Miss Wang Weina, even your cousin won't do!

As he spoke, Chen asked Theresa a question, sounding quite puzzled:

"Theresia, don't you recognize the Emperor?"

"I don't usually watch rap."

Theresa waved her hand. Rapper, or rap artist, this emerging music form was also outside her area of ​​knowledge.

Theresa was a little embarrassed. When she left Victoria, she was full of confidence, thinking that she had lived for so long and knew a little about everything, and that she would definitely be able to help Wayne on this trip. But she didn't expect that on the first day of her trip, she would encounter so many blind spots in her knowledge.

I don't know how to take care of children, I don't know how to choose drinks, and I don't know anything about popular music. It's really embarrassing.

In contrast, Kal'tsit always claims to be omniscient and omnipotent. Is she really that powerful?

Perhaps we should go back and ask her for advice. If we always live in a traditional environment and hold outdated views of the world, we'll eventually be left behind because we can't keep up with the times. Theresa doesn't want to hold Wayne back.

"However, why would a logistics company be targeted by those people, and what does that have to do with extorting you?"

"Theresia asked. Chen explained again:"

"Well, Penguin Logistics is a rather special company. Although it calls itself a logistics company, strictly speaking, it's more like an armed escort security company. Most of the orders they take on are high-risk, high-reward escort missions. Strictly speaking, some of their practices aren't entirely legal, but Wei Yanwu gave them a back door and issued them a license, so the Guard Bureau can only turn a blind eye to them. As for why they're being targeted... if I'm not mistaken, it's related to what they're escorting?"

“Probably.” Anso took a sip of milk tea. “I’m not really sure. When the Emperor came to find me, he was in a real hurry. Exusiai kept honking her horn downstairs, and I could hear gunfire every now and then. He gave me some money, then threw down a box for me to keep safe, and then ran off. I don’t know what was in the box or whether it had anything to do with them being hunted down.”

"There's probably a connection, otherwise why would they be pursuing you?"

Chen analyzed. He secretly poked two fingers together, revealing an awkward smile, and said:

"Not necessarily, maybe it's because I haven't paid rent?"

Chen was stunned: "Didn't the Emperor give you some money? Didn't you use it to pay the rent?"

An Su shook his head, somewhat sadly: "No, I've spent all the money the Emperor gave me."

Chen frowned, somewhat annoyed. She'd taken the money the Emperor had given her; given that penguin's personality, it certainly wouldn't have been small. But she'd actually spent it all, even refusing to pay the rent?

This child!

Where did you spend the money?

Chen's voice carried a hint of sternness. Startled by Chen's shout, An Su bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. She lowered her head, her fists clenched tightly on her thighs, even her ears drooping, and muttered:

"It hurts, it hurts so much."

"what?"

"It hurts! What do you, a cop, know? You don't have Oripathy, you don't toss and turn in bed at night in pain, and you don't watch Originium grow out of your skin every day, not knowing when you'll never wake up again. Of course I'm going to buy medicine with the money! But medicine is so expensive... and the money's gone in less than two days..."

An Suo turned her head away, refusing to look at Chen again, and buried her head in Theresa's arms.

Chen opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.

Medicine costs money.

In the slums infiltrated by organized crime, not paying rent only meant being chased by debt collectors. A petty theft on the streets might be a way to earn enough to pay the rent on time. And with his reputation in the slums, he might even get a few days' grace.

But Oripathy waits for no one; it's like a heartless killer. When a 14-year-old girl faces a life-threatening situation, forced to choose between her home and her life, she will undoubtedly choose the latter. Even knowing she's out of money and being hunted down, if she had to choose again, she would still choose to buy the medicine.

She was only fourteen years old. She wanted to live. What was wrong with that?

Chen lowered her head in shame. Allowing organized crime to thrive in the slums, leaving a 14-year-old child without any care and forced to resort to petty theft for survival, and denying infected individuals any human rights, relief, or protection—these are the faults of those in power, those in government.

"Anyway, please take us to see that box, okay?"

Theresa gently stroked the girl's somewhat frail body, activating her Originium Arts, and her warm feelings comforted the girl's sorrowful heart.

An Suo nodded slightly.

Chapter Thirty-Six: The Rat King and His Daughter

As the so-called head of the underground organization department of Longmen, and a godfather-like figure in the Longmen underworld, Lin Gerui, the "Rat King," led a legendary life.

In his youth, he traveled all over the country with Wei Yanwu. When they arrived in Longmen, they led a small group of more than a dozen people to reclaim the large mobile city of Longmen from Kosichev. The rights and wrongs of this story cannot be explained over a few drinks.

So much so that among those who know his great name as the Rat King, almost no one would believe that such a legendary figure would actually spend his days in an old Victoria candy shop on a street corner, with a dim old lamp and counterfeit candy.

In their eyes, he should be like Wei Yanwu, the governor of Longmen. Living in a courtyard house with white walls and gray tiles, served tea and water by beautiful women in classical costumes, who would sing and play the zither. At the very least, he would be like the Godfather in the Syracuse films, sitting in a large, backlit leather chair with his legs crossed, petting his cat while saying in an incomprehensible accent: "What makes you so disrespectful to me... You ask me for a favor, yet you won't even call me 'Rat King'."

However, Lin Gerui stated that all of the above are prejudices and misunderstandings.

A hero doesn't dwell on past glories. Putting aside his glorious past, he's now just an old man who worries about nothing else, quietly raising his daughter and waiting to retire.

If you insist on making him do something like the Godfather, that's not impossible. But let me state upfront that the Godfather in the movie is cool because people are unfamiliar with the customs and culture of Syracuse, giving it a unique and novel appeal. But if the Rat King were to do these things...

A large rat, about 1.67 meters tall, sat in a grand chair, its back blocked by a window decoration that read "Welcome the New Year," preventing the sunlight from streaming into the room. The rat scratched its leg with one hand while propping its head up with the other, looking troubled. After a long pause, it finally managed to utter two sentences in Sichuan dialect (a mix of Northeastern, Chaoshan, and Cantonese):

"You won't even call me 'Rat King'!"

See? The show's effect can change from The Godfather to New Police Story or Northeast Past, all depending on the dialect you use from Da Yan.

"So, Yuxia, do you understand now?"

"Understood, Father!" Lin Yuxia, with her light purple short hair and all-black night clothes, nodded seriously. "You want to teach me that we don't have the outward glamour we see, and that we should keep a low profile, right?"

The Rat King shook his head and said bluntly:

"What I mean is, I want you to watch less gangster and police movies. You're a young girl, and you're always doing bad things. When are you going to watch something normal?"

Lin Yuxia pursed her lips. So what if she likes watching gangster and police movies? Every time she secretly watches those DVDs, she does so with a critical eye.

As the daughter of the Rat King, although her father didn't force her to become the next Rat King, a request was a request, and so was an obligation. From a young age, Lin Yuxia had already prepared herself to take over her father's position.

She doesn't necessarily have to be the next Rat King, but she can be. One is her father's requirement, the other is her own decision. With such a great mission ahead, isn't it perfectly normal to put personal feelings aside and make room for others?

Her father was just too much of a worrywart. He was always saying things like, "Don't follow his example. He was fooled by Wei Yanwu and wandered the world for decades, only to end up almost unable to find a wife." She didn't believe such a thing. How could a capable person not be liked?

As for those shows her father recommended she watch, like "Country Love Story," please, they're outdated and she has absolutely no interest in them.

"Alright, that's settled. I'm leaving now, Father."

After being scolded by her father, Lin Yuxia had no intention of staying any longer. The air in the candy store was bad, the environment was dim, and everything looked old, as if time had stood still. It was a completely different world from the modern metropolis of Longmen just a wall away.

Lin Yuxia disliked the atmosphere here—it was decadent, outdated, and slow. She was a decisive person, and in this respect, she shared the same temperament as that impatient police officer, Long.

Why did I suddenly think of her? How unlucky.

Lin Yuxia shook her head, trying to regain her composure. The Rat King slammed his cane heavily on the ground and sighed helplessly. Judging from his expression, Lin Yuxia clearly hadn't listened to what he had just said.

Watching fewer police and gangster movies would be a good thing for her. Whether she becomes the Rat King or not, she cannot be at odds with Wei Yanwu or the Longmen authorities. Those life-or-death struggles depicted in police dramas are absolutely unacceptable!

Well, raising children is a long-term process; you can't rush it. Let's take it slow.

The Rat King waved his hand, indicating that Lin Yuxia should leave if she had something to do, and didn't need to come to the shop every day to chat with this old man. Lin Yuxia nodded, bowed slightly in farewell, and was about to leave when she heard the Rat King call out from behind:

"Oh, right, there's something else I forgot to mention."

"Keep a low profile for a while, and don't let those rascals cause any trouble, not even the slightest one!"

Lin Yuxia nodded:

“I know the Guard Bureau is closing in. The group in Blocks 2-4 is pretty much done for.”

But to everyone's surprise, the Rat King shook his head:

"No, it's not because of the Guard Bureau. I'll let bygones be bygones for now about the informant you planted in the Guard Bureau; you can take the spies back yourself. The reason I'm warning you is because of something else."

The Rat King said solemnly:

"Longmen is currently experiencing a major event. Madam Wenyue informed me that that old fellow Wei Yanwu is gambling, and regardless of whether he wins or loses, it will have a huge impact on the future development of Longmen in the next few days. During this period, Wei Yanwu cannot tolerate any possible variables affecting him. Therefore, keep a close eye on our subordinates."

The Rat King narrowed his eyes and spoke in the most sinister tone.

"That guy is capable of killing even his own brothers to achieve his goals."

This was the first time the girl had felt the oppressive aura of her father as the Rat King. Lin Yuxia felt a chill run down her spine and lowered her head, saying, "I understand."

"Let's go." The Rat King swung his cane.

Lin Yuxia hurriedly left the shop as if fleeing, the wind chimes at the door tinkling softly.

The Rat King leisurely lay down on the armchair, intending to take a nap. However, before he could even close his eyes for five minutes, the old shop door creaked again, causing the wind chimes at the entrance to play a noisy melody.

The Rat King opened his eyes. How strange! He actually had guests at his place today?

Two people came to buy candy.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: I Can Protect Your Daughter

Two people came to buy candy.

When Wayne led Vina into the store, it felt as if they had entered another world.

The L-shaped wooden cabinet at the front desk, which is regularly maintained, is still covered in dust. Various cigarettes are displayed under the glass window, and a freezer with a damp towel draped over it is placed next to it. Inside the freezer, there are orange sodas and cola that are covered in frost.

The dimly lit, overly bright incandescent bulbs illuminated the small shop, where a dazzling array of loose candies were displayed in cabinets arranged like library bookshelves. Simply pull open a transparent drawer, and you can use a small stainless steel spatula to scoop out a ladleful and place it into a tightly tugged plastic bag hanging nearby. Then, take it to the counter to be weighed and paid for.

At the far back of the shop, in a cabinet resembling a closet, were displayed the most expensive candies. They were either branded as Lateran or Victoria, but there were always slight errors in the alphabetical order or details; for example, "Victoria" would become "Victorie" or "Victeria." At first glance, it seemed flawless, but the meanings were completely different.

These are what Wayne calls "pirated candies".

Wayne looked around this small haven, isolated from the big city, with a touch of nostalgia. He had never been here before, and this was the first time he had seen its furnishings in person. Yet, he still felt a sense of familiarity from distant memories.

It felt like stepping back in time to a supermarket during a massive sale. The brands were all unfamiliar, yet they all evoked a sense of familiarity.

Vina looked at Wayne, lost in his memories, and felt a little strange. But her keen intuition told her that it was best not to disturb Wayne at this moment.

Unfortunately, Vina's lack of disturbance didn't mean the Rat King wouldn't. Leaning on his cane, the Rat King hobbled out from the shop's inner room, like a frail old man, curiously observing Wayne and Vina, these two unexpected guests. After discerning nothing amiss, he slowly spoke:

"Welcome! We have guests. Welcome!"

Wien snapped out of his reverie, composed himself, and looked at the Zhalak elder before him, whose pure bloodline had resulted in a "reversion" to his ancestral state. He smiled and said:

"How's business, old man?"

The notorious Rat King, who was shrouded in the Dragon Gate underworld, acted like an ordinary old man, shaking his head sheepishly when questioned.

"It's just so-so. It's neither good nor bad. Occasionally, some kids will come into the store to buy some candy, but when there isn't any, I'm happy to have some peace and quiet."

Wayne nodded, pointed to the candy box in the last display window labeled "[Victoria Premium Fruit Candy (with a misspelled typo)]", and said:

How much is a box of your candy?

The Rat King held up two fingers:

"This kind costs 20 LMT per box. Since you two don't seem to be locals, you must be tourists visiting Lungmen, right? Rare guests, so I'll give you a discount, 18 LMT."