In Tommy's room sat a television with an old-fashioned DVD player.
Earlier.
When Tommy was "under house arrest," he was quite curious.
In this age of computers, why was there a TV equipped with a DVD player?
Now.
He understood.
This TV with a DVD player was likely prepared for this very disc.
Tommy, feeling languid and weak all over, still picked up the disc thrown on the floor and inserted it into the player.
After a crackling static sound.
A familiar figure appeared.
It was Bruce.
The foolish son who had caused him to fall into such a predicament.
On the screen.
Besides Bruce, there was also a woman he had dallied with in his youth... Bruce's mother.
Judging from the footage.
This video was entirely covertly filmed, meaning Bruce and his mother were unaware they were being recorded.
No need to guess.
This must have been the work of Charles, who used to work in intelligence.
In the footage.
Bruce seemed to show no psychological stress from verbally insulting Meng Hao and causing him to flee... This creature, like a simpleton, likely believed his father, Tommy, could handle everything.
Charles seemed to have fulfilled his previous promise.
He would definitely protect Bruce.
Chatting and laughing, Bruce changed into a military uniform in the footage.
On his epaulets, a single, gleaming star of a general stood out prominently.
Bruce, engaged in lively conversation with his own mother, even seemed a bit proud.
After all.
For this foolish son.
Reaching the rank of Major General was already quite impressive... In Bruce's eyes, he would surely rise through the ranks using Tommy's influence in the future.
"Alas, this child is indeed a bit foolish."
"It is my responsibility; I shouldn't have made him take over the entire research center military base to pave the way for him."
"It's a pity there's no turning back time in this world."
"However, seeing that he is living happily, and his mother will have someone to rely on in the future, I am content."
Tommy naturally knew that there was a vast difference between one Major General and another.
Once Bruce, this Major General, was no longer under his wing, at best, he would be assigned a sinecure civilian post.
However.
That was still pretty good.
Being far from the political center.
For this foolish son, Bruce, wasn't it also a form of good fortune?
Moreover, with the salary of a Major General, supporting this mother and son would be more than sufficient.
Unable to be a man above all others.
Unable to enter the core of power.
But to live without worry, to be a middle-class person for a lifetime was still not bad.
Perhaps, he would also marry a suitable young lady in the future, and have a lovely child.
It was just a pity that he, Tommy, was destined not to see his future grandson or granddaughter.
Tommy understood very well.
What Charles meant by sending this disc.
It was a final push for him to depart, and an assurance that Bruce and his mother would be well taken care of.
Tommy sighed.
At least.
His lingering worries had been resolved.
He glanced at the unopened beer on the floor, picked up a can, opened it, and drank it down in one go.
Indeed.
The toxicity of hydrochloric acid was extremely potent.
Almost instantly.
Tommy felt as if his abdomen was being twisted by knives.
Blood.
Surged up his esophagus.
*Pfft.*
Tommy spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his body swayed, and he fell to the ground.
From this point on.
This once formidable Lieutenant General Tommy was officially removed from the mortal realm.
...
On the other side.
Charles, in his new official residence, was browsing around his room.
Stepping on the corpse of his former superior, Tommy, he had finally achieved his goal, attaining the rank of Lieutenant General and officially entering the core of American power.
Although, he was still on the periphery of the power core.
But he was still young.
Given time.
Inheriting all of Lieutenant General Tommy's former powers was not impossible.
And all of this.
Was gained by betraying Tommy, killing Tommy, and "cleaning up the mess" for the big shots in the White House and Capitol Hill.
Did he feel any guilt?
The answer was no.
A person like Charles would stop at nothing for power and advancement.
How could he possibly feel any guilt over Tommy's death?
Even more so.
Charles, who had ruthlessly sold out his former superior and personally delivered the poisoned wine containing the highly toxic hydrochloric acid to him, could be even more heartless.
A trusted military officer strode forward.
"Major General Charles... oh no, Your Excellency Lieutenant General... Alas, it's truly enviable, from Colonel to Lieutenant General in just half a year, you're so amazing."
Clearly.
That subordinate had been following Charles since he was a Colonel, and was one of Charles's most core subordinates.
"Stop the flattery."
"How did the job go?"
Despite Charles's scolding, he actually enjoyed this flattery.
His face was beaming with smiles.
"The matter is settled."
"Here are the photos sent from the scene."
"That old bastard Tommy is completely dead."
The subordinate handed Charles a photo of Tommy, bleeding from all seven orifices, clearly poisoned by hydrochloric acid.
"Hmm, well done."
"And the other matter?"
Charles nodded and continued to press.
The loyal subordinate quickly handed him a tablet.
"After we finished filming Bruce and his mother, who was kept by Tommy, we completely disposed of them..."
"I must say, your idea of falsely promoting Bruce to Major General was brilliant..."
"This simpleton was still wearing the Major General uniform you gave him when he died..."
The subordinate chuckled eerily.
For the sake of security, Charles watched several times the image of Bruce, wearing the Major General uniform and with a look of disbelief on his face, being buried alive.
He was even amused by Bruce's foolish expression.
"Tommy, he was just too sentimental."
"Using such an idiotic illegitimate son, I knew there would be problems sooner or later."
"However, thanks to them, they presented me with a generous gift... Without them, I wouldn't have entered the power core so easily."
After speaking.
Charles clicked his tongue with feigned regret.
"What a pity."
"This military uniform was one of my favorites."
"It had to be buried with such a fool."
It seemed.
The former superior Tommy and his entire family were not as important to Charles as one of his Major General uniforms.
"However."
"Speaking of which."
"A family, the most important thing is for them to be united."
"If there really is heaven or hell, Lieutenant General Tommy won't be too lonely."
"In fact, for arranging their family reunion, he should be thanking me!"
Charles chuckled heartily... If there was a hell, he was surely a devil from hell.