Wong Chi-shing frowned. "I'm a police officer. Why would I eat with a triad member like you?!"
"Because I have what you want most. We'll meet here in an hour." After saying that, Wang Xuan didn't give Wong Chi-shing a chance to refuse and directly ended the call.
Listening to the busy tone coming through the phone, Wong Chi-shing gloomily put it down.
"Chief, should we keep the recording?"
"Forget it. Destroy it. It's completely useless! That guy is too cunning!" He was certain that Wang Xuan had deliberately steered the conversation toward the handover issue. That topic was so effective now that it could kill the conversation instantly.
Couldn't he spare the conversation a thought?
Waving for the officer who had come to report his work to leave, Wong Chi-shing sat in his chair and lit a cigarette. He took a deep drag, watching the smoke curl upward as he sank into thought.
Should he go?
Or not?
According to his plan, the police should have held the initiative in this sort of matter, then offered Wang Xuan a little incentive. That had been his intention when he agreed earlier, too. But now, the situation seemed completely different from what he had expected!
He said he had what I wanted most. What exactly is it?
The more he thought about it, the more curious he became. He crushed the cigarette butt hard into the ashtray. But... a Chief Inspector going to meet a punk still had to maintain some dignity.
After dawdling around the police station for quite a while, Wong Chi-shing finally put on a jacket and walked out.
At Fu Kee Restaurant, Wang Xuan had a group of underlings stationed around the entrance. It was always better to be careful. If Viper suddenly lost his head and took a desperate gamble, Wang Xuan wouldn't be too passive.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Wang Xuan frowned slightly. Could that bastard be planning not to come?
I'll wait another ten minutes. If he doesn't come, forget it.
When the ten minutes were up, Wang Xuan got up and went downstairs. Since Wong Chi-shing wasn't willing to cooperate, he could find someone else. Three-legged frogs were hard to find, but there were police officers everywhere.
Perhaps I should cultivate my own Lau Kin-ming!
"Skrrt..." A burst of braking sounded. Wang Xuan looked toward the window and saw Wong Chi-shing getting out of his car.
Tch. His mouth says no, but his body is still so honest. Why be late? Does it make you look nobler or something?
Hearing the thudding footsteps, Wong Chi-shing walked up to the second floor. Wang Xuan showed no smile as he lowered his head and glanced at his watch. "Inspector Huang, you're ten minutes late. As expected of the police force—you always arrive right after everything is over."
Damn it!
When hitting someone, don't hit them in the face; when cursing someone, don't expose their shortcomings.
The more he looked at Wang Xuan, the more detestable he found him.
I'm a damn police officer, and you're a damn triad member. Can't you show me at least a little basic respect?
Don't I have any dignity?
Seeing Wong Chi-shing's hostile expression, Wang Xuan suddenly laughed heartily. "I'm only joking. Don't take it seriously. I know you're busy. Come, come, sit down and talk. The food here is pretty good."
He had tried to steal a chicken and ended up losing the rice. Why had he been ten minutes late?
Since Wang Xuan had given him an out, and he also wanted to know the exact information, he could only swallow his anger. This damn punk was far too petty.
Wang Xuan poured Wong Chi-shing a glass of beer. The two of them downed their drinks in one gulp, but the atmosphere at the table was not warm in the slightest.
Wang Xuan couldn't be bothered with any more nonsense. He said directly, "Viper has an underground casino. It occupies nearly a thousand square meters across two floors. I have a complete layout map here, including the front and back entrances."
The chopsticks in Wong Chi-shing's hand froze. He glanced at Wang Xuan in surprise. Judging from what had just been said, this was no small casino. The sums involved were certainly enormous. If they could successfully take it down, it would definitely be a major achievement.
Putting down his chopsticks, Wong Chi-shing tried to look as unconcerned as possible. "You've got quite the scheme. You want to use the police to get revenge on Viper."
"The way you put that makes it sound as if you really don't need it. We're both old foxes here, so don't try playing Strange Tales with me."
Damn it!
Couldn't he speak properly? Did he know anything about the art of conversation? Didn't he understand how to start with an outrageous demand and negotiate from there?
He had killed the conversation again!
"What are your conditions?" Wong Chi-shing's attitude also turned extremely hostile.
"Now that's more like it. Going around in circles is too much for a rough fellow like me when dealing with social elites like you. It's better to keep things simple and direct." Wang Xuan looked quite satisfied. He had to keep the initiative in the negotiations. He picked up his glass and took a gulp before saying unhurriedly, "Conduct a large-scale raid on one of Viper's operations."
Wong Chi-shing narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Wang Xuan, wondering what he was planning. Was it simply revenge against Viper? It probably wasn't that simple!
This man looked reckless in his actions, thoughtless, impulsive, violent, and perverse. But after their two encounters, based on his many years of casework and understanding of triad members, Wong Chi-shing knew that Wang Xuan was definitely hiding his true depths.
He picked up his glass and downed it in one gulp. As he watched Wang Xuan stuff a large piece of fish into his mouth, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him. He wants to launch a surprise attack on Viper!
The more he thought about it, the more certain he became. Wong Chi-shing was furious. Since when could triad gang wars borrow the police's strength?
"You've got quite a plan. We'll launch a surprise raid and sweep Viper's operation, then you'll suddenly move in and seize the territory in one stroke. Heh. You dare use the police as your enforcers. Should I say you're overestimating yourself, or that you're dreaming?"
"Why not? A triad is going to get involved either way. It'll be me or Viper. Don't you think I'm more law-abiding than Viper?" Wang Xuan picked up a bottle of beer and filled Wong Chi-shing's glass, then filled his own. He raised his glass in a toast. "At least I mainly conduct legitimate business. I won't cause trouble for the police."
"Heh, you've got some nerve saying that. You've only been in the spotlight for a few days, but do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused the police?"
"It was other people looking for trouble with me. What does that have to do with me? Even though I'm a legitimate businessman, I can't let people climb onto my head and shit on me, can I?"
Looking at Wang Xuan's innocent expression, Wong Chi-shing wanted nothing more than to punch him in the face.
Still, that statement wasn't wrong. Every inch of Hong Kong had a triad presence. It was either one group or another. Of course, replacing one with someone who followed the rules would be better.
But... he didn't want to agree so easily.
Shaking his head, Wang Xuan continued raising the stakes. "I'll also get you information on Viper's drug trafficking. Of course, it'll be his subordinates making the deals. Whether you can arrest them, catch them red-handed, or pry open his underlings' mouths has nothing to do with me."
"Really?"
Wong Chi-shing immediately sat up straight. The credit for cracking down on drug trafficking was far greater than that for busting gambling operations. He couldn't help being tempted!
"Really, but..." A smile appeared on Wang Xuan's face.
"Don't push your luck!"
Although his body was being honest, he still had to put up some verbal resistance.
"Inspector Huang, don't worry. It'll be effortless for you, and I absolutely won't make you break any rules. First: I need Viper held at the station for twenty-four hours, with all outside communication cut off. Second: I need some materials for stab-resistant clothing. I want to make a batch for myself. I'm afraid of dying!"
Before you continue