48: Chapter 48 Deploying Defenses Overnight! Marcus Will Run into the Trap If He Dares to Come!

Lin Chen stared at the AI warning pop-up before him. His eyes darkened instantly. Without a moment's hesitation, he turned and shouted toward the back of the Grocery Store.

"Li Wei, Uncle Zhao, come here. I need to arrange something immediately."

This was their temporary base, an old Grocery Store. The light bulb overhead was dim and yellowish, its filament swaying slightly, barely illuminating the small space.

In the room stood three worn, polished wooden chairs and a broken wooden table with a missing corner in the middle. Stacks of property acquisition agreements and handwritten ledgers were piled on it, their corners curled from frequent handling. The previously relaxed atmosphere was instantly pulled taut by his shout.

Li Wei had been at the door, wiping down a short stick for self-defense. Hearing the shout, he immediately strode in, his back straight, looking sharp: "Brother Chen, what's wrong?"

Uncle Zhao had been squatting in the corner organizing loose files. Hearing this, he slowly straightened up, adjusted his old reading glasses on the bridge of his nose, and with steady steps and a calm tone, asked: "Xiao Lin, has something happened?"

Lin Chen didn't beat around the bush; he threw the AI's warning right in front of them.

"The AI pop-up just alerted me. Marcus knows we snatched David's property listings and is already on his way back. He's definitely coming back to take revenge on us."

Li Wei's eyes widened instantly. There wasn't a hint of fear on his face; instead, it showed a fierce, unyielding courage: "That scumbag dares to come back? Good. I didn't beat him into submission last time, so this time I'll fix him once and for all and let him know we aren't to be trifled with!"

Lin Chen raised his hand slightly to calm things down. His tone was calm and decisive, every word revealing meticulous planning: "Don't just think about fighting. Our core priority right now isn't to vent our anger by fighting him, but to set up defenses in advance and protect the properties we have in hand. These houses were acquired at a fair price with complete documentation; we must not let him sabotage or ruin them."

He immediately assigned tasks, his instructions clear and without a single wasted word.

"Li Wei, take two reliable, tight-lipped brothers. Split into two groups and take turns guarding the doors of the three properties we recently acquired, especially late tonight. Keep a close watch. Marcus isn't very bright; nine times out of ten, he'll take his frustrations out on our properties first."

Li Wei patted his chest, his voice loud and full of confidence: "Don't worry, Brother Chen! I'll lead the team myself. As long as I'm here, the properties will be safe. If he dares to come and smash doors or cause trouble, I'll detain him on the spot. I won't let him lay a finger on our stuff!"

Lin Chen nodded, then turned to look at Uncle Zhao, his tone carrying a bit more trust.

"Uncle Zhao, you are responsible for organizing all the acquisition agreements, property ownership certificates, and transfer records. Categorize them all and lock them in our metal safe. Not a single copy can be lost, and they certainly cannot fall into anyone else's hands where they could be used against us."

Uncle Zhao was always meticulous and reliable. He nodded solemnly, reached out, and patted the files on the corner of the table: "You can rest assured, Xiao Lin. I care about these files more than anyone. I'll organize and lock them away right now. I'll keep the key on me at all times. Even if someone comes to search, they won't find a single one. Our paperwork is complete, and we're in the right; we don't need to fear their tricks."

After making the arrangements, Lin Chen's gaze returned to the semi-transparent AI pop-up before him. He tapped his finger lightly, waiting for the system to run its simulation.

A few seconds later, new text refreshed, the handwriting clear and striking.

【Simulation Complete: Marcus's Revenge Priority — First: Li Wei (has repeatedly disrupted his plans); Second: Acquired properties; Method of Revenge: Sneak attacks, vandalism, intimidation.】

Lin Chen read the results out loud and looked at Li Wei, his tone becoming more admonishing: "Did you hear that? The AI has calculated it clearly. The first person Marcus is coming for is you. Do not act alone tonight. You must keep people around you. Don't give the enemy a chance to sneak up on you."

Li Wei grinned, his face full of fearlessness: "Brother Chen, I'm afraid he won't come looking for me! It's the perfect time to settle old and new scores. If he dares to show his face, I won't let him get away!"

"Don't be careless." Lin Chen frowned and reminded him, "Marcus is coming for revenge this time, and David won't just sit by and watch. He definitely isn't coming back alone; he must have found help."

Just as he finished speaking, Li Wei suddenly lowered his voice, stepped closer, and tossed out a crucial piece of information.

"Brother Chen, even if you hadn't mentioned it, I was planning to bring it up. I just asked a friend of mine in the underworld, and it turns out Marcus hooked up with a small gang in the west of the city a few days ago. The Boss Julio is nicknamed Baldy. He has a dozen or so thugs under him who make a living by collecting protection money and fighting over territory. They play dirty and don't follow any rules."

Lin Chen's eyes instantly narrowed: "Is the information confirmed?"

"Nine times out of ten, it's accurate. I've seen Baldy once before; he has a violent temper and messes with anyone who doesn't give him face. Marcus finding him as a backer clearly means he wants to use the gang to suppress us and play hardball." Li Wei's tone was serious, without a hint of joking.

Lin Chen pondered for a moment and immediately adjusted the defense details: "In that case, we must guard the properties even more tightly. When you're on night watch, don't jump straight into a head-on confrontation. Use your phones to gather evidence first. If they really dare to smash things or intimidate people, call the police immediately. We are in the right; we don't need to fear them making a scene."

"Understood! I'll remember that!" Li Wei replied crisply.

Uncle Zhao added steadily from the side: "Xiao Lin, I've already locked all the files in the safe. Only the three of us know the code; it's absolutely secure. Even if someone comes to the Grocery Store to snoop or cause trouble, I know how to handle it. I won't show any cracks or hold you back."

Lin Chen looked at the two men before him—one brave and reliable, the other meticulous and steady—and most of his unease vanished.

This time, by laying out the plan before Marcus could make a move, they had turned a situation of passively taking a beating into active defense. This step had to be secure.

"For the remaining time, get into position immediately. Li Wei, take your people to stake out the properties now. Uncle Zhao, stay at the Grocery Store and guard the base. If there's any sign of trouble, send me a message immediately."

"Yes!"

"Don't worry, Xiao Lin."

Li Wei turned and walked out, grabbed the high-intensity flashlight at the door, called the two brothers who had been waiting, and hurried toward the locations of the properties.

Uncle Zhao sat back down at the table, double-checked the lock on the safe, and only after confirming it was locked tight did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Lin Chen leaned against the doorframe of the Grocery Store, gazing at the sky that had turned completely dark. The night was like ink, spreading over the entire old street, and the evening breeze scraped against the corners of the walls, bringing with it a series of rustling sounds.

The AI warning pop-up before him was still lit; it hadn't disappeared, constantly reminding him that danger was approaching step by step.

He didn't go back inside but stood in the shadows, his eyes locked firmly on the direction of the properties in the distance. His ears were constantly alert to the surroundings, and his mind was rapidly calculating how to handle what was to come.

As long as Marcus dared to come, he would let him walk right into the trap they had prepared in advance.

Time dragged on, the night grew deeper, and pedestrians on the street had long since vanished. Even the streetlights at the side of the road had dimmed. The entire area was plunged into a deathly silence, so quiet that one could hear the rustling of the wind blowing through dead leaves.

Suddenly, from the door of the newly acquired property that Li Wei was personally guarding in the distance, came a clear, slow, and deliberately quiet sound of footsteps. They stepped on the concrete ground, sounding exceptionally jarring in the dead of night.