Hong Kong Film: Short mules have no future, I am in charge of Hong Kong

Chapter 382 They're all ruthless characters

As he approached the warehouse, Su Hanze stopped. He looked around; in the darkness, everything was eerily quiet. Several men in black stood at the warehouse entrance, their eyes cold, guns in hand, clearly wary of their surroundings. After a brief observation, Su Hanze realized that these men were not local thugs, but rather trained professionals; at least from their demeanor and movements, he could discern their identities.

He crouched down, using the surrounding shadows to slowly approach the back of the warehouse. Suddenly, he heard soft footsteps approaching. Turning around, he saw Ah Biao hurrying towards him, a hint of anxiety on his face. "Sang Ze, don't take too many risks," he whispered. "I've already had a passage prepared for you. Follow me."

"Any new developments?" Su Hanze asked casually.

"Go in first, I'll tell you once we're inside." Abiao looked nervous as he quickly led Su Hanze around the back door of the warehouse.

The two entered a dark alley. A-Biao took out his pager and pressed some buttons. Suddenly, a crisp sound of a lock opening came from the warehouse's main door, and the door slowly opened. A-Biao tugged at Su Hanze's sleeve, signaling him to follow closely.

The warehouse remained unchanged, dimly lit, with mountains of boxes piled high. Su Hanze walked behind Abiao, constantly on guard, fearing something unexpected might happen. They passed through several corridors and finally arrived at a simple room. In the middle of the room sat a slender woman, wearing a simple gray trench coat, her hair loosely draped over her shoulders, appearing somewhat disheveled. It was Yu Xi; Su Hanze hadn't mistaken her.

He stopped at the doorway, his eyes fixed on her. Yu Xi didn't look at him; instead, she kept her head down, seemingly lost in thought. She appeared somewhat weak, her gaze unfocused, as if she had lost herself in this environment.

Ah Biao said softly, "She's being watched the whole time, you'd better be careful."

Su Hanze nodded, said nothing more, and slowly walked to Yu Xi. The woman finally raised her gaze, as if assessing the man in front of her.

"You are... Su Hanze?" Her voice was low, as if she had just recovered her breath. "You've found me."

“Found it.” Su Hanze didn’t answer her question directly, but stared at her quietly, analyzing her expression and demeanor. “Do you know why A Biao hid you?”

Yu Xi smiled. "Do you think he can let me live? He's one of Lao Gui's men. Sooner or later he'll just use me as a pawn and throw me away."

“You are not a pawn he can discard at will.” Su Hanze’s voice turned low. “Old Ghost will not let you off easily because of what he knows about you.”

"You too?" Yu Xi looked at him, her eyes somewhat blank. "Su Hanze, what do you want from me?"

"I want to know, what exactly is Lao Gui doing? How many people are behind him?" Su Hanze didn't beat around the bush. "If you can help me, I can help you too."

She was silent for a while, seemingly struggling, and finally sighed: "Old Gui never does business openly. He has been controlling the customs smuggling channels. Through Huang Dexing, he has been bringing large quantities of goods into the country and has been doing business for several years."

Su Hanze could hear the key point in Yu Xi's words, and his eyes sharpened: "Could you elaborate on the relationship between Lao Gui and Huang Dexing?"

Yu Xi nodded. "Huang Dexing is a smuggling tycoon. On the surface, he is a member of the customs management team, but in reality, he works with Lao Gui to smuggle weapons and drugs abroad. Almost no one dares to touch their business, and many people in the customs have connections with them."

Su Hanze frowned. He had thought this business deal was murky, but he hadn't expected that Lao Gui was involved in so many illegal transactions, making it far more complicated than he had anticipated.

"Aren't you afraid that Old Ghost will find you after you tell me all this?" he asked calmly.

Yu Xi raised her head, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips. "Can Old Ghost find me? He might be able to, but can he make me willingly hand over these secrets?"

Su Hanze didn't say anything more, but gave her a deep look. This woman had clearly been pushed to her limit, but the stubbornness and determination in her eyes made him feel a sense of respect for her.

“You can trust me,” Su Hanze said in a low voice. “Give me information and help me. I’ll handle Lao Gui.”

She lowered her head and smiled, a long-lost light in her eyes: "Can you do it?"

Su Hanze did not answer directly, but slowly stood up, saying, "I will do my best."

Su Hanze stood in the dimly lit room, the air thick with a damp, musty smell, mingled with the faint scent of sawdust emanating from the wooden crates in the warehouse. Yu Xi sat on the worn-out wooden chair, her hands crossed on her knees, her gaze sometimes wandering, sometimes fixed on Su Hanze's face. Her expression seemed to be both probing and wary. A Biao stood in the doorway, leaning against the wall, clutching a pager, his eyes frequently sweeping towards the end of the corridor, as if checking if it was safe outside.

"You said Lao Gui and Huang Dexing were collaborating on smuggling," Su Hanze broke the silence, his voice low but clear, "How exactly did they operate? How large were the quantities of goods they traded each time?"

Yu Xi raised her head, her lips moving slightly, as if considering how much to say. She paused, then said, "Huang Dexing has his own network in customs. The people checking and releasing the goods are all his people. Lao Gui is responsible for supplying the goods, mainly weapons and heroin, and occasionally some rare items, such as antiques or rare metals. Each transaction involves a large quantity of goods, enough to fill at least a small cargo ship, starting at tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars."

Su Hanze frowned slightly, squatted down, and aligned his gaze with Yu Xi's: "With such a large quantity, how can they guarantee they won't be targeted by the cops?"

Yu Xi sneered, her voice tinged with self-mockery: "Cops? Some cops have already been bribed by them. Huang Dexing has a few key figures in the police force who take money every month and turn a blind eye. Plus, Old Ghost has some ruthless thugs under his command. Anyone who dares to say a word will simply vanish into thin air."

Ah Biao interjected, his tone somewhat urgent: "Sang Ze, this matter is far too complicated. If you really get involved, you might even lose your life."

Su Hanze ignored him, his eyes still fixed on Yu Xi: "Do you know where their transaction will take place? Or rather, when will the next transaction be?"

Yu Xi's eyes flickered, as if she hesitated. She looked down at her hands, her fingers unconsciously twisting together: "I only know that their most recent transaction was three days ago, at an abandoned dock in Kowloon. As for the next one, I don't know... Old Ghost never lets me know too much."

"You don't know?" Su Hanze's tone carried a hint of doubt. "You've been following Old Ghost for so long, and you can't even get this much information?"

Yu Xi raised her head, a hint of anger flashing in her eyes: "What do you take me for? Old Ghost's woman? Or his confidante? I'm just a pawn he keeps on the outside, occasionally passing on some messages for him in exchange for a little money to survive. He never trusts me, and neither do the people around him."

Su Hanze didn't speak, just quietly looked at her. Although Yu Xi's tone was excited, her eyes revealed a weariness, as if she had been suffocating under the shadow of Lao Gui all these years. He stood up, walked to the corner of the room, turned his back to Yu Xi, and whispered, "A Biao, is it safe outside?" A Biao nodded: "It's fine for now. My men are keeping an eye on things, the cops won't come over tonight."

“Fine.” Su Hanze turned around and looked at Yu Xi again. “Since you’ve said so much, you don’t intend to turn back. Tell me, what exactly do you want?”

Yu Xi was stunned for a moment, as if she hadn't expected Su Hanze to be so direct. She bit her lip, her voice so low it was almost inaudible: "I want to leave Hong Kong and never come back."

Su Hanze raised an eyebrow: "It's that simple?"

“Simple?” Yu Xi chuckled, a bitter laugh tinged with bitterness. “You know Old Ghost’s methods. Whoever betrays him dies. If I want to leave, I’ll at least need money and connections, and I’ll have to make sure he can’t find me.”

Ah Biao frowned and interjected, "Sang Ze, this woman knows too much. If Old Gui knew she was with you, you'd be the first one he'd chop up."

“I know.” Su Hanze waved his hand, signaling A Biao to be quiet. He squatted down again, looking into Yu Xi’s eyes: “Give me the details of the deal between Lao Gui and Huang Dexing, and I’ll help you leave Hong Kong. But you have to prove first that what you’re saying is worth the risk I’m taking.”

Yu Xi was silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "Okay. I know a place where Old Ghost's men often meet to discuss goods. The address is in Yau Ma Tei, specifically a street or alley. I can take you there."

"Now?" Su Hanze asked.

“No.” Yu Xi shook her head. “It’s too late tonight, and Lao Gui’s men are all out and about. Tomorrow night, after ten o’clock, there will be fewer people in that area.”

Su Hanze glanced at A Biao, who shrugged, indicating he had no objection. He stood up and clapped his hands: "Then tomorrow night. You'd better not try anything funny."

Yu Xi didn't speak, but just smiled and looked down, her eyes filled with complicated emotions.

The next evening, the Hong Kong sky was overcast, and the air was damp, as if it were about to rain. Su Hanze stood at the entrance of a tea restaurant, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his gaze sweeping over the crowds passing by. A Biao stood beside him, holding a cup of milk tea, frowning and whispering, "Sangze, do you really believe that woman? If she sells you out, we're both finished."

Su Hanze exhaled a puff of smoke and said calmly, "If she wanted to sell me out, she wouldn't have said so much last night. Besides, she's more afraid of Old Ghost than I am now."

Ah Biao curled his lip: "You're just too confident. This woman doesn't look like someone to be trifled with."

"Even an inexpensive lamp can't see through the old ghost's true nature." Su Hanze stubbed out his cigarette and threw it into the nearby trash can. "Let's go, she should be here soon."

The two walked along the streets of Yau Ma Tei, passing shops with flashing neon lights, the air filled with the aroma of roasted meats and stir-fries. The streets and alleys were bustling with people, the cries of vendors and the chatter of passersby mingling together, creating a lively yet chaotic atmosphere. Su Hanze kept his head down, his hat pulled low, trying to avoid attracting attention.

When they arrived at the agreed-upon alleyway, Yu Xi was already waiting there. She had changed into a black sweater with an old jacket over it, and her hair was tied in a ponytail; she looked more energetic than the night before. Seeing Su Hanze, she nodded and whispered, "This is it. There's a bar at the end of the alley; Old Gui's men often meet there."

Su Hanze glanced around the alley; it was dimly lit, with only a few dilapidated streetlights barely illuminating the ground. He asked in a low voice, "Are you sure?"

“I’m sure.” Yu Xi’s tone was firm. “I’ve been there a few times, and I know everyone there.”

Ah Biao interjected, "Then how can you guarantee we won't be recognized when we go in?"

Yu Xi glanced at him, a slight smile playing on her lips. "I told you, there are fewer people after ten. The bar owner is one of Lao Gui's men, but he's not here tonight. Follow me, don't say anything out of line, no one will notice."

Su Hanze nodded, gesturing for Yu Xi to lead the way. The three walked into the alley, the air thick with the stench of sewers. The walls on both sides of the alley were covered with tattered advertising posters, and occasionally a few stray cats would dart out from the corners. At the end of the alley, an inconspicuous iron gate appeared before them, with a wooden sign hanging on it that read "Friends Bar".

Yu Xi pushed open the door, and a low, somber sound drifted in from inside. The bar was dimly lit, with only a few colorful neon lights flickering on the walls. Behind the bar stood a tall, thin man wiping glasses, while a few casual patrons sat in a corner drinking, the atmosphere eerily quiet.

Su Hanze whispered to Yu Xi, "You go in first, find a corner to sit in."

Yu Xi nodded and walked straight to a booth next to the bar. Su Hanze and Abiao followed behind, trying to keep a low profile. After sitting down, Su Hanze glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention to them before asking in a low voice, "When will the person you mentioned show up?"

Yu Xi picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and lowered her voice: "Don't worry, they'll be here around 10:30. There are always three or four of them, and the one in the lead is called A Long, who is Lao Gui's right-hand man."

"Ah Long?" Su Hanze frowned. "What's his background?"

“Old Ghost’s cousin.” Yu Xi’s tone was a bit disdainful. “He’s very arrogant because of that relationship. But he’s not very bright, and he likes to brag when he’s drunk. If you want to get information out of him, it’s easiest to start with him.”

Ah Biao sneered, "Sounds like an easy target."

“Even a soft persimmon has a knife.” Yu Xi glanced at him. “Don’t underestimate him. He has several thugs under his command, and they are all ruthless characters.”

Su Hanze remained silent, his gaze sweeping towards the bar's entrance. Time ticked by, and the bar gradually filled up, the music growing louder. Around 10:30, the door opened, and three men entered. The man in the lead had a buzz cut, a scar on his face, and a sinister look in his eyes; he was none other than Ah Long, the man Yu Xi had mentioned. Behind him were two burly men in black jackets, their waists bulging, clearly carrying weapons.

Yu Xi whispered a reminder: "It's them. Don't stare at them."

(End of this chapter)