Before the Upheaval

On the streets of Lungmen, Roy walked alone. After finishing his conversation with Wei Yenwu, he had left the Guard Department directly.

The pleasant music that rang out from time to time failed to interrupt the flow of people around him. In Lungmen, even the slightest pause would leave one completely unable to keep up with the rhythm. It was like an endless marathon, where participants could only drag their weary bodies along the track, watching the horizon as they continued to run.

That was Roy's phone ringtone. As for who was calling...

There was no need to say it. Chen had called, and so had Swire. Out of concern for their colleague, and to prevent Roy from doing anything out of line, they wanted to stop him.

After growing truly tired of it, Roy took out his phone and shut it off. At the same time, he continued forward without any particular destination. He was waiting for someone to arrive...

Meanwhile, in the Special Operations Group office of the Lungmen Guard Department, Chen and Swire returned with the materials after leaving the law enforcement investigation center.

Yet neither of them felt even the slightest joy at having found an important clue in the case. On the contrary, Roy's words at the very end echoed endlessly in their minds.

"What are you planning to do?"

"Do what I have to do!"

Whenever Swire closed her eyes, that scene surfaced before her. Slightly impatient, she took out her phone and pressed the call button again and again, but the continuous ringing made it clear that the other party did not want to answer her calls.

After putting down her phone, she looked at Chen. At that moment, Chen's face was stern. Having just set down her own phone, she looked at the computer in front of her, then picked up the two blades resting nearby and headed straight for the office door.

"Foul-mouthed dragon, did you find him?"

"Handle the case for now. I'm going to bring him back."

"Understood. I'll sort through the relevant intelligence before you return."

Half an hour later, on the outskirts of Lungmen's urban district.

After reaching this place, Roy stopped. He first swept his gaze over the surroundings, then spoke directly.

"Since you're already here, aren't you going to come out?"

"As expected of someone the young master has taken a liking to. Your perception is truly remarkable."

As the words fell, a fairly young-looking figure stepped out from around the corner. Yet the sensation of being watched did not fade.

Roy knew perfectly well that many people were still watching him. He simply did not care.

"What do you want with me?"

"The young master wishes to meet you."

The man spoke in such a manner, maintaining the bearing of an aristocratic butler even now, as if he had received special training. In Roy's memory, only the butlers of great aristocrats he had seen during a trip abroad in his previous life could compare.

After speaking, the butler fell silent, waiting for Roy's answer.

"What if I refuse?"

"Then we will still invite you to come with us, but... in our own way."

Perhaps his words contained no emotion, but anyone could see the threat within them.

Roy had never had a choice from the start. Still, he had no intention of refusing.

"Lead the way."

As Roy finished speaking, a car drove in from the other side of the alley and stopped beside them.

"Please get in, Lord Roy."

Under the man's guidance, Roy took a seat in the second row.

The car had no device that blocked the view—or perhaps the driver had simply not activated it. It was clear that the man known as the young master did not care whether his location was exposed. Or rather, the place where he met Roy might not be his base at all. He might not even come in person.

It would be best if Roy could kill his real body, but even if he could not, the fall of a stand-in would still cause upheaval among Lungmen's underground forces.

And that would be enough. Roy believed Wei Yenwu could seize this opportunity.

Not long after the car sped away in a cloud of dust, Chen arrived at the spot. Looking at the marks on the ground, which could hardly be called messy, she understood that she was too late. Roy might already have embarked on that path. By now, he might already be on his way to meet that person. Before long, explosive news would rapidly spread throughout Lungmen.

But Chen did not give up. Following the tire tracks, she continued onward.

The sky gradually darkened. At last, the car stopped in front of a villa, and Roy got out after the door opened.

The security personnel at the entrance removed all the weapons Roy carried. Only after confirming that he had no equipment capable of being used to harm anyone did they allow him into the villa.

The villa was enormous, its overall layout resembling a maze. Without this "butler" leading the way, it would be exceedingly difficult for Roy to find that person here. But if he merely wanted to leave, that would be simplicity itself.

After all, no one had ever said one had to follow the route laid out by the owner when leaving.

After walking for roughly six minutes, Roy finally reached the end of the path. Before the doors at its end, the butler stopped.

"Please enter, Mr. Roy. The young master and our distinguished guests are waiting for you."

After speaking, the butler stepped aside. At that moment, the two heavy doors slowly opened.

Opposite Roy, a young man with an extraordinary air surveyed everything below, while the leaders of the various gangs in Lungmen's underworld sat along both sides of the room.

There were not only people from Yan, but also Siracusans, and even an elderly Zalak. When Roy entered the room, the Zalak, leaning on a cane, gave Roy a couple of seemingly casual glances.

An ordinary person would not have found that suspicious, but Roy was no ordinary person. Almost instantly, he could determine one thing: this Zalak was his ally. He was most likely someone Wei Yenwu had planted among Lungmen's lower ranks.

"Welcome, Roy. I've wanted to meet you for a long time."

Seeing the faintly puzzled look on Roy's face, the young man smiled.

Had it been anyone else, they would have already knelt upon seeing him. But this man was different. He seemed not to care about his status at all, and the young master was quite pleased by that.

He slowly descended from the raised platform and walked toward Roy. He wanted to take a good look at Roy and see whether he was truly as he had expected.