Chapter 79: What the—? A Million-Dollar Annual Salary?

“Is that Fierce Tiger at the door?”

Hearing the doorbell, Xing Xiaolong tidied up the table a bit and got up to answer it.

When Fierce Tiger had parted ways with him at noon, he’d mentioned coming by in the evening for a drink, so it was only natural for Xing Xiaolong to assume it was him.

He approached the door and peered through the peephole.

Instead of the familiar face marked by a scar and a thick beard, he saw a middle-aged white man standing there, leaning on a cane, sporting gold-rimmed glasses and a neatly trimmed goatee.

“Louis? What’s he doing here?”

Now that he understood the true nature of the Peace Hotel, Xing Xiaolong’s perception of Louis had changed as well. He knew this man was far from ordinary.

The hostage had already been rescued and their transaction was complete; in theory, there were no further ties between them. Xing Xiaolong really couldn’t think of any reason why Louis would come to see him late at night, nor could he imagine what business he had that would warrant a personal visit.

Despite his confusion, Xing Xiaolong didn’t turn him away.

After all, they were at least somewhat acquainted.

He opened the door, and the two exchanged polite smiles—cordial, if not particularly warm, the kind of greeting shared between casual friends.

“Mr. Louis, is there something you’ve come to discuss with me?”

Xing Xiaolong was forthright by nature and disliked beating around the bush. Even after realizing Louis’s unusual status, he made no effort to curry favor.

He cut straight to the point.

“I did come to discuss something,” Louis replied with a smile, “but before we get to business, I have some good news for you. Would you like to hear it?”

“Of course. Who doesn’t love good news?” Xing Xiaolong answered with a matching smile.

Though Louis’s English was stiffly translated by his phone, he could tell from Xing Xiaolong’s expression that he was troubled, his mind clearly preoccupied. Not wanting to keep him in suspense, Louis decided to get right to the point.

“I just came from St. Mary’s International Hospital. Besides visiting my youngest daughter, I made a special trip to see Miss Su. She’s awake from her coma, her injuries are not serious, so you can relax.”

“Really?”

Xing Xiaolong’s eyes widened in delight. When Louis nodded with a reassuring smile, he finally let out a breath, the furrow in his brow smoothing away.

With Lady Su now safe, Xing Xiaolong had nothing left to worry about.

His greatest concern resolved, he relaxed at last, and the conversation that followed naturally became more lively and easy.

After talking for half an hour, Xing Xiaolong learned more about Louis’s background and the reason for his visit.

Louis Gabriel Largas, known as the Hoopoe, was a Jewish businessman.

He didn’t go into detail about the scale of his business or the companies he owned, but he did mention that he served as a director at a world-renowned protective security academy.

The Hoopoe International Security and Protection Academy—that was the name, which didn’t sound particularly impressive.

But the reality was quite the opposite.

This academy was the most professional institution in the world for counter-terrorism, security, protection, and guard training. It had produced the personal security officers of numerous world leaders, countless elite special forces, bodyguards, and counter-terrorism experts—a true global cradle for top-tier bodyguards.

The FBI, CIA, International Bodyguard Association, and dozens of special forces and police units around the world maintained deep partnerships with the academy.

Louis was neither a senior instructor nor a core leader there, but as a successful businessman and one of the academy’s earliest investors, he had access to the best bodyguard resources.

If he wanted one, all he had to do was say the word.

Yet everyone has their quirks. Despite his investment in the bodyguard industry, Louis disliked having bodyguards around him, resenting the loss of privacy that came with being constantly watched.

This was a common enough feeling—Louis was hardly unique in this.

But after surviving a plane crash and a subsequent kidnapping, even though things had ended well, Louis—who had always shunned bodyguards and prized his personal freedom—felt it was time to make a change.

Not just for his own safety, but for his daughter’s as well—

Atilicia Lian Largas!

For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, when Louis finally decided to hire a bodyguard, his first thought wasn’t to look within his own academy. Instead, Xing Xiaolong sprang to mind.

Louis was a man who trusted his instincts, making business decisions based on intuition and experience.

So he didn’t resist this first impulse!

More importantly, his only daughter, upon hearing his idea, not only had no objections but also strongly endorsed hiring Xing Xiaolong as her personal bodyguard, giving him the highest praise.

That was why Louis had come in person to present his offer.

To show his sincerity, Louis promised Xing Xiaolong that if he agreed to sign on as his personal bodyguard, he would send him to the Hoopoe International Security and Protection Academy for a year of elite training.

Not only would he cover all training costs, but Xing Xiaolong’s salary would continue during the entire period.

Of course, as a businessman, Louis believed in fair exchange. If he was offering such benefits, Xing Xiaolong would be expected to give something in return—

Namely, to earn the academy’s special security “Protect Certificate,” and to sign a long-term contract for twenty years.

For someone seeking a high-paying, stable job, these requirements were nothing at all—just the most basic obligations.

On top of that, he was offering a starting annual salary of one million US dollars, with a 20% increase each year.

For ninety percent of people in the world, this would be a dream job. Never mind a twenty-year contract—even a lifelong commitment wouldn’t be too much to ask for such a position.

That was six or seven million yuan a year—the very top tier for bodyguards worldwide.

Xing Xiaolong was just an ordinary veteran, and this trip abroad had been for a mere ten thousand yuan a month. Faced with Louis’s olive branch,

It truly felt like a dream—he could scarcely believe it was real.

He asked Louis why he had chosen him, after all, he wasn’t yet an outstanding bodyguard, knew little about modern security systems, and couldn’t even speak English, relying instead on translation apps.

Louis himself couldn’t explain the feeling. He said he simply trusted Xing Xiaolong; he saw something he wanted in his eyes, and that instinct was enough to outweigh everything else.

Not knowing the security business or English didn’t matter—he could send him to learn.

To put it in local parlance: they just hit it off.

That inexplicable feeling of taking an instant liking—or disliking—to someone might not have a scientific explanation, but everyone has felt it at some point.

You, me, anyone—we’ve all been there.