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

Tsz Wan Shan, Hung Hing General Hall.

The incense table was set high, and the bronze statue of Guan Yu gleamed with a solemn red light under the candlelight.

"kneel!"

With a loud shout from Chen Yao, the man with the white paper fan, Ahua, dressed in a brand-new black Zhongshan suit, knelt solemnly before the statue of Guan Yu. Behind him, Wu Ying, though trying to keep a straight face, couldn't suppress the excitement in his eyes and brows.

This day was the Hung Hing's inauguration ceremony.

Although there was no grand banquet, the ceremony was very ceremonial. Jiang Tiansheng kept his promise and promoted Ahua, making an exception for him.

"Ah Hua, once you join Hung Hing, whether you're a Red Pole or a Straw Sandal, you must abide by Hung Hing's rules. Be loyal and righteous, never betray your brothers, and never collude with outsiders..."

Holding incense and candles, Jiang Tiansheng went through the formalities briefly before personally handing over the token representing his "red stick" status to Ahua.

"From today onwards, you are a Red Pole in Mong Kok. As for whether you can be promoted to Hall Master, that depends on how much territory you can take from Tung Sing."

"Thank you, Mr. Jiang! Thank you, Brother Yao! Thank you, Brother B!"

Ahua responded loudly, his voice booming, his eyes burning with ambition.

……

The day after the ceremony.

Dundas Street, Mong Kok.

This is one of the most bustling areas in Mong Kok, with neon signs blocking out the sky.

At the entrance of an old-fashioned nightclub called "Night Paris," Ahua was holding a transfer contract and shaking hands with the former owner—a bald, middle-aged man with a fat face.

"Brother Hua, thank you so much! This price... it's a bit low, but I'll accept it as long as I can get the full cash payment within three days!" The fat boss said, wiping his sweat as he took the promissory note that Ah Hua handed him.

The top is a neat stack of one million Hong Kong dollars.

"Boss Chen, we're all neighbors. I know you're in a hurry to immigrate to MIT, so at this price, you're not losing out." Ahua had a faint smile on his face, neither aggressive nor lacking in confidence.

"Yes, yes, yes! Brother Hua is so straightforward!"

Watching the fat boss leave with profuse thanks, Fly, who had been holding back his words, finally couldn't help but speak up.

"Wow! Boss! You're amazing!" Fly rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Boss Lu gave us two million in start-up capital, and now we have one million left. That's enough for us to go to the sauna many times over!"

Ahua, relying on his familiarity with the area, seized upon the fat man's eagerness to immigrate and managed to cut the price down by another 100,000 yuan.

"Promising!"

Ahua glared at him, put away the contract, and said, "The money you saved isn't for you to go to the sauna. Go and use that money to buy the best protective gear and sandbags."

"Huh? Why would you buy that thing?" Fly asked, puzzled.

Ahua turned around and looked at the place that was about to be renamed "Hero Bar," a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

As Mr. Lu once said, "The quality of soldiers is more important than their quantity."

"Fly, these next few days you go to all the sports fields, docks, and night markets to pick out guys for me. None of those scumbags with brightly colored hair and who do drugs! I want honest young men who are poor, hardworking, have a clean background, and preferably have done manual labor. Even if they've never been in a fight, it's fine."

"Recruit thirty people, give each of them a full settlement allowance, and then..."

Ah Wah pointed in the direction of Kowloon Walled City, "Take them all to the Walled City and send them to 'Luo Jun Boxing Gym'."

"Luo Jun's Boxing Gym?" Fly paused, "The one Luo Jun from that walled city owns?"

"That's right."

Ahua nodded. Luo Jun was a descendant of the Tornado School, and his solid martial arts skills were renowned throughout the stronghold. Lu Chen had already given instructions that this group of people would be undergoing a complete transformation upon entering the city.

"We need to train a suicide squad," Ahua clenched his fist. "Those guys from Tung Sing are all desperate criminals; we can't just rely on bravado and ruthlessness. We need to be like a pack of wolves, striking with deadly precision."

……

A few days later, in Central, at the headquarters of Golden Harvest.

Chairman's Office.

"Mr. Lu, here is the financial statement summary for last month that you requested."

Hu Huizhong (the "Overlord Flower") stood in front of her desk, wearing a business suit and holding a stack of documents. She tried her best to make her voice sound professional and indifferent, but her slightly trembling hands betrayed her inner turmoil.

Because Lu Chen was standing right behind her, very close.

She was so close that she could clearly smell the man's unique cologne scent mixed with a faint tobacco aroma. This aggressive masculine hormone made this elite police officer, who had never been in a relationship, feel flustered.

"The data here is incorrect."

Lu Chen stretched out a hand over her shoulder and pointed to a line of numbers on the document. His chest was almost pressed against her back, and his warm breath as he spoke brushed against her ear.

"And the currency conversion here, you used last week's rate?" Lu Chen's voice was deep and magnetic, with a hint of teasing. "Secretary Hu, it seems your professional skills need improvement? Or... are you not really focused on your work?"

"I……"

The vixen felt half of her body go numb, and two red clouds instantly rose to her cheeks.

She wanted to dodge, but was afraid that overreacting would expose her undercover identity; if she didn't dodge, the posture would be too ambiguous.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lu, I... I'll change it right away." The tyrant bit her lip, trying to remain calm.

"Take your time to fix it, no rush," Lu Chen didn't back down. Instead, he reached out to tidy up the stray hairs by her ear and whispered in her ear, "Also... your perfume is a bit too strong today. It might distract the boss from thinking."

The warm breath sprayed onto the earlobes of the night-blooming cereus.

The tyrant flower froze, her ears turning bright red instantly.

"You..." She straightened up abruptly, glaring at Lu Chen with shame and indignation. Her heart was pounding wildly.

That bastard! A scoundrel! A pervert!

She knew he was a criminal suspect, she knew he was a big bad guy, so why did she not feel the disgust she felt when facing a criminal every time he teased her like this? Instead… her heart raced, and her legs even felt a little weak? Especially today, she felt that for a fleeting moment, she was actually moved?!

This was actually thanks to the two attribute points Lu Chen received from Jiang Tiansheng, plus the one he had saved up before. Lu Chen not only increased [Perception] to Lv6, but also raised [Charm] and [Affinity] to Lv7, which is why he was so effective against the Tyrant Flower today.

"Mr. Lu! Please have some self-respect!" The domineering woman took a deep breath, trying her best to maintain the composure of an elite "secretary," and said through gritted teeth, "I'm here to work, not to..."

"What are you here for?"

Lu Chen grinned mischievously and reached out to straighten her slightly disheveled collar.

Just as the ambiguous atmosphere was about to explode.

"Ring ring ring—"

The secure phone on the table suddenly rang.

The playfulness in Lu Chen's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by extreme calmness.

He glanced at the caller ID, distanced himself from the woman, and answered the phone.

"Hello," a deep voice came from the other end of the phone, "Boss, the goods have arrived. They're very fresh."

It was my fourth brother calling.

"Okay. I'm coming now."

Lu Chen hung up the phone and turned to look at the "Overbearing Flower." Where was the frivolous playboy from before? He exuded an aura of authority.

"Organize these documents and put them on my desk," Lu Chen said, picking up his trench coat from the hanger and putting it on as he walked out. "I have to go out for a bit. Remember, no one is allowed to enter the office without my permission."

"Yes……"

Watching Lu Chen stride away, Ba Wanghua stood there stunned.

In that instant, she seemed to see another face beneath the man's mask—a cold, dangerous, and unfathomable face.

……

Half an hour later, in Kowloon Walled City.

The dense network of electrical wires, like a black spider web, obscured the sky. Dripped pipes, narrow alleyways, and the mingled smells of various stir-fries and engine oil filled the air, creating the unique atmosphere of this lawless place.

Tornado Hair Salon.

The old rotating lightbox is still creaking and turning, but there are no customers in the store today, and even the door is closed.

Tornado sat in the worn-out barber chair, a cigarette dangling from his fingers, his eyes unfocused, as if awaiting some important verdict.

"Squeak—"

The wooden door was pushed open.

Lu Chen walked in with two figures.

The one on the left is Fourth Brother, who has a sly smile on his face. He is carrying a silver metal insulated box.

The one on the right is short, with a baby face, and looks harmless, even somewhat naive. But his eyes are as calm as a stagnant pool, without any ripples.

Xiao Fu (Tequila), the distillery's current top assassin, is also Lu Chen's sharpest hidden blade.

"Brother Long."

Lu Chen stepped forward and called out softly.

Tornado snapped out of his daze, his gaze instantly locking onto the box in Tian Yangsheng's hand. His breathing became rapid, and even the hand holding the cigarette trembled slightly.

"Did you bring it?"

"I brought it."

Lu Chen nodded, signaling his fourth brother to open the box.

"Click".

The metal latch popped open.

A wisp of white, cold air seeped out through the gap in the lid.

Lifting the lid reveals a frozen human head amidst the white mist of dry ice.

Although the face was pale, stiff, and even somewhat deformed from being frozen, its distinctive fleshy features and fierce eyebrows were still clearly discernible.

Lei Zhendong.

The enemy that Di Qiu had hated for half his life, who hid in the countryside of Tainan and acted as a local tyrant, now lay quietly in this small box.

"call……"

Tornado stared at the head, remaining silent for a full minute.

Then, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, as if to inhale all the grudges and affections of the past few decades into his lungs and then exhale them.

"Okay...okay."

Tornado's voice was a little hoarse, and a tear welled up in the corner of her eye, "Ah Qiu... I can finally get a good night's sleep."

He turned his head to look at Lu Chen, and the short, somewhat simple-looking man standing behind Lu Chen.

"How did you do that?" Tornado asked. "Lei Zhendong is always surrounded by bodyguards in Tainan, especially the Sanlian Gang members who are secretly protecting him."

Lu Chen didn't speak, but just looked at Xiao Fu.

Xiao Fu scratched his head, smiled somewhat embarrassedly, and said in slightly accented Mandarin:

"Actually... it's not that difficult."

As Xiao Fu calmly recounted his story, everyone's thoughts were drawn back to that rainy night two days prior.

……

Tainan, Anping District, a secluded luxury apartment building.

This is where Lei Zhendong keeps his mistress, and what he considers his safest hideout. There are four armed bodyguards patrolling downstairs 24 hours a day, and the hallways are equipped with surveillance cameras.

But what he didn't know was that a ghost had already infiltrated the place a day earlier.

Xiao Fu neither chose to launch a direct attack nor opted for sniping.

Like a gecko, he climbed up the drainpipe on the exterior wall to the sixth floor and slipped into the bedroom's walk-in closet through the ventilation opening.

The walk-in closet was small and filled with clothes and shoes belonging to Lei Zhendong's mistress.

Xiao Fu huddled on the top shelf of the wardrobe, nestled among the fur coats and designer bags, lying motionless for nearly thirty hours.

He neither ate nor drank, and even controlled his breathing to the faintest possible frequency. Physiological excretion? That was an instinct that top assassins had to overcome.

He was like a stone, melting into the darkness.

Finally, last night.

Lei Zhendong has arrived.

This cunning old fox, who had been cautious his whole life, let down all his guard the moment he entered the land of pleasure.

Through a Venetian blind, Xiao Fu listened to the sounds outside.

He waited patiently.

After the two had finished their lovemaking, after the mistress hummed a song as she went into the bathroom to take a shower, and after Lei Zhendong lay sprawled on the bed like a tired old pig, snoring loudly.

That is the moment when humans are most relaxed, but also most vulnerable.

"Click."

The wardrobe door slid open silently.

Little Franklin landed on the carpet like a falling leaf. He held a Glock 17 with a silencer in his hand.

There were no idle words, no hesitation, and not even a trace of murderous intent.

He walked to the bedside and looked at Lei Zhendong, who was fast asleep.

"Pfft! Pfft!"

Two faint hissing sounds.

Two bullets pierced Lei Zhendong's temples with pinpoint accuracy, raising a cloud of blood.

Lei Zhendong didn't even utter a sound; his body twitched once, and then he remained completely still.

The sound of running water in the bathroom was still drowning out everything else.

Xiao Fu drew a sharp military knife from his waist and skillfully completed the cutting task.

Then, he wrapped his "spoils" in a bed sheet, stuffed them into a waterproof bag he had prepared beforehand, and returned along the same route, disappearing into the rainy night in Tainan.

The whole process took less than three minutes.

……

After Xiao Fu finished telling his story, the barbershop fell into a deathly silence.

Tornado looked at the seemingly honest-looking young man in front of him, who was taking out a chocolate bar from his pocket and munching on it, and a chill ran down his spine.

This is a top-tier assassin.

There are no fancy moves, only extreme patience and ruthless efficiency.

"Chenzai..."

Tornado raised his head, looking at Lu Chen with a complicated expression, "Your subordinates... are truly a hidden force of talent."

With such power, let alone a Lei Zhendong, even the Governor of Hong Kong Island would probably not be able to sleep soundly.

"Brother Long, this is all for self-preservation."

Lu Chen smiled and gestured for Tian Yangsheng to close the lid. "Please give this gift to Brother Qiu. Tell him that the past is the past, and from now on... look forward."

"I will," Tornado nodded emphatically, stroking the cold box. "Chen, I owe you so much. Qiu and I will remember all your kindness. If you need anything in the future, just let us know."

"Want to return the favor? Perfect timing, Brother Long," Lu Chen suddenly grinned slyly. "The distillery is short of a martial arts instructor. I wonder if Brother Long would be willing to condescend to this position? Salary and benefits are negotiable."

Hiring Tornado was something Lu Chen had planned long ago. After all, Tornado's strength was top-tier even in the world of Hong Kong variety shows. However, he hadn't brought it up before because Tornado needed to recover from his injuries. Now, the time was right, and he could try to lure Tornado away.

"Uh—" Tornado looked at Lu Chen, who was grinning "ill-intentioned," and shook his head helplessly. "You little Chen, so this is what you were waiting for... I don't charge cheap fees."

"Haha, as long as Brother Long is willing to come, I can afford to support him no matter how expensive it is!"

Tornado, got it!