Act.10 Tumbling Dice

Foreword:

Once a person appears ridiculous, everything is ruined, including their beauty.

[Part 1: Getting Ready to Do It]

On the eve of New Year's Day 2026, Xue Ming finally met the governor's youngest daughter, thanks to the matchmaking efforts of Silver Bay.

Many VIPs booked New Year's Eve dinners at St. Peter's Restaurant; cars lined up all the way to the pier on Hainan Road in Clearwater Bay, and a long queue formed at the front desk.

Most people come with their children, as they plan to book a family reunion banquet for the New Year.

Two hundred meters away, in an alley next to the opium den, lay four more corpses.

--It wasn't Xue Ming's irresistible haul; it was the opium den owner's debt. These guys were heavily indebted and unable to pay, so they decided to commit suicide together on this auspicious day.

Such a bizarre scene of "the rich feasting while the poor freeze to death" is commonplace in Clearwater Bay. Jiang Xueming, standing beside the registration desk, had already noticed this scene. Seeing the guests coming and going, he quietly waited for his target to appear.

Within minutes, two tall security guards squeezed through the queue at the store and cleared a path, dividing the guests into two lines. A stretch Lincoln then cut in line a dozen meters away.

The luxury car had carnation flags from Forty-Eight District attached to its two headlights. Xue Ming perked up at the sight, thinking to himself that the main character had arrived.

As the car door opened, a nimble worker in a yellow hat lifted a brass tube to comb the red carpet, spreading it outwards—until the red carpet crossed the threshold of St. Peter's Restaurant, and finally a pink high-heeled shoe slowly stepped onto the carpet.

The governor's youngest daughter made her grand entrance, draped in a white fox fur coat, wearing heart-shaped sunglasses, with long, wavy black hair and a tuft of white hair highlighted on her forehead. She swayed gracefully, her head held high, looking down at everyone with her nostrils flared. Finally, she went to the registration desk, signed her name with the hotel manager, and didn't say a word, as if waiting to be served.

The manager immediately brought the little princess to Glory's side.

"This is the one. The steward from Silver Bay mentioned this distinguished guest to you."

Xue Ming took out a business card from his inner pocket.

--That was a specially made identity card for the governor's youngest daughter, much like an information board in aristocratic social circles.

"Hello, Lena Van Persie."

This is a relative of one of the members of the Yellowstone People Senate. This surname is quite common among Yellowstone People; almost one-fifth of the Senate's political officials share the surname Van Persie.

When Princess Lena heard Xue Ming's call, she didn't react at all, and even showed a very strange expression.

Her mouth was slightly open, her face full of surprise, and the look in her heart-shaped sunglasses was one of doubt and astonishment.

"How could you come to see me dressed like that?"

Despite having heard of the Little Brotherhood, Lena was still astonished.

--Glory, dressed in a black suit, looked like a lowly servant, much like her security guard.

Xue Ming: "Is there a problem?"

"Don't you know," Lena emphasized, "That we work hard to earn money so we don't have to wear work clothes? Do you expect us to talk about work on our date?"

That's an interesting point.

Xue Ming had no idea what Leslie and this woman talked about, or under what pretext she invited her. He only knew that this steward was very reliable and could get the little princess to come and see him.

"Then let's not talk about work. Has Leslie introduced me to you?" Xue Ming extended her hand, responding to Lena's overly familiar attitude, and let her put on her gloves before leading her through the door.

Lena: "All I know is that you're a newbie in the Little Brotherhood, and pretty good at fighting. You were the one who did the train station incident, weren't you?"

Xue Ming: "That's right."

Lena: "That's right, my father is really worried about this mess. We need an explanation."

Xue Ming: "What do you mean?"

Lena rolled her eyes, and the two entered the relatively private VIP room, each finding their own seats, leaving the security guards outside.

The little princess finally spoke up, saying she wanted to discuss the price.

"There are so many people in Clearwater Bay, the police force is simply not enough. According to your agents and Cult Leader, it's something that the Van Persie family can't handle, so your war Religious order is going to handle it. The Sunflower Movement doesn't want anything, it just wants the stability and prosperity of the area, understand?"

Xue Ming: "Understood."

Lena pushed the teapot onto the table and presented it to Xue Ming.

"You killed the Blood Knights, and now our family has to support over two hundred sheriffs. Who's going to pay for that?"

Xue Ming looked completely innocent. "Didn't you say you wouldn't talk about work?"

Lena joked, "Wasn't that something for Silver Bay to hear? We're just sisters meeting up, chatting about fashion, bags, and celebrity gossip, that's fine."

A long time passed--

Xue Ming filled the teacup and returned it to the little princess. The conversation then became sharp and pointed, no longer so focused on health and wellness.

"So, you mean your family doesn't even want to pay the militiamen's wages?"

"What kind of attitude is that?" Lena's expression changed, and she put down her teacup. "Trying to teach my father how to do things?"

It only took a second to go from playful and cute to fierce and imposing.

"Glory, didn't your Cult Leader tell you that the Little Brotherhood's success today is all thanks to us Yellowstone People? Without our support, where would all those drug addicts come from to give you money? Can't you even understand this simple logic? And—"

Lena was about to splash scalding hot tea on Glory's face; the nearly 100-degree Celsius water would definitely disfigure this clueless woman.

"--What joke are you talking about? Originally, the lizardmen were doing the work of the militia, but now it's the Van Persie family managing the security of Clearwater Bay Station, protecting drug dealers. This is exactly what my father is worried about. If Ming De investigates, how much damage will it cause? Do you know?"

Before the words were even finished, the spilled tea returned to the teapot.

Xue Ming lifted the teapot and slowly placed it back on the table.

Lena frowned, her face turning extremely pale. To possess such exquisite skills, this woman before her must have undergone several transformations; she might even be a Flash Butterfly.

"You think you're so tough? What good is toughness? To survive in the underworld, you need power. No matter how strong your Little Brotherhood, can they compare to the power of my clan?"

Xue Ming just smiled and crossed his arms over his knees.

Lena was intimidated by that smile, so she suppressed her arrogance and asked calmly.

"Anyway, I need you to handle this matter well."

Xue Ming: "How should we handle this?"

Lena: "My father said that the lizardmen must be brought back to take over the militia, otherwise he won't be able to explain himself to the Transportation Department."

Xue Ming: "Then let the Star Realm Gang's lizardmen traffic drugs?"

Lena: "It's about balance! Don't you understand balance?!"

Suddenly, Lena felt like she was talking to a brick wall.

--The education she received from childhood was the art of ruling from her family.

In Forty-Eight District, everything is about balance. How can someone who wants to make money and gain power do without deceiving superiors and protecting criminals?

If the Little Brotherhood too powerful and has connections with the governor, these good days will soon be over.

What will happen to the military expenses, militia mobilization funds, insurance premiums, drug trafficking taxes, and the bribes and land auctions that various gangs have paid to bribe officials in Guangling Zhixi?

If gangs colluded, refrained from armed fights, territorial disputes, and one-on-one brawls, and maintained a peaceful coexistence with no violence whatsoever, what case should they use to claim anti-gang funding from the Transportation Department? What explanation should they give?

The Little Brotherhood's annihilation of the Blood Knights was seen by the governor of Forty-Eight District as nothing more than a child throwing a tantrum and begging for candy—utterly unruly.

When the Chief Prosecutor of the Transportation Department arrived at Clearwater Bay Station, he saw the lizardmen serving as militia and could feel the harmonious and mutually supportive spirit between the extraterrestrial races and humans. The bribes sent out and the propaganda photos taken were enough to fool the censors at the Nine Realms Station.

If these lizardmen all die out, a replacement will have to be found to balance this dangerous relationship.

"I don't think you understand at all," Lena pouted, sulking. "Why would the Cult Leader send you to see me? That's fucking weird."

"To be honest," Xue Ming decided to skip the formalities and get straight to the point with Lena, "this time when we met—"

She poured herself another cup of tea, then spat into it.

"--It wasn't the Cult Leader who summoned me to give you any explanation."

As soon as she said this, Lena saw the tea soup, stained with dirty saliva, being served to her again.

Her expression changed drastically, her eyes filled with suspicion; she couldn't immediately understand what this newcomer to the Little Brotherhood was going to say.

"You're not planning to pay compensation? You're not planning to do anything? Are you insulting me? Do you even know that?"

"Lena Van Persie," Xue Ming interrupted the little princess, pushing the Braille card along with the teacup, and continued, "Look at this card carefully, and think about it again."

Lena took the card and, under the orange-yellow light, carefully stroked the words on it before revealing a horrified expression.

"The anonymous person in charge?"

Xue Ming gently tapped the table. "Think it over carefully, take your time to figure it out."

Then, like a docile lamb, Lena picked up her cup and drank the tea in one gulp.

She moved with lightning speed, as if afraid of neglecting the distinguished guest before her.

--The pheromones tasted on the tip of the tongue contained a strong murderous intent and a chilling desire for destruction, but there were no lies.

"You"

Lena immediately changed her mind as soon as she opened her mouth.

"Please tell me, I'll listen to everything."

Xue Ming remained expressionless, took the handkerchief from his front pocket, and placed the Little Brotherhood emblem on the table.

"I came to Forty-Eight District this time on the BOSS's orders; our target is this."

She lightly tapped the Little Brotherhood's seal, which explained almost everything.

Lena finally woke up--

--These aren't some gangster thugs from Little Brotherhood; they're Ming De!

"But there are too many of them." Xue Ming shook her head, looking very troubled. "I can't handle this by myself. I need your help."

Right now, at this very moment--

--A furious shout came from outside the door.

"Miss Lena! You can't listen to her!"

For a moment, Xue Ming and Lena were both stunned.

A kind-looking man, dressed in a silk-embroidered mandarin jacket and carrying a cane, barged in through the main gate. He appeared to be around forty years old. Xue Ming recognized him; he was [White Paper Fan].

White Paper Fan stormed in aggressively, looking anxious and fearful that he would be at a disadvantage if he was even a step too late.

He strode into the VIP room, his forehead covered in cold sweat and his eyes bloodshot, like an enraged lion, having staged a scene of the villain accusing the other party first.

"Glory! The Cult Leader has treated you well! Why would you Cult Leader!"

Xue Ming didn't understand what she was saying.

--St. Peter's Restaurant is the Consul's territory, and the appearance of the White Paper Fan here is probably related to Miss Lena.

"Didn't you say you wouldn't talk about work?" Xue Ming asked, almost knowing the answer already, completely ignoring White Paper Fan. "Did you invite this worker here?"

Lena, feigning ignorance with a forced smile, said, "I have to have a backup plan, you know? Just in case you really..."

Princess Lena's intention in meeting with Glory was to resolve the issue of the militia organization. If Glory couldn't handle it, she would seek help from the White Paper Fan as an intermediary.

However, White Paper Fan also desperately wanted Glory's martial prowess. He knew that if such a talent fell into his hands, he could gain more influence within the Religious order and perhaps even overthrow the Cult Leader's rule. Just now, White Paper Fan had been eavesdropping on their conversation outside the door and finally understood the whole story.

How could he possibly let this opportunity slip by?

Upon entering, Glory launched into a tirade against him, but it was all a blatant act of feigning ignorance. He was pretending to be a naive tool, wanting to continue working for the Yellowstone People, acting as if he knew nothing, and trying to get a piece of the pie.

Lena: "Get out!"

Xue Ming: "No!"

Lena then roared, "Get out!"

Xue Ming: "Isn't this perfect timing? He arrived just in time."

For the time being, the White Paper Fan was caught in a dilemma: should it stay or leave?

He was thinking--

--The two people at this rendezvous were, on the one hand, the breadwinner of the Little Brotherhood, and on the other, the Ming De imperial envoy and assassin.

Both of them could decide his fate as a laborer; if either of them could be overthrown, the position of the Cult Leader would immediately change hands.

Lena finally stopped arguing with Glory and just smiled apologetically.

"Then... stay."

Xue Ming thought for a very long time before finally speaking.

"I want to return to Guangling Zhixi."

Lena: "No!"

White Paper Fan: "That won't do! That's absolutely not allowed!"

If the Ming De soldier were to return to Clearwater Bay, neither Van Persie's family nor White Paper Fan would agree to it.

Xue Ming said, enunciating each word clearly, "I want to kill the Cult Leader."

Lena: "Sure! Even if the Star Realm Gang and the Little Brotherhood gone, we can still support other gangs."

The White Paper Fan still tried to mock and brush it off. "You..."

Xue Ming and Lena glared fiercely at the wolfhound at the same time.

White Paper Fan immediately changed his tune. "Well done! Miss Lena, I'll do whatever you tell me to do!"

Xue Ming: "Without Guangling Zhixi, you're going to kill them?"

For a moment, the two, each with their own ulterior motives, fell silent.

[Part 2 - One Shot to Kill]

Immediately afterwards, Xue Ming took out his phone and spoke frankly.

"My mission is to take down the leader of the Little Brotherhood. His Soul Power is [Heaven's Gate]. Capturing him alive or killing him is extremely difficult. But his businesses are here, his money and power are here—if you can help me accomplish this, I can also give Ming De a satisfactory explanation."

Lena nodded like a chick pecking at rice. "Father has long felt that our Little Brotherhood die! The Cult Leader's power is too great, too dangerous, like a wild horse that can't be controlled."

Xue Ming continued, "As you said, you can support new gangs, as long as these gangs are within a controllable range."

Lena: "A new gang always needs someone in charge."

Before she could finish speaking, White Paper Fan immediately raised his hand and swore an oath. "I will go through fire and water for the nameless one! I would die a thousand deaths without hesitation!"

Xue Ming then earnestly said, "You can't betray the Cult Leader. He has treated you well."

The White Paper Fan cursed, "He committed murder, arson, bullied men and women; he deserved to die!"

Immediately afterward, this righteous man who had abandoned darkness for light knelt down before Miss Lena.

Lena pointed at Glory with a look of disgust on her face.

"You should kneel over there."

White Paper Fan immediately knelt down on his knees in front of Xue Ming.

For a moment, Xue Ming didn't know what to say, so he continued talking with Lena.

"I need at least 1,800 men from Guangling Zhixi to return within three days."

Hearing this condition, Lena hesitated. "It's not up to me to decide. I..."

Xue Ming added a blank check, opened his phone's contacts, and pointed to Ming De's profile picture.

"The boss wants to hold me while sleeping every day. If I just whisper a few words in his ear, I could add two more platforms and four more tracks to this train station. Do you understand what I mean?"

Lena's eyes lit up. "How many people do you need? Please say it again?"

"Eighteen hundred people."

"The assault team or..."

"Rapid Reaction Force"

"I'm afraid there aren't that many."

"Just give me the FOB channels for the commanders of each battle group, the militia organizations, and the centurions."

Fifteen minutes later, Lena went out to discuss the matter with her father.

Back in the VIP room, the little princess was all smiles, her face beaming.

"My father said he would always be loyal to Ming De —it was his honor to serve the nameless."

The White Paper Fan remained kneeling on the ground; he dared not move unless his master ordered him to.

Xue Ming continued, "White Paper Fan."

White Paper Fan: "Please speak, sir."

Xue Ming: "From now on, this city will depend on you and Miss Lena to protect it."

White Paper Fan: "Yes, yes, yes, yes."

Xue Ming: "Now there's still a bully blocking our way. What should we do? The Cult Leader of the Little Brotherhood is so powerful. If he gets away, we won't be able to sleep peacefully."

White Paper Fan: "I know! I understand!"

Xue Ming opened the map of the underground world. "The Cult Leader calls himself God —nobody knows where he'll escape to using the [Heaven's Gate]. It's really a headache. If I can bring his head back to see the BOSS, there will definitely be a lot of benefits."

Upon hearing this, White Paper Fan immediately marked all the [Rabbit Hole] he knew on the map and then presented them to Glory.

"This is a gift I offer to you."

Xue Ming scratched his head. "What is this?"

The White Paper Fan spoke evasively, but dared not respond loudly.

Xue Ming then asked, "What is this? Tell me loudly, what the hell is this?"

Lena listened intently, her face beaming with joy.

Finally, this traitor mustered up his courage—

"--This is the Cult Leader's escape route! He left many backdoors using the [Heaven's Gate]! As long as we can block these backdoors, we can capture him!"

Xue Ming: "I'm not thinking straight. Explain yourself clearly, speak like a human being. Why are you telling me all this information?"

White Paper Fan: "I want to be the Cult Leader! I want to serve Miss Lena! There can only be one sun in the sky! I have no divided loyalties!"

Xue Ming: "Will you continue to work hard?"

White Paper Fan: "Serving the Consul is my lifelong ideal! It is my life's work! I am nothing like an ambitious man like Lawrence Madison!"

"Oh!" Xue Ming finally realized, "So that's how it is?"

Lena clapped her hands and exclaimed, "That's it!"

Xue Ming looked shaken. "That guy scared me half to death when he came in. I thought my undercover identity was about to be exposed!"

Lena then poured tea for Xue Ming: "He's been my dog for a long time."

The family was joyfully celebrating the New Year.

Xue Ming's tone suddenly changed, from gentle and warm to cold and cruel.

"Did any of you suddenly think of this for a moment just now—were you thinking about whether or not to kill me, the nameless leader?"

Neither Lena nor White Paper Fan dared to respond to the conversation.

They had indeed considered the assassination of the imperial envoy, but it was difficult to discern any murderous intent from the other's words.

After Miss Lena's private conversation with the Consul ended, the little princess dispelled all her doubts and dared not disobey her father's wishes again. If Ming De's personal guards died here, the entire Van Persie family would pay an even greater price. Whether they died from murder or accident, no excuse could cover up the ineffectiveness of the Forty-Eight District's defense and security.

The Big Sister survived in Niflheim, but died at this trading post.

This would become the biggest joke in peacetime after the harvest season, and would become a pretext for war.

White Paper Fan once thought that if Miss Lena had expressed any intention to "kill Glory," he would immediately try to summon a spirit to take Glory's head.

If this great gift were offered to the Cult Leader, he would rightfully be able to eliminate Duran and Flavia, and arrange for his trusted confidants to replace the two sisters in their positions within the Religious order.

If Miss Lena doesn't intend to kill Glory, then she should simply follow the envoy's lead and finish her lines.

--If the Cult Leader really dies, his good days are yet to come.

Xue Ming, knowing full well the answer, repeated himself.

"You really didn't intend to kill me?"

Lena was extremely embarrassed. She was completely defenseless against this self-destructive, open-ended tactic, and could only manage a forced laugh, "What are you talking about? There's no fighting or killing in the martial arts world; it's all about human relationships, Big Sister."

Xue Ming emphasized, "And you? White Paper Fan? I just sensed a strong killing intent; was it emanating from you?"

White Paper Fan immediately understood, knelt down, his eyes bulging and veins popping out on his forehead.

"I only have one thought in my head right now! Kill Lawrence Madison!"

Xue Ming: "Oh"

White Paper Fan: "Yes! I just want to chop his head off and use it as a football!"

Xue Ming: "Look up at me."

When White Paper Fan looked up, he saw Jingguang's dark gun barrel.

As the New Year's fireworks exploded, the honest drug dealer's head was split into four pieces.

Blood splattered everywhere, and Lena didn't even have time to react.

Why did you kill him?! Why?!

Xue Ming explained, "Can't you find any other agents?"

Lena gritted her teeth, but dared not retaliate.

Because Xue Ming something else.

"Could it be that the BOSS can't find any other governors?"

Lena: "We don't need to kill him, do we?"

Xue Ming: "You like him? So you like older men?"

Lena: "No. I just feel..."

Xue Ming: "Is he obedient? Or is keeping him around useful to you? Can you use him to threaten me?"

Lena: "I dare not."

Xue Ming: "That's true, we did have that idea, but we didn't dare to, right?"

Lena: "You're a terrifying guy."

Xue Ming: "Terrifying is just right."

Lena: "I can't imagine that someone as beautiful as you could have such a vicious heart."

Xue Ming: "Once a person becomes ridiculous, everything is ruined, including beauty—like you."

Two hours later, Xue Ming came out of St. Peter's Restaurant.

She hurried back to Zero Platform in Xiangwan, found the girl from Puxi, and slipped her a cassette tape and a gift box.

It was a transcribed tape, re-edited from a mobile phone, containing a conversation between Lena Van Persie and the White Paper Fan. The content was also very simple.

--When it reached the ears of the Cult Leader, it took on a completely different meaning.

Puxi carefully handed the WALKMAN to the Cult Leader, and then began playing the recording.

White Paper Fan: "Why did you betray the Cult Leader!"

Lena: "We can also support other gangs."

White Paper Fan: "You"

Lena: "Father has long felt that our Little Brotherhood die! The Cult Leader's power is too great, too dangerous, like a wild horse that can't be controlled."

White Paper Fan: "That won't do!"

Lena: "A new gang always needs someone in charge."

White Paper Fan: "Miss Lena tells me what to say and do! I'll do exactly what she tells me! Right now, I only have one thought in my head! Kill Lawrence Madison! I just want to chop off his head and use it as a football!"

The tape recording stopped abruptly, Puxi handed over the gift box.

After listening to the recording, the Cult Leader was furious, but he had to force himself to stay calm and weigh the pros and cons.

He opened the gift box and saw White Paper Fan depicting a head torn into four pieces, along with a brief description: a spiritual drug that could give him unparalleled pleasure.

[My Cult Leader, the matter is settled. I couldn't bring myself to kill Princess Lena, and I wasn't sure if I should have. Acting rashly might have caused you trouble, after all, she is the governor's daughter.]

[As for White Paper Fan, unfortunately, he's quite capable. I can't capture him alive. The only consequence of betraying the Little Brotherhood is death. This guy seems to know many of your secrets, including your real name. I absolutely cannot let him escape alive.]

[--G117]

This intense sense of happiness also brought with it a profound sense of unease.

"Quickly notify the Fly Man and tell him to speed things up! Take control of S272."

God doesn't play dice; G117 must be under His control.