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

The straight-line distance from Sai Kung Beach to Kowloon Walled City isn't too far, but for a penniless "illegal resident" who could be questioned at any time, it was undoubtedly a long march.

Two whole days.

Lu Chen was like a nocturnal wildcat. During the day, he hid deep in the bushes of the park or in the shadows of the maintenance passage of the building, enduring mosquito bites and hunger; at night, he used his vague memory of the map of Hong Kong Island from his previous life to sneak along the unlit paths and the edges of abandoned industrial areas.

He did not come away empty-handed in these two days.

While passing by a musty-smelling recycling station in Sham Shui Po, he helped the owner sort half a ton of old newspapers in exchange for two hardened pineapple buns and the opportunity to "read extensively" among the pile of old newspapers.

Those oil-stained and inconsistently dated copies of the *Oriental Daily* and *Everyday Daily*, which others would consider waste paper, were, in Lu Chen's eyes, a priceless intelligence network, even though his intelligence had reached Lv4.

He munched on his dry bread while rapidly scanning the screen, his mind constructing a map of the current situation like a high-precision radar:

"Hung Hing, Tung Sing, and Wo Luen Shing, the three old giants, still sit firmly in their positions, controlling the most lucrative areas."

"The Ni family in Tsim Sha Tsui, that old fox Ni Kun is still alive and thriving. It seems the plot of 'Infernal Affairs 2' hasn't even begun yet, and Han Chen is still his loyal dog."

"As for the King of Thieves... well, the newspapers only have sporadic reports about the minor robbery of the gold shop. It seems that the King of Thieves, Long Zhiqiang, is still lying low, and Ye Guohuan and others have not yet grown up."

"In business, Li Ka-shing's Cheung Kong Holdings had just gone public and was poised to make a big splash by acquiring British trading companies. It was an era of rampant growth; with enough capital, even a pig could fly."

Lu Chen patted the ink off his hands, his eyes gleaming in the dim light.

Besides these big players, he also noticed several emerging forces on the rise:

In Sai Wan, a so-called businessman named "Wang Bao" began to frequently appear on the list of charity dinners, but news about violent clashes at the Sai Wan Seafood Market also increased in the news—that was the Bao gang clearing out the market.

In Kowloon, the brutality of the Vietnamese gangs began to be reported in the newspapers. Although the names of the three Tony brothers had not yet been mentioned, Lu Chen was all too familiar with their style of doing things.

"What a chaotic world, truly a chaotic world."

Lu Chen swallowed the last bite of bread, a smile playing on his lips.

The more chaotic the situation, the more opportunities there are. For a time traveler who knows all the scripts, this is the best playground.

For example, according to the latest information he received, he already knows the best place to go after arriving in Kowloon Walled City.

……

On the evening of the third day, as the last rays of the setting sun disappeared over Hong Kong Island, Lu Chen finally stood before that legendary place.

Kowloon Walled City.

It resembles a gigantic, deformed monster, entrenched in the heart of the Kowloon Peninsula. Countless gloomy concrete buildings are stacked one on top of another, defying the laws of physics; a dense web of electrical wires tangles in the air; and dripping clothes hang from rusty iron bars.

Even across the street, you can smell that unique aroma—a mixture of the scent of roasted meat, the stench of sewers, the smell of incense, and the dampness of mold.

This is a lawless place.

This is a breeding ground for evil.

This is also the "starter village" that Lu Chen chose.

He took a deep breath, straightened his shirt which was so dirty that its original color was no longer visible, and walked in with his head held high.

As soon as we entered the fortified village, the daylight suddenly dimmed.

The narrow alleyway is perpetually dark, with dripping water pipes overhead. On either side are rows of signs: unlicensed dentist, counterfeit medicine, dog meat stall, underground gambling den…

The neon signs sizzled in the humid air, reflecting numb or fierce faces.

Lu Chen didn't wander aimlessly like a headless fly. Based on his memory, he navigated the intricate alleyways, avoiding several drug addicts who looked like they were looking for prey, and headed straight for the core area of ​​the walled city.

His goal was clear—an old-fashioned barbershop with a rotating red, white, and blue lightbox hanging at the entrance.

Ten minutes later, he found it in a relatively clean alley.

Through the glass door, Lu Chen saw that the shop's furnishings were old but clean. A customer was sitting in the old-fashioned cast-iron barber chair. Behind the chair, a middle-aged man wearing a gray Tang suit jacket and with his hair neatly combed was holding an old-fashioned razor and intently shaving the customer's face.

The movements were gentle and elegant, not like shaving, but like sculpting a work of art.

Tornado.

The leader of Kowloon Walled City, a former Double Flower Red Pole of Hung Hing (after the integration of Hong Kong variety shows), a legendary figure who keeps his promises and is known for his loyalty and integrity. He is also a key figure in the movie "Kowloon Walled City: Siege". Fifteen years ago, after leaving Hung Hing, he founded the Lung Shing Gang and defeated Lui Chun-tung and Chan Chien with two iron hooks, thus unifying the walled city.

This is also the most crucial part of Lu Chen's plan.

Lu Chen pushed open the door and entered.

The copper bell on the door rang out with a crisp "ding-a-ling".

In a corner of the shop, a young man who had been reading horse racing tips suddenly looked up. He wore a mask-like, cold expression, and his eyes swept over Lu Chen like knives.

That was Shinichi, Tornado's number one confidant.

"That's all for today. Please come early tomorrow," Shinichi said coldly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Lu Chen did not back down. He stood at the door, his gaze passing over Xin Yi and looking directly at the middle-aged man who was still focused on shaving.

"I don't get haircuts."

Lu Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it was steady, revealing a composure that didn't match his disheveled appearance.

"I'm here to make a business deal."

The hand wielding the razor paused slightly before resuming its smooth motion. Without turning his head, Tornado's voice was gentle and refined: "I only do haircuts here. If you want to buy 'candy' or have some fun, turn left at the third alleyway outside."

"Only you and only you in the entire Hong Kong Island can do this deal."

Lu Chen took a step forward, meeting Xin's instantly tense muscles and wary gaze, and slowly uttered a name:

"About... Chen Zhan."

hum.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

The sharp razor hovered at the guest's neck, just a hair's breadth away.

Tornado finally stopped what he was doing. He slowly turned around, and for the first time, his seemingly gentle but deep-sea-like eyes focused seriously on Lu Chen.

That was the oppressive aura of someone long accustomed to power, the presence forged in a sea of ​​corpses and blood. An ordinary person would probably be trembling at this moment.

But Lu Chen didn't; he even smiled and met that gaze.

"Who are you?" Shinichi's hand had already reached for the butterfly knife at his waist.

"A mainland guy looking for a stable job in Kowloon City." Lu Chen spread his hands, indicating that he had no weapons. "I know this name is taboo, and I know that it was Chen Zhan who killed him and ended the chaotic years in Kowloon Walled City... but none of that matters."

He stared into Tornado's eyes and said, slowly and deliberately, "Most importantly, I know that Chen Zhan still has children in this world."

Tornado's pupils suddenly contracted.

He waved for Xin Yi to leave, then wiped his hands with a towel, his eyes becoming complex and unreadable.

"Do you want to die, or do you want to live?" Tornado's voice was soft, yet carried immense weight.

"I want to live, and I want to live with dignity."

Lu Chen stopped beating around the bush and directly offered his bargaining chip: "I need an ID card. Really, the kind that can be traced back to the bottom. In exchange, I'll tell you where Chen Zhan's son is now. I know you've lost contact with him and his mother since you sent them to the mainland, and you've always resented having to kill him back then. Preserving his bloodline is the only compensation you can offer."

The store was deathly silent.

After a long while, Tornado walked to the coffee table and poured two cups of tea.

"Young man, do you know that if this is a lie, you won't even have the chance to walk out this door?"

"If I dared to come, then it must be true." Lu Chen walked over, picked up his teacup, and drank it all in one gulp—he was indeed extremely thirsty. "His son's name is Chen Luojun. Back then, his wife fled back to the mainland, and died of illness shortly after giving birth. Chen Luojun smuggled himself to Hong Kong Island in order to find his roots."

At this point, Lu Chen paused, observing Tornado's expression.

"Where is he now?" Tornado's tone finally showed a hint of change.

"Working under the big boss."

Lu Chen dropped a bombshell: "He's fighting in underground boxing matches. I inquired before I came here; a guy with a buzz cut, a 'big circle kid,' recently joined the big boss's gym. He's like a madman, and he's already won three matches in a row. You can look into it and see what his relationship with Chen Zhan is."

Actually, Lu Chen deduced this purely by combining the movie plot with a conversation he overheard a gambler having lost at the junkyard a couple of days ago. And at that skill level and age, it couldn't possibly be anyone else but Chen Luojun, who inherited Chen Zhan's genes.

Tornado tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his brow furrowed.

It would be fine elsewhere, but it's in the hands of the big boss... that ambitious man who's always wanted to take over Kowloon Walled City. If the big boss knew about Chen Luojun's background, he would definitely make a fuss about it.

"Nobuichi."

Tornado suddenly spoke.

"Yes, boss."

"Investigate. I need to ascertain the background of that newbie at the big boss's boxing gym as quickly as possible. If it really is..." A fierce glint flashed in Tornado's eyes, "Get the manpower ready, and 'bring' him back tonight. Don't alert the big boss."

"Yes." Xin Yi gave Lu Chen a deep look, then turned and walked away quickly.

Only Lu Chen, Tornado, and the customer who was too scared to make a sound remained in the store.

"Since it's a transaction, it must be fair."

Tornado looked at Lu Chen, regaining her usual gentle demeanor. "You can't leave until Xin Yi confirms the news. If you're lying to me, I'll personally send you down to apologize to Chen Zhan. If what you're saying is true..."

He took a cigarette from the drawer, lit it, and took a deep drag.

"An ID card? As long as you're a person, I can get you one. And as long as you're in the Walled City, I'll protect you."

Lu Chen smiled.

He was actually gambling, betting that Tornado really had the same personality as in the movie—loyal, righteous, and trustworthy.

Fortunately, he won his gamble.

This also means that the movie plots he remembers are basically consistent with reality.

"Deal. I'll stay here for a week. Perfect, I have nowhere else to go, there's food and drink here, and I can even read the newspaper for free, it's great."

Lu Chen sat down casually in the barber chair and let out a long sigh.

Just then, a mechanical voice rang in his mind.

【Ding--】

[Key plot character detected: Tornado]

[Checking in at the movie "Kowloon Walled City"]

[Check-in successful!]

[Reward: +1 Free Attribute Points]

Lu Chen pondered silently. His intelligence was already at Lv4, which was enough for him in this chaotic place. But his weakness was too obvious—his body was too weak.

When facing Shinichi just now, although he appeared calm, his body's instincts told him that if Shinichi made a move, he wouldn't last even half a second.

In this violent city, even the guarantee from Tornado isn't foolproof. You need at least some self-defense skills. To put it bluntly, if you really encounter danger, you need to hold out until you have time to call for help.

"System, add this 1 point to [Strength]!"

A warm current instantly surged through my body. Unlike the coolness I felt when I added points to Intelligence, this time it was a burning heat.

Lu Chen felt as if his previously withered muscle fibers had been rewoven. Although his appearance did not change much and he was still thin, he could clearly feel that the force he used when clenching his fist had changed.

[Strength: Lv2 (Congratulations, you have finally reached the level of a normal adult male)]

[Evaluation: Although he only went from being a "completely useless fighter" to an "ordinary person," it's still a qualitative leap. At least now he has the strength to throw a punch and is no longer the loser who would be out of breath after running a few steps.]

"One week..."

Lu Chen leaned back in his chair, looking out the window at the perpetually dim street, forever flashing bizarre neon lights.

This week, he not only has to wait for his ID card, but also make good use of his "Tornado Guest" identity to wander around this city of sin and gather intelligence in this mixed place.

The future is truly promising.