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Chapter 251: India (2)
🕑 Added 2025-02-28 15:38:25 +0000 UTCYoung men were always too impulsive. Even when no outsiders were present, one shouldn't wear their emotions so openly.
Still, Josh didn't reprimand him too harshly.
Despite his relatively low rank of major, this investigator had an impressive background.
His name was John Stern, the youngest son of Judge Gary Stern—one of the Council’s most powerful figures.
During the previous Chadwick Rebellion, the Council had passed from the Thomas era to the current power struggle between Josh and Hugh Jones. However, this did not mean that the influence of the other Council members had diminished.
Their status ensured that they still held considerable sway within the Council.
One such person was Gary Stern. In recent years, as American politics had changed, he had risen from a state court judge to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.
While he was still far from becoming Chief Justice—after all, that was a lifetime position, more secure than even the U.S. presidency, with only 13 individuals holding the title since the country’s founding—being one of the nine justices meant he had already cemented his authority within the American judicial system.
Moreover, the current Chief Justice, Frederick Moore Vinson, was no younger than Gary Stern. If Vinson were to pass away, the Council's influence could very well help Stern secure the top position.
With such a powerful connection, Gary Stern’s youngest son, John Stern, had naturally seen his status within Hydra rise as well.
Even though Josh was one of the two most powerful figures in the Council, he couldn’t treat John Stern like an ordinary Hydra member.
However, John Stern was no spoiled rich kid.
Despite Hydra being a villainous organization, its upper ranks were primarily composed of old-money aristocrats and elite families. As a result, their standards for educating and disciplining their heirs were far stricter than those of ordinary wealthy households.
They exemplified elite education at its finest.
It was rare to find incompetents in their ranks. If someone did prove to be useless, they would be cast out of the family long before they could ever become a part of Hydra. Even the direct descendants of Council leaders had to pass rigorous tests before being allowed entry.
"Yes, sir!" Upon hearing Josh’s reminder, John Stern immediately adjusted his expression, his demeanor turning serious, shedding all traces of his earlier arrogance.
Despite Josh looking even younger than him, John knew better than to show any disrespect—this was a man on the same level as his father, a true powerhouse.
Before departing, his father had specifically instructed him: Watch Josh, learn from him, speak less, and do even less.
For this trip to India, John knew his role—gain experience and take credit where he could.
Of course, if he got the chance to experience India’s local culture along the way, that wouldn’t be bad either.
The plane soon landed at the airport.
The Indian delegation was already waiting.
They treated this investigation mission with great caution.
While India often became the butt of jokes online in later years, it was undeniable that, aside from the world’s top superpowers, it was indeed a regional powerhouse with considerable influence.
A major reason for India’s rise as a regional power was its first leader—Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
By comparison, India’s founding father, Gandhi… well, it was best not to comment on that.
Nehru understood that, under normal circumstances, India could afford to offend any one of the five great powers without facing catastrophic consequences.
But this time he was dealing with three at once.
That was a serious problem.
As a result, he personally came to welcome the representatives of the investigation team.
It was Josh’s first time meeting this legendary figure.
However, instead of thinking about Nehru’s governance and policies, Josh’s mind first drifted to the scandalous rumors about Nehru and Lady Mountbatten…
The craziest part was that Mountbatten himself knew about it.
Josh couldn’t help but think, This guy really knows how to play the game.
Meanwhile, Nehru, looking at the young and imposing Josh, sighed inwardly.
Clearly, the Americans were truly angry about this incident. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent someone with a personal grudge against India to lead the investigation.
Nehru wasn’t stupid. Because of the situation in Java, he had frequently criticized this young American tycoon—who also happened to be a Dutch count—on the international stage.
To handle Josh’s arrival, Nehru not only received him personally as a show of sincerity but also arranged for two legendary Indian figures to keep an eye on him, ensuring he didn’t cause any trouble.
"Boss, the Indian government has assigned us some guides and security personnel... and they're not just ordinary people," Vito said with a grin after checking the hotel for any security threats.
