Li Jia walked over, smiled and nodded at everyone present as a greeting, then sat down in one of the empty chairs. She began to look around the room, carefully calculating various necessary data in her mind. Today, Li Jia had no intention of just finishing her meal and leaving. Since she had the opportunity to meet a godfather-level figure in B City's underground scene, she believed that what she initially saw as a trap might very well turn into a bloody gathering.

At 10:30, an elderly man acting as the master of ceremonies stood up at the central table in the round hall. "Everyone! Today is Master Hong's birthday. I believe all the brothers who have come here understand the significance of today. So, before Master Hong comes out, I would like to say a few words to the brothers..." The old man's voice was very loud, and the round hall became very quiet when he spoke. It was clear that this old man was a big shot in the underground world of B City.

As the old man finished speaking, the elevator doors in the lobby opened, and a man who looked to be only in his early forties walked out, wearing a bright red robe and beaming with laughter. "Brothers, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!" Although his voice was hoarse, everyone in the lobby stared at the newcomer with utmost respect. "Master Hong!"

"Ninth Brother, you've worked hard!" He walked to the middle of the hall and sat down next to the old man who had spoken earlier.

"Of course! Let's begin!" The old man whispered to Master Hong for a moment before standing up. "Today's birthday celebrant, Master Hong, has arrived! So let's not waste any more words and let Master Hong say a few words!"

Master Hong stood up with a smile and waved to everyone around him. "Brothers, today is my forty-first birthday. I hadn't originally planned to celebrate, but you all have been so kind, so I've decided to have a big celebration. What we'll do today, and how we'll do it, you'll all find out soon enough." Master Hong's words caused a stir among the crowd. Many of them hadn't come primarily for Master Hong's birthday banquet; their main purpose was to secure greater benefits for themselves afterward.

"Alright! Let's begin! Divide the tables and start toasting!" After the old man finished speaking, he first raised his glass. "Master Hong, this glass of wine is on behalf of the brothers at this table. I wish you boundless happiness and longevity!" After the old man finished speaking, he tilted his head back and downed the wine in his glass.

From then on, toasts were offered to Master Hong in the hall. At Li Jia's table, a middle-aged man with a slightly sallow complexion was chosen to raise his glass and loudly congratulate Master Hong on his birthday!

Master Hong clearly didn't recognize him, but he still accepted his congratulations and asked Tiger, who was sitting next to him, "Who are those people at that table? I've never seen them before?"

"Master Hong, those ten people over there came because of your reputation, so I simply gave them an invitation." Tiger said with a smile and his head down.

"Damn it! Who told you to give them invitations? Don't you know what kind of occasion this is? After dinner, see them off! Remember, make sure they leave cleanly. I'll have Canglang and a few others help you." Master Hong glanced at the people at the table and suddenly seemed to see a familiar face, but then shook his head. "Impossible, he couldn't possibly be here."

"I understand, Master Hong. Come, Tiger, let me toast you. May you have many more years like this. Today, I've specially trained a foreign girl for you to enjoy, hehe!" Tiger finished speaking, drank the wine in his glass, and looked at Master Hong, nodding slightly. He was overjoyed.

Li Jia had been staring at Master Hong ever since he entered the room, and she smiled to herself, thinking to herself, "It's true what they say, you never expect to meet someone like him here."

A few minutes later, Tiger got up and came to Li Jia's table. "Everyone, I'm really sorry, but today's banquet has to end early because Master Hong has some things to announce here. So, please go ahead!" After saying that, he deliberately smiled and looked at Li Jia, and Li Jia saw through his smug look.

"Okay, thank you for the treat." Li Jia stood up first and walked towards the door. The others followed one by one to the elevator. Just as they were about to press the elevator button, a hostess walked over from the outside corridor. "Please come this way." With that, she swayed her sexy body and walked ahead.

A group of people followed the hostess to another elevator on the top floor. The hostess opened the elevator, and after everyone had entered, the beautiful hostess revealed a seductive smile and pointed her finger to close the elevator door from the outside.

The elevator eventually stopped at... basement level three...