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

Lamma Island, Yung Shue Wan.

The sea breeze, salty and damp, rustled through the low-lying village houses and dense banyan groves at night. Far from the hustle and bustle of Central, this place is a favorite haven for many foreigners and artists seeking seclusion.

But tonight, this tranquility is destined to be shattered.

In an empty house just across an alley from the target old residential building, seven black figures were gathered around a simple tactical map.

The lights were off, only the faint moonlight shone through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating Tian Yangsheng's face.

"It's been three days."

Tian Yangsheng's deep voice echoed in the darkness, "This woman's level of caution has exceeded our expectations."

"She's definitely a tough nut to crack." Tian Yangyi, the second-in-command in charge of the investigation, pointed to the red circle on the map with a furrowed brow. "This building has six floors. On the surface, it looks no different from other residential buildings, even the main entrance is open. But in reality, she has rented the entire building."

"The whole building?" Lao Qi Tian Yangyong scratched his head. "Then which floor does she live on?"

"That's the problem," Tian Yangyi said in a deep voice. "We observed the building from the rooftop across the street for three days using high-powered binoculars and discovered that the internal wall structure had been completely breached. The original stairwells were sealed off, and separate elevators and hidden doors were installed inside. Six floors—it's like a giant maze. And..."

Tian Yangyi pointed to several points marked around the map, "She set up lookouts around there. The old lady who sells fish balls, the uncle who fishes at the dock all day, and even the night shift clerk at the convenience store downstairs are all her informants."

"How interesting." The only woman, Tian Yang'en, sneered as she wiped the dagger in her hand. "An artist acting more professional than a drug lord. It seems we haven't caught a little white rabbit this time, but a female fox."

"Whether she's a fox or a tiger, since the boss has entrusted us with this task, we must complete it flawlessly."

Tian Yangsheng's gaze swept over everyone, his tone resolute, "And it must be done without a scratch, without causing any deaths. This is also a test of our skills."

"Since we can't find her exact room, then..." Tianyang clenched his fist and slammed it hard on the map, "Clear everything."

……

Three o'clock in the morning.

This is the moment when human physiological functions are most exhausted and vigilance is lowest, making it the best time for hunters to close their nets.

A light drizzle began to fall from the sky, the sound of which masked all other subtle noises.

In the back alley of the residential building, a dark figure moved like a gecko along the slippery exterior wall. It was Tian Yangsheng. His fingers gripped the gaps in the brickwork, and without any safety measures, he swiftly climbed to the third-floor window sill as if walking on flat ground.

At the same time, the entrance to the rooftop was silently pried open. Tian Yangyi, along with two brothers, slid down the rope like ghosts.

"Back door on the first floor, safe." Tian Yang'en's voice came through the earpiece.

"Let's do it."

Tian Yangsheng gave the order.

There were no gunshots, and even screams were choked back by that invisible hand.

Third floor corridor.

Two bodyguards on night duty were leaning against the wall smoking and discussing Marseille tomorrow in hushed tones when suddenly a dark shadow fell from the ceiling vent.

"Click."

A precise choke struck the carotid sinus, and the bodyguard on the left collapsed limply without uttering a sound. The bodyguard on the right was about to draw his gun when a large, iron-like hand gripped his throat tightly, followed by a tremendous feeling of suffocation.

A few seconds later, the two bodyguards were dragged into the shadows.

"The third floor is now clean."

"The fourth floor has been cleaned up."

"Fifth floor... Target sentry spotted, now eliminated."

The Seven Sons of Heaven worked together like a sophisticated killing machine. Although they didn't kill anyone, their efficient speed of advance was still terrifying.

Finally, the group reunited in front of a double wooden door on the sixth floor.

Based on the access card found on the bodyguard and the information obtained during interrogation, this is the woman's bedroom today.

Tian Yangsheng made a hand gesture.

Tian Yang'en took out a piece of white cloth soaked in highly concentrated ether from his waist pouch and gently placed it against the door seam. Tian Yangyi then took out an extremely fine probe and deftly flicked open the door lock spring.

"Click".

A very faint sound.

The door opened.

The room didn't have that pungent paint smell; instead, it was filled with a faint aroma of turpentine and red wine.

On the large bed, the blankets formed a human shape.

Tian Yangsheng made a "up" gesture.

Tian Yang'en, like a nimble black cat, darted to the bedside in an instant.

Just as she was about to make her move, the person on the bed seemed to sense something and suddenly opened their eyes!

Those were extremely beautiful eyes, but in the darkness they gleamed with a chilling light that sent shivers down one's spine.

Nguyen Van was not fast asleep. Almost instinctively, she reached under her pillow—where a Colt pocket pistol was hidden.

But she was fast, and Tian Yang'en was even faster.

Before her fingers could even touch the gun handle, a strong hand had already firmly pressed down on her wrist. Then, without mercy, a damp cloth with a pungent, sweet smell was covered over her mouth and nose.

"Ugh—!!!"

Ruan Wen struggled violently, kicking her legs wildly, trying to make a sound. But under the absolute power of the Seven Sons of Heaven, she was like a butterfly caught in a spider's web, all her struggles were in vain.

A few seconds later.

A dizzying, suffocating feeling quickly overwhelmed her. Her vision began to blur, her body gradually went limp, and her eyelids felt as heavy as a ton of bricks.

In the final moments before her consciousness faded into darkness, she saw only a pair of cold, emotionless eyes, and a strange badge pinned to the man's collar.

……

I don't know how much time has passed.

Cold and damp.

This was Nguyen Van's first feeling after regaining consciousness.

She slowly opened her eyes, her head still feeling dizzy and throbbing, a side effect of inhaling ether.

Visibility gradually improved.

This is neither her bedroom nor the police station's interrogation room.

This is a spacious basement. The walls are gray cement on all four sides, with no windows, only a dim yellow chandelier overhead that sways slightly, casting dappled light and shadow.

She was tied to an iron chair, her hands were tied behind her back, and her wrists were painfully constricted by nylon cable ties.

"woke up?"

A deep, altered male voice sounded from ahead.

Nguyen Van suddenly opened his eyes, his body instinctively tensing up as he went into a defensive stance.

This is a closed space.

All around were cold cement walls, no windows, and the air was thick with the smells of mildew and engine oil. Only a dim, yellowish incandescent bulb overhead cast a pale, flickering light.

A man was sitting directly opposite her.

The man was dressed in a smart gray suit, holding a glass of red wine in his hand, but wearing a strange white mask on his face—although it had no patterns, it exuded a sinister and treacherous aura.

It was Feng Gang, the fourth brother codenamed "Rum," who was the intelligence chief of DOA.

Behind this wall is a huge one-way mirror.

Lu Chen was sitting on a comfortable sofa behind the glass, holding a walkie-talkie in his hand, with several monitor screens in front of him, clearly taking in every detail of the interrogation room.

He did not choose to come forward directly.

Although he wanted Ruan Wen's technology and network, the "super dollar" was a double-edged sword.

Counterfeit money is a sore spot for the US. Once discovered, the CIA and FBI will hunt them down like mad dogs. Although Lu Chen isn't afraid, he's a businessman and doesn't want to get involved in trouble. The best way is to remain a ghost behind the scenes, letting Ruan Wen be his front man.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

Nguyen Van reacted quickly.

Almost the instant she grasped the situation, the coldness and shrewdness on her face vanished, replaced by extreme fear and helplessness.

Her body began to tremble violently, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls, her voice choked with sobs: "I...I'm just an artist, I have no money, I promise I won't call the police, please let me go..."

With that pitiful look, if Lu Chen hadn't already known her background, he probably would have been fooled.

This woman's acting skills are Oscar-worthy.

She was trying to lower the kidnappers' guard while quickly observing her surroundings, looking for an opportunity to escape.

Behind the glass, Lu Chen looked at the woman crying her eyes out on the monitor and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He pressed the button on the walkie-talkie, and the sound came directly into Fourth Brother's earpiece:

"Tell her to stop acting. Her acting skills are good, but they can't fool us."

Inside the interrogation room.

The fourth brother, wearing a mask, received Lu Chen's instructions.

"Tsk tsk tsk, is this the only clumsy performance a famous 'painter' can deliver?" He gently swirled the wine in his glass, his voice hoarse.

This sentence is like a spell that freezes you in place.

Ruan Wen, who was sobbing, trembling, and looking terrified, was like a videotape that had been paused.

All movements came to an abrupt halt in that instant.

Then, something happened that sent chills down Fourth Brother's spine.

Although the tears on Ruan Wen's face had not yet dried, her eyes, which were originally filled with fear and helplessness, now resembled a lake that had frozen over instantly, becoming unfathomable and coldly indifferent.

She stopped trembling, straightened her back, and tilted her head back slightly. That aura of authority that emanated from her very bones instantly transformed her from a lamb to the slaughter into a coiled venomous snake.

She looked at her fourth brother behind the mask, her voice calm and undisturbed, even carrying a hint of contempt.

"How did you find me, Wu Xin?"

Ruan Wen answered his own question, then sneered, "That idiot, I knew he would die at my hands sooner or later."

"You are very smart."

Lu Chen's voice came through the earpiece. Fourth Brother repeated, "Wu Xin is indeed an idiot, but he's a useful idiot. If it weren't for him, how could we have invited you, our esteemed 'God of Wealth'?"

Ruan Wen slightly raised her chin, her gaze seemingly piercing through Fourth Brother's mask, directly targeting Lu Chen behind the glass:

"Tell me, you went to so much trouble to invite me here, and even wore a mask to pretend to be a ghost."

"Who are you? What do you want?"

"We want to partner with you to create a super dollar!"