Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

Before the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year had completely dissipated in Hong Kong, Lu Chen had already boarded a flight to Japan.

At this time, Japan was in its most frenzied and glorious period of growth before the collapse of its bubble economy. Land prices in the East were soaring toward the myth that "selling Ginza could buy the entire United States." Every night was filled with money and desire, and every Japanese person believed that tomorrow would bring even more wealth.

For merchants, this place is a paradise where gold is everywhere.

Osaka, Shinsaibashi.

As the most bustling commercial district in Kansai, this place is teeming with people. But at the most conspicuous street corner, an astonishingly long queue has formed in front of a shop that has only recently opened.

On the black and gold signboard, the elegant "Garreau" logo gleams in the sunlight.

"Wow! This is that top luxury brand from Hong Kong Island?"

"I heard only true socialites can buy these! I waited three months to get a number for that 'Queen Series' bag!"

A group of stylishly dressed Japanese ladies and young women, holding substantial amounts of Japanese yen in cash, stared fervently at the new products displayed in the shop window.

Lu Chen, dressed in a low-key casual suit, stood across the street from the office building, watching the frenzied shopping scene below.

"Boss, the Osaka store's sales this month have exceeded 100 million yen."

The sales manager in charge of the Japanese region stood to the side, bowing at a ninety-degree angle, his tone full of awe, "And it's not just Osaka, the flagship store in Tokei Ginza has seen its sales double. Thanks to the marketing strategies you set up before, 'Garreau' is now on par with Hermès and Chanel in the Japanese fashion world."

"very good."

Lu Chen took a small sip of Blue Mountain coffee and watched the Japanese people frantically spending money through his sunglasses.

In this era, the purchasing power of the Japanese was astonishing. Garreau's highly avant-garde design style and its use of strategies touted in Europe perfectly struck a chord with these nouveau riche.

"Keep it up," Lu Chen instructed calmly. "Remember, we're not selling bags, we're selling class, a sense of superiority. We need to make them feel that not being able to buy a Garreau is because they're not of a certain status, not because we don't have enough stock."

"Hi! I will follow your teachings!" The manager bowed deeply.

After inspecting the shops in Osaka, Lu Chen did not linger and took the Shinkansen to Tokyo that afternoon.

Compared to Osaka's commercial atmosphere, Higashikuni, this megacity, is more like a bottomless labyrinth.

Here, Lu Chen has an even more important move to make.

After inspecting the visible businesses, it was already night. A light drizzle began to fall in Dongjing, and the raindrops pattered on the colorful neon signs, creating a hazy, cyberpunk-like scene.

Lu Chen dismissed his entourage and led Tian Yangsheng into a secluded alley.

He pulled a silver mask from his pocket—a mask that only covered the upper half of his face, with a simple design but an eerie beauty.

Wear it.

At that moment, Lu Chen, a business tycoon worth hundreds of millions, disappeared.

Instead, the distillery's supreme ruler is the BOSS.

……

Shibuya, Udagawa Town.

This is the most chaotic yet bustling area in eastern longitude, filled with izakayas, pachinko parlors, and brothels of all kinds.

An izakaya called "Tengu" stands alone at the end of the alley. Its signboard is somewhat faded, and the red lanterns hanging at the door sway in the rainy night.

Lu Chen pushed open the creaking wooden door.

「いらっしゃいませ（Welcome）……」

The owner was a one-eyed old man, who was wiping cups with his head down. Hearing the door open, he looked up, and when his remaining eye saw the silver mask on Lu Chen's face, his pupil suddenly contracted.

He didn't speak, but silently bent down and bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, then pointed to a secluded private room inside.

Lu Chen walked straight in.

Inside the private room, there were tatami mats and a low table in the center, on which sat a pot of warm sake and several delicate side dishes.

A woman dressed in a black kimono, with her long hair tied up and an aloof, icy demeanor, was kneeling there. She held a slender cigarette between her fingers, and her exquisite face was faintly visible through the swirling smoke.

Nguyen Van, or Vermouth.

Upon seeing Lu Chen enter wearing a mask, a breathtaking smile instantly bloomed on her originally aloof face.

"Boss," Ruan Wen stood up and poured Lu Chen a glass of wine, "This is 'Kubota' that was just shipped from Niigata, please have a taste."

Lu Chen picked up his wine glass and took a sip through the opening beneath his mask; it was spicy with a sweet aftertaste.

"Let's get down to business," Lu Chen put down his wine glass, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "How's the development of Takamagahara going?"

Ruan Wen said solemnly, "Reporting to the BOSS, everything is proceeding according to plan. Using 'Super Dollar' as seed money, we have already established a foothold in Shibuya. I have acquired more than a dozen underground banks and loan shark companies that were on the verge of bankruptcy and integrated them into our financial network."

"Furthermore," Ruan Wen's eyes flashed with pride, "I bought a poorly managed five-star hotel in a prime location in Shibuya—the Sakura Crown Hotel. The building has twenty-eight floors, excellent views, and three huge underground air-raid shelters. I plan to transform it into the true headquarters of Takamagahara, a place that integrates entertainment, accommodation, and gambling."

"very good."

Lu Chen nodded. He was indeed satisfied with Ruan Wen's execution. In this bubble era, as long as you have money, you can buy almost anything in Dongjing, including legal loopholes.

"However..." Ruan Wen changed the subject, her brows furrowing slightly, a hint of worry making her even more captivating, "Our expansion has aroused the dissatisfaction of local forces."

"The underworld in Japan is strictly hierarchical. Although I have already paid 'cooperation fees' to behemoths like the Yamaguchi-gumi and Sumiyoshi-kai, these organizations will not threaten us for the time being. However, a long-established organization in Shibuya has been causing us trouble recently."

"Oh?" Lu Chen toyed with the wine glass in his hand. "What's your name?"

“Scarecrow Club,” Ruan Wen uttered the name. “Their boss is Matsumoto, who appears to be a respectable businessman running nightclubs and trading companies, but in reality, he controls drug distribution and international smuggling in the Shibuya area. Recently, they have sent people to harass our company and izakaya several times, injured several of our peripheral members, demanded huge sums of ‘cooperation fees,’ and even threatened to take our company shares.”

At this point, a hint of murderous intent flashed in Ruan Wen's eyes: "Boss, I have a group of newly recruited 'samurai' under my command. As long as you give the order, I will take Matsumoto's head tonight."

"The Scarecrow Club? Matsumoto?"

Lu Chen pondered the two names, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth beneath the mask.

Isn't this the villainous organization from Sammo Hung's classic action-comedy film, "Lucky Stars Go Places"?

In the movie's plot, Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao play detectives who track down a corrupt cop who embezzled $100 million worth of jewelry and fled to Japan, eventually leading them to the Scarecrow Club.

The "Five Lucky Stars," led by Partridge, soon arrived in East Asia and staged a hilarious yet incredibly destructive spectacle at the club.

Therefore, Matsumoto was destined to be a short-lived man.

"You don't need to lift a finger," Lu Chen shook his head, his tone indifferent. "It's not worth exposing Takamagahara's strength for a few rats. Vermouth, remember this: the most skilled hunters often don't need to fire their own shots."

"I've arranged everything." Lu Chen pointed to the bustling Tokyo night view outside the window. "A 'special operations team' from Hong Kong Island will be arriving in Japan soon. They'll clear away this pile of 'straw' for you."

"Special Operations Team?" Although Ruan Wen was a little confused about which of the BOSS's men this was, seeing the BOSS's confident eyes, he wisely refrained from asking any further questions.

"You don't need to confront them head-on. I want you to be a vulture circling in the sky. When Matsumoto is captured or killed, when their territory becomes no man's land... you, with the people of Takamagahara, will immediately enter the fray." Lu Chen looked at Ruan Wen: "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Boss!" Ruan Wen bowed again: "I will have my men ready to receive the Scarecrow's legacy at any time."

"very good."

Lu Chen stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack.

The rain was still falling outside, and the neon lights of Shibuya flickered in the rain, like greedy eyes.

"Furthermore, the hotel renovation must be of high quality and quantity," Lu Chen said, his back to Ruan Wen, looking at the distant, faintly visible high-rise building—the Sakura Crown Hotel. "I want to transform it into the safest and most dangerous place in all of Japan. When the scarecrow falls, I want the flag of Takamagahara to be planted at the highest point in Shibuya."

"Yes, ma'am."

As Ruan Wen gazed at that tall, mysterious figure, her heart was filled with a mixture of love and admiration, making her almost want to prostrate herself at his feet.

……

After leaving the izakaya, Lu Chen took off his mask and transformed back into the business tycoon he once was.

He stood on the streets of Shibuya, looking at the huge GG sign in the distance—which was none other than GG, the nightclub owned by the Scarecrow Club.

"Matsumoto, Matsumoto," Lu Chen sneered, "enjoy your last moments of madness."