The Charismatic Charlie Wade

As Jagoan and Hogan exited the roast goose shop together, Hogan cast a wistful glance back at the humble facade.

He let out a soft sigh and remarked, “From this point forward, my father’s exceptional roast goose craft will fade into obscurity.”

Jagoan responded with a smile, posing a question, “Uncle Hogan, do you have any reservations or objections about my decision today?”

Hogan fell into contemplative silence for a brief moment before responding earnestly, “Master, Jordan is not a pet I’ve tamed but an orphan I took under my wing. I never planned for him to follow in my culinary footsteps when I adopted him. His childhood was marked by vagrancy, with little education and even less ambition. His status as an undocumented immigrant left him trapped in Chinatown. I taught him the art of making roast goose simply so he could eke out a living.”

With conviction, Hogan added, “As for whether he chooses to sell roast goose or abandons the trade altogether, that decision rests with him. However, the opportunity presented by the Young Master today is truly remarkable. I worry that he may lack the experience to seize it.”

Jagoan responded earnestly, “Uncle Hogan, perhaps we can view this matter from a different perspective.”

Respectfully, Hogan inquired, “Please, Young Master, share your perspective.”

Jagoan elucidated, “Before our arrival, those individuals had already targeted Jordan and subjected him to violence. If we hadn’t intervened, what fate would have befallen him today? At best, he would have endured a more savage beating. Given the ruthlessness of those gang members, it’s highly likely that Jordan would have been left with lifelong consequences, ranging from severe disability to paralysis in the worst cases. And that, my friend, would be a relatively fortunate outcome.”

Pausing for emphasis, Jagoan continued, “Consider the worst-case scenario, these individuals have already committed murder in Chinatown, and it’s not just one or two lives they’ve taken. What if they intended to use Jordan to set an example today? It’s possible that Jordan would have put up a fierce resistance, leading to a tragic outcome. If they had resorted to firearms, Jordan would almost certainly have perished today. In this situation, it ranges from severe injury to death. In light of these circumstances, Jordan has nothing to lose. He has everything to gain from this point forward.”

“Furthermore, when Jordan contemplated using lethal force against those gangsters, his resolve was unwavering. The fact that he was willing to take a life when confronted by oppressive adversaries suggests that he possesses the spirit to fight back. He has a fighter’s blood in him, and taking this path is likely better for him than not taking it at all.”

Hogan nodded in agreement and posed a question, “By the way, Young Master, why did Jordan refrain from using deadly force against those individuals?”

Jagoan responded, “He will inevitably cross that line in the future, but now is not the right time. Committing multiple homicides so abruptly could easily desensitize him and make him bloodthirsty. It’s better to ease him into it gradually.” Turning his attention to Hogan, Jagoan inquired, “Uncle Hogan, you’ve been up all night. Would you like to catch some sleep at the hotel?”

Hogan declined with a quick wave of his hand, stating, “I came along with the Young Master for business purposes. We can rest after our business is concluded. Let’s head to Queens now and find a place to enjoy a cup of coffee. I suspect Peter’s antique shop should be open.”

Jagoan agreed, “Alright then, let’s head straight to Queens.”

***

In New York, Queens, a vast area lay before them. Though not as bustling as Manhattan, Queens served as a smaller yet thriving hub. The borough boasted a diverse population and was a melting pot of immigrants from various ethnic backgrounds, with Flushing being a particularly renowned neighborhood known for its concentration of Chinese residents and businesses.

Located centrally in Queens, Peter Cole’s antique shop may not have been expansive, but its location was undoubtedly prime. As Jagoan and Hogan parked their vehicle across from the antique shop, they observed that the store was not open.

Initially, Hogan didn’t discern anything amiss. After all, it was still morning, and few antique shops opened early in the day. However, Jagoan, blessed with keener observation, detected something out of the ordinary.

door and the doorknob of the antique shop, indicating a lack of maintenance over an extended period. Originally intending to grab a cup of coffee from across the street, Jagoan drove the car to the opposite side and stopped. Upon closer inspection, it became evident that the antique shop had been shuttered for quite some time, with spiderwebs adorning the folding iron

the window, Jagoan observed that the displays inside were neglected and hadn’t been tended to

furrowed his brow and commented, “It seems this place has been

the Cole family operates numerous antique shops across Europe and the United States? It’s

closed sign, people were

and said, “Master, let’s return to the car and discuss

vehicle, and Hogan disclosed, “Master, I just inquired with the

Jagoan asked with curiosity. “Why was

to fraud, but the circumstances were quite unique and distinct from ordinary cases of fraud. When

“Uncle Hogan, aren’t cases of fraud typically handled by the

or involves prominent figures and sensitive items, the FBI may assume jurisdiction. The fact that Peter Cole was suspected of fraud and arrested by the FBI suggests

the store owner next door have any information

family’s antique stores in the United States appear to have closed down. As for Peter Cole’s current whereabouts, they had no information to offer.” He sighed in frustration, adding, “During the years I’ve spent in New York, I’ve mostly remained confined to Chinatown and seldom ventured outside. My network is limited, and I haven’t found a suitable channel for gathering

it comes to matters in New York, we can likely rely on Miss Joules for assistance. Her connections and information sources are likely far

Michaela finally answered. She immediately asked, “Mr.

likely with his wife, Jagoan. He considered the title she used,

offered, “If it’s not convenient for you, we can chat

York. Please

time.” He then

connected, she spoke with respect, “Mr. Jagoan, I discussed our plan with Jagoan. I was concerned about any potential misunderstandings, so I refrained from contacting you directly. Please provide your guidance. I apologize

replied, “No need to apologize. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated.

“Jagoan has been caught up in the project lately. Since I couldn’t predict how long you’d need my assistance, I decided to play it safe and entrusted her with full responsibility

smiled and replied, “My wife’s always been

the smile, saying, “Mr. Jagoan must possess quite a bit of drive yourself, otherwise, you wouldn’t have

the way, Mr. Jagoan, is there something

said, “I’d appreciate your

the details, and I’ll

information on an antique dealer named Peter Cole. The Cole family is known for its involvement in Chinese antiques across Europe and the United States, with a few notable pieces in their collection.

Opium War, through to the end of the Anti-Japanese War. Many valuable cultural relics that were taken abroad during that period were repatriated by the Cole family. They even

searching for him because I have something very important to discuss. However, upon arriving in New York, I discovered that their store had been shut down, and there were rumors of Peter Cole being arrested by the FBI on suspicion of fraud. Can you help

in New York? Does your wife