"Tiger Wu, this time you're a full seven days late," the masked man questioned.

His voice was sinister, sending chills down one's spine. Wu Laohu bowed and scraped, "I'm sorry, Gongye-kun, my house was robbed. Most of the medicine I prepared was stolen, so I had to get medicine from other places to make do. That's why I was delayed."

"I don't listen to excuses," the masked man roared. "I only care about results."

Wu Laohu was so frightened that he knelt down. "It's my fault, Miyano-kun, please give me another chance."

"I'll let you off this time, considering your loyalty to me." The masked man's tone was sharp. "If there's a next time, you know the consequences!"

Wu Laohu broke out in a cold sweat. "There will absolutely be no next time."

"The medicinal herbs are all here, but where is the medical book I asked for?" the masked man asked.

Wu Laohu's scalp tingled. "The medical books... they're lost too... um..." Before he could finish speaking, he was kicked hard in the chest.

He was kicked to the ground, but ignoring the pain, he immediately got up, knelt down, and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "It's my fault, Miyano-kun. I will have my men continue collecting medical books!"

"Useless!" the masked man roared. "Wu Laohu, I chose you because of your abilities. If you're no longer of value, I can replace you anytime."

Wu Laohu's voice trembled with fear, "Miyano-kun, I will definitely prove my abilities, and I will not let you down."

"You'd better keep your word." The masked man gave him a disdainful look. "If you delay my important business, I won't let you off the hook!"

"Yes, yes, I will definitely not delay your important business..."

"Brother, get up."

After the masked man left, the black-clad man went into the house to help Wu Laohu, who was still kneeling on the ground.

Wu Laohu shakily got up, clutching his chest and panting heavily; that kick had been really hard.

Seeing his once-powerful elder brother kneeling before the Japanese like a dog, wagging his tail and begging for mercy, he was furious. "Brother, why should we listen to those Japanese traitors? We have men and money, why should we be at their beck and call?"

Why can't you just be an upright person? Why do you have to act like a dog?

"Second brother, don't talk nonsense." Wu Laohu looked around cautiously.

Black Cripple wasn't afraid at all. "What nonsense am I talking about? When we two brothers first ventured out into the world, who were we afraid of? Didn't we build up such a huge business? How come now that we're old, the elder brother has lost his backbone?"

"You don't know what Miyano-kun is capable of." Wu Laohu said with a look of fear.

Black Cripple sneered, "Methods? What methods? Brother, what are you afraid of? He's a Japanese pirate who came to our Chinese territory. Did he ask our hundreds of millions of compatriots for permission?"

He's not afraid of having children and grandchildren, but he's so afraid of his elder brother who has no descendants.

Besides, Japan was once a defeated foe of China, who treated them like drowning dogs and drove them back.

We weren't afraid back then, so why should we be afraid now!

“Old Hei, there are more than just him in China... The situation is very tense right now... Anyway, don’t worry about this, just do as he says.”

There were some things he didn't want to tell his sworn brother. His sworn brother was a rough man, skilled at murder and arson, and he didn't understand these things.

"Big brother..."

"Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go back to Jiangsu Province."

Helpless, the cripple sighed heavily and left.