Benjamin burst into laughter as he looked at William's innocent expression. Recalling what he knew about William—a man fiercely protective of his mother and one who never let grudges go—Benjamin considered the fact that, in less than a month, over a hundred of Bakawi's men had been eliminated in the underground world due to the bounty William had placed on them. And during the assassination attempt on him just over ten days ago, when he was shaken to the core, William had remained unfazed. Putting it all together, Benjamin quickly guessed that Bakawi had likely been secretly eliminated by William's forces before that attempt. Though he couldn't pinpoint exactly when it happened, the important thing was that Bakawi was gone.
Understanding this, Benjamin smiled and gave William a knowing look. "Alright, a ghost it is, then. At least Bakawi's 'ghost' won't be coming after me again, right?"
William looked at the now-sharp-minded Benjamin with calm eyes and replied, "That's likely. A Bakawi without money or followers isn't worth my concern."
"Exactly. As long as that ghost doesn't have the means to trouble me or my family, I'm satisfied," Benjamin said with a nod, reflecting on how William's suspicions about the planned conflict might be entirely accurate.
A shadow crossed Benjamin's face as he thought about the impending war. "William, what do you think of the war that's about to break out?"
What did he think? To William, war would be profitable. Those who could afford it would surely want full-body armor capable of withstanding rifle fire, especially once the fighting began. Without hesitation, he replied insincerely, "It doesn't really matter to me whether there's a war or not. Either way, my protective gear company will do just fine."
"But the world is dangerous. Even a superpower like yours faces attacks frequently, so I welcome any wealthy individual who wants to spend five million pounds on a 'life insurance policy' with me."
"And if I authorize your products for the top brass and elite units on the front lines, your business will do even better, wouldn't it?" Benjamin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Possibly," William shrugged with a grin. "No one's ever complained about having too much money. But really, I'd rather see peace prevail. War takes lives, after all."
Benjamin looked at him skeptically. "So, you actually know that war kills people?"
Turning to glance at Emily, who was engrossed in her cartoon but still watching him and Benjamin occasionally, Benjamin shook his head and added, "Unfortunately, your sense of conscience seems about as small as my fingernail." He held up his pinky, adding, "I hope you won't become someone who values nothing but money."
"Ha, as if this was my doing," William sneered. "Benjamin Arthur, don't forget that ten years ago, it was your father, President Arthur, who started a war in the desert for oil."
Benjamin's face tightened in anger, but William carried on without a care. "Sure, I anticipate war—but I'm only waiting. I'm not the one making the decisions or pulling the trigger. So, don't act so high and mighty. You Americans are the ones who ignore principles and morals for profit."
"And even if you don't want to go to war, someone will push you to pick up where your father left off, rekindling the conflict in the desert. Unless you're willing to risk your safety and re-election, Arthur, maybe I'd even applaud your bravery, wave a little flag in your support, and sell you the latest bulletproof suit for a discount—say, £4.5 million, just for being such a humanitarian."
There was no denying that President Arthur had started that war, and Benjamin, feeling the weight of the accusation, didn't argue. "Perhaps I don't want war because I've seen its horrors."
William scoffed. "Please. That's the most hypocritical nonsense I've ever heard from an American. Whether there's a war or not doesn't really concern me. If there is one, I'll make money; if there isn't, I'll sing praises of your peace-loving efforts, go back to my Oxford castle, and wait to see how long it takes for you to meet your maker."
A chill ran down Benjamin's spine. If William's hunch was correct and the military-industrial complex was behind this, then those money-hungry lunatics might actually be out to get him. Without William's help, he might not have survived this crisis.
However, Benjamin wasn't easily intimidated, nor was he a saint. At heart, he was a politician and a capable one at that. It wasn't that he didn't want war; he simply didn't want to be pushed into a conflict that didn't benefit him or his allies. Especially when those who stood to gain were the very ones trying to kill him. He couldn't let that happen.
Still, he tried to appeal to William's conscience. "Don't you care about the countless lives that would be lost in such a war? The families torn apart, the displacement, and the instability a needless conflict could bring to the world economy?"
But William only shrugged, unmoved.
A small, innocent giggle broke the tense silence. Both men turned to see Emily laughing at her cartoon, occasionally glancing over at them. Benjamin's expression softened as he looked at her, then turned back to William. "And how many more children like Emily would lose their families?"
William's gaze also fell on the little girl. Emily, noticing him looking, beamed and waved her tiny hand, her smile widening.
Seeing William's smile, Benjamin quickly pressed on. "Money isn't everything, William. And you certainly don't lack for it. Don't let it rule over you or lead you to a life filled with regrets. Think about it; our choices today affect the lives of thousands, maybe even millions."
"Don't pin this on me," William retorted. "Whether we go to war or not is up to you and Congress."
"But I need your help, William. Help me gather the evidence we need to prevent this crisis from spiraling out of control. Without it, I may even face impeachment. If I, the one president trying to avoid war, am ousted, a new administration will lead us to war in no time."
Benjamin held William's gaze, his tone turning almost pleading. "In the name of all those innocent lives, don't let today be a day you look back on with regret, knowing you could've saved countless people but did nothing. Just this once, William—for the children, for all those who stand to lose everything—I beg you to help."
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