Chapter 296 - The Son of Lawrence Park

The folder in Chris's hand had several papers in it – a report that Parker had tasked him to do when he returned last Saturday night after he came back to see Katherine from her welcome home party. Before leaving Parker's office that night, Chris hadn't checked the folder and only until he came home did he found out who was the subject.

Below Damien Park's name held a lot of detailed information about his life and Chris was about to turn it over to Parker. However, the more he looked at Damien's picture, the more he saw Katherine's image in his head as if he couldn't help it.

He tossed the folder on the passenger's seat and turned the engine on then he drove back to the city to see Parker earlier than he originally planned. 

Shadow's Base

Christopher Curtis went through all the security measures of Castle as usual and he tried to keep his expression passive, although the fire inside him was burning. Inside the security chamber, the screen to his right lit up, showing details about his non-contact check-up including his body temperature using the high technology infrared camera. 

He clenched his jaw when he saw the amount of heat that was inside his body was higher than his normal range. He couldn't help it after learning that Parker was onto him. If he hadn't noticed that he was being followed, it could have ended differently and he would have probably ended up in a body bag soon if he wasn't careful enough. It looked like he had to make his next move.

After passing the screening, he casually walked inside the headquarters and headed straight to Parker's office. According to Parker's secretary, Parker was still in a conference meeting at the moment so Chris had to wait for almost half an hour outside the office before he was let inside. Chris was usually a patient man but due to what happened recently, his mood was sour and so the wait made him slightly irritable.

"Christopher, you may take a seat." Parker grabbed two bottles of water from his small refrigerator behind his desk and handed one to Chris before drinking his own.

Chris received the bottle and contemplated on drinking it. What if Parker resorted to just poisoning him? His mind was definitely reeling, thinking of possibilities of how he was going to die in Parker's hands. When he told Katherine before that he didn't see himself getting killed by her, he was telling the truth — because there were only two visions that he thought of as to how he could possibly die. 

One would be during a triple S-Rank mission but even then, he had high self-confidence so he didn't want to believe that this was his way to go. The second vision was if Parker decided to end his life for whatever reason. And now, he was starting to think of the methods that Parker would use. 

Truth be told, Chris wasn't afraid of dying. However, there was one thing that he wanted to do before he died. But judging by his current situation, his wish looked like it was impossible to fulfill. And just thinking about it only made him sullen.

Brushing his thoughts away, he remained standing and handed the folder to Parker. "Damien Maverick Park. Thirty-one years old. Son of Lawrence Park — deceased and Miriam from the Zhao Family whose whereabouts is unknown 'til date. According to Forbes, he's known as the Resort King, owning hotel chains and resorts across the states and several properties overseas. Chairman and Founder of Crown Resort Group — marked as the fourth richest man in the world and one of the youngest billionaires in his generation. 

"He left the Park Mansion and founded his own business in his early twenties. There was a rumor several years ago that he and his uncle had a feud after his father died but the two of them still appeared together in social events as a family. He's closest to his grandmother since he was young and it looked like she's the only reason he visits the Park Mansion all these years. His current projects involve real estates and he's planning to expand his businesses more in the Asian countries—"

Parker let out a whistle like he was impressed. "And Queen?"

"Queen used to work for him as his secretary for a few months but she resigned a couple of months ago, indicating that she wanted to have a formal study in a university. Eventually—"

"Is that right? Why would she need to study if she already had a great job working under a billionaire? It's a bit odd, don't you think?" Parker asked casually as he leaned on the backrest of his leather armchair.

"I could look into it if—"

"Forget it," Parker interrupted Chris for the third time, leaning forward on his desk and holding his hands together in a steepled position. "What I really want to know is, how involved is he in Frederick Park's clandestine business?"

"Judging by his avoidance of his uncle, he must not be involved in any of it," Chris answered according to his objective observation.

"Maybe that is what he wants to show the public. How sure can you be that his riches came from clean money? After all, he's the son of Lawrence Park."

Parker's tone indicated confidence as though he was sure that Damien was following his father's footsteps. For him, there was no good or clean man — everyone has secrets. And he wanted to know what Damien's were. "Also… Don't you think it's just very convenient—rather too much of a coincidence that Queen has close connections with the people who were there on the same night of Operation Scorpion?" Parker added.

Keeping his expression stoic and his breathing calm, Chris probed, "What are your orders?"

The corner of Parker's mouth curled up, revealing a fake smile that Chris knew so well for the years that he had worked for the man — it was the kind of smile that he showed to everyone whose life was in his hands.

"As for now, nothing yet but keep a close eye on him and Queen. Monitor his activities and see if he's working with Frederick Park. Keep me updated, Christopher. You may go."

When Chris left, Parker tapped his phone screen and dialed a phone number. He spoke as soon as the call was picked up after the first ring, "I need a Steward Mission. Any level 2 agent is welcome to take the job. Target – Damien Park, Chairman of Crown Resort Group. ASAP. Oh, and keep this confidential. Agent Hawk must not know."

After the phone call, Parker stared at the door where Chris had just left. There was something different about that boy since Katherine came out. He didn't want to expect the worst from Chris whom he had shaped for many years but one thing he didn't like was evident emotions. He knew that Chris treated Katherine differently compared to other agents in Shadow and he had an idea why.

Meanwhile, Chris left Castle and went straight home to pack his things. There were a few things that he needed to do and it just so happened that he had to do everything in Esmea. For his plans to fall into place, he had to act faster. And with Parker on his back who was already starting to doubt him, he had to be extra careful.

So how was Chris supposed to trick a trickster?