Chapter 61 Hu Zhenxiang's Demand

Hu Zhenxiang's performance made Wang Xiuyuan look at him with newfound respect. Throughout history, heroes and great men have been as numerous as fish in a river, but how many can face a death crisis with composure?

In his previous life, Wang Xiuyuan had watched many legal programs. Whether it was a mafia boss dominating a region, a ruthless bandit who killed without mercy, a wealthy tycoon holding immense riches, or a high-ranking official who once stood above all.

When about to be escorted to the execution ground for sentencing, most of these once-great figures would become so weak in the legs that even walking became difficult.

The vast majority of them needed bailiffs to support them to walk, and some were even dragged over directly by the bailiffs.

When these once-great figures had money, power, and influence, and could easily strip others of their lives and wealth, death was merely an ordinary word in their mouths.

They had no idea what death truly meant, so they could casually take others' lives as they pleased.

But when they became the ones whose lives were about to be taken, their reactions were no different from most ordinary people, and some even performed worse than ordinary folks.

Because facing death head-on requires immense courage.

What Wang Xiuyuan admired about Hu Zhenxiang was that he didn't weep and wail, nor did he kneel and beg for mercy. He still maintained the image and dignity of a gang boss with grace.

Moreover, Hu Zhenxiang wasn't indulging in unrealistic dreams at this moment. He clearly recognized that he was doomed tonight, so he tried his best to negotiate terms with Wang Xiuyuan, hoping Wang Xiuyuan would spare his family.

It wasn't that Hu Zhenxiang didn't want to keep living; on the contrary, his will to survive was stronger than anyone's.

But he was very clear about one fact: if he were the one controlling the situation now, he definitely wouldn't let the tiger return to the mountain.

Since he himself wouldn't do such a foolish thing, how could he pin his hopes of survival on the enemy making such a low-level mistake?

In adversity, striving with all one's might for the least unfavorable outcome among many very bad results is a necessary quality for a successful person.

Now, what Wang Xiuyuan was most curious about was how far Hu Zhenxiang could go.

"Hu Zhenxiang, Third Master Hu.

Since you're someone who walks the jianghu, you should understand one principle: everything comes at a cost.

You want me to spare your wife and children, so what benefit can I get? What can you offer me?

You should be very clear about the immense risk I'll face once I spare your wife and children. What chips do you have to move me?"

Wang Xiuyuan's words were very straightforward: it's not impossible for me to spare your wife and children, but the benefits must be sufficient.

Wang Xiuyuan had already given Hu Zhenxiang the opportunity; whether he could seize it depended on Hu Zhenxiang's choice.

"Over the years, I've done many bad deeds and earned quite a bit of money. All the funds that haven't been laundered yet add up to about over seventy million US dollars. This money is stored in a numbered account at a Swiss Bank.

Only I know the account and password. If you're willing to spare them, this money is yours now."

After hearing Hu Zhenxiang's proposed trade conditions, Wang Xiuyuan asked doubtfully, "And? Is that all?"

Over seventy million US dollars—this amount is definitely not small.

Although it's not as much as the hundreds of millions Wang Xiuyuan had hoped for, it still matches the income level of a gang boss like Hu Zhenxiang.

A large gang's total income over so many years must be more than this, but gangs also have various fixed expenses.

A gang supports so many underlings; if you don't pay them enough, who the hell will risk their lives for you? You can't expect someone to put their head on the line for a few hundred bucks a month.

People in this line of work aren't like cattle and horses that capitalists exploit and suck dry; if you don't pay them enough, they really will come at you with guns.

Moreover, the important leaders in the gang, the heads of various halls and departments, also need a large share of money each month.

A gang definitely engages in various illegal activities regularly, and greasing law enforcement and paying off protectors each month is also a huge expense. After deducting all necessary costs, what's left for the boss like Hu Zhenxiang is lucky to be ten percent.

Being in a gang is indeed profitable, but not as profitable as people imagine. Otherwise, why don't those big capitalists and tycoons get into this line?

Isn't it because the money earned is too little! And this money is earned in a very unseemly way.

Seeing Wang Xiuyuan's disdainful expression, Hu Zhenxiang naturally understood that his chips hadn't successfully moved him. To save his wife and children's lives, he had to raise the stakes again, putting forward all the chips he could offer.

"Sir, this over seventy million US dollars is all the cash I can muster.

I also have several properties and some deposits within America; those are all legal assets after laundering.

If you need them, you can take all these assets, but taking such assets would definitely be a bad thing for you.

The Peace Gang's treasury should still have over thirty million US dollars in cash, plus some white powder and leaves that can be sold for money. If you need them, you can take them anytime.

You can state any other demands directly; as long as I can do it, I'll agree."

Could Wang Xiuyuan touch Hu Zhenxiang's assets within America? Dare he take them?

This money had been laundered; in other words, these assets were all under the supervision of America's banking and tax systems.

If it were cash and antiques, it wouldn't matter much—Wang Xiuyuan could just take them directly. But real estate and money in bank accounts—Wang Xiuyuan couldn't take a single cent.

Once news of Hu Zhenxiang's disappearance or death was confirmed, whoever touched these assets would be the prime suspect.

Wang Xiuyuan wasting time negotiating terms with Hu Zhenxiang naturally couldn't be for the sake of these legal assets under Hu Zhenxiang's name. Such property, which could only be looked at but not taken, was like a pancake drawn on paper—utterly useless for satisfying hunger.

"I want the account books. I want the account books and materials documenting your bribes to the Boston Police and those politicians over the years."

"That's impossible!"

Hearing Wang Xiuyuan demand the bribery account books, Hu Zhenxiang reacted like a dog whose tail had been stepped on, immediately refusing without a second thought.

"You can have all the money, but the account books and materials are absolutely out of the question.

This thing concerns the lives and fortunes of a whole bunch of people. The only reason I'm willing to give you all the money I've worked so hard to earn is to save my wife and children's lives.

Once I hand over the account books, my wife and children are as good as dead; those people definitely won't spare them.

In that case, what's the point of making a deal with you?"

"Hahahaha~"

Hu Zhenxiang's words made Wang Xiuyuan laugh. Pointing at Hu Zhenxiang, he mocked:

"Hu Zhenxiang, I actually admired you quite a bit just now, because what you said at first made me think you were a smart person.

Now my opinion of you has changed slightly.

You are a smart person, but I think you're not smart enough."