The handover of the two Stars of the Pharaoh was complete. Sir Kwan had successfully taken control, while the foreigner Lincoln had temporarily rid himself of the hot potato.
What came next depended on Chow Sing Sing's performance.
"My friend, would you care for a drink?"
Looking increasingly relaxed, Lincoln extended the invitation to Zhou Quan with a radiant smile.
"Something special I brought all the way from California."
Glancing at the label on the wine bottle on the coffee table, Zhou Quan appreciated Lincoln's gesture.
Produced by America's Mondavi Winery, it was indeed a fine bottle of wine.
Unfortunately, wine was not Sir Kwan's thing!
"Sorry, Mr. Lincoln!"
Slowly shaking his head, Zhou Quan offered two alternatives instead.
"I'm on duty. Tea or coffee would be better!"
It was not that Sir Kwan never drank, but the foreigner before him was no like-minded drinking companion.
A little drink could lift the spirits, but that also depended on whom he drank with.
Most importantly, Sir Kwan never drank on duty.
"I understand! Of course!"
Lincoln's smile remained unchanged as he nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"Then shall I follow the local custom and join you for some tea?"
He then extended another sincere invitation.
"My friend, shall we sit inside?"
This time, Zhou Quan did not turn him down and embarrass him.
"After you, Mr. Lincoln!"
He nodded slightly and entered the separate reception room off the inner side of the living room with Lincoln.
Seeing his boss and their protection target leave, Chow Sing Sing immediately began preparing to get to work.
He took two counterfeits he had prepared in advance from his trouser pocket and placed them inside the presentation box that had just held the Stars of the Pharaoh.
In truth, these were two very shoddy fakes, made