Chapter 470: An Anti-Corruption Fighter Who Tolerates No Sand

The air in Brussels was thick with the strange smell of gunpowder mixed with caffeine.
At the EU's routine meeting, the name Fanghuan Investment once again became the focus, like a fishbone stuck in everyone's throat, impossible to swallow or spit out.
"I'll emphasize it again, gentlemen, we must cut off Fanghuan Investment's black hand reaching out globally!
Their so-called Private Military Contractors (PMC) are not just crossing the line, they're treating the red lines of international rules like rubber bands in their own backyard, jumping around with impunity!
They're backed by the Nigerian military government, sailing warships, carrying cannons, conducting 'private executions' under the guise of legality on the high seas!"
It seems that at some point, if an EU meeting didn't include a critique of Fanghuan Investment on the agenda, it felt like a New Year's celebration without dumplings—something was missing.
“You can’t say that,” a voice retorted lazily.
“Fanghuan Investment at least has a legitimate reason for its actions.
If they hadn’t poured real money into these high-risk, dangerous projects, the pirates who roamed those waters would have been wiped out long ago, right?
And those deeply entrenched criminal organizations, aren’t they being eradicated one by one?
Whatever methods they used, the result is good, that’s enough!”
“Exactly! The positive effects are undeniable!” another person immediately said.
“But the problem is, how can a mere commercial company mobilize a force comparable to a nation’s navy, exercising powers beyond sovereignty under the guise of eliminating pirates? Do you think that’s reasonable?
This is practically setting a precedent for ‘corporate nation-building’!
Besides, haven’t you ever considered where those countless pirates and criminal organizations came from?”
The air instantly became even more tense after these words.
"You mean... Fang Huan Investment raised its own bandits, and then they're the ones who wiped them out?
They're playing the 'thief crying 'stop thief!' trick?"
"I've told you countless times!
We've all been dragged into a grand drama orchestrated by Fang Huan Investment. We're just the fools in the audience, being played like idiots and applauding!"
"Your deduction is bold, but where's the evidence? We can't just speculate."
"This isn't speculation, it's the truth! The stark truth!"
The man slammed his fist on the table, his voice echoing through the large conference room.
Sure enough, whenever Fang Huan Investment was mentioned, the room erupted in a cacophony of noise, like firecrackers exploding during the New Year, with arguments and doubts rising and falling, threatening to rip the ceiling off.
The whole world knows that the old aristocrats of the European Union dislike Fang Huan, but there must be some basic principles to follow. Making baseless accusations is ultimately unacceptable.
"Fang Huan's ambitions are blatantly obvious!
They use the guise of 'protecting global shipping security' to actually establish military outposts on key shipping lanes around the world!
We must not be deceived by such sweet talk; we must crush their wolfish ambitions at all costs!"
European Union Vice-President Eva Carly delivered a passionate speech, spittle flying from her lips, as if she were about to personally lead a team to bomb Fang Huan's headquarters.
However, the faces of those present wore a subtle, constipated expression.
"Your Excellency Vice-President," a French representative elegantly adjusted his glasses,
"The reason you so vehemently oppose Fang Huan's investment is because they are an extremely corrupt company, right?"
"Of course! Fang Huan's corruption has penetrated to the bone, rotten to the very core!
We all know this perfectly well; for their own benefit, they have stabbed Europe in the back countless times!"
Carly spoke righteously, as if she were the embodiment of justice.
"Very good." The French representative nodded, a playful smile playing on his lips.
"So, to this anti-corruption fighter who tolerates no wrongdoing, I'd like to ask a small question.
Why...why did you accept bribes from Qatar?"
"...What did you say?"
This sudden boomerang hit Carly squarely in the face, her righteous indignation freezing and shattering instantly.
Carly's pupils were filled with unsuspecting horror.
"Not long ago, our French intelligence agencies, along with those of several other countries, received reports almost simultaneously."
The French representative's voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a thunderclap.
"The reports directly accuse Your Excellency, the Vice President, of accepting huge bribes from Qatar and abusing your power to endorse them, ultimately leading to Europe's participation in that controversial World Cup."
"Excuse me, can you explain what exactly happened?"
"That...that's all slander..." Carly's voice trembled like an autumn leaf in the wind; she couldn't even utter a complete sentence.
Those present were all shrewd individuals, and seeing this reaction, they became even more convinced.
That accusation was probably irrefutable evidence.
"The Vice President of the European Union, actually engaging in such dirty dealings! Have you lost your mind?!"
"You still have the nerve to stand here, righteously accusing others of corruption? Look in the mirror and see what kind of person you are!"
"This scandal will ruin the credibility of the entire European Union! How will you take responsibility? With your hands that have been raking in money?"
The questions rained down like a storm, but Carly's face was ashen, and she remained silent.
Every word the other party uttered was like a sharp knife, precisely piercing her most vulnerable spot.
Because those accusations were all true.
Her mind went blank instantly; all her defenses and counter-arguments vanished in an instant, leaving her utterly incapable of any effective response.
“Ms. Carly, please leave immediately!” the speaker finally spoke, his voice icy and chilling. “Then, await a formal judicial investigation.”
Before the meeting hall completely turned into a marketplace, Carly was expelled, practically scrambling away from the scene.
Her disheveled figure eerily calmed the previously tense atmosphere.
In the deathly silence, someone finally spoke softly:
“So… what about Fang Huan now?”
“Even if Carly has failed, what she said wasn’t without merit.”
Fang Huan was indeed recklessly testing the limits.
"We don't even have a decent intelligence on how their PMC operates, which is terrifying in itself."
"Ultimately, it all comes down to Greece's attitude.
After all, Fang Huan plans to open its next PMC branch right on their doorstep."
"I've heard that Greece's attitude... is much more positive than we imagined.
They're even feeling immense pressure from Carly's previous public criticism of Fang Huan's investments."