208: Chapter 208 Nine hundred and ninety-nine people were waiting for him to speak.

Black Jesus did not get his cards.

Li Li placed the shuffled cards on the table, his bandaged fingers tapping the surface twice.

"Not yet."

Black Jesus was stunned for a moment.

Li Li looked up and swept his gaze across the casino floor.

The slot machines were still ringing, chips were still rolling, and hundreds of gamblers were placing bets or cursing the dealer as they should.

Yet every few seconds, someone would glance toward Table 14.

Li Li withdrew his gaze and let it land on Black Jesus's face.

"Have you eaten yet?"

Black Jesus didn't catch on for a second.

"I asked if you've eaten."

Black Jesus shook his head.

He felt that even taking an extra breath was a waste.

Li Li raised his hand and beckoned the manager of the VIP Hall three meters away.

The manager hurried over.

"Mr. Li?"

"Do you still have bubble tea here?"

The manager faltered for a moment.

"We do."

"Two cups."

Li Li paused.

"Bring a few small cakes, fruit cups, and four plates of pan-fried buns as well."

He added another instruction. "Do you have Haagen-Dazs?"

This time, the manager was completely stunned.

"Yes."

"Then bring a bunch. Any flavor is fine, just don't give me vanilla—that's too perfunctory."

The manager looked at Black Jesus, then at Li Li, confirming this wasn't a joke, before turning to head toward the kitchen.

He had only taken two steps when he was called back.

"Oh, right."

Li Li raised his bandaged right hand and pointed toward the main hall.

"I remember reading on Xiaohongshu that the bubble tea and food at your Macau casino are free, right?"

The manager turned back.

"Yes, it is provided free of charge in the VIP Hall."

"Okay, that's correct."

Li Li leaned back in his chair.

"I thought Xiaohongshu was just writing nonsense."

The manager paused, then walked away.

Around Table 14, the security guards, dealers, waiters, and the manager all stood motionless.

Half an hour ago, they received a call from the Eldest Daughter of the Gambling King.

The content was just one sentence: Cooperate with Li Li.

Whatever he says, do it.

Extra rewards would be calculated separately.

Someone had stuffed a steel pipe into their clothes. Someone had tucked a fish-killing knife behind their apron. The valet had a wrench in his pocket.

They were all prepared to risk their lives.

Yet, the moment Li Li sat down, he ordered bubble tea first.

Then small cakes. Fruit cups. Pan-fried buns. Haagen-Dazs.

And he even asked if it was free.

A security guard looked back at his partner.

His partner shook his head slightly.

Both stood up straight, the tension on their faces relaxing significantly.

Three minutes later, a waiter arrived with a tray.

Two cups of bubble tea with thick milk foam and latte art on the sides of the cups. The small cakes were arranged on a three-tier dessert stand, with raspberry, matcha, and tiramisu all present. The fruit cups were cut neatly. The four plates of pan-fried buns had crispy bottoms and were lined up in a neat row. The Haagen-Dazs was laid out in a long line—strawberry, Belgian chocolate, macadamia nut, and cookies & cream were all there.

Table 14, which had looked like a gambling table, turned into a buffet station in the blink of an eye.

Li Li picked up the milk tea, took a sip, and chewed the boba.

"It's actually quite good. Xiaohongshu didn't lie this time."

He picked up a pan-fried bun and took a bite; juice splashed onto his bandage, but he didn't bother to wipe it off.

Black Jesus sat opposite him, spinning his prayer beads twice before stopping.

He stared at the man in front of him who had just come from the site of a collapsed building, with both hands bandaged and his jacket torn in several places.

Li Li was already eating his third pan-fried bun.

He even dipped it in vinegar.

"Aren't you eating?"

Black Jesus shook his head.

"No appetite?"

Li Li raised his hand to call the waiter.

"Bring this Mr. Black Jesus a steak, a salad, and yogurt."

He scanned Black Jesus.

"Medium-rare, don't make it too tough. Looking at him, he's not used to Eastern flavors."

The waiter paused for two seconds, then turned to head to the kitchen.

Li Li continued to eat.

Half the bubble tea was gone, two small cakes were eaten, the fruit cup remained untouched, and he had already opened the chocolate Haagen-Dazs.

As he ate, he picked up the remote control from the table and turned on the television above.

It was standard for the casino's VIP area.

It was originally for gamblers to watch horse racing.

Li Li changed the channel.

Local news in Macau.

As the image popped up, the first headline was about the joint operation between the Eastern Theater Command and the Southern Theater Command.

In the satellite view, the Shandong and the Fujian were passing through the Second Island Chain.

Carrier-based aircraft were neatly lined up, the frigate fleet spread out in formation, and the radar panels of the type 055 destroyer were reflecting the sunlight.

The camera cut away.

Outside the Second Island Chain, the US Navy's Lincoln carrier strike group was retreating.

They weren't turning; they were retreating at full speed.

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers followed behind, their wakes stretching out long behind them.

The news anchor's Cantonese was heavy with excitement.

"According to sources, it is rare for the two major theater commands of the East to set sail together, with a scale unseen in the last decade. The US Pacific Fleet is currently conducting a strategic withdrawal to avoid direct contact."

Li Li watched while chewing his ice cream, his expression completely calm.

The next story.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense stood behind the podium, with a deep blue background and the national emblem in the center.

"We express our strongest condemnation of the terrorist actions initiated by terrorist organizations in Hong Kong."

"We have locked onto multiple organizational targets involved in the terrorist attacks."

"We will use all necessary means to carry out retaliatory actions against the aforementioned organizations, and we will not accept any mediation."

As the words fell, the reporters below exploded.

Those raising their hands, those standing up, those shoving microphones forward—everyone was crowded together.

The spokesperson did not respond further and turned to leave the stage.

The moment the door closed, the sound transmitted through the television into the casino.

Li Li scooped a spoonful of Haagen-Dazs and kept watching.

The screen cut to the BBC.

The host sat in the studio, face stiff.

"This is the first time we have witnessed the Eastern power demonstrate its long-range military projection capabilities."

Immediately after, the screen cut to an ABC live report.

Djibouti.

The only overseas military base of the Eastern power.

In the port, an aircraft carrier was slowly sailing out, with type 055 destroyers already in formation on both sides, followed by Type 052Ds and supply ships.

The entire battle group was leaving the port.

Destination unknown.

The ABC reporter stood on the coast, the wind blowing his hair into a mess, but he couldn't care less.

"We currently cannot confirm the destination of this fleet, but the Pentagon has refused to comment."

"This is the first time the Eastern power has dispatched a complete carrier battle group from an overseas base."

"Observers from all sides believe that—"

Li Li turned the volume up a notch.

Not for himself to hear. It was for the person opposite him to hear.

Black Jesus's steak was served.

Medium-rare, with salad and yogurt; the plating was quite meticulous.

He didn't touch the knife and fork.

He was watching the television.

Two carrier formations rushing out of the Second Island Chain, the US carrier retreating at full speed, the Ministry of National Defense spokesperson mentioning retaliation, and the Djibouti fleet leaving port.

Black Jesus's Adam's apple bobbed.

He finally realized what kind of thing his boss had provoked.

Not a person. Not a team.

It was a country that could make a US aircraft carrier turn around and run.

Li Li finished the last of the ice cream and wiped his hands with a napkin.

"Steak doesn't taste good when it gets cold."

Black Jesus looked down at his plate, picked up the knife and fork, his hands trembling, and cut a piece to put in his mouth.

He couldn't taste anything.

Li Li saw that he had finally started eating and nodded.

"That's right."

He raised his hand, called a waiter over, and whispered a few instructions.

The waiter first offered a professional smile, then looked stunned, then confused, and finally wore an expression that said, "Are you sure?"

Li Li looked at him.

Very seriously.

The waiter turned and left, walking quickly.

Table 14 went quiet again.

The television was still playing.

The US aircraft carrier was still retreating.

The Pentagon was still silent.

The Djibouti fleet was still at sea.

Li Li finished his second cup of bubble tea.

Black Jesus had eaten one-third of his steak.

Ten minutes later, the waiter returned.

He was holding a tray.

On the tray was a stainless steel hemisphere with two symmetrical holes at the bottom, just large enough for a hand. There was a button on each side of the base, one red and one blue.

It didn't look normal at all.

Li Li took it and placed it on the table.

He pushed the plates aside to make room for this thing.

Subsequently, he looked at Black Jesus.

"Full?"

Black Jesus put down his knife and fork.

Li Li patted the top of the device.

"Let's play a game."

"Guaranteed no way to cheat."

Black Jesus stared at the object on the table without moving.

Li Li looked up.

"The rules are simple."

"Put your hand inside and play rock-paper-scissors."

"We each press a button, and when both are pressed, the cover on both sides opens to reveal the result."

"Fair, right?"

He paused.

"This is called a Disagreement Terminator, an idea from Uncle Ge."

Li Li's fingers landed near the red button, his bandage still seeping blood.

"The loser leaves a hand behind."

Black Jesus's breathing stopped for a moment.

Li Li placed his other hand on the blue button.

"Before we start, you can think about which hand you want to keep."