Shane Freak
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Chapter 658: Red Sea Fury (Part Eight)
🕑 Added 2023-10-16 12:36:58 +0000 UTCIn DC World With Marvel Chat Group : Table of Content/Chapter List
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Oliver's expression finally underwent a transformation. He slowly widened his eyes, gazing at Schiller with an astonished look. Schiller let out a breath and smiled, saying, "Surprised, aren't you? I don't look like it, do I?"
"But... you're not... you're not of German descent, are you?" Oliver hesitated for a moment, and all he managed to say was this. Suddenly, he froze and turned to Schiller, asking, "You weren't born in Berlin, were you? East Berlin??? Or perhaps in West Berlin, near the eastern side?"
"You're quite sharp, Oliver, but actually, it's irrelevant. My experiences should be similar to yours. You must have come into contact with Marxism during your university days, right?"
"I'm not... I... " Oliver tilted his head and said, "I've only read some of the works, the most famous ones, and it's been a long time..."
"Have you forgotten, then?"
Oliver pursed his lips and remained silent for a while before he spoke, "You should know that once you delve into those theories deeply, you can never forget."
Schiller smiled again and said, "Of course, I know. That's why I dare to tell you. But even if you're not a Marxist, your reaction to these matters doesn't resemble that of a capitalist's descendant. You should naturally enjoy all this."
"There's no 'should'!" Oliver was somewhat angry. He felt humiliated and said, "I can't choose where I was born! If I could, I'd rather be born in the slums than use money stained with blood!"
Schiller wore an unsurprised expression. The reason he dared to discuss these matters with Oliver was that he knew in the comic world, Green Arrow was a left-wing hero officially recognized as a Marxist. He even gave "Das Kapital" as a gift to other heroes during the holidays.
Moreover, his Hero Comic series with Green Lantern Hal was the most famous and influential left-wing comic in history. Although many of the issues explored in it did not touch the core, it still represented a significant work that cared for and sympathized with the common people. Before this, no comic had ever discussed such realistic issues.
In the comic, Green Arrow, after surviving on a deserted island, witnessed the misery of many ordinary people and resolved to become a hero. Although the comic did not provide a specific description of this transformation, building a foundation of thought couldn't happen overnight.
Therefore, Schiller speculated that Green Arrow Oliver couldn't have encountered Marxism only after returning from the island; he must have read related works before that. At the very least, his thoughts leaned leftward.
Although it sounded miraculous for the descendant of a major capitalist to be a Marxist, it was quite normal in this era. Whether it was the old aristocracy or the petite bourgeoisie, there were always those who brought their own rations. Philby was the best example.
But obviously, Oliver was still in a state of confusion. The Marxist works he had read could answer theoretical questions for him, but they couldn't provide him with better ideological weapons. He was still in the stage of contemplating without clear direction, and the more he thought, the more confused he became...
"I know you've absorbed a lot of knowledge from those works, and those theories can answer many questions for you. But in this world, questions will always outnumber answers. For example, how did Mexico develop into its current state? And how should we deal with this situation?"
"Perhaps you've already thought of some methods, but deep down, you're not sure if they're too violent or feasible, or if they are, how to put them into practice?"
Oliver stared at Schiller with his eyes, feeling that his inner thoughts were echoing. He moistened his lips but didn't speak, and Schiller continued, "You feel guilty about this, as if you've gained wealth from others' suffering and death. But guilt alone won't drive you down that path. If you can't make a real determination, all the self-blame is meaningless."
Oliver rubbed his palms together for a long time before he asked, "What do you think I should do? Should I revisit those books? Can I find answers in them?"
"That depends on whether you're willing to pay the price."
Oliver raised his gaze, staring directly at Schiller. He sensed a different meaning in Schiller's tone, and his throat began to feel dry.
He took a deep breath, poured himself a large glass of water with trembling arms, and drank it all in one go. He forcefully placed the cup on the coffee table, and the muscles in his face trembled.
"Do you want... me to join? I feel... " Oliver began to gulp down saliva frantically. He knew he was making a dangerous decision. This could be the last step towards the abyss, but it could also be the final second before the dawn. Right now, he felt like he knew nothing, and he didn't want to know anything.
"No, I'm just introducing you to a discipline, a theory, a method. I won't ask you to do anything. You can pretend this conversation never happened today."
Judging by Oliver's eye contact, Schiller knew he had misunderstood something. Schiller did want to stir things up, but he didn't intend to turn Oliver into an operative. After all, he was no longer with the KGB.
As for the identity of a Soviet Union State Security Bureau Department 16 intelligence officer, that was just something Schiller casually made up. He didn't even know which department of the KGB the original Schiller had joined.
"I've been seeking a way to completely deal with all these problems. I know Arthur and Hal think I'm just daydreaming, but I can't help but think. I can't help but try to find an answer."
"I had this idea back in college, and my classmates thought I was a weirdo. That's why I delved into Marxism, hoping it would provide me with an answer. At the time, I did find an answer that I thought was the only solution."
"But as more and more things happened, especially the tragedies I witnessed in Mexico, I began to doubt this answer. Because within these theories, I couldn't see a way to deal with such tragedies. I wanted to find a new answer, but I didn't know where to look..."
"Have you ever considered that it might indeed be an answer, but only half of it?" Schiller looked into Oliver's eyes, and Oliver gazed back at him. Schiller didn't say more but pushed the books in front of him forward and said, "I believe that if you look at people who have truly practiced these theories and see what answers they've come up with, it might be quite enlightening."
Oliver swallowed hard, looking at the books. His fingertips trembled, torn between the worry that this might not be the right answer and the fear that it might indeed be the right one.
Because he knew that if he truly found all the answers, he might dedicate his life to a cause that couldn't be achieved single-handedly. This made him feel an unparalleled excitement mingled with a hint of fear.
As he opened the first book and saw the first sentence, he knew that when he was falling into the endless darkness of the Abyss, he had glimpsed the first ray of dawn.
"The most important distinction within society is the class determined by the economic base, the bourgeoisie, and the proletariat, forever in opposition, with irreconcilable contradictions."
As he continued reading, Oliver felt his heart beat faster and faster. The words on the page said:
"The proletariat must overthrow the bourgeoisie's political power, and violence is the only means."
On the other side, Kayla and Lila had already located the current head of the Queen Group, a shareholder named Williams, responsible for the Queen Group's shipping industry.
When the CIA and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) came knocking, Williams didn't resist and disclosed all the information.
The reason was that during the drug war in 1984, Congress had invested heavily in it. It didn't matter which shareholder group you belonged to; once you were involved in this business, there were ways to make you disappear. Although it was the late Cold War era, the lighthouse was still relatively bright at this time, not as bright as a few years ago but better than later. From decision-making to execution, everything was relatively well coordinated. Therefore, the previous drug war left a profound impression on those people in Coastal City who had harbored delusions, including Williams.
"My elder brother died in a maritime disaster, but I know it wasn't an accident. I know you were behind it, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)... just because he wanted to cooperate fully with Guadalajara, you made him disappear..." Williams said, his voice trembling.
"But you have to understand, too many people benefited from it, and I had no choice. If I tried to shut down all these operations, I would be killed the next day. They would find someone more obedient. I can only do this..." Williams said with a tearful voice.
"Who are they?"
"There are too many of them, I can't..."
"Tell us their names one by one." Lila took out a recording device. "We will protect you as a witness, on the condition that you provide enough information."
Williams sniffled, his obese body trembling incessantly, looking somewhat comical. He hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "You have to promise to protect me and my family, including my children, my children were just born..."
"That's why we approached you," Kayla said, tapping the table. "You're different from those desperate outlaws who would do anything for money, Williams. We know that, so you have a chance."
Williams swallowed hard and said, "Alright, let's start with Old Toth. He pressured me the most... Paul, and there's Paul, the Italian guy who has connections at the customs..."
Williams went on to name several individuals. Kayla and Lila exchanged a glance. Lila asked, "What about the Queen Family?"
"Them?" Williams hesitated for a moment and then said, "The Old Queen Couple is already dead. Young Queen, who took over the Queen Family, is inept. He's made a mess of the business. I'm not making excuses for him, but with his level of business acumen, I doubt he can figure out this kind of operation."
"As far as I know, Old Toth probably arranged that maritime disaster because he didn't want Young Queen to get involved in this business. He was afraid Young Queen would obstruct their money-making. So, they wanted to bury him at sea."
"But unexpectedly, Young Queen survived. I heard he's about to come back. I guess they must be trying to figure out a way to kill him..."
Seeing Lila and Kayla both focusing on him, Williams wiped his forehead and, after thinking hard, suddenly exclaimed, "Oh! That's right! Although he's not involved in drug trafficking, he has other issues..."
Williams wiped his sweat again, shaking as he continued, "My men overheard Old Toth saying that he has some leverage over Young Queen..."
"What kind of leverage?" Lila asked.
Williams glanced at Kayla and said, "This matter probably falls under the jurisdiction of the Central Intelligence Agency, that is..."
"Oliver Queen... He's involved."
[Shane: Now, after today's history lesson, you are partial adept in Bach. Eng. history]
[Read at www.patreon.com/shanefreak, without ads and support the work.]
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Next Chapter>>Chapter 659: Red Sea Fury (Nine)
Comments
gluttony
Nope, no mistakes and I love your translation.
prajjwal singh
I am doing at that at the moment, these chapters are getting way too long. If you find any mistake, do tell, I don't have editor.
gluttony
more pls
