The Viper's Stockholm Syndrome

Wang Xuan had actually planned this before. His second mission was to have his influence spread across Hong Kong Island. But could a mere Triad boss truly achieve influence across the entire island?

Even Camel, the leader of East Star, one of Hong Kong Island's two major gangs, could be intimidated by any Inspector-level officer.

However, if it were a major Hong Kong businessman or someone with significant social influence, they might not even spare an Inspector-level officer a second glance. After all, this wasn't the 1950s or 60s anymore; you couldn't conquer the world with knives and guns.

Influential people today could be major businessmen, socialites, or government officials, but definitely not a Young and Dangerous!

Therefore, Wang Xuan needed to legitimize himself, and that included all his subordinates. Future gang activities would need proper, legitimate fronts, and they couldn't be so crude anymore. They should look to the Japanese yakuza for inspiration; they did a great job – organized, orderly, and even involved in political activities to some extent, with their influence deeply ingrained in society.

Seeing the four men looking as if they had no will to live, Wang Xuan's expression darkened. "What, you're not willing!?"

At the sight of their boss's grim face, the four men shivered inwardly and could only nod in agreement with mournful expressions.

"Don't waste the opportunity I'm giving you!" Wang Xuan pointed at them and said earnestly, "Right now, any police officer can boss you around. But the same people will be polite to Zhu Libo. Do you understand why!?"

"Because he's a lawyer!"

"No, it's because he has a legitimate profession and a certain level of influence. You don't. If you had legitimate companies under your name, even if they knew you were a former thug or still involved with gang activities, they still wouldn't dare provoke you easily."

His words were clear, and the men understood. They stood there, heads bowed in thought. After a moment, Ah Wai spoke up, "But what's the use of going to school now? Are we supposed to go to university?"

"You don't have to. I'll consider the curriculum for you, focusing on legitimate and useful things."

The men exchanged glances. They had no other choice. Firstly, their boss had given the order, and they couldn't disobey. Secondly, it was genuinely for their own good. One must know what's good for them.

Watching them leave dejectedly, Wang Xuan smiled silently behind them. Cultivating them was a certainty, but whether there was a mischievous intent behind it was something only he knew.

Viper was detained at the police station, completely unaware of events outside. It wasn't until his lawyer brought him news from the outside world that he was utterly shocked. Helplessly detained at the station, he couldn't get out. Even his lawyer couldn't bail him out; involvement in drug trafficking made bail very difficult to arrange.

What Viper knew now was that Wang Xuan had timed his attack perfectly, raiding his territory with his men. The assault was swift and targeted, clearing out three of his streets. Several of his key subordinates were also missing, presumed to be in grave danger.

He didn't have more information. Detained at the police station, his mind was in turmoil. He feared Wang Xuan's greed. Regardless of whether he could retaliate later, he would suffer heavy losses. More importantly, if Baki or others from East Star interfered, his entire territory near Kowloon could be uprooted. By then, even if he got out, he'd be a commander without an army.

No territory meant no subordinates, and no chance to make a comeback.

As for their boss, Yan Tze Tak, he didn't hold much hope. With Kowloon gone, only Sha Tin district remained. Hong Yi Society might not even be as strong as a single hall under East Star. At that point, Yan Tze Tak would likely be struggling to protect himself, let alone offer him protection.

The more he thought, the more anxious he became. Viper paced back and forth in the interrogation room, kicking the walls repeatedly, his emotions growing increasingly agitated.

The expected questioning process hadn't even begun. The entire police station seemed to have forgotten him. Viper gripped the iron bars, shaking them forcefully, and yelled hoarsely, "Where are the people! Damn it, how long are you going to keep me locked up!"

"I know you have no evidence!"

"Someone! Let me out!!!!"

"Damn it, damn it!"

Viper pounded furiously on the iron bars, creating a "clang clang" sound.

No police officers outside paid him any attention. Someone had given prior instructions to hold him for 24 hours, letting him make as much noise as he wanted.

These officers were happy to watch the show. These Young and Dangerous often caused them a lot of trouble, and they couldn't easily arrest them due to insufficient evidence. Even if arrested, they wouldn't be held for long, leading to much pent-up frustration. Seeing a gang boss in such a state today was a way to vent some of that anger.

Viper eventually tired himself out, his throat dry and burning. In the end, no one responded to him, and he slumped to the ground in a daze.

He slowly resigned himself. Reaching the peak of his despair, he was no longer as agitated. His mind began to ponder why Wang Xuan's attack had been so precise. The more he thought, the more suspicious he became. Could it be... Wang Xuan was cooperating with the police?

That shouldn't be right. This kid had caused the police so much trouble recently; it would be a miracle if they didn't hate him to the bone. How could they have colluded so quickly?

But there was no other explanation.

Looking at his current treatment, Sherlock Viper felt increasingly convinced that this was the case.

He also suspected that his casino was raided by Wang Xuan, otherwise, the police wouldn't have had such accurate intelligence, leaving him no time to react at all.

Time ticked by, and he grew restless again. Not only was there no food, but no one even brought him a glass of water.

After finally enduring 24 hours, the interrogation room door suddenly opened. Viper's appearance startled his lawyer.

Viper's lips were cracked and dry, his face sallow, and his eye sockets sunken. His voice was hoarse. In just one day, how could he have become like this? This made the lawyer suspect the police had tortured him.

Viper stopped his lawyer, who was about to confront the police. He didn't have time to argue with the police now. The top priority was to return to his base and see if it was still there!

Only when he got into the car and heard his subordinate's report did he heave a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it was only three streets; the situation wasn't too bad.

He suddenly felt that Wang Xuan wasn't so bad after all; he knew when to stop and didn't push for total annihilation!

People are strange. When you think you've lost everything, you suddenly discover you've only lost half your assets, and you inexplicably feel happy.

(I originally thought the professor would be strict and I'd definitely fail, but after driving the professor all night, I passed. I inexplicably feel the professor is easy to get along with!)

He chugged down a bottle of water and threw the empty bottle out the car window. Viper's mind was now entirely focused on returning to tally his losses. He was in this line of work to make money. As for revenge against Wang Xuan, that could be discussed later.