Song Ren raised an eyebrow slightly when he heard Chan Kwok Chung's steady words.
No wonder A Ren, the undercover cop in the movie, had been clearly terrified of Wong Po yet still agreed to the operation after just a few words from Chan Kwok Chung.
As the senior officer of the Serious Crimes Unit, Chan Kwok Chung clearly exuded a steady, capable presence.
As a police officer, he had always remained unwavering in his principles.
That was one aspect of it.
But more importantly, he had these three subordinates to serve as a foil.
They made Chan Kwok Chung seem even more trustworthy.
Honestly, these people were always playing good cop and bad cop.
This bunch was way too slick.
Song Ren lowered his head, looking as though he had undergone a profound baptism.
A faint smile rose involuntarily on Chan Kwok Chung's face, but he quickly suppressed it.
After recalling something the warden had suddenly brought up after they arrived, he pondered for a moment before speaking:
"A Ren, this matter is very troublesome. You went too far."
"The warden over at Stanley wants me to give them an explanation."
Song Ren raised his head. "As long as they don't add to my sentence, I'll accept any other conditions."
Chan Kwok Chung said, "Good. Then let him come talk to you. When I saw him just now, he told me he wanted to discuss a private deal with you."
Song Ren glanced at him.
Chan Kwok Chung nodded at him seriously. "No one else will find out about your deal."
"If his demands go against your wishes or violate morality or the law, you can refuse unconditionally. I'll guarantee your safety."
After all, Chan Kwok Chung had been a police officer for many years. He had made plenty of achievements and built up some connections of his own.
Otherwise, he would never have been so blunt with the conservative superior at the Western District police station.
Stanley Prison might be troublesome, but it was not beyond his ability to settle.
However, Song Ren had little confidence in Chan Kwok Chung's promise.
After all, this was how A Ren had died.
Still, he was rather curious about what the warden wanted that he had actually come to him.
Chan Kwok Chung gave him a few more instructions before finally leaving with his three subordinates.
When he came out, he nodded at the warden waiting by the door. "He agreed, but I hope this is a one-time thing."
"A Ren is a police officer, not a real criminal. We can't treat him as though he were one."
The warden's mood had already eased considerably. He lowered the brim of his hat. "If you don't say anything and I don't say anything, who will know?"
Chan Kwok Chung's expression darkened. "You—"
The warden cut him off without the slightest courtesy. "Enough, Chan Kwok Chung!"
He raised his hand and pointed at the infirmary door. "Does that guy in there look like a police officer in any way?"
"He's only been here for about a month, and the prisoners he's injured already number in the dozens."
"You tell me—he's a police officer?"
Chan Kwok Chung's expression darkened further.
There was nothing he could do. Ever since Song Ren had entered Stanley Prison, he had been far too reckless.
His attacks were vicious and ruthless. If he stayed locked up much longer, it was only a matter of time before someone died.
The warden softened his tone somewhat. "This time, the disturbance was so serious that it has practically ruined my chances of promotion."
"What is wrong with using him to earn a little pocket money?"
"He's so formidable. Nothing will happen to him."
"This is the price he has to pay. Otherwise, I won't let him leave safely when his sentence ends."
Chan Kwok Chung's face remained dark.
His three subordinates wanted to lose their tempers, but he held them back as well.
The warden patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. It's only one round of underground boxing."
"It isn't a problem at all. This place has signed a confidentiality agreement with them."
"There are British people backing that place. Nothing will go wrong."
Chan Kwok Chung's brows drew into a deep frown.
Just as the warden had said, it was only one round in the ring.
This had always been the cooperation model between Stanley Prison and the people behind Fook Shing Building.
Fook Shing Building stood in a bustling part of Kowloon, and an underground boxing ring had been established inside it.
The middle and lower levels hosted small-scale bouts, while the top floor entertained distinguished guests from across the political and business worlds. A highly placed British backer stood behind it, giving the venue considerable clout outside.
The ring attracted members of various triads, martial arts schools, street youths...
People from every walk of life could step into the ring as long as they could fight, provided they signed a special agreement.
The boxing ring on the top floor was a money pit in the truest sense.
Since it entertained the elite from every field, the challengers there were also first-rate fighters, notorious fugitives, and even death-row prisoners from Stanley Prison.
At the same time, the top floor was the most violent part of the ring, with a very high death rate.
Under their agreement, Stanley Prison could send certain death-row prisoners to Fook Shing Building as challengers.
If they died, so be it. But if they won, the rewards were extremely generous.
They might even attract the attention of wealthy patrons watching from the top floor, who could help them escape the death sentence.
The warden had only thought of this after his anger had subsided.
After all, Song Ren's identity was too unusual. He did not qualify for the death penalty at all.
He could not force Song Ren to go in. This incident happened to give him an opportunity to make use of their cooperation.
He could recover some of his losses in authority through other means.
The man inside could take on dozens of people by himself. That record was simply too formidable.
The warden could not imagine how he could lose if he placed a bet on him.
Just thinking about it made his financial future look bright.
Pushing open the door, the warden walked inside.
Song Ren sized up the slightly plump middle-aged man in his forties standing before him.
The warden of Stanley Prison, Hui Ching Hung.
The moment he entered, the other man laid out the terms plainly.
One round in an underground boxing ring, in exchange for Song Ren allowing him to fully suppress this large-scale group disturbance.
He could even arrange for Song Ren to be released somewhat ahead of schedule.
This was not compulsory. It was a mutually beneficial cooperation, and a small portion of the final earnings could be given to him.
However, Song Ren could also hear a hint of menace in the man's words.
The trouble he had caused this time was indeed rather serious.
As for the underground boxing ring...
Song Ren considered it for a moment before agreeing.
At his current level of skill, whether bare-handed or armed, he truly feared no one.
Especially with the emergency weapons he had stored in his storage space, which would be much easier to use outside.
Besides, he was genuinely sick of staying in prison. He had endured the food and living conditions for far too long.
He was not spoiled or pampered, but in his usual life, Song Ren had rarely ever been in such miserable circumstances.
That was also one reason his temper had grown more irritable day by day after entering Stanley Prison.
Being able to endure for this whole month had already been remarkably difficult.
Now that he could trade this for an early release through another method, why would he refuse?
Fook Shing Building. An underground boxing ring?
Song Ren felt a little eager to try it.
Because on that platform, he could truly fight without restraint. Even if he beat someone to death in the ring, he would not have to bear any responsibility.
It was practically made for a Martial Man.