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

Rome, Italy.

Fiumicino Airport.

The Mediterranean sun always carries a lazy yet warm quality. Golden rays fall on the ancient helipad, as if coating this eternal city with a filter of time.

A Boeing 747 from Hong Kong Island landed smoothly.

Outside the VIP entrance, a convoy of black cars was already waiting in full force. All of them were Maserati Quattroportes, their bodies jet black, the trident emblem on the hood gleaming in the sunlight. This display was even more extravagant than that of the local Mafia godfather.

Standing at the very front of the convoy was a woman wearing a burgundy V-neck jumpsuit and a wide-brimmed sun hat.

Sofia Lubbers.

The "Black Widow," who had just inherited a vast fortune and was stirring up a storm in European high society, was now acting like a little woman, occasionally tiptoeing to peek into the passageway.

The cabin door slowly opened, and Lu Chen, wearing sunglasses and a casual Italian linen suit, stepped down the gangway. Behind him, the Seven Sons of Tianyang filed out, still with their aloof and unapproachable demeanor, but in this fashionable capital, they looked more like a group of tough male models who had just finished a fashion show.

The moment Lu Chen appeared at the exit, Sophia's originally haughty and aloof face instantly blossomed into a smile that could eclipse even the statues of Rome.

"morning!"

Ignoring the stares of the bodyguards and entourage around her, she strode forward in her ten-centimeter high heels.

Without any of the usual Eastern reserve, Sophia threw herself into Lu Chen's arms. The rich scent of her perfume, mixed with her unique body fragrance, instantly enveloped Lu Chen.

"Welcome to Rome, morning~" Sofia's deep blue eyes seemed to hold a pool of spring water.

I miss you too.

Lu Chen put his arm around her slender waist, a slight smile playing on his lips. "It seems the environment in Rome is very nourishing; you're even more charming than the last time we met."

"You smooth talker," Sofia said playfully, giving him a disapproving look. "Have you been having such a good time with your sweet little butler in Hong Kong that you've forgotten all about home?"

When Ruan Mei was mentioned, Lu Chen showed no embarrassment. Instead, he readily took her hand and said, "Amei told me everything."

Sofia paused slightly, then a sly glint flashed in her azure eyes: "Oh? So what are you thinking? Do you think we're both crazy, or are you secretly delighted, feeling like you've gotten a great deal?"

"Nothing," Lu Chen whispered in her ear, "I just feel like the luckiest man in the world."

……

The convoy slowly drove out of the airport and headed towards the suburbs along the ancient Appia Avenue.

Outside the car window, the ruins of ancient Rome, nestled among pine trees, rushed past.

Inside the carriage, Lu Chen and Sophia sat side by side in the back seat, each holding a glass of freshly decanted red wine.

"Besides seeing me, you must have some business in Italy this time," Sofia said, swirling her wine glass with a playful look. "Is Garreau preparing to enter the European market?"

"Sophia understands me best."

Lu Chen nodded and got to the point, "Garreau has already established itself in Hong Kong Island, and its branches in Japan and Singapore are about to open. However, the power in fashion is still in the hands of Europeans. If Garreau doesn't win over Paris and Milan, it will forever remain a second-rate Asian brand."

"Are you trying to leverage the Lubbers family's influence?" Sophia asked.

"To be more precise, it's about leveraging Prada's resources," Lu Chen said, looking at her. "I know the Lubers family holds a significant number of shares in Prada. Although you're not the controlling shareholder, you have considerable influence on the board. I want to use you to facilitate a strategic partnership between Garreau and Prada. Prada is currently undergoing a transformation, and I believe Garreau can help Prada further expand into the Asian market."

At that time, Prada was in a critical period of transformation and had not yet reached its peak as it would later become. The minimalist yet luxurious style of Garreau perfectly filled the gap in Prada's market for young, affluent consumers.

Sofia agreed almost without hesitation: "No problem, I can arrange for you to meet with Miuccia (Prada's director), but..."

She turned her head, looking at Lu Chen with a half-smile, "What reward would I get for helping you?"

"What reward do you want?" Lu Chen put down his wine glass, looking at her with deep eyes. "As long as I have it."

Sofia did not speak.

She answered him with her actions.

She suddenly turned to the side, like a lioness hunting her prey, grabbed Lu Chen's tie, and pulled him towards her.

"Ugh—"

Her red lips, like fire, instantly sealed Lu Chen's mouth.

This was not a fleeting kiss, but a passionate, aggressive French kiss brimming with Italian fervor. In the enclosed, luxurious carriage, the air instantly grew hot and heavy.

Lu Chen did not passively accept it; he cupped Sophia's head with his hand and took the initiative, deepening the kiss.

Their lips and teeth intertwined, their breathing rapid.

Only when they were both nearly suffocating did Sophia finally relax, panting. Her lipstick was smudged, but her eyes were even more glazed. She gently traced Lu Chen's lips with her finger.

"This is the deposit. As for the balance... we'll talk about it tonight."

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the mottled city wall, giving this building, which has withstood centuries of wind and rain, a golden edge.

The dinner was held on the terrace.

The long table was laden with exquisite Italian dishes, from truffle risotto to Florentine T-bone steak. Surrounding it was a meticulously manicured maze garden, with rolling vineyards visible in the distance.

After dismissing the servants, only Lu Chen and Sophia remained.

"Sophia, actually, besides the Garreau matter, there's another big business deal I'm here for," Lu Chen said casually as he cut his steak, "a deal that's much bigger than Garreau and Prada combined."

"Oh?" Sophia became interested, put down her wine glass, and said, "I'm all ears."

Lu Chen took out a folded map and a hand-drawn sketch from his pocket and gently pushed them in front of Sophia.

"Sofia, have you heard of 'North African gold'?"

Sophia paused for a moment, then frowned slightly: "You mean the legendary gold that the German Empire hid in North Africa during World War II? Isn't that just a rumor? Countless treasure hunters have searched for it in the desert over the years, and haven't even seen a trace of it."

That's not a rumor.

Lu Chen's voice was deep and resolute, as if it possessed a kind of magic, "I have obtained a clue, there are a full two hundred and forty tons."

"hiss--"

Sofia gasped.

Two hundred and forty tons!

At current gold prices, that's a terrifying fortune that could move any country and even start a small war!

"At the end of World War II, the German Empire, seeing that its fate was sealed, secretly transported the gold it had looted from banks and museums in various European countries to the Sahara Desert in North Africa and hid it in a military base as capital for the future revival of the Third Reich."

Lu Chen tapped his finger on the map, "But with the defeat of the German Empire, almost everyone who knew the location of this base died. This batch of gold was buried under the sand for decades."

"If you know the person is dead, how do you know their location?" Sophia asked, puzzled.

"Because there are still some who slipped through the net."

Lu Chen pointed to the sketch portrait.

The painting depicts a typical Germanic old man with a wrinkled face, wearing a white robe, and with a sharp gaze beyond his years.

"This man is named Adolf. He was the sole survivor of the eighteen guards who were responsible for transporting the gold. The other seventeen were either silenced by their superiors or committed suicide after the mission was completed. Only he, out of fear of death, killed his adjutant at the last moment and escaped. For all these years, he has been hiding in North Africa, searching for the whereabouts of that gold, wanting to keep it all for himself."

Lu Chen looked at Sophia with burning eyes. "The Lubers family also has a vast trade and intelligence network in North Africa. Sophia, I need you to help me find him."

"Once we find him, this gold is ours. I already have a plan; we'll get at least half of it, and then we'll split it fifty-fifty."

Looking at the portrait, Sophia wasn't blinded by the enormous wealth. Instead, she looked at Lu Chen with some worry: "Chen, there are bound to be many people eyeing this kind of treasure. Various countries will covet it, and there might even be remnants of the former Germanic Empire..."

"That's why we need to hurry," Lu Chen sneered, "while those European countries haven't found any clues yet, and the remnants of the German Empire are still clueless, we'll empty their coffins."

"it is good."

Sofia put away the portrait, a ruthless glint in her eyes. "I trust you. It's worth the risk for this gold. I'll use all the resources in North Africa, turn the Nile River upside down, and find this old man."

"Thank you for your hard work. As for the key to the military base, leave it to me," Lu Chen nodded, then pressed the call bell on the table, "Asheng."

In the darkness, Tian Yangsheng appeared like a ghost.

"Boss."

"This matter requires you seven siblings to handle it personally."

Lu Chen took another document out of his briefcase and handed it to Tian Yangsheng.

Target location: Hamburg, Germanic Federation. Target person: Elsa.

The photo shows a blonde, blue-eyed young Germanic girl from the Commonwealth. She looks ordinary, but has detailed information about her.

"She is the granddaughter of the Imperial adjutant who was in charge of transporting gold back then. The adjutant gave her mother the key to open the base gate, and later his mother gave it to her."

Lu Chen's voice turned deep, "Remember, this key is crucial to opening the vault door. I need you to go to Hamburg and find her."

"Take it away?" A cold glint flashed in Tian Yangsheng's eyes.

"No."

Lu Chen shook his head. "We can't steal it. If we lose the key, it will alert the remnants of the empire and the mercenaries who have been eyeing this batch of gold. Then all the wolves in the world will be on alert, and we won't be able to fish in troubled waters."

"I want you to approach her discreetly, and without her noticing, use a miniature scanner and high-precision clay molds to completely copy the shape, texture, and size of that key... Remember, there might be a capacitor inside the key. Then, bring the data back and have the distillery's technical department make an exact replica."

"clear."

Tian Yangsheng nodded and put the documents into his pocket.

……

Late at night.

The castle is quiet and mysterious at night.

Lu Chen was assigned to a luxurious guest room in the main building. The room was covered with thick Persian carpets, and Renaissance-era oil paintings hung on the walls. A deep red velvet canopy hung over the huge four-poster bed.

After taking a shower, Lu Chen stood on the terrace in a bathrobe, a cigar between his fingers, gazing at the distant lights of Rome, pondering his next move.

"Click".

The sound of the door being gently pushed open interrupted his thoughts.

Lu Chen turned around and saw Sophia walk in.

She changed out of her smart jumpsuit and into a very thin black lace nightgown. The barely-there fabric did little to conceal her stunning figure; instead, it added to her deadly allure.

The moonlight bathed her, making her look like a dark fairy from mythology.

"Sophia?"

Before Lu Chen could even put out his cigarette, Sophia had already walked barefoot to him and jumped into his arms.

"I don't want to sleep alone."

Sofia's voice was husky, carrying a hint of coquetry and an undeniable forcefulness. Her arms wrapped around Lu Chen's neck, her whole body coiling around him like a beautiful snake.

Lu Chen looked down at the stunningly beautiful woman in his arms, his Adam's apple bobbing.

But he still reached out and gently pressed down on Sofia's hand, which was trying to untie the belt of his bathrobe.

"Wait a minute, Sofia."

Lu Chen's voice was a little hoarse, and his eyes showed a hint of restraint. "Actually... I originally planned to do it tomorrow... I prepared flowers, booked a restaurant, and even thought of a very formal confession."

"After all, you are the Queen of the Lupus family, and someone very important to me. I don't want to be so hasty; I want to give you a formal title and ceremony."

These are Lu Chen's honest thoughts.

He offered Ruan Mei the warmest companionship; he also wanted to give Sofia sufficient respect. Although the two already understood each other implicitly, he felt that the proper procedures should not be omitted.

Sofia was taken aback when she heard this.

Looking into Lu Chen's earnest eyes, the fire in her heart burned even brighter. This man, even at a time like this, was still thinking of giving her a sense of ceremony, of respecting her.

"fool……"

Sofia laughed, a hearty laugh that shook her to her core, but tears welled up in her eyes.

"Chen, you really don't understand Italian women."

She cupped Lu Chen's face in her hands, her eyes burning with a intensity that seemed to melt anyone. "I am Sophia, the passionate rose of the Apennines, not one of those pretentious ladies from John."

"For me, love is love, and desire is desire. When I set my sights on a man, I want to have him and possess him immediately; I don't want to wait even a second."

Sophia tiptoed, her nose brushing against Lu Chen's, her breath sweet as orchids: "Those flowers, candles, love confessions... those are fairy tales for little girls. I don't care about those formalities, I only care if you have me in your heart, and if you will treat me well."

"As long as you're good to me, I'd dance with you even in this hell."

After saying that, Sophia didn't give Lu Chen a chance to speak again and kissed his lips directly.

This time, it was wilder and more thorough than the kiss in the car.

"Well……"

Lu Chen's last shred of rationality completely collapsed under Sophia's passionate offensive.

The favor from this beauty is immense; to refuse it would be worse than that of a beast.

Lu Chen suddenly tightened his arms, picked Sophia up by the waist, and strode towards the large four-poster bed.

"Since you don't want to wait, then we won't wait."

Lu Chen gently placed her on the soft velvet bedding, leaned over her, and looked at her with eyes as deep as a whirlpool.

"I'll show you the consequences of messing with an Asian man."

"I couldn't ask for more..."

Sofia hooked her arms around his neck, her eyes filled with seductive allure.

The curtains fell, blocking out the spring light that filled the room.