79: Chapter 79 A Lifesaving Grace! Sophia Spy for Lin Chen's Thoughts

After her subordinates withdrew, Sophia breathed a sigh of relief.

Thorne's men came quickly and left just as hurriedly. More than thirty people poured out of the club, cursing and swearing. The sound of footsteps and shouting gradually faded away, and finally, only the dull "bang" of the door closing broke the noisy atmosphere of the scene.

The club's lobby was a complete mess. Broken steel pipes, shattered glass shards, and discarded stools were scattered on the floor. A few drops of dark red blood splattered on the light-colored tiles looked particularly glaring in the dim light. The air was thick with the smell of blood, dust, and a faint scent of sweat, making one wrinkle their nose in disgust.

Sophia slowly put away the short blade in her hand and raised her hand to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth—she had been accidentally grazed during the fight. Although it wasn't serious, it added a touch of ferocity to her expression. Her confidants behind her were all injured, leaning against the wall and gasping for air, their faces filled with the relief of having survived a disaster.

She steadied herself, lifted her feet to step over the debris on the floor, and walked towards Lin Chen and Li Wei step by step. Her high heels crunched on the glass shards, making a faint "creak" sound, with every step she took steady and composed.

"Thank you, Mr. Lin, for stepping in to save me." Sophia stood in front of Lin Chen and nodded slightly. Her tone was much softer than before, yet it still carried a hint of detached vigilance. "If it weren't for you just now, I'm afraid I would have had a hard time getting out of this."

Li Wei grinned, "It was just a small favor. After all, you've helped our Chinese neighbors before; helping each other is only right."

Sophia ignored Li Wei, her gaze remaining fixed on Lin Chen. Her eyes were sharp and direct. "Mr. Lin is not a meddlesome person. You must have had a purpose for saving me. Let's be straightforward. What do you want? Money, or territory?"

She understood human nature too well; there is no such thing as a free lunch. Lin Chen held fatal evidence against Thorne and had intervened at the most critical moment; it couldn't possibly be just a simple case of "helping each other."

Lin Chen leaned against the nearby wall with his hands in his pockets. His expression was calm, without the slightest pretense, and his tone was crisp and decisive. "I don't want anything. I only want to cooperate with you."

"Cooperate?" Sophia raised her eyebrows slightly, her vigilance deepening. "How do you want to cooperate?"

"It's very simple." Lin Chen raised his eyes, looking at her straightforwardly. "I will help you stabilize the control of the Sophia Family, deal with Thorne and the Black Bear Gang he is colluding with, and stop him from causing you any more trouble. In return, you will lend me the resources of the Sophia Family to help me stabilize the order in the Slum District and open up the surrounding channels."

He spoke candidly without beating around the bush, clearly stating his needs while also offering enough sincerity. He knew that what Sophia lacked most right now was support, and what he lacked were resources. This partnership would be mutually beneficial.

Sophia fell silent. Her fingertips unconsciously stroked the black ledger in her hand, her eyes flickering. She had to admit that Lin Chen's proposal was very tempting—Thorne would never give up. This retreat was just a temporary measure; he would inevitably make a comeback later. She was isolated and helpless right now and truly needed a powerful ally.

However, Lin Chen's strength and intentions made her wary. This man was too calm, too calculating. He could even easily obtain leverage against Thorne. If she cooperated with him and ended up being manipulated by him in return, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble?" Sophia raised her eyes, looking straight at Lin Chen. "Thorne is colluding with the Black Bear Gang and has immense influence. If you help me, it's equivalent to completely falling out with them. In the future, they will inevitably cause you trouble, and might even implicate your Slum District."

"I have never been afraid of trouble." Lin Chen's tone was firm, and there was not a trace of fear in his eyes. "Thorne will reach into the Slum District sooner or later. Even if I don't help you, we will clash eventually. Rather than defending passively, it's better to take the initiative and gain an ally in the process."

Li Wei, standing to the side, couldn't help but add, "Brother Chen is right. Since we dared to step in and save you, we have the confidence to deal with Thorne and the Black Bear Gang. Don't worry, we will only cooperate; we won't interfere with your family's internal affairs, nor will we covet your possessions."

Sophia still didn't speak, the scales in her heart swaying with hesitation. Cooperating could solve her immediate crisis, but it meant bearing unknown risks. Not cooperating, and she would struggle to fend off Thorne's next round of attacks and would eventually be ousted from power.

Just then, the invisible earpiece in Lin Chen's ear transmitted an electronic notification from the AI. The voice was faint, audible only to him: "Warning: Thorne's emotional state detected as abnormal. He has contacted Boss Julio of the Black Bear Gang and plans to reassemble his men in the short term to launch a second attack. Targets are the club and Lin Chen's related strongholds."

Lin Chen's eyes flickered, and he already knew what to expect—Thorne really wouldn't let it go. There wasn't much time left for Sophia to hesitate.

He didn't urge her, just watched Sophia quietly, giving her enough space to think. He knew that a forced partnership had no meaning; only by getting Sophia to agree willingly could this partnership last.

Sophia gripped the ledger in her hand tightly until her knuckles turned white, her expression gradually becoming grave. She remained silent for a full half-minute before finally taking a deep breath and opening her mouth, seemingly wanting to give an answer.

But just as she was about to speak, a burst of rapid footsteps suddenly came from outside the club. They were dense, getting closer and closer, mixed with gruff shouts—clearly, the newcomers meant trouble.