Chapter 43 The Serious Underworld
It was 7 a.m., and Chu Hengkong had just finished his night shift and was eating some noodles for breakfast. Across the table, Ji Huaisu frowned as he stared at the newspaper. It was the "Metropolitan Daily News," a popular newspaper among the upper class. The headline was an article criticizing individual fruit vendors in Bize District, accompanied by a large photo of rotting water fox fruit (a fruit that resembled a small blue watermelon).
"Nonsense, bullshit." Ji Huaisu threw the newspaper on the table. "Anyone who has been to the market knows that water fox fruit is more durable than people. It can be left outdoors for a week without spoiling."
Chu Hengkong rolled up the newspaper with his tentacles and glanced at it.
"The report claims this is a method used by a lower-level demonic sect to corrupt the Central Court, and suggests the City Lord's Mansion is ignoring food safety issues in order to boost the economy," he pointed out. "It makes perfect sense and is logical."
Jie An was making rice noodle rolls behind the counter. Upon hearing this, he opened the small window and said, "Hehehe, this is pure bullshit! Last week, I personally worked with the Ministry of Food and Drug Administration to revise the food safety regulations. Bize has to go through three security checks before going to the Zhongting Guang Relic. It's much safer than Adari's previous trick, right?"
"People who read this tattered newspaper don't pay attention to the facts." Ji Huaisu's face was full of disgust. "Another of Mai Wei's tricks to confuse the public."
"Typical gangster style." Chu Hengkong said.
Ji Huaisu was completely confused: "How did they become gangsters? They run casinos and brothels."
"I'm talking about the common traits of gangsters." Chu Hengkong pulled out a stack of files and tossed them over. Ji Huaisu flipped through them and discovered an investigative report on the Maivia family. The report included information on Maivia, his three children, and a "thug" whose identity was unknown. This former assassin's speed was always astonishing. He had only learned the suspected mastermind's identity yesterday, and today he had compiled a detailed document based on old files and field research.
"Mai Wei's wife passed away twenty years ago. He never remarried and has no biological children. Those so-called 'offspring' are all core family members he adopted. This is the first commonality among underworld families. They value loyalty in the name of blood." Chu Hengkong explained, "The second commonality is close ties with superficial society. The media industry, the food industry, the industrial industry... they provide 'protection' for various industries to expand their sphere of influence. Therefore, there are tentacles of the underworld in all aspects, just like this newspaper. Fortunately, there are no politicians in Huilong City, otherwise we would most likely have to face official officials with underworld backgrounds."
"Thank you, Master of the Underworld. This is the only time you talk so much..." Ji Huaisu was not interested.
Chu Hengkong finished his noodles and put down his chopsticks: "But their main business is sex trafficking and gambling. This is not the style of a serious underworld."
Ji Huaisu almost choked: "Hey! Don't you think it's weird to put the words "gangster" and "serious" together?"
Chu Hengkong frowned at her, looking offended. "We, the legitimate underworld, specialize in real estate, manufacturing, and film, all transparent and legal businesses. We're also responsible for maintaining local law and order... Only unscrupulous hooligans would engage in the flesh trade."
"Damn, you're so honest! If I didn't know you weren't a man who lied, I would have questioned you." Ji Huaisu waved half a fried dough stick. "So you spent most of your time as a bodyguard for your boss?"
"Sometimes, yes." Chu Hengkong said, "other times I'm responsible for killing those heartless people."
Ji Huaisu put down the fried dough sticks and sat upright. Even she felt embarrassed to act funny at this moment, because the man across from her spoke calmly, but his words were filled with stubborn reserve, like a masked hero who took it as his mission to protect the city... It was a pity that the hero's left arm was now a slippery tentacle, and his right hand was holding a handful of noodles. He didn't look very chivalrous, but instead had the melancholy of an uncle reminiscing about the past...
"No matter how cool you were back then, now you can only be a tentacle man." Ji Huaisu said sadly.
Chu Hengkong was completely baffled. He had no idea what the other party was thinking. He continued, "Let's get back to the point. Although Mai Weiya is not a serious person, he has an old-fashioned way of thinking. The idea of assassinating me is very strange."
"Why?" Ji Huaisu started to eat the fried dough sticks again.
"Traditionally, we would have 'talks' first, negotiations lasting hours, weeks, or even months, and only then would I make my appearance," Chu Hengkong said. "But they actually took action before the conflict escalated. It's ridiculous."
"That's what his son did." Ji Huaisu said nonchalantly, "Young people, that's normal."
Chu Hengkong nodded. His partner's words made sense this time. If Maivia's sons always acted on their own initiative, they could be used as a starting point for future assassinations. He could consider capturing them as informants, or finding a way to have them lead the way... His thoughts naturally shifted to assassination. Gangs like the club had to be destroyed; it was only a matter of time.
What he lacked most at the moment was intelligence. The core members of the Maivia family never seemed to leave, and the spies couldn't get into the club, so there was no information at all. The white-browed man he'd been ordered to monitor still hadn't been convinced, but from Tina's recollection, he was extremely arrogant. It was hard to imagine such a person staying in the building all that time.
They must have some method. Invisibility? Cross-dressing? Or something even more bizarre...
Chu Hengkong thought to himself, then stood up with his plate in hand: "I'm going to practice martial arts."
"It's the same if you sleep for a while and then go find Dad..."
"I feel uneasy if I can't learn new tactics," Chu Hengkong said. "Who knows when the war will start?"
·
Club, Maivia's office.
Maivia struck Visap with a powerful blow. The fist, as big as a cantaloupe, smashed his son's head into pieces, scattering shards of glass and flesh everywhere. Visap fell to his knees, howling like a young mammoth, black blood splattering from his headless neck like oil.
"Father! Don't!" the headless Visav screamed in fear. Maivia kicked him in the stomach, splitting him in two and spilling black blood all over the ground. His expression was terrifying, and his eldest daughter, Carmel, rushed to comfort him, "Father, don't do this! That's his favorite skin. It took him half a day to peel it off..."
"You conceited fool!" Mai Weiya roared, "Who gave you the guts to assassinate a senior inspector? He's someone Ji Qiufeng values so much!!"
"I want to eradicate the threat..." Visafu hurriedly defended himself.
"And your methods are incompetent and foolish." Maivia's anger rose again. "If you want to kill someone, you should just ask Master Yan to do it! Instead of letting your precious people take risks!"
"Father, he didn't want to alarm Master Yan...he..." Carmel defended in a low voice, even though she also knew that her second brother was stubborn.
"That's why I call him stupid!"
Mai Weiya sat in a large, specially made chair, sighing repeatedly. Visafu, now blood-stained, squirmed on the ground, gathering up flesh from the ground and walls, barely forming an ugly humanoid form. There was a knock on the door, and a man with white eyebrows entered. He knew something was amiss, and yanked Visafu off the ground, berating him: "Why have you made Dad angry again? You're going to die! Say sorry!"
"...It's my fault, father." Visafu said reluctantly.
Baimei patted his head hard, then turned around and smiled like a dog, saying, "Father, please be magnanimous and let him go."
"You're not as sensible as Baimei." Maiweiya sighed again, "The City Lord's Mansion is already keeping an eye on us. I'm worried about the ceremony that's coming. Tell me, Visafu, will you try to make amends?"
"I promise I will!" Visafu promised with his ugly face. Maivia waved his hand.
"Everyone, go down. You're going to make the emergency plan. Countermeasures in case of attack, personnel deployment, and underground security... you'll be responsible for all of this. Do you understand? I want you to do it yourself."
"I understand, father." Visafu was shaking with nervousness. Maivia shook his head repeatedly at his useless look.
"And you, Baimei. The situation is tense now, so just choose someone from the club. Try to find a smart girl... I don't want to find another stupid daughter."
"Leave it to me, Dad!" Baimei nodded repeatedly and dragged the other two out of the room. Maiweiya waved his hands as if to shoo away a group of flies.
"Look at these idiots, Master Yan." He sneered at his departing "children." "If we really hand over our assets to them, they'll wipe it out in less than three years."
"Then don't even think about retiring," the man in the suit said. "You still have to keep your things in your own hands."
He had been in the room all the time, standing there quietly like a waiter. He did not utter a word even when Visav was beaten so badly, and only spoke when Maivia spoke.
"I'm the only one who can be the head of the family." Maivia lit a cigarette but didn't smoke it, staring at the burning paper between his fingers. "The situation is not good. Adari died at an inopportune time. We can't count on the swamp to divert our energy now."
"Maybe we should talk," Master Yan said.
"Is Ji Qiufeng a good negotiator? Look at his mad-dog daughter." Mai Weiya shook his head. "No. No way. I know what you are going to say, but Kanin is a crazy and ambitious man. You can only trade with him, but cooperation is impossible."
Maivia's judgment was emotionless, even though he had kissed Kanin on both cheeks the day before, calling him a distinguished guest and a dear friend. Master Yan said nothing; he was merely a bodyguard; it was the boss who was responsible for finding a way out for the organization.
He watched Maivia, cigarette in hand, lost in thought for a long time. His expression reminded him of the club's early days. Back then, they had been determined to leave the swamp and rise to prominence in the Midgard, but they repeatedly encountered obstacles. The subordinates gathered around Maivia, asking what they should do. Maivia pondered over the cigarette for a long time, and finally gave a convincing answer.
The burning cigarette burned Maivia's fingers and he stubbed it out.
"The City Lord's Mansion must take action." He said with great confidence, "They have gained a capable and skillful hand, much more powerful than those useless people we killed before. Now Ji Qiufeng has much less concerns. Once he decides to take action..."
"That's not something that's on your and my level." Master Yan pointed to the sky.
"No matter who wins or loses between him and the outside world, we will suffer in the end." Maivia seemed to have made up his mind. "The accumulated wealth should be enough. I want to summon the kind old man as soon as possible, starting with the birth of my new daughter. I will make extra preparations... including myself. The portrait, the underground, and myself. This way I have three summoning points, which is much safer."
"You have the final say." Master Yan said.
Maivia laughed and clapped his old partner's hand. "Would you like to take this opportunity to reconsider the ceremony? You are in your prime, but you also need to consider the future."
"Twenty years from now, my knife will still be as steady," Master Yan said seriously.
"Solid as a rock, Master," Maivia exclaimed.
He dragged his massive body up and left the scene, heading upwards through the secret passage. Once out of Master Yan's sight, he activated the communication relic, and a few seconds later, White Eyebrow's voice emanated from it.
"Dad."
"Prepare some more 'blood packs'." Maivia's voice was as cold as ice. "Young ones, no older than 30."
"Leave it to me, I guarantee it'll be there whenever you need it," Baimei agreed with a smile. This bloodthirsty son was best at kidnapping. Some things couldn't be explained in front of others; they had to be assigned to a dedicated person. Only by maintaining proper control in this regard could the business be sustained.
Now that preparations were largely complete, Maivia, contemplating the situation, reached the club's top floor. The entire floor was lined with circular stained-glass windows. Dim light, channeled through the windows, converged into a single spot, illuminating a massive, colorful oil painting dominating the front wall. The painting depicted a wealthy, elderly man, with a plump figure and a serene smile. Behind him, a table piled high with a variety of food and treasures.
Maivia knelt in front of the huge portrait, clasped his hands together, and prayed with great piety.
"Hermit surrounded by the dark moon, kind and charitable old man, please listen to my request... Please grant my family peace... Grant me knowledge, food, and wealth..."
Unconsciously, the light in the room dimmed, and the old man's smile in the painting looked eerie in the shadows. No human form could be found in the room, only a dark, fetid outline that moved with prayer. A dark stream, like water, flowed across the floor, revealing all sorts of delicacies, gold, silver, and treasures...
Maivia believes in the most generous god in the world, who will reward whatever you desire.
·
Visafu walked out of the office and tried to straighten his face. He wasn't quite right, and the torn flesh couldn't fit back together, causing him to yell in anger. The sound startled a maid who turned around worriedly and said, "Master Visafu, you—"
The maid's voice suddenly stopped, and Visafu swung his arm and smashed her into a bloody mess against the wall. A person who had done nothing wrong died just like that.
Carmel grumbled in disgust: "You've stained the wall again! It's such a hassle to clean it."
"Let someone else do that," Visafu said coldly. Baimei put his arm around his shoulder and chuckled, "Wow! It's so inefficient to vent your anger like that. You might as well go play with women."
"Brother Baimei, you play with women every day, is it so fun?" Visafu said disdainfully.
"Brother Baimei, I play with women, but I don't get scolded. Do you know why? Because I'm not smart, so my father trusts me with the work." Baimei chuckled, "So no matter how many people I kill, Carmel doesn't dare to bother me, but if you kill one, she has the nerve to scold you. This is the difference, do you know?"
Carmel said unhappily, "Yes, yes, you are the best. Remember to find me a new leg when you have time. The current one is not pretty enough."
"I'll definitely cut you a plump one."
Baimei walked away with a joking smile, his back proud and triumphant, like a dog that had won a battle. He still had a lot of things to do. Finding a blood bag was easy, but finding a new daughter was more difficult. He had to personally check each one before choosing.
"Let's lock up those who aren't chosen first," Baimei thought nonchalantly. "Killing them one by one is too troublesome, it's more fun to kill them together."
It was just dawn, and the night passed in the usual extravagance and debauchery. Men and women left the club with tired eyes, while the women who provided the entertainment hurriedly washed up, trying their best to avoid leaving the smell of the place on their bodies.
As she changed, Cat Girl Meiko was still thinking about the man in the white suit she'd met the night before. Her instincts told her he was a man with a rich past, even if he looked like a newly minted prostitute. A fleeting thought of him flitted through her mind, but it quickly faded. What was the point of dwelling on this? She had to hurry home to make breakfast and get the kids to school...
As she walked, Yazi paused. She saw the man with white eyebrows standing in front of her, his expression irritated by fatigue. She quickly lowered her head and said, "Master Bai."
The white-browed man slapped her loudly, and Yazi fell to the ground with her hands covering her face.
"Why call me Master Bai? You look old, don't you know?" The man with white eyebrows stepped hard on her hand and said, "Just call me Brother Baimei!"
Yazi endured the severe pain and knelt on the ground, forcing a smile: "I'm sorry, Brother Baimei."
"Yes, that's good." Baimei took out a large bead and threw it to her. "You've been working very hard recently. Take the tip and leave."
"Thank you, Brother Baimei..." Yazi was confused and even terrified. Many guests who had a good time would tip, but everyone knew Baimei wouldn't. He would only chop people's hands and feet. She racked her brains to figure out what she had done wrong to make Baimei want to kill her.
"Don't be afraid. Everyone likes a good woman." Baimei curled his lips. "You have a daughter, right? How old is she this year?"
"...10 years old." Meizi said in a low voice.
"Do you have any photos? Show them to me."
Meizi almost wanted to run away. She slowly opened her wallet, which contained a photo of her daughter Meizi. Baimei snatched the bag away and glanced at it.
"Not bad! What a beauty!" Baimei smiled. "Your daughter is so lucky. You don't have to come these few days. I'll pick her up from your house later."
"OK."
"Don't go out after you go back, understand."
"OK."
"Don't tell anyone else." Baimei began to get impatient.
"Okay, I know, thank you, Brother Baimei."
She bowed deeply, turned around with the pathetic calm of complete acceptance, and walked home. Her home was in Bangxing Building, an old apartment building not far from the club where many cat girls lived. Her husband helped bake bread, and she fried an egg and a piece of "fake meat" made from flour and plant powder. She made a sandwich for her daughter and put it in her schoolbag, then smiled as she saw her husband and daughter out.
While doing all this, Meizi appeared as hardworking and resilient as usual. But after her family left, her resilience crumbled from the very core. She locked her bedroom door, knelt on the floor, and wept silently. Her desperate tears washed away her makeup, and she stared up at the ceiling, mumbling to herself like a madman.
"Please, child, I beg you! Meet me! I know you're still here. I saw you playing with Mei Zi. I have no other choice... I really have no other choice!"
Of course, the ceiling wouldn't echo. Meiko cried out in agony.
"Those people from the club, they want to take my daughter away!"
Then, a pair of phantom feet appeared from the ceiling, and a little girl in white clothes emerged, followed by a puppy.
"Don't cry, Auntie," Tina said, "and talk to me.
(End of this chapter)
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