of love now."

William was smug, showing off his ten fingers to Director Gu. Isn't it full of love? Isn't it romantic? Isn't it... Ouch!

Before he could finish showing off, Director Gu took advantage of his unguarded moment and kicked him into the office. The door closed, and what was said inside remained a mystery.

Brian visited the hospital again. The doctor examined his hand and said it hadn't fully recovered yet, advising him to move it as little as possible.

By the time Brian returned home, William was back, carrying bags of food. "I didn't have time to cook today because Director Gu needed me at work. We'll have to make do with takeout."

Brian hummed in response, not questioning where William had been. From his pocket, William produced a bunch of items like a magician revealing his tricks.

"Look at these, I found some interesting things for you."

A fountain pen, a tie clip, and a strange object.

He pulled Brian to the couch and handed him the fountain pen.

"What's this?"

It looked like an ordinary fountain pen, but the nib was sharper and longer than usual, and the side of the nib was very thin. It was clearly not the type of pen they usually used.

"A knife."

William picked up a book from under the coffee table, one of Brian's leisure reads. The hardcover book was over three hundred pages thick. He stabbed the pen into the book, piercing it through. With a swift cut, the book was sliced in half. The cut was very neat. He then pulled out the pen to reveal a blade about ten centimeters long.

"This is a knife, a very thin blade. It's very useful when you're in danger, just keep it in your briefcase."

Brian found it fascinating. A small button that looked like a decoration released the blade with a bang. The sharp, cold blade was intimidating. He played with it, extending and retracting the blade several times, like a child with a new toy. If the blade wasn't so sharp, he would have wanted to touch it with his finger. The design was ingenious, lethal, and well-disguised. It was fun.

"The tie clip has a tracker. As long as you're wearing the tie clip and the tracking system is activated, we'll know where you are. No need to worry about being kidnapped."

He took the strange object that Brian found odd and guided Brian's left hand into the four holes. "Make a fist. This is called a brass knuckle. It's very useful in a fight. I didn't get the kind with sharp points, but the kind with curved blades. The blade is already sharp, very useful. You can slash, stab, and pick."

Brass knuckles, also known as knuckle dusters or iron lotus, are used to increase the lethal force of punches. They are made of stainless steel or alloy, and some have sharp points like knife tips, leaving bloody holes in the enemy's body with a punch. Others are flat, delivering heavy punches. Brian's had a downward sloping blade, which would cause a knife wound rather than a bloody hole.

"I've wrapped the palm area with soft cloth, otherwise, you'll get blisters when you use it."

Brian squeezed the brass knuckles. He had never used a lethal weapon before.

"It's okay if you don't know how to use it. I've turned our guest room into a gym. Once your hand is better, I'll teach you how to punch and how to use the brass knuckles."

He put the pen into the pocket of Brian's suit jacket. From the outside, it just looked like a pen. But when needed, it could definitely protect him.

"Why are you giving me these?"

"I'm not with you most of the time. In the past, when you were in danger, you were outnumbered. Even if I wanted to help, I wouldn't be able to get there in time. Hiring a couple of bodyguards could handle most situations, but what if you're alone? What if someone takes advantage of you being alone to attack you? These can save your life. Flowers and love poems are useless, better to have something practical."

Flowers wilt, love poems are just words on paper, neither have any practical use. Upon reflection, it really was as Brian said, a waste of money and rather foolish. What's needed are things that can be useful in critical moments. He may not be by his side, but he can arm him. He'd love to arm him to the teeth, even wishing he could get Brian a set of dentures that could spray venom like a cobra when bitten down. He mentioned this to the tech department, but they looked at him as if he were an idiot, which hurt his feelings.

"I've also arranged for two bodyguards for you. They're old military buddies and should arrive in about a week. They're very skilled. You can assign them to the security department, and they'll follow you when you go out. They can drink a lot, so they can drink for you. If you get drunk, they can take you home. I'll feel much more at ease knowing

that even if I'm away on a mission, you'll be protected if anything happens."

"That was only necessary in the beginning. Now the company is stable, the situation you're describing won't happen."

"It's better to be safe than sorry."

Brian didn't refuse any further. This was William's way of protecting him. Although it wasn't entirely necessary, his thoughtfulness was appreciated.

It was practical, not just superficial gestures of goodwill, but genuine thoughtfulness.

"Thank you."

"Oh my goodness, I finally did something right and didn't upset you."

William felt a weight lift off his shoulders. After making so many mistakes, he finally did something right. He didn't make Brian angry or cause a scene, and even received a thank you.

In fact, he noticed that Brian really seemed to like the gifts, he was still examining and playing with them. This meant he truly liked them.

The value of a gift isn't the issue, the key is the thought behind it. If it aligns with the recipient's preferences, then the gift is truly worthwhile.

Things like watching movies or giving flowers are ways to woo young girls. As he said before, wooing a man requires a man's approach.

"Don't you like playing with guns? I've spoken to the national security department. When you have time, I'll take you to the shooting range for some live-fire practice. One day, I'll bring a gun home for you. Do you prefer a handgun, a submachine gun, or a sniper rifle? In fact, I can bring you any model."

"Are you planning to turn our house into an armory?"

"If you like it, I'll get it for you. Planes and tanks are out of the question, but a few guns are no problem."

"Get more, then I can sell them on the black market. Arms trading on the black market is very profitable."

This reminded William of something.

"I haven't asked you, you didn't buy that gun from the black market, did you?"

Brian fell silent. What was he up to? Was he planning to charge him with illegal possession of firearms?

"Tell me who you bought it from."

"Owning a firearm illegally and buying firearms privately are serious crimes, the sentences are not light."

Brian started to regret his joke about selling arms on the black market.

"I'm not stupid, I won't get you involved. Just tell me who you bought it from."

"A hardware store in the old town, I bought a gun there for a hefty price through an introduction."

William nodded thoughtfully. It seemed the matter would be easy to investigate.