Chapter
Xiao Yichen sits behind his desk, fingers steepled, as Chen Wei briefs him on the latest developments. Liang Min, perched lazily on the couch, flips through a magazine while occasionally chiming in with his usual sarcastic remarks.
Chen Wei(Yichen’s Trusted Advisor)
The Zhou District warehouse was hit last night. Luo Xian’s men infiltrated the perimeter. We lost four, and two are still unaccounted for.
Xiao Yichen ( Ml )
(calm but cold)
Unacceptable. What about the cargo?
Chen Wei(Yichen’s Trusted Advisor)
Untouched. It was a scare tactic. Luo Xian wants us off balance.
Liang Min (Mafia Doctor)
(without looking up) Classic Luo. Loud threats, no follow-through. Maybe he’s compensating for something.
Chen Wei(Yichen’s Trusted Advisor)
(sighing) Liang, this isn’t the time.
Liang Min (Mafia Doctor)
(grinning) It’s always the time. You know you’d miss me if I stopped talking.
Xiao Yichen ( Ml )
(cutting in sharply)
Enough.
The room falls silent. Yichen stands, his commanding presence enough to still even Liang’s teasing smirk.
Xiao Yichen ( Ml )
This isn’t just a scare tactic. Luo Xian’s testing our defenses. He’s waiting for a crack to exploit. I won’t give him that chance. Chen, we need someone precise for the next move.
Chen Wei(Yichen’s Trusted Advisor)
(nodding)
I’ll start vetting.
Xiao Yichen ( Ml )
No need. I already have someone in mind—Lin Ke. Find him.
Liang Min (Mafia Doctor)
(raising an eyebrow)
The sniper? Isn’t he a bit... unpredictable?
Xiao Yichen ( Ml )
(turning toward the window) Unpredictable, yes. But effective. If he says yes, we’ll have the edge we need.
The bar is a mix of shadowy corners and raucous laughter. Lin Ke sits in the farthest corner, his hood pulled low. His sharp eyes scan the room while his fingers toy with the glass of whiskey in front of him. Chen Wei steps inside, his suit immediately making him stand out among the rough crowd.
Bartender
(gruffly)
Fancy suit like yours? You lost, pal?
Chen Wei(Yichen’s Trusted Advisor)
(ignoring him)
I’m looking for Lin Ke.
The bartender glances toward the corner. Chen follows his gaze and approaches Lin’s table.
Chen Wei(Yichen’s Trusted Advisor)
(calmly) Lin Ke.
Lin Ke( Mc )
(not looking up) Depends on who’s asking.
Chen Wei(Yichen’s Trusted Advisor)
I’m here on behalf of Xiao Yichen.
Lin’s fingers pause on his glass. He looks up slowly, his expression unreadable.
Lin Ke( Mc )
Tell him I’m not interested.
Chen Wei(Yichen’s Trusted Advisor)
You haven’t even heard the offer.
Lin Ke( Mc )
(smirking faintly) I don’t need to. Mafia bosses are all the same—rich, arrogant, and always looking for someone to clean up their mess.
Chen Wei(Yichen’s Trusted Advisor)
And yet, you’re sitting in this bar, hiding from bounty hunters. If you’re so above it all, why haven’t you retired?
Lin’s eyes narrow, but he stays silent. Chen takes a seat across from him, unfazed by the hostility.
Chen Wei(Yichen’s Trusted Advisor)
Yichen doesn’t want to control you. He needs your precision. Luo Xian is moving against us, and if we fall, you’ll be next. You know how this world works—alliances are everything.
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