156: Chapter 156 Chen Mo is ordered to kill Brother Dao, Qin Yi disguises himself to stop him (Part 2)

At the same time, Chen Mo stepped steadily into the courtyard. His expression was as usual, but a sharp edge was hidden in his eyes.

Just then, the door at the deepest part of the second floor opened with a creak. Brother Dao walked out of the room shirtless, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, his face flushed, and his steps swaying. The smell of alcohol clinging to him suggested he had drunk quite a lot. Standing by the second-floor railing, he squinted and grinned at Chen Mo below, waving his arm broadly in a warm greeting: "Brother Mo, you're here!"

Chen Mo looked up and gave him a faint glance. He merely gave a slight wave as a response but did not speak, turning instead to walk straight toward the stairs.

Two lackeys in black tank tops with dragon and tiger tattoos stood on either side of the stairs. Though they looked sturdy, their strength was clearly inferior to the two burly men at the entrance. Seeing Chen Mo about to head upstairs, they instinctively reached out to block him. One of them spoke up nervously, "Sorry, Brother Mo, please cooperate. We need to do a body search."

Chen Mo stopped. He didn't look at the two lackeys but turned his head to look back at Brother Dao on the second floor, a touch of coldness in his eyes.

Receiving this look, the smile on Brother Dao's face instantly became awkward. He pressed his palms together and smiled apologetically at Chen Mo, "Brother Mo, don't take offense. These two youngsters are ignorant; don't lower yourself to their level." Then, his tone shifted as he roared at the lackeys, "You blind idiots! That's Brother Mo, one of our own! If things actually came to blows, the two of you combined wouldn't be enough to fill the gaps between his teeth! Get out of the way!"

Shrinking their necks in fear after being roared at by Brother Dao, the two lackeys quickly cleared the stairs. They bowed respectfully toward Chen Mo and shouted in unison, "Hello, Brother Mo!"

Chen Mo still ignored them, not even deigning to give them a glance, as he continued up to the second floor.

As he approached, Brother Dao reached out with a sycophantic smile, intending to pat Chen Mo's shoulder to show intimacy, but Chen Mo dodged it with a quick shift of his body.

Brother Dao laughed loudly, his breath reeking of alcohol, "Hahaha, Brother Mo, I really didn't expect that you were also working for the Boss. If I'd known, I wouldn't have gone to all that trouble. Why bother contacting a snakehead when I could have just gone through the Boss!"

Chen Mo sneered inwardly, but his face remained impassive. He looked at Brother Dao calmly and said, "What? Now that you know I'm the Boss's man, are you planning to welsh on the debt?"

“Hehe,” Brother Dao hurriedly waved his hand in denial, “How could that be, Brother Mo? You must be joking. I, Liu Hailong, have walked the streets of Magic City for so many years; it’s always been others who owe me. When have I ever welshed on a debt!” He pointed to the room behind him and continued, “What I promised you has long been ready; it’s right inside.” As he spoke, he naturally rested his hand on Chen Mo’s shoulder with a look of familiarity, warmly inviting him, “Come, come, let’s go inside. We brothers can drink and chat.”

Chen Mo glanced impassively at the hand on his shoulder, a flash of displeasure crossing his eyes. However, he didn't snap. He simply cast a faint look at the half-open door behind Brother Dao. Aside from the pungent smell of alcohol and cooked food wafting from the room, there was no unusual aura.

Thus, Chen Mo nodded and followed Brother Dao into the room. After entering, Chen Mo quickly scanned the place. Once he confirmed nothing was amiss, he casually closed the door behind him.

Brother Dao suspected nothing. Perhaps due to the alcohol going to his head, his steps were slightly unsteady as he wobbled over to sit at the round dining table in the center of the room. His face bore the characteristic flush of intoxication, and while his eyes held a hint of drunkenness, they did not lose his usual cunning.

Several open plastic bags lay scattered on the table, revealing cooked foods like roast chicken, roast goose, and pig's head meat. Brother Dao casually grabbed a half-bottle of imported liquor, his movements slightly clumsy as he filled a disposable paper cup to the brim. He then pushed it toward Chen Mo, inviting him, "Brother Mo, come, sit here. We brothers have to have a good drink today. We won't stop until we're drunk!"

"Mm, you go ahead and drink," Chen Mo said with a faint smile, though he didn't sit down immediately. He looked around, his gaze scanning every corner of the room like a torch. The room wasn't large, and the layout was simple and casual: a three-seater sofa, a coffee table, a round dining table, and a slightly old desk with a computer on it. His gaze finally landed on the half-height window behind the desk, a flash of cunning crossing his eyes.

He walked slowly to the window, standing sideways to look out. Outside was a dense forest, with lush trees obscuring the road. He nodded and praised sincerely, "This place was well-chosen. With the forest right outside the window, if anything happens, you can jump down and hide quickly. It really is a good escape route."

Brother Dao laughed heartily upon hearing this, drained his cup in one go, and said proudly, "Brother Mo is indeed a professional, seeing the advantages of this place at a glance. That's exactly why I chose this room; it's safe and hidden."

Chen Mo nodded slightly, his eyes focusing once more on the computer screen. On it, every corner of the small two-story building was visible. Chen Mo did a rough scan; aside from the four subordinates he had seen earlier, there was no one else on the surveillance. It seemed there were only five people in this building, which wouldn't be difficult to handle.

As he thought, his gaze inadvertently brushed past a black safe under the desk. Recalling Chen Hu's hysterical state when he found the gold bars missing at the old house, a hint of greed involuntarily flashed in Chen Mo's eyes. He calculated inwardly, "This Liu Hailong must have stashed away quite a lot of things. It seems I need to find an opportunity to make him open this safe first."

Amidst his thoughts, he had already walked to the dining table. He sat down lightly, picked up the disposable paper cup, and took a light sniff of the strong liquor scent. Without tasting it, he set it back down gently. This action caught Brother Dao's attention. He asked with a somewhat awkward smile, "What? This liquor isn't to your taste, Brother Mo?"

Chen Mo glanced at him and said plainly, "I don't drink imported liquor." He looked Brother Dao straight in the eye, his tone revealing a hint of displeasure as he pressed, "Let's not beat around the bush. When are you going to pay me the money you promised?"

Brother Dao let out a "hey-yo" at the question, grabbed a few peanuts and tossed them into his mouth, mumbling as he chewed, "Brother Mo, what's the rush? We both work for the Boss; would I really welsh on your debt?" He paused, swallowed the peanuts, and continued, "But first, you have to tell me, how did you find this place? Did the Boss give you the address?"

Chen Mo didn't hide it. He nodded and admitted frankly, "That's right, the Boss gave me the address."

Brother Dao laughed loudly and slapped his thigh, complimenting, "It has to be the Boss; he really predicts things like a god, knowing I'd definitely be hiding out here." His tone shifted as he looked at Chen Mo again, "Since the Boss sent you to find me, he must have some orders, right? Tell me, what are the Boss's instructions?"

“Heh, you’re not stupid. The Boss does indeed have some orders.” Chen Mo chuckled, reached out to tear off a chicken leg, and began eating it leisurely. He stood up, pretending to casually circle behind Brother Dao, while saying in a deep voice, “The Boss said the police have their eyes on you. It’s best if you don’t show your face for a while. Also, the Underground Casino and bank are to suspend operations.”

As he spoke, a sharp glint flashed in Chen Mo's eyes. He stared at Brother Dao's neck, just about to strike, when he saw Brother Dao suddenly grab his cup and tilt his head back to drain the liquor. Then, he slammed the cup heavily onto the table and cursed furiously, "Damn it, I knew it would be like this! It's all that Wang Hao's fault, provoking that Qin kid for no reason. Now look, things have blown up so much!"

After saying this, Brother Dao suddenly stood up. Seeing this, Chen Mo quickly lowered his raised hand. Brother Dao turned to face Chen Mo, his anger still unvented, and pressed, "Did the Boss say how long I have to stay here?"

Chen Mo sat back down at the table, feigning composure. He tossed the half-eaten chicken drumstick back onto the plate and said nonchalantly, "What? Is this place not good enough? There’s food, there’s wine, and there are enough of you for a game of mahjong. Isn’t this the kind of life that suits you perfectly?"

"Aiyoh, what's so good about it? This place is in the middle of nowhere," Brother Dao complained with a bitter face, his brow furrowed in displeasure. "It was one thing when the casino was open; it was lively and there was money to be made. But now that the casino is shut down, what am I supposed to do? I’m not worried about myself, but my brothers still need to eat. With the Nightlife Bar at a standstill and the casino and Underground Bank off-limits, am I supposed to let my men starve?"

Chen Mo gave a light chuckle, his eyes tinged with mockery as he cut in, "Brother Dao, there's no point in crying poverty to me. Do you dare say you haven't pocketed a single cent from the profits the casino and Underground Bank made over the years?"

"Heh heh," Brother Dao laughed sheepishly and pointed a finger at Chen Mo, admitting candidly, "To be honest, it would be impossible not to have taken anything. My brothers have risked their lives for me; I have to leave them a way out, don't I? I have to give them enough for their families, or else who would follow me so wholeheartedly? Brother Mo, don't you agree?"

"Mhm, that’s true." Chen Mo nodded, a flash of approval in his eyes. "Greed and lust are only human; the Boss actually knows what's going on. As long as you're loyal to him and do your job well, the Boss will turn a blind eye. Otherwise, why do you think I would have agreed to help you deal with that kid surnamed Qin?"

"Yes, yes, Brother Mo is right." Brother Dao quickly echoed, a fawning smile appearing on his face. "My loyalty to the Boss is as clear as day. However, loyalty needs a future to look forward to. Look at what happened at the Nightlife Bar last night; my men were either injured or arrested. Now, the only ones I have left are the four downstairs." He sighed helplessly as he spoke.

"The Boss understands all of this," Chen Mo consoled him. "That's why the Boss sent me here to help you. You don't need to worry about making money. The Boss said that the business in Shanghai will soon be back on track, and then there will naturally be new ways to earn."

"Hey, really? That's great!" Brother Dao beamed, the wrinkles on his face bunching together to reveal his inner joy. "I knew it! The Boss really is amazing, his methods are endless! Following the Boss, the future is full of wealth! I admire the Boss immensely. Thinking back on these years, the Boss used the Underground Bank to play the powerful elites of Shanghai like puppets. If the Boss hadn't given me a hand back then, how could I, Liu Hailong, have reached my current status..."

At this point, a flash of gratitude and awe appeared in Brother Dao's eyes, as if he had returned to the moment he was first appreciated by the Boss.

Chen Mo listened quietly, a faint smile always on his face. Only after Brother Dao finished did he speak slowly, "Mhm, the Boss is indeed a man of great ambition. Oh, right, the Boss also specifically asked me to ask you: besides the ledger you gave him last night, there are no other copies of the Underground Bank's records, right? The police are already onto you, and they might track you here soon. If there are any missing ledgers, they must be dealt with as soon as possible."

Brother Dao's smile faded, and his expression became serious. "Rest assured, there is only that one ledger. From the day the Underground Bank opened until now, I have personally recorded every single transaction." He spoke with absolute certainty.

"Then I’m relieved." Chen Mo nodded and stood up. "If all the Boss's subordinates were as reliable as you, Brother Dao, the Boss would have a much easier time, and I could worry a bit less." He paused and continued, "Alright, I've delivered all the messages I was supposed to. As for the payment we agreed on earlier, isn't it time you gave it to me?"

"No problem!" Brother Dao responded readily. He then staggered toward the office desk, continuing as he walked, "I've had it ready for Brother Mo for a long time."

Meanwhile, at a fork in the road not far away, Qin Yi had already arrived by car. However, he did not drive directly onto the road leading to the two-story building. Instead, he chose to continue forward and drove into a dense forest. Driving in directly would make him too large a target and easily expose him.

Qin Yi got out of the car and moved swiftly through the forest, heading toward the small building. Before this, he had already conducted a detailed observation of the surrounding environment using the Miniature Bionic Tracker. He knew there was a window behind the second floor, with an air conditioner unit right next to it. Aside from the cameras at the four corners, no one was guarding that position. As he ran, Qin Yi calculated in his mind that as long as he destroyed those four cameras first, he should be able to easily scale the height of just two floors.

As Brother Dao spoke, he had already walked behind the office desk. He crouched down and turned the combination lock of the safe with a series of clicks. With a metallic sound, the safe door swung open. Inside, dozens of gold bars about ten centimeters long were stacked neatly, shining with an enticing luster. There were also some gold, silver, and jade ornaments—collateral left by gamblers who had lost everything. In addition, stacks of US dollars, dozens of bundles of huaxia currency, and several bank cards lay quietly inside. Hidden in a compartment of the safe was also a type 54 pistol.

Brother Dao's movements paused slightly. He looked up and glanced at Chen Mo, who was still standing by the dining table, a flash of cunning in his eyes. He discreetly and carefully took out the pistol, silently tucking it behind his waist. Then, he took out five heavy gold bars and ten bundles of huaxia currency, slamming them down onto the office desk with a loud thud.

Standing up, he smiled at Chen Mo and said, "Brother Mo, look, the money and gold bars are all here. I promised you one million, but I don't have enough cash on hand. I have it in my bank account, but in this current crisis, we wouldn't dare go to the bank to withdraw it. Since gold is so valuable now, why don't you take these gold bars to make up the difference for now?"

Hearing this, Chen Mo walked slowly to the office desk. He reached out and picked up a stack of huaxia currency, flipping through it casually. Then he picked up a gold bar to weigh it in his hand, his fingertips lightly brushing the surface to check its quality. After confirming everything was correct, he nodded in satisfaction. "Good, Brother Dao is indeed a man of his word."

"Hahaha, absolutely!" Brother Dao laughed heartily, then changed the subject and asked, "By the way, if I may ask, the Boss told me not to show my face, but what are his arrangements for you, Brother Mo? Didn't you also show your face that night? Logically speaking, the police should have their eyes on you too, right?"

"Mhm, that’s true." Chen Mo admitted frankly. "The Boss has arranged for me to leave the country tonight."

"Leave the country? How? Under these circumstances, are you going to be smuggled out?" Brother Dao asked curiously.

"What? Do you want to come with me?" Chen Mo did not answer Brother Dao's question. Instead, he looked at him with a half-smile and asked back.

"Heh heh, I’d like to." Brother Dao laughed sheepishly. "But if the Boss doesn't give the word, how would I dare act on my own?"

"Well, it’s not impossible. However, besides going abroad, I have a better place in mind that should suit you even more." A meaningful smile curled at the corners of Chen Mo's mouth.

"Oh? Where?" Brother Dao's curiosity was completely piqued.

"Naturally, it’s—" Chen Mo deliberately drew out his words, "the Western Paradise!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Mo's figure suddenly vanished from where he stood. When he reappeared, he was already beside Brother Dao like a ghost. Just as he was about to strike at Brother Dao's neck, Brother Dao's heart tightened, and he instinctively pulled out the pistol from behind his back. Although he couldn't see Chen Mo's figure, he still pulled the trigger based on intuition.

"Bang! Bang!" Two deafening gunshots echoed through the office, startling the birds in the forest behind the building, which flapped their wings and flew off in all directions. At the same time, the four men guarding the courtyard and the entrance were drawn by the gunshots and looked toward the second floor with alert expressions.