Once she leaves this place, half of her mission will be complete!

All that's left is to leave this research base.

Thinking this, Yu Mingxiang's heart jumped into her throat with nervousness...

Just as Yu Mingxiang was nervously trying to escape the third underground level, a tense standoff was unfolding at a seaside pier dozens of miles away from the research base.

"You think you can scare us with a few police officers? You're seriously underestimating us!"

"Move it! Move it for me!"

"My grain and my boat, I can move them however I want, and I'd like to see who dares to stop me!"

An elderly man dressed in a traditional Chinese clothing stood in front of the dock warehouse, leaning on a cane. He directed the people behind him to move grain while shouting at the policeman in front of him who was holding a gun.

His name is Tang Mingde.

He was born and raised in the Western Empire, but...

His ancestors, however, migrated from the Xia Kingdom.

And now, he is the head of Xia Kingdom's largest underground force in the Western Empire.

That's right.

It refers to underground forces.

Similar to a gang.

Where there is light, there is darkness that the light cannot reach.

As outsiders, it was not easy for the Xia people to gain a foothold in the Western Empire. So, over time, they began to band together for mutual support, and eventually formed their own power base.

Today, Tang Mingde is the leader of this force.

He was fearless, not even when facing the local police, but even when facing the guards, because...

He's not only rich and powerful, he also has guns!

What you say comes true.

Tang Mingde was confronting the police with his men when a voice came from behind the police.

"Old Tang is as imposing as ever."

The man walked through the police line and approached Tang Mingde, smiling as he said, "I have already reviewed the documents submitted by Elder Tang. Elder Tang has indeed purchased this batch of grain. If Elder Tang wants to transport it away, I naturally have no right to stop him."

Tang Mingde exclaimed upon hearing this: "!!!"

He frowned and glanced at the person who had come. "If you have no right to stop me, then what are you doing here?"

He glared at the newcomer and said, "Sheriff Houston, remember how your predecessor died. There's no good end to picking a fight with us. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered!"

Houston exclaimed upon hearing this: "!!!"

His face darkened.

A few years ago, a violent clash broke out locally.

In that incident, the Easterners led by Tang Mingde clashed with the local forces of the Western Empire due to unequal distribution of benefits. After the conflict broke out, their guards chose to stand on their side and participated in the fighting in order to protect the local forces.

In that split second of the firefight, Tang Mingde's forces displayed an indomitable spirit, vowing to defend their interests to the death, and then...

His predecessor, the sheriff, died in the shootout.

Ultimately, because it involved a wide range of people, and in order to maintain local stability, the matter was dropped.

In recent years, although there have been no large-scale battles here, small-scale real disputes have never stopped. Houston knows better than anyone that Tang Mingde, this seemingly gentle and refined old man, is only seemingly gentle and refined.

He's a gang leader; he kills people without batting an eye!

"Old Tang's temper is still as fiery as ever."

Houston sighed and said, "But I didn't come here to argue with Old Tang."

As he spoke, Houston looked at the team carrying grain behind Tang Mingse.

Under his watchful eye, the grain was transferred into the ship's hold by shovel after shovel, at such a rapid pace that half of it was loaded in the blink of an eye.

Houston: "!!!"

I knew I couldn't delay any longer.

He looked at Tang Mingde with a solemn expression and said, "You bought the grain, Elder Tang. I won't stop you from taking it away, but..."

"I demand that you, Mr. Tang, hand over the person behind this!"

Tang Mingde exclaimed upon hearing this: "!!!"

His expression changed instantly.

"Who's behind this?"

He said in a deep voice, "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Houston sneered.

There is an old saying in the Xia Dynasty: "Honest people don't speak in riddles."

He said, "Gu Hai! As long as Elder Tang hands over Gu Hai, I'll let you transport the grain however you like!"