“Brother Five Mao, where is the leader of the men in black who attacked me last time? I’m going to deal with them first!”
Wumao had been waiting for him to say exactly that. He immediately replied, “He’s in Jinchuan City. My people have already been keeping an eye on him. But Brother Jia, there’s something I need to tell you in advance. These outsiders are vicious, and they’ve got a huge appetite. In just the few days you’ve been gone, they’ve already taken over several businesses under Young Master Cheng’s protection.”
“What?!”
Jia Dan was stunned. “They’ve got that much nerve? They even dared to touch businesses protected by Young Master Cheng?”
“Exactly.”
Wumao sighed and said worriedly, “That’s why Young Master Cheng is so furious. Do you think he can tolerate being bullied by people from some out-of-town company?”
Jia Dan’s anger was completely ignited. “Then what are we waiting for? Brother Five Mao, lend me some men. I’ll wipe those bastards out tonight! We’ll make them pay back everything they owe, with interest!”
“Men won’t be a problem. I just took in a new batch of followers. They’re all trained fighters with excellent skills,” Wumao agreed readily.
“However, Brother Jia, those people really are tough. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have taken over several businesses in such a short time. We’ll have to be strategic when we make our move. We can’t just charge in recklessly.”
Jia Dan nodded in complete agreement. After all, he had personally witnessed the skills of those men in black. Their superior numbers had certainly helped them that day, but there was no denying that they knew how to fight.
“Do you have a plan?”
Wumao watched Jia Dan’s expression carefully before revealing his countermeasure. “I thought of one a long time ago. My people have been secretly watching them all this time. I know exactly when those businesses have the fewest people and when their defenses are weakest. As long as we choose the right moment and storm in while they’re undermanned, we can catch them completely off guard. I guarantee it’ll work. Not only will we vent Young Master Cheng’s anger, but once he’s happy, he might even hand all those businesses over to you to manage.”
Jia Dan immediately thought it made perfect sense. “Exactly, exactly! You’re absolutely right! Those useless fools can’t even hold on to their own turf. They deserve to have it taken from them. If I take the businesses back, won’t I be the one managing them from then on?”
The more he spoke, the more excited he became. “Brother, you’re doing me a huge favor this time! Don’t worry. Once I make it big, I definitely won’t forget you.”
He had climbed onto the branch so quickly that he was already calling himself Wumao’s big brother. The thickness of his skin was astonishing.
Wumao waved his hands repeatedly. “Listen to you. From now on, I’ll still be counting on your support, Brother Jia.”
Jia Dan was being flattered into the clouds. He practically wanted to grab a knife and charge out the door that very instant.
At that moment, Wumao changed the subject. “By the way, Brother Jia, I noticed you keep quite a few special talents under your command. Aside from the ones the cops took away after they blocked the road that day, where did the rest go?”
“They were naturally sent to…”
Jia Dan suddenly realized something was wrong and asked warily, “Why are you asking me that?”
Jia Dan might not have been very bright, but after spending so many years in the underworld, he still knew which things could be said and which could not.
Seeing him become cautious, Wumao hurriedly explained, “You misunderstood, Brother Jia. I mean, since you have so many special talents under your command, you should bring a few of them along for the operation.”
“Think about it. If things get out of hand or something goes wrong, we can pin everything on those idiots. Their brains don’t work properly, so even if they’re arrested, they won’t be able to explain themselves clearly. With them taking the heat for us, we’ll be much safer, won’t we?”
Jia Dan found his reasoning convincing, and the wariness on his face gradually faded.
Wumao struck while the iron was hot and gave him a thumbs-up. “Brother Jia, I truly admire your mind. Everyone else looks down on those idiots, but you’ve figured out how to turn them into money-making tools—and even use them as human shields. How did I never think of that? If I’d learned this trick from you sooner, I wouldn’t have suffered so many losses over the years.”
Jia Dan was so flattered by those words that he became completely carried away. He laughed heartily. “Brother, there’s a lot of know-how involved. When we get the chance, I’ll teach you all about it.”
With that, he stood up. “All right, enough of this. I’ll call Young Master Cheng now and report tonight’s operation to him. Then we’ll set out.”
He had just taken out his phone when Wumao reached over and grabbed his wrist.
“Brother Jia, you can’t make that call.”
“Why not?”
Wumao looked at him and said earnestly, “Think about it. What will you do if you call him now and the operation fails? Once words are spoken, they’re like water spilled on the ground—you can’t take them back.
“If you ask me, you should get the job done beautifully first and tell Young Master Cheng afterward. That way, you’ll give him a huge surprise. It’ll not only be safer, but it’ll also show off your abilities and make him think more highly of you.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. You’re not the only one under Young Master Cheng who wants to rise above the rest. Never mind the others—even Brother Leopard is Young Master Cheng’s number-one enforcer and trusted confidant.
“If he finds out you’re going to reclaim those businesses, he might make his move ahead of you. If he steals the credit, all our effort will be for nothing.”
The moment he heard Brother Leopard’s name, Jia Dan’s expression changed.
“You’re right!”
“I’m not making the call! I’ll take the businesses first, then go to Young Master Cheng and claim the credit!”
Wumao looked at Jia Dan’s excited face and laughed coldly to himself.
This idiot was being used as a weapon and still thought he was the one getting the better deal.
The Ten Thousand Dragons Association did have people in Jinchuan City, but they were engaged in legitimate business. They had never intended to seize anyone’s territory—there was no need, and they simply didn’t care about such places.
The story about the mahjong parlor in the western part of the city being taken over, the KTV in the south being seized, and the underground casino being smashed up was all something he had made up on the spot.
But Jia Dan believed every word.
Of course, that wasn’t entirely because Jia Dan was stupid. It was also because the story had come from Wumao.
They had known each other for several years, and officially, they were both men working under Young Master Cheng. It was only natural that Jia Dan wouldn’t suspect him.
“Wumao, which business should we hit first?” Jia Dan asked impatiently.
Wumao pretended to think for a moment before saying, “Let’s start with the casino in the western part of the city. I heard it used to be under Brother Biao’s protection, but recently it was taken over by people from the Ten Thousand Dragons Association. Brother Biao has been having a headache over it. If you can take the place back, wouldn’t that prove you’re more capable than Brother Biao?”
When Jia Dan heard that he could also use this opportunity to get the better of Brother Biao, his eyes lit up even more. He made the decision on the spot.
“All right, we’ll hit that one!”
Wumao reminded him again, “Brother Jia, tonight’s operation needs to be kept discreet. I suggest having all the men wear masks and hats so no one recognizes them. First, it’s for everyone’s safety. Second, if something really goes wrong, the Ten Thousand Dragons Association won’t know who did it and won’t be able to retaliate against us. That way, we can attack or retreat as we please.”
Jia Dan nodded deeply, convinced. “Exactly, exactly. You really have thought this through, Wumao. We’ll do as you say. Everyone covers their faces!”
Seeing how obedient he was, Wumao found the whole thing even more ironic.
Rascal Egg still had no idea that from the moment he was bailed out, everything had already been arranged for him.
“Then I’ll go call them over now.” Wumao stood up and took out his phone to call his men.
In less than twenty minutes, more than thirty young men wearing black T-shirts, black masks, and baseball caps appeared at the bathhouse.
These were all the “underlings” Wumao had recently recruited. Every one of them was muscular and carried an impressive air.
Jia Dan walked around the group once, clicking his tongue. “Brother Five Mao, why do these men of yours look so familiar? I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere before.”
Wumao’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his expression perfectly composed and laughed it off. “Brother Jia, you’re joking. These men are all elites I went to great lengths to recruit. I usually can’t bear to order them around. I called every one of them out this time to support you.”
Jia Dan had only asked casually, but after hearing Wumao’s explanation, he was even more touched.
“You’re a true brother! I’ll remember this loyalty.”
“Since everyone’s here, let’s go. Time to get to work!”
“Tonight, I’m going to show the Wanlong Society exactly what Jia Dan is made of!”
