After the eavesdropping, Andre was convinced. The Bald Gang wasn’t Dark Night in disguise, and White Shark’s Golden Viper was genuinely Jiangnan’s woman, not a trap set by White Shark. He finally relaxed.
Andre said, “Now we can talk business.”
Raksha was speechless. After listening to that, what was there to discuss?
In the hotel room, Katerina, An Ning, and Su Rui slept soundly after their foot massages, the room filled only with their steady breathing. By the window, Jiangnan sat on the sofa, wiping a Tang sword. The blade reflected his cold, resolute gaze. In that moment, he was eerily quiet.
An Ning stirred, her sleepy eyes catching Jiangnan polishing the sword. She froze, biting her lip. Leading a ten-person team into the lion’s den, in a foreign land with no support, surrounded by enemies. Failure meant death for them and the tens of thousands in Suka Town. Yet Jiangnan remained composed, every seemingly reckless move calculated. His mental strength stunned her. Could she do better in his place? She doubted it. And yet, this burden fell on an eighteen-year-old.
“Get some more sleep. Tomorrow night will be lively,” Jiangnan said.
An Ning’s nose tingled. “We’ll succeed, right?”
Jiangnan grinned. “Just watch me steal the show.”
His smile reassured her inexplicably.
At seven the next evening, Jiangnan’s group marched grandly toward Bell Bar. Katerina, still raving about the foot massage, begged for another. They pushed open the bar’s doors, greeted by pulsing music and a dazzling disco ball. Scantily clad dancers swayed, exuding charm.
At a round table outside the dance floor sat Raksha’s ten, led by a man in a blue devil mask, suited, with a ponytail. The Group of Elites’ eight were present, Xu Xiao’s face cold with a sneer. A group of deep-set-eyed, high-nosed men from Italy’s Rofi family were there too, their leader in a suit, slicked-back hair, white gloves, puffing a cigar, exuding style. Most shocking was Wei Changsheng, bandaged, arm in a sling, looking pathetic, far from a golden-tier expert.
Spotting Jiangnan, Wei exploded, slamming the table and standing. “You dare show your face?”
Jiangnan grinned. “Oi, isn’t that Broke Boy? Poor and coughing, here to buy a nuke?”
The table froze. Broke Boy? What? Eyes turned to Wei. Tsk, Eunuch Wei? The train station clash between the Bald Gang and Blood Alliance was no secret. That ruthless?
[Resentment value from Wei Changsheng +1000.]
The stares drove Wei mad. “I’ll kill you now.”
“Who’re you killing?” Andre slapped Wei’s shoulder, forcing him down with sheer strength. “My turf, my rules.”
Wei seethed, eyes red, but held back. Jiangnan sat, legs arrogantly on the table, earning frowns from the bosses.
Andre grinned. “Jiangnan, my man. Heard from my boys you went six hours last night, full-on battle?”
All eyes locked on Jiangnan. An Ning and Su Rui blushed, Katerina smiled. Chen Chen and the others were stunned. South God went for it? Six hours? A war god.
[Resentment value from Chen Chen +666.]
[Resentment value from Wang Tie +666.]
[Resentment value from…]
Raksha squirmed, having overheard it all. Jiangnan laughed. “Not that great. Just a man’s fun. Unlike some who can’t even get started.”
Wei exploded, crushing his glass. “I’ll tear you apart.”
[Resentment value from Wei Changsheng +1000.]
Andre restrained him. “Any secrets to share, brothers?”
Jiangnan smirked. “That’s a secret I can’t spill.”
Wei scoffed. “Secret? With your broke arse, what can you offer? A nuke? Can you afford it?”
Each faction had brought black briefcases, placed on the table. Jiangnan’s group had nothing until he clapped, and Wang Tie tossed a bulging sack onto the table. Everyone’s eyes widened, even Andre’s. Briefcases were standard, but a sack? What was in it? Bricks?
Andre said, “Everyone’s here, no delays. Straight to it.” He clapped, and a ragged dancer brought a tray to the table’s centre. Lifting the red cloth revealed bullets and a revolver. Faces tensed.
Andre casually loaded one bullet, spun the cylinder, and tossed the gun on the table. “Let’s start.”
Raksha snapped, “What’s this?”
Xu Xiao said, “We’re here to trade, not gamble lives.”
Wei squinted. “This isn’t fun.”
Rofi sneered, “Trying to double-cross us? Tired of living?”
Jiangnan watched silently. What was Andre playing at?
Andre shrugged. “My turf, my rules. Too many people. A couple need to die, or it’s boring.”
Xu Xiao asked, “And if we refuse?”
Andre grinned. “Simple. We all die. The nuke’s already counting down. From the moment you entered the blast zone, I’m in charge.”
Faces darkened. Rofi smirked, grabbed the revolver, aimed at his temple, and pulled the trigger. Click. Empty. Andre clapped, laughing. “Not bad, old-timer. Gutsy.” His gaze shifted to Xu Xiao.
Xu Xiao’s face was grim. “Can someone take my place?”
Andre sneered, “Sure, anyone from your crew.”
Xu Xiao stood, grabbed Zhang Mo, the pale youth who’d tested Jiangnan, and forced him into the chair. Zhang’s face paled, trembling. “Xu, I…”
“Shoot. One in five chance. Survive, I’ll give you a million.”
Zhang, eyes red, grabbed the gun, hands shaking, aimed at his temple. Fear consumed him. He took a deep breath and pulled the trigger. Click. Empty. He collapsed, soaked, as if pulled from water.
All eyes turned to Jiangnan. Andre squinted. “Your turn, brother.”
