Courtyard House: First, kill the hypocrites, leave none alive.

Hong Kong Island, Tsim Sha Tsui.

The morning sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting bright dappled patterns on the carpet of the hotel suite.

Xie Wanying sat on the sofa, holding a cup of tea in her hand, and slowly sipped it.

Today she wore a light purple cheongsam, her hair was tied up, and she wore light makeup, looking elegant and composed.

Across from her, Su Zhenzhen sat on another sofa.

She changed into a simple outfit today, and her makeup wasn't as heavy, making her look much more serious than usual.

But those eyes were frighteningly bright.

"Sister Ying,"

She spoke, her voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement, "I found out!"

Xie Wanying looked at her.

"explain."

Su Zhenzhen moved forward slightly.

"Anthony said that the arms deal was handled by a businessman named Lao Cheng."

Xie Wanying's eyes lit up.

Just for a moment.

Then she regained her composure.

"Lao Cheng?"

Su Zhenzhen nodded.

"Yes. Lao Cheng. He's ostensibly in charge of a shipping company, but he's actually involved in arms smuggling."

Xie Wanying was silent for a second.

"What else did Anthony say?"

Su Zhenzhen thought about it.

"He said that this Lao Cheng has several companies on Hong Kong Island, all of which appear to be legitimate businesses. But in secret, he has colluded with people in Southeast Asia and is specifically transporting weapons there."

She paused.

"Anthony and his team investigated for months, but they couldn't find any evidence. That Lao Cheng is too cunning; he always manages to skirt the line, leaving them no way to find anything."

Xie Wanying nodded.

She stood up and walked to the window.

Looking out the window at the bustling street scene.

Labor is accomplished.

Shipping company.

Smuggling weapons.

This person is useful.

She turned around.

Looking at Su Zhenzhen.

"Zhenzhen, you did a great job."

Su Zhenzhen smiled.

That smile was full of smugness.

Xie Wanying walked back to the sofa and sat down.

She looked at Su Zhenzhen.

"Really," she said, "did Anthony say anything else?"

Su Zhenzhen thought about it.

"Nothing else... It's just that this case is really troublesome, and the higher-ups are pushing us hard."

Xie Wanying nodded.

She took an envelope out of her handbag.

Place it on the table.

Push it over.

Su Zhenzhen opened it and took a look.

Another stack of banknotes.

Thick.

Her eyes lit up.

"Sister Ying, this..."

Xie Wanying said, "Take it. This is your reward for your hard work."

Su Zhenzhen put the money away, beaming from ear to ear.

"Thank you, Sister Ying! Thank you, Sister Ying!"

Xie Wanying looked at her.

"Zhenzhen,"

She said, "I will give you the necklace I promised. After everything is settled, I will give you an even better one."

Su Zhenzhen's eyes widened.

"Sister Ying, really?"

Xie Wanying nodded.

"real."

Su Zhenzhen was so excited she almost jumped up.

"Sister Ying, you're so kind! You're truly my benefactor!"

Xie Wanying smiled.

The smile was brief, fleeting in the sunlight.

"Go back," she said. "Get some rest. I'll contact you if I need anything."

Su Zhenzhen nodded.

"Yes, Sister Ying."

She stood up and walked out quickly.

The door closed behind me.

Xie Wanying was the only one left in the room.

She leaned back on the sofa, looking at the ceiling.

Labor is accomplished.

Shipping company.

Smuggling weapons.

This person is exactly what she needs.

She stood up.

I walked to the door and opened it.

"Ahei!"

Ahei came out of the room next door.

"Sister Ying."

Xie Wanying said, "Call Mr. Zhou over."

Ahei nodded.

"Yes."

-

Ten minutes later.

The door was pushed open.

Mr. Zhou walked in.

He was wearing a dark suit and gold-rimmed glasses, and looked like a respectable businessman.

He walked up to Xie Wanying.

"Sister Ying."

Xie Wanying nodded.

"sit."

Mr. Zhou sat down opposite him.

Xie Wanying looked at him.

"Zhou," she said, "there's something I need you to do."

Mr. Zhou looked at her.

"Please speak."

Xie Wanying said, "There was a businessman named Lao Cheng. On the surface, he ran a shipping company, but in reality, he was smuggling arms."

Mr. Zhou's eyes lit up.

"Sister Ying, what do you want...?"

Xie Wanying nodded.

"Yes. You should contact him."

Mr. Zhou remained silent for a second.

"Sister Ying, do you mean...?"

Xie Wanying said, "Let's see if we can cooperate. He has weapons, and we need weapons. He ships them to Southeast Asia, and we need to ship them to Southeast Asia too. Maybe we can make a connection."

Mr. Zhou nodded.

"clear."

He stood up.

"Sister Ying, I'll take care of it right away."

Xie Wanying nodded.

Mr. Zhou turned around and walked out quickly.

The door closed behind me.

Xie Wanying leaned back on the sofa, looking out the window.

Labor is accomplished.

If we could get in touch with this person—

A slight smile appeared on her lips.

-

Sometime at night on Hong Kong Island.

A private club, hidden deep within the bustling city.

There was no sign at the entrance, only two bodyguards in black suits standing there.

Mr. Zhou went inside.

Walk through the corridor and push open a door.

Inside was a spacious private room.

The lighting is soft and the decor is sophisticated.

A person was sitting on the sofa.

He was in his forties, of medium build, wearing a dark Zhongshan suit, and his hair was neatly combed.

He wore a gentle smile, but his eyes gleamed with shrewdness.

Labor is accomplished.

Mr. Zhou walked over.

Mr. Lao.

Lao Cheng looked up at him.

"Mr. Zhou? I've heard so much about you."

He gestured for Mr. Zhou to sit down.

Mr. Zhou sat down opposite him.

Lao Cheng looked at him.

"Mr. Zhou, what can I do for you?"

Mr. Zhou smiled.

"Mr. Lao, I'm here to discuss business."

Lao Cheng narrowed his eyes.

"Business? What kind of business?"

Mr. Zhou said, "Weapons."

Lao Cheng's expression changed slightly.

Just for a moment.

Then he regained his composure.

He looked at Mr. Zhou, his eyes becoming wary.

"Mr. Zhou, I don't understand what you're saying."

Mr. Zhou smiled.

"Mr. Lao, you don't need to pretend. I know what you do."

He paused.

"There are people in Southeast Asia who need weapons. A considerable quantity."

Lao Cheng looked at him.

A complex light flickered in those eyes.

"Mr. Zhou," he said, "who exactly are you?"

Mr. Zhou took a business card out of his pocket.

Place it on the table.

Push it over.

Lao Cheng picked up the business card and glanced at it.

There is only one name and one phone number on it.

Xie Wanying.

"Mr. Lao," Mr. Zhou said, "if you're interested, please call this number."

He stood up.

Goodbye.

He turned and walked out.

Lao Cheng sat on the sofa, looking at the business card and the name.

Xie Wanying.

He had never heard of it.

But he knew that those who came to him were not simple people.

He picked up the business card and looked at it for a long time.

-

Hotel, suite.

Xie Wanying sat on the sofa, holding a cup of tea in her hand.

Mr. Zhou stood in front of her.

"Sister Ying, I've delivered the message." Lao Cheng accepted the business card.

Xie Wanying nodded.

"What did he say?"

Mr. Zhou said, "He neither agreed nor disagreed. But he accepted the business card, which means he was interested."

Xie Wanying smiled.

The smile was brief, fleeting in the light.

"it is good."

She put down her teacup.

Stand up and walk to the window.

Looking out the window at the neon lights.

"Zhou," she said, "keep an eye on him. See who he's been seeing these past few days."

Mr. Zhou nodded.

"clear."

He turned and walked out.

The door closed behind me.

Xie Wanying stood by the window, looking out.

Labor is accomplished.

She will wait.

Wait for him to call.

-

three days later.

Hotel, suite.

Xie Wanying sat on the sofa, holding a book in her hand, slowly turning the pages.

the phone is ringing.

She picked up the phone.

"Feed?"

A man's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Ms. Xie?"

Xie Wanying's eyes lit up.

"it's me."

The man said, "I am Lao Cheng. Mr. Zhou gave me his business card."

Xie Wanying smiled.

"Mr. Lao, you finally called."

Lao Cheng was silent for a second.

"Ms. Xie, I want to see you."

Xie Wanying said, "Okay. When?"

Lao Cheng said, "Now."

Xie Wanying smiled.

"Mr. Lao, you seem very anxious."

Lao Cheng said, "Those who do business are all in a hurry."

Xie Wanying said, "Okay. Come to my place. I'll have someone waiting for you downstairs."

She hung up the phone.

stand up.

I walked up to the mirror and tidied my hair.

Then she walked to the door and opened it.

"Ahei!"

Ahei walked over.

"Sister Ying."

Xie Wanying said, "A man named Lao Cheng will be here in a little while. Bring him up."

Ahei nodded.

"Yes."