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

Fuguiwan Restaurant, Banquet Hall.

The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and expensive champagne; what was once a lavish social setting had now turned into a living hell.

"Bang!"

Another gunshot rang out, and a wealthy businessman's bodyguard who had tried to resist fell screaming into a pool of blood.

McDonald stood in the center of the stage, the silver revolver in his hand still emitting smoke. He straightened his slightly flamboyant suit, his eyes sweeping over the trembling crowd below as if he were looking at livestock.

"I've said it before, this is my party, so I set the rules."

McDonald snapped his fingers.

Several armed bandits immediately stepped forward, holding a pre-prepared list, and roughly parted the crowd.

"Mr. Matsushita, Dato' Lee, Sir Guo..."

McDonald called out names one by one, a greedy smile playing on his lips. "These thirty distinguished guests, please follow my men to the VIP room. We need to discuss a minor issue regarding the 'ransom.' As for the rest..."

He glanced at the remaining few hundred middle-class and wealthy people with relatively "ordinary" net worth and shrugged.

"Stay here and play a game with me, I hope you like it—Baccarat."

……

Meanwhile, the Royal VIP Suite.

The continuous, muffled gunshots penetrated the heavy soundproof door and faintly entered the suite.

Meng Bo, who had been half-believing, turned deathly pale. He jumped up, pressed his ear to the door and listened for a while, then turned around and looked at Lu Chen with a solemn expression.

"They opened fire... What a bunch of lunatics!"

"It's McDonald's." Lu Chen sat on the sofa, loading bullets into the magazine, his movements unhurried. "That's his signal, it means the robbery has begun."

The atmosphere in the room instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Huixiang covered her mouth in fright, while Qingzi clung tightly to Mengbo's clothes. The big-footed man who had been grinning the whole time had also dropped his lewd act and was now gripping his shotgun tightly.

"Boss Lu, what do we do now?" Although Meng Bo was usually unreliable, he could still tell what was important at a crucial moment. "There are at least several hundred innocent tourists down there, and quite a few crew members..."

"It's alright, the advantage is with us. Ms. Kiyoko, stay here to receive the rescued hostages. Mark, you take Bigfoot, Mengbo, and Huixiang to take control of the cockpit and communications room."

Lu Chen quickly assigned tasks: "McDonald's has definitely sent people to control the area and cut off all external communication. Your mission is to regain control and then find a way to send out a distress signal. Can you do that?"

"Don't worry!" Meng Bo picked up a Colt Python revolver and skillfully twirled it. "I'm a city hunter, this kind of infiltration mission is my forte."

Little Ma, with a matchstick dangling from his mouth, pushed up his sunglasses and pulled out two pistols from under his trench coat: "Enough talk, let's go. I can't wait to smell the gunpowder."

"The rest of you, follow me. Our target is the banquet hall; it has the most hostages and the heaviest firepower. We're going there... to behead them."

A cold glint flashed in Lu Chen's eyes. "Remember, no hesitation, no nonsense. If you see McDonald, blow his head off."

"Understood," Tian Yangsheng replied coldly, his military knife flashing between his fingers.

……

Five minutes later, in the corridor on the second floor of the banquet hall.

This place, originally intended for band performances, has now become the perfect sniping spot.

Lu Chen, along with Xiao Zhuang, Tian Yangsheng, and Tian Yangzhi, stealthily crept up. Utilizing his terrifying [Perception Lv5] ability, Lu Chen spotted two patrolling sentries ahead of time, allowing Tian Yangsheng to silently eliminate them with a military knife.

At this moment, the situation below was on the verge of exploding.

Gambling expert Gao Da chose to participate in the competition in place of Ya Zi, and has now won more than ten rounds in a row. However, his opponent, McDonald, looks amused and is not in a hurry at all.

After all, he could fail countless times, but Gundam would die if he failed even once. Behind McDonald stood an extremely burly man with long blond hair, wearing a white suit—that was Kim, the top henchman in the movie.

"If this hand isn't good..." McDonald toyed with the revolver in his hand, the muzzle intentionally or unintentionally pointing at Gundam, whose forehead was covered in cold sweat, "then you might be going to meet your maker."

Suppressed sobs erupted from the crowd.

"Boss, that guy playing cards is McDonald." Tian Yangzhi lowered his voice, his sniper rifle already set up.

"The blond guy next to me is mine." Xiao Zhuang knelt on the ground, the crosshairs of his sniper rifle steadily aimed at the blond guy's temple.

"Very well, I don't like villains who talk nonsense. Let's send them to meet their maker."

Lu Chen hid behind a huge marble pillar, holding a Glock 17 equipped with a silencer, and calmly issued the order.

According to the movie plot, this guy will play cards with Gao Da for a long time, then fight with Meng Bo, and finally be defeated, but Lu Chen has no interest in watching the show.

Villains die from talking too much, protagonists die from being verbose. He came to save people, not to film a movie. Since he could snipe from a distance, why did he have to go down and fight hand-to-hand?

"Everyone, listen to my command!"

Lu Chen lowered his voice and delivered the death sentence into the headset.

"Don't give him a chance to react. Tian Yangzhi, take care of McDonald's; Xiao Zhuang, take care of the blond guy. Everyone else, fire freely, prioritize taking out targets with heavy weapons."

"Three, two, one..."

"Let's do it!"

"Pfft! Pfft!"

Two very faint gunshots were drowned out by the sound of the surrounding waves crashing.

McDonald, who was smugly posing on stage, ready to reveal his trump card and humiliate Gundam, suddenly froze with a smile.

A burst of blood suddenly appeared between his eyebrows.

That head, which was supposed to be used for showing off, suddenly tilted back, and before he could even utter a last word, he fell straight onto the gambling table.

Red brain matter and blood splattered all over the face of the Gundam opposite.

"Holy crap! A headshot?!" Gao Da was so shocked that he sat down on the ground with a thud, scattering the cards in his hand all over the floor.

Almost at the same time.

Jin, the top henchman standing behind McDonald's, also had a burst of blood on his forehead. A large-caliber sniper bullet had pierced through his brain. This martial arts expert, who had beaten Meng Bo black and blue in the movie, didn't even utter a sound before meeting his maker.

"The boss is dead!"

"There's a sniper!"

The terrorists were instantly thrown into chaos.

But this is just the beginning.

"Da da da da da—!"

Flames were spitting out from the corridor on the second floor.

Tian Yangyi, Tian Yangsheng, and their men began firing precise bursts from their automatic rifles. Having occupied the high ground, and with their superior marksmanship and strategic maneuvering, they were reaping the terrorists below like wheat.

"Get cover! Get down!"

Lu Chen shouted at the hostages downstairs.

In fact, he didn't even need to shout; the passengers had already been so frightened that they hid under the tables.

The battle instantly intensified.

Lu Chen didn't jump down and fight like an action movie protagonist. He knew his weaknesses, and he valued his life.

[Perception Lv5] Fully enabled.

The movements throughout the entire hall formed a three-dimensional image in his mind.

"There's one hiding behind the pillar at the three o'clock position!"

Tian Yangsheng leaned out halfway and quickly pulled the trigger.

"Bang!"

The terrorist, who was about to throw a grenade, was shot in the wrist, and the grenade fell to his feet.

"boom--!"

A burst of light appeared, and the three terrorists in that area boarded a makeshift plane.

"Big Brother is mighty!" Tian Yangyong roared, and fired his machine gun even more enthusiastically.

Lu Chen continued to play it safe, choosing to report enemy positions to his men and occasionally fire a couple of sniper shots.

Although he had practiced shooting before, this was his first real gunfight. His heart was racing, his palms were slightly sweaty, but he felt no fear; instead, he felt an adrenaline rush of excitement.

The battle ended faster than expected.

Having lost their commander, McDonald, and with their strongest fighter, King, eliminated in the first instance, the remaining terrorists were leaderless and completely collapsed after leaving behind more than twenty corpses.

"We surrender! We surrender!"

"Get out of here! Run to the deck!"

Some people escaped in the chaos, while the remaining terrorists threw away their guns, knelt on the ground, and raised their hands.

Tian Yangsheng led a few people and quickly slid down from the building. Like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, they quickly subdued the remaining remnants of the enemy.

"Safety."

"Safety."

As reports came from all directions, the suffocating gunfire in the hall finally ceased.

Only then did those wealthy and famous people who had been crouching on the ground with their heads in their hands dare to raise their heads tremblingly.

Lu Chen straightened his collar, tucked the pistol back into his waistband, and after confirming there was no danger, slowly walked down the stairs with Tian Yangsheng.

He was still wearing that white casual suit, which, although a little dusty, still exuded a calm and composed demeanor.

"Everyone, it's alright now."

To these panicked hostages, he seemed like a savior descending in holy light.

"Lu Chen? It's Mr. Lu!"

"Oh my god! I'm saved! Waaaaah..."

Lu Chen straightened his suit, which was not disheveled, handed the gun to Xiao Zhuang behind him, put on a gentle and calm smile, and slowly walked down the stairs.

"Everyone, you've been frightened."

Lu Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it was clearly heard throughout the venue through the microphone that was still on.

"McDonald has been killed, but this ship is not safe. Please follow me to the cabin for refuge."

Many wealthy women looked at Lu Chen as if he were their savior.

"Mr. Lu! Thank you! You are our benefactor!"

"Thank you, Mr. Lu, and his bodyguards, otherwise..."

Lu Chen smiled and waved, but in his heart he was calculating: This wave is in the bag.

While those present weren't among the thirty top billionaires, they were all middle-class elites from Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Lawyers, doctors, small business owners, fashion buyers… these were precisely the core members of the Garreau brand's target market.

Just then, a red figure stepped out from the crowd.

Meiko.

She was holding a handgun she had somehow stolen, and the hem of her red dress was torn, revealing her long, fair legs. She looked both disheveled and sexy.

She looked at Lu Chen, her beautiful eyes sparkling with admiration.

She had witnessed the entire battle. The calm command, the precise marksmanship, and that domineering entrance—it all struck her heart.

This is a real man!

"Mr. Lu, I didn't expect you to be so well-hidden." Ya Zi shoved the gun back into its holster on her thigh, biting her red lips lightly, exuding charm. "Looks like I was worrying for nothing. I was even thinking about how to protect you."

"Miss Yako is quite skilled too." Lu Chen stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over her, a hint of concern in his voice. "Are you alright?"

"Just a minor scratch, nothing to worry about." Yako casually tossed her hair. "But Mr. Lu's moves just now were absolutely amazing. How about... a friendly spar sometime?"

"I'd be happy to oblige." Lu Chen smiled, closing the distance slightly until he could even smell her faint perfume. "However, I need to trouble Miss Yako with something now."

"you say."

"It's not completely safe here yet. Could you please organize everyone to go to the guest room area? My men have already cleared that area, and I'll go with my men to rescue the other hostages."

"No problem. Leave it to me."

Ya Zi nodded, turned around and began to organize the evacuation of the crowd, instantly exuding the aura of a capable policewoman.

……

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Lu Chen was about to go to the driver's seat to check on Meng Bo's situation when he suddenly heard a familiar, somewhat street-smart, loud voice coming from the corner.

"Oh my god! I was so scared I almost had a heart attack! Sister, look at that dead person! Their brains are all splattered out! Oh my god!"

"Alright, Dad! Stop yelling! It's so embarrassing!"

Lu Chen turned his head and immediately burst out laughing.

A middle-aged man in a floral shirt, slightly overweight, and wearing black-rimmed glasses was seen leaning against the railing, shouting loudly. Beside him was a similarly plump middle-aged woman and her three beautiful daughters.

Uncle Piao and Aunt Piao.

I never expected that they were on the ship too.

"Uncle Piao?" Lu Chen called out tentatively.

"Huh?" Uncle Piao was taken aback for a moment, pushed up his glasses, and when he saw it was Lu Chen, he immediately put on a smiling face. "Oh, Mr. Lu! Oh dear, we really owe you a debt of gratitude! Otherwise, my whole family would be doomed here today!"

"Hello, Mr. Lu!" Aunt Piao greeted him quickly, pushing her three daughters forward, "Quickly, greet him! This is our savior!"

"Hello, Brother Lu!" the three daughters called out in unison, their eyes shining as they looked at Lu Chen.

"I didn't expect to run into Uncle Piao and your family here." Lu Chen smiled as he walked over. "Is everyone alright? No one's hurt?"

"I'm not hurt, I'm not hurt! I was just scared out of my wits!" Uncle Piao patted his chest, but his eyes quickly darted around, revealing a shrewd expression. "But Boss Lu, after suffering such a terrible ordeal, don't you think the shipping company... should compensate us?"

"I just saw it! The captain was killed! This is a major security incident!"

"And we bought full insurance! This was a close call, but if we get a few million in compensation... hehe, it's not a bad deal!"

Seeing Uncle Piao's expression of "being scared but happy at the thought of money," Lu Chen couldn't help but laugh.

He admired Uncle Piao's spirit; no matter what happened, ordinary people always had their own way of life and optimism.

"Don't worry, Uncle Piao, there will definitely be compensation," Lu Chen comforted him. "Besides, this matter has caused such a big stir, the insurance company won't dare to renege on its debt. Your family has actually benefited from this misfortune and is about to make a small fortune."

"Thank you for your kind words! Thank you so much!" Uncle Piao was beaming from ear to ear. "Once the compensation money comes through, I'll treat Mr. Lu to tea!"

Lu Chen smiled and nodded.

Just then, Little Ma's voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"Boss, the driver's cab is sorted. That big-nosed Meng Bo is sending a telegram to the Hong Kong Island police, but..."

Little Ma paused, then continued, "We discovered on the surveillance footage that another group of people is heading towards the VIP room. It seems to be McDonald's backup team; they want to take those thirty super-rich people away!"

Lu Chen's eyes narrowed.

Those thirty wealthy individuals are the real culprits; if they are taken away, this operation will not be considered perfect.

"understood."

Lu Chen gripped the gun tightly and turned to look at Xiao Zhuang and Tian Yangsheng.

"Let's go to the VIP room and harvest one last wave of goodwill."