Suddenly hearing the inquiry from the leadership of the investment promotion department, Deputy Chief Liu was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.
He very much wanted to say he didn't know either, but he didn't know how to put it.
"Uh... well... maybe... let me make a call..."
Before he could even call to ask if some anti-terror drill was happening here, an investor spoke up with a laugh.
"Leaders, I must say, I didn't expect the drills in Bright Pearl City to be so realistic. Even though we haven't stepped outside, just hearing those sounds tells us the extras are incredibly dedicated, screaming as if it were real. I'm now completely convinced that Bright Pearl City is putting in real effort to maintain public order!"
Upon hearing this, the others all wore expressions of sudden understanding and immediately began exchanging compliments.
"Yes, yes, Deputy Chief Liu has really gone to great pains. The effect of this drill is simply too authentic."
"Just listening to those agonized cries makes one feel immersed, full of that artistic tension. The actors' emotions are also very intense, definitely following the method acting approach."
"With this level of actor dedication, you probably couldn't hire actors like this for less than two hundred a day, right?"
"Honestly, I'm getting curious. I'd like to go take a look outside."
"I'd like to see too."
"Let's go, together."
As they spoke, the three investors who were visiting Bright Pearl City for the first time stood up, all wanting to see with their own eyes what kind of drill could be this realistic.
Zhao Weixiang, who was in the know, watched all this but did not stop them, thinking to himself that his plan was succeeding.
His reason for choosing the Tianxing Hotel as the meeting place today was precisely to "kill with a borrowed knife"—to let the leaders and these investors personally witness just how arrogant the Ten Thousand Dragons Society truly was.
When those investors saw that what was outside wasn't a drill but a real gang fight, they would surely be scared into immediately packing up and leaving. The leaders would definitely be furious.
By then, the Ten Thousand Dragons Society would be in serious trouble.
Even if that police chief of the Lijin District, Qi Wei, had a close relationship with Liu Yutong, he might not be able to protect her, right?
It was precisely because Zhao Weixiang knew that Liu Yutong's biggest backer was Qi Wei, the police chief of Lijin District, that he had used his connections with the investment promotion department leadership. Seizing the opportunity of having well-known investors visit Bright Pearl City, he had also invited Deputy Chief Liu.
Matters concerning investment promotion were significant, so the investment promotion leader had no reason to refuse and readily agreed.
Moreover, these investors were indeed prominent figures, with capital behind them ranging from tens of billions to even hundreds of billions, making them worthy of attention.
The investment promotion leader even felt quite grateful to Zhao Weixiang, this small business owner he had only met a few times at investment conferences, never suspecting he was being used as a pawn.
Those investors weren't very familiar with Zhao Weixiang either.
Originally, upon arriving in Bright Pearl City, they had planned to stay at the Lakeside Hotel. However, they were intercepted en route by people sent by Zhao Weixiang. Using the pretext that local leaders wanted to personally host them, they were invited here instead.
Hearing it was an invitation from local leaders, the investors naturally did not decline.
And so, Zhao Weixiang set the stage, waiting for Liu Yutong to come knocking, provoke the leaders, hand over leverage, and then be rounded up in one fell swoop.
This also showed how cunning Zhao Weixiang's methods were—using others' strength to fight his battles, hiding himself behind the scenes, needing only a gentle push to make the big shots follow his script.
"You flatter us, gentlemen. Our public security work in Bright Pearl City has indeed always been solid," Deputy Chief Liu said, forcing himself to respond, while inwardly praying that what was outside was really just a drill and would end quickly.
Hearing Deputy Chief Liu say this, the investment promotion leader laughed heartily: "This is a rare opportunity. Let's all go outside together and see Deputy Chief Liu's public security achievements... hahaha..."
Deputy Chief Liu: "..."
He really wanted to say to his colleague: Please, I beg you, stop talking!
The three investors, not overthinking it, walked towards the door with smiles on their faces.
Only Ji Zhe and Chu Hai remained seated. They exchanged a glance, both seeing doubt and surprise on each other's faces.
Was this really a drill?
Was public security in Bright Pearl City really that good? Then what was it they witnessed last time?
The figure of a girl involuntarily surfaced in their minds; they couldn't shake the feeling that the commotion outside was connected to her.
Especially when they suddenly remembered that Zhao Junjie, who had hosted them last time, seemed to have this hotel as one of his family's businesses?
And Zhao Junjie had a grudge with that girl.
Just as the investors reached the door and were about to open it...
Suddenly!
With a loud BANG!
The wooden door of the private room swung violently inward. A thug flew in backwards, knocking down an investor who failed to dodge in time.
Immediately after, a very arrogant female voice came from outside the door.
"This lady will kill anyone who stands in her way, even Buddha if he blocks me, hoo-hoo-hoo..."
"Huh? Seems like some fool just flew into someone else's private room. Drag him out for me and execute him on the spot ten times over!"
As soon as the words fell,
Two black-clad Ten Thousand Dragons Society members appeared expressionlessly at the private room entrance. Each grabbing a foot, they swiftly dragged away the 'extra' on the floor, even politely closing the door on their way out.
Everyone in the private room: "..."
They had also caught a glimpse of the scene outside during that brief moment the door was open. The corridor was littered with groaning thugs, and a group of fierce-looking men in black passed by the door, dragging people away from the floor...
What the hell, this was no drill anymore! This was clearly a gang fight!
And it was happening right in front of the Deputy Chief in charge of public security!
A long, dead silence fell over the private room.
Apart from the unlucky fellow who got knocked down, everyone else's eyes were wide open, wondering if they were hallucinating.
Ji Zhe and Chu Hai looked at each other, thinking: Seriously, Miss Liu, can't you just keep it down for once?
If they hadn't been treated leniently during their last visit to Bright Pearl City, they'd probably want to pack up and run too by now.
The investment promotion leader looked at Deputy Chief Liu, whose face had turned ashen, and asked with a last shred of hope: "Deputy Chief Liu, is... is this also part of the drill? Quite realistic, the actors are really going all out, huh? Especially the flying entrance pose, really impactful... ha... haha..."
Deputy Chief Liu: "..."
"Please, stop talking!"
He wished he could find a hole to crawl into right now. This was a blatant slap in the face.
Then he took a deep breath, apologized to the investors, and promised he would give them an explanation.
He immediately followed up by calling to dispatch police forces.
Right after Deputy Chief Liu hung up, Zhao Weixiang, who had been keeping a low profile pouring drinks and speaking little, felt the timing was perfect and began his final, finishing blow.
"Deputy Chief Liu, Leader, and all you distinguished guests, you've all seen it with your own eyes now, haven't you?"
"This Ten Thousand Dragons Society, and that society's young mistress, Liu Yutong—these people are simply a tumor, a scourge on our Bright Pearl City!"
"......."
"Ruthless plundering, lawless tyranny... they'd even force a boar to climb a tree..."
".........."
With his masterful acting skills, Zhao Weixiang painted Liu Yutong and the Ten Thousand Dragons Society as utterly wicked, heinous bandits despised by both man and god.
Hearing this, everyone in the private room wore expressions of righteous indignation, unanimously voicing the need for severe punishment.
The investment official finally lost his composure, his face turning ashen. He looked at Deputy Chief Liu and said, "Chief Liu, public order falls under your primary jurisdiction. I'd like to hear your opinion."
Deputy Chief Liu promptly declared, "This time, I will definitely round up this Ten Thousand Dragons Society in one sweep and give everyone a proper account!"
Upon hearing Deputy Chief Liu's words, Zhao Weixiang immediately put on a profoundly grateful expression, as if moved to tears: "With your assurance, Chief Liu, law-abiding businessmen like us can finally rest easy. The skies over Bright Pearl City are about to clear at last!"
