340: Chapter 340 The Hunting Ground of Reinforced Concrete, Call Me Chairman

Jiangdong District, CBD area.

The afternoon sunlight poured down through the gaps between the row upon row of high-rise buildings, shining through the giant floor-to-ceiling windows.

On the top floor of the Yuanchen Group building, inside a luxurious and spacious office.

Chen Chen was sitting behind a mahogany desk, holding a book with a gilded cover titled "The Road to Financial Freedom".

He appeared to be reading intently, but his gaze was not focused on the words on the page.

His brow, slightly knitted into a frown, betrayed the impatience hidden deep within him.

Knock, knock.

The sound of knocking rang out.

"Come in."

Chen Chen called out without even looking up.

The office door was gently pushed open a crack.

A figure nimbly slipped inside, then turned around, locking the door with a soft click.

"Chairman!"

The newcomer was Secretary Liu.

He was holding a black cell phone in both hands, an irrepressible excitement on his face. Lowering his voice, he spoke at a rapid-fire pace:

"We have news! It's a call from Xiao Sa's side. The other party has agreed to cooperate!"

The phone in Secretary Liu's hand was precisely the private line Chen Chen used to contact special channels.

Chen Chen's eyes lit up instantly, and his entire being seemed to be revitalized.

He slammed the book in his hand shut with a dull thud and suddenly stood up.

"Great!"

He had waited for this news for so long that his patience had been nearly worn away.

"Quickly, make an appointment with that punk... No."

He stopped mid-sentence and immediately corrected himself, a look of solemnity appearing on his face:

"Invite Mr. Xiao Sa to our group to discuss the cooperation in detail."

This underworld tycoon, who used to summon the wind and rain, appeared extraordinarily excited at this moment, pacing back and forth in his office.

Then, suppressing the wild joy in his heart, he abruptly turned around, stared intently at his confidant, Secretary Liu, and instructed carefully:

"Personally send an inconspicuous car to pick him up. You must ensure absolute safety and privacy on the way."

"Also, prepare the deposit immediately. Two million in cash, not a single cent less."

"Chairman."

A trace of hesitation flashed across Secretary Liu's face, and he carefully reminded:

"Two million... isn't that a bit too much? According to the 20% ratio we discussed before, the total price would be ten million."

"Our hands are already tight on funds, and there are many places to spend money. Winning over councilors and bribing the police department is a bottomless pit that requires massive expenses."

He paused and added:

"Moreover, moving such a large sum of money all at once could easily attract attention from above."

"Any problem that can be solved with money is not a problem!"

Chen Chen's tone in reply was decisive and left no room for doubt:

"What we most urgently need right now is to possess absolute martial force that can seal the deal."

"Money can be earned again if it's gone, but once an opportunity is missed, it can never be recovered. No matter how much they open their mouths to demand, we have only one strategy."

"Dazzle him with money, make him feel our sincerity and strength, so that he cannot refuse and won't dare to play tricks."

"As long as we can tie that assassin firmly to our ship, half the plan is already successful."

Chen Chen's eyes turned sharp. He walked up to Secretary Liu, patted his shoulder, and said in a deep voice:

"As for the funding issue, use your brain. Break it down into smaller parts, route it through several different offshore accounts or shell companies, take a few detours, and raise it in batches."

"As for the attention from above?"

Speaking of this, a cold smile played on the corner of Chen Chen's mouth:

"As long as those troublesome guys from the Field Operations Department are successfully eliminated, who will have the energy to audit our accounts in the short term?"

"At that time, the entire Dongdu Branch's intelligence network will fall into paralysis. That will be our golden age to make our move."

"Afterward, we can find some excuse to make some losing investments. This small amount of money can quickly be laundered clean, leaving no loose ends."

Hearing this, Secretary Liu still had some misgivings in his heart, but he nodded solemnly:

"Alright, I understand. I will find a way to raise the money immediately."

As Chen Chen's confidant, Secretary Liu knew very well that this was a huge gamble.

And he had long since sat at the same poker table as Chen Chen, betting his entire life and wealth; their life, death, honor, and disgrace were all closely intertwined.

Since he could not extricate himself, the only choice was to cooperate fully and bet that he would ultimately stand on the winning side.

After a brief thought, Secretary Liu asked in a low voice about the most critical issue at hand:

"Chairman, as for Scorpion's specific whereabouts, we haven't fully grasped them yet."

Upon hearing this, Chen Chen frowned slightly, seemingly in thought.

He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and gazed out at the city view.

After a moment of silence, he spoke:

"To evade the Special Investigation Team's searches recently, they have all scattered to various corners of Dongdu."

"First, try to contact someone trustworthy among Scorpion's subordinates. Under the pretext of delivering daily supplies to them, find out his hiding spot first."

"Remember, do not alert anyone. Once the location is determined, pass the intelligence to our 'Mr. Assassin'."

"Understood."

Secretary Liu committed every detail to memory, then bowed slightly, turned, and left quickly.

Silence returned to the office once again.

Chen Chen stood alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze deep and flickering.

Outside the window was the prosperous and bustling scene of the entire Jiangdong District.

The row upon row of high-rise buildings beneath his feet were like giants bowing in submission, and the endless stream of vehicles was as tiny as ants.

This land where he had struggled for half his life just to secure a foothold.

In his eyes, it was like a concrete jungle, a massive and cold hunting ground.

Here, life, death, fame, and fortune were nothing but a gamble.

The weak could only bow their heads and submit, becoming food and nourishment for the strong.

And everything he did was simply in the hope that he too would have a chance to stand at the top of the food chain, rather than becoming prey to be slaughtered at will.

Chen Chen's excited emotions slowly calmed down, replaced by an even deeper desire.

...

As the night deepened, Jiuchang Street slowly quieted down.

The brilliant lights of the distant commercial district left only a remote and faint halo here, outlining the old silhouette of the Tubular Building.

Li Biyun sat on the sofa in the living room, with the evening news playing on the television.

She had the volume turned down so low that the anchor's clear and steady pronunciation sounded like an elusive lullaby echoing in the room.

In the kitchen, a clay pot had been simmering over a low fire for a long time, and a rich aroma mixing medicinal herbs and meat bones drifted out.

Yawn—

Li Biyun let out a soft yawn. Seemingly remembering something, she immediately got up and walked toward the kitchen.

Lifting the pot lid, white steam carrying the fragrance rushed over her face.

She scooped out a bowl of warm-colored Mind-Soothing and Brain-Nourishing Soup, carefully carrying it as she walked toward her son's bedroom.

The door was silently pushed open a crack.

Warm yellow light spilled from the crack in the door, soft and peaceful.

Li Biyun walked in carrying the soup bowl. Seeing the focused figure in front of the desk, a gratified smile appeared on her face:

"Chengcheng, drink a bowl of soup before studying more. Don't tire yourself out too much."

Fang Cheng was bowing his head, holding a thick professional law book in both hands.

Hearing her voice, he immediately looked up and smiled at his mother:

"Thanks, Mom. Just leave it on the desk first. I'll drink it after I finish reading this section."

Li Biyun said no more. She set down the soup bowl, glanced at the book in her son's hands, and then gently closed the door.

Inside the room, quiet returned once more.

Fang Cheng withdrew his gaze from the closed door.

The moment the door shut, the gentleness and Focus in his eyes instantly faded, becoming incredibly deep.

Like two black holes capable of swallowing light.

The thick, professional law textbook was still spread open in his hands, but his mind was not on it at all.

After returning from Guanlan District tonight, Fang Cheng chose to stay at home.

The postgraduate re-examination was in five days. If he were to stay at Haitian Garden for a long time right now, it would inevitably make his mother suspicious.

In fact, Fang Cheng had already committed all the material he needed to review to heart.

He was merely sitting at the desk under the light to create a perfect disguise for himself.

At this moment, Fang Cheng withdrew his consciousness, rapidly sinking into the depths of his mind.

There, he was conducting a silent and secret communication with someone over a dozen kilometers away.

Through the connector's pupils, the scene of a luxuriously furnished hotel suite was clearly projected into his senses.

Soft wool carpets, a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and an air filled with a mixture of disinfectant and money.

"Expert? Boss? Are you still there?"

Xiao Sa's voice echoed in his mind, carrying a trace of tension that was hard to conceal.

He had just finished attending a banquet hosted by the chief of the Red Tiger Gang and was currently sitting on the edge of the soft bed.

He was tightly clutching a black briefcase in his arms, as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.

Because inside was the two million yuan deposit for this mission.

Xiao Sa had never personally touched so much money in his entire life.

For safety's sake, he accepted Chen Chen's kind offer and checked into this five-star hotel.

Those Young Misses arranged by Chen Chen as an extra touch were also politely asked to leave by him at the very first moment.

Now, he stayed in the room alone, silently waiting for the mysterious expert's contact as instructed.

After a brief withdrawal, Fang Cheng's consciousness stabilized the mental link once more.

"I'm here, Xiao Sa."

The responding voice sounded directly in the other party's mind:

"From today onward, you don't have to go through so much trouble. Just call me Chairman."

"Ch... Chairman?!"

Xiao Sa was stunned at first, and then his voice suddenly pitched up.

He understood the underlying meaning of those words, and his entire being was so excited he almost jumped off the bed.

It was a wild joy that had been suppressed for too long.

He thought of his dark, damp home that leaked whenever it rained, his mother's blind eyes that always wept for him, and his past of being beaten half to death for a few hundred yuan, sprawling in the muddy water like a dog.

He remembered even more the vow he had once made in his heart—he must rise above others.

And now, this opportunity seemed to lie right before him.

Xiao Sa's voice even carried an uncontrollable tremble. It was extreme excitement, and also a longing for the future.

Although this opportunity carried great danger, it could at least bring him a sliver of hope and light.

"Ch... Chairman..."

After confirming it repeatedly, he thought of a key question and asked somewhat apprehensively:

"Then... am I considered to have joined the organization now? What is our organization's name?"

A silent smile played on the corner of Fang Cheng's mouth.

This title was just a passing thought, spoken casually.

"You are still in the internship and observation period right now."

"Once you perform well, I will tell you everything about the organization. Only then will you be considered a formal member."

Fang Cheng's voice was calm, revealing the majesty that a prominent figure should possess.

"Yes! Chairman! I will definitely work hard and never let you down!"

Xiao Sa immediately straightened his back, making a solemn pledge in his heart.

After the excitement passed, he forced himself to calm down and continued to report on the situation of his face-to-face meeting with Chen Chen tonight.

"Chairman, for this hunting mission, Chen Chen's initial offer was five million."

"I saw that his tone was a bit soft when he spoke and his eyes were flickering, so I immediately raised the price, tentatively quoting twelve million based on my gut feeling."

"After pulling back and forth with him for a few rounds, we finally settled the price at ten million, with a deposit of two million paid on the spot."

"After reaching an agreement, Chen Chen hosted a banquet for me at the Dongdu International Hotel. He was very polite, trying to win me over and pry information out of me."

"Especially that secretary of his surnamed Liu. He looked all smiles, but actually had a belly full of bad water, constantly pouring wine for me and trying to probe my background in every sentence..."

"Fortunately, my alcohol tolerance is awesome, and I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. I kept going until I knocked both of them out, without leaking a single word..."

Xiao Sa paused, and his tone became serious afterward, as if he had already completely stepped into the role of an organization member.

"Chairman, that guy Chen Chen doesn't look like a good sort. We must definitely be on guard against him..."

Fang Cheng listened quietly.

Xiao Sa's account basically matched what he had seen and heard earlier through mental projection.

Although there were elements of exaggerating his own performance, there was no concealment of the main parts.

In fact, Fang Cheng didn't need him to report the details of the meeting at all.

Doing so was intentional, just to test the other party's character once more.

Likes to brag, has a good tongue, but knows how to keep things in check and is clear-headed at critical moments.

In his heart, Fang Cheng added a new comment for Xiao Sa.

"The deposit will be left in your care for now."

Fang Cheng's voice rang out again:

"You can take two hundred thousand out of it to use as activity funds for the near future."

On the other end of the mental link, Xiao Sa froze suddenly.

For a moment, his brain seemed to have crashed, going completely blank.

He even wondered if he was experiencing auditory hallucinations because he was too tense, unable to believe it.

Immediately afterward, the warm current that had just calmed down suddenly exploded from his chest, sweeping through his entire body once more.

That was two hundred thousand yuan, not two hundred bucks!

The Chairman actually trusted a humble punk like him so much!!

Xiao Sa clutched the briefcase tightly with both hands and opened his mouth.

Yet his throat felt as if it were stuffed with cotton, unable to make any sound.

Ultimately, that boiling hot current broke through his defenses, turning into a choked vow in his mind:

"Chairman... rest assured! My life, Xiao Sa's life, is yours from now on!"

This guy is a sentimental person.

Fang Cheng understood clearly, adding another evaluation for Xiao Sa.

"Such a person is more easily swayed by emotions, and also easier to control."

Ending this secret contact, Fang Cheng slowly opened his eyes.

His consciousness returned to his body, and the night outside was still thick.

Sitting at his desk, he recalled the intelligence about the target provided by Chen Chen.

The corner of his mouth hooked up slightly:

"Scorpion... is actually a pervert too..." (End of Chapter)