Brazen

Hong Kong Island in this world was considerably larger than its real-world counterpart, and Causeway Bay's Nine Streets were much bigger too.

"I told you I wouldn't stay in a place like Yuen Long for long. You made the right choice following me, didn't you?" GS walked through the bustling streets of Causeway Bay with Shark Yan beside him.

Ah Tung and Silly Fook followed behind.

"So what's the most important thing when you're in this business? Keeping your eyes open and finding a good boss, of course. Otherwise, how are you supposed to get ahead?"

Shark Yan thought about his previous stints in prison. If he'd had GS's methods back then... he'd probably still be locked up in Stanley Prison.

"What are you planning to do with me?" Shark Yan asked. That was what he really cared about.

"How about Chief Instructor for Hongxing's Causeway Bay branch?"

"Fuck, Camel offered to make me Tung Sing's Chief Instructor, and I turned him down," Shark Yan huffed.

"Yuen Long? Even dogs wouldn't go to that dump," GS said scornfully.

Most of Tung Sing's business was in Yuen Long. The people they'd dealt with back then had only been Thunderclap Tiger's men.

"True enough." Shark Yan nodded. That was the main reason. If the bastard beside him hadn't completely disregarded the rules and the code of honor, he would never have followed him, not even under threat of death.

"You want men under you? Sure. I'll give you a few businesses and some manpower. You can patrol the streets with your boys every day. Think how impressive you'll look."

"I'll find a chance to hold your Initiation Ceremony in a while," his boss added.

"How much can I make in a month?" Shark Yan asked the most crucial question.

He wanted prestige, but he wanted money too.

"How much you make depends on you. Do I have to arrange everything for you? Who's the boss here, you or me? If you want more money, go fight for it! The Hongxing Society's right next door. Whatever territory you take from them is yours," GS said bluntly.

"Just thinking about it pisses me off. We're Hongxing, and they call themselves the Hongxing Society. I'm in Causeway Bay, and they're in Causeway Bay too. Sooner or later, I'll fucking wipe them out!" GS cursed, his irritation written all over his face.

"Give me some men, and I'll take on the Hongxing Society," Shark Yan said after some thought.

"Give it a little time. You haven't even had your Initiation Ceremony yet. How am I supposed to give you men?" GS waved a hand.

"But you still need to teach them to fight. Drop by the boxing gym when you have time and put them through their paces. At least get them up to a decent standard, right? If they're too weak, taking them out will only embarrass me."

Shark Yan wasn't in a hurry. In that case, he would wait until they found an opportunity for his Initiation Ceremony.

"If a cripple called Fung Yu-Sau ever comes looking to fight you, don't waste your breath. Just pull out your piece and shoot him dead."

"Fung Yu-Sau? Who's that?"

"You'll know when the time comes."

That evening at the T.T. Bar, all ten remaining crew bosses arrived, each bringing his trusted men.

"Drink whatever you want and pick whatever girls you want. Tonight's on me."

"Thanks, Brother S!" His men were instantly delighted.

GS slipped his arms around the two women with the most voluptuous figures and headed into a booth. (A large amount of content was deleted.)

They were halfway through their drinks when the bar's doors suddenly opened and a squad of cops charged inside.

"Spot check."

"Officer, we run a legitimate business here." The manager hurried over to meet them.

"It's legitimate just because you say so? Nine out of ten gangsters I arrest claim they're innocent," a cop said sourly.

GS craned his head for a look. To his surprise, Officer Wei was leading them.

Officer Wei took his men straight up to the second floor and stopped in front of GS's table.

The music in the bar was switched off too.

"GS, where are Bigmouth Nine and Broken-Nose Man?" Officer Wei demanded, his face livid.

"Did those two break the law? If they did, go arrest them, officer. What are you coming to me for? They don't call me Dad!" With a woman tucked under each arm, GS gave him a sidelong look and sneered.

He wondered what Officer Wei was playing at.

"Cut the bullshit!" Officer Wei kicked the coffee table aside.

"Wow, that's quite a temper. Want me to lend you a girl to cool you down?"

"GS, I'm telling you, hand them over today, or I'll send men to raid your places every single day," Officer Wei snapped.

The crew bosses nearby exchanged glances at those words. It looked like those two really had been undercover cops.

"Sir, how much do you make a month?" GS suddenly asked.

"What, trying to buy me off?" Officer Wei sneered.

"I'm just saying, you only make a few thousand a month. Why risk your neck? One day, you might be the only one left in your family. I've got a cursed tongue, you know. Whenever I say something unlucky, it tends to come true."

"Write that down. Threatening a police officer," Officer Wei said coldly, then kicked the coffee table in fury.

"He's slandering me! You all heard him. He's slandering me! I just have a cursed tongue. Disaster can strike anyone without warning. Who can say what'll happen?" GS stood up and shouted with a cheeky grin.

Then his tone changed, and he stared coldly at Officer Wei.

"Except my predictions are especially accurate."

"Take them all in to assist with the investigation. Today's your big day, GS. I'll treat you to all the coffee you can drink at the station!" Officer Wei said icily.

His gaze was sharp as a knife.

"Coffee it is, then. I just wonder whether the coffee at the station tastes any good." GS sneered, and someone immediately stepped forward to handcuff him.

"I'll go to the station. What are you giving me bracelets for? Think I'm a criminal? Your officer said we're assisting with an investigation. Didn't you hear him?" GS shoved the officer away, straightened his suit collar, then strolled toward the exit.

He looked more like a senior official on an inspection tour than a criminal.

The other officers watched him, their eyes twitching as anger surged through them.

There were plenty of gangsters, but very few were as brazen as GS.

"Move it!" A young officer couldn't help giving GS a shove.

GS spun around and kicked him.

"What are you doing?"

"What do you think you're doing?"

The other officers immediately started forward, but GS's men all rose to block them. A clash was about to break out.

"Everyone, quiet!" GS barked, then looked around.

"I'm warning you, keep your hands to yourselves, or I'll have my lawyer sue you! Not just you, either. I'll sue your wives and your kids too. Let's see which of us has more money! I'll drag it out until it ruins you!"

His words left every officer livid.

"Don't push your luck, GS!" Officer Wei stepped right up to him, gritting his teeth.

"I'm nowhere near as arrogant as you lot. You barge in and arrest whoever you want, drag whoever you want back to the station for coffee!" GS gave a cold, mocking laugh.

"Take them all away," Officer Wei ordered again through clenched teeth.

Only then did GS swagger out of the bar with them.

"What are you staring at? Never seen someone going to the station for coffee?" GS cursed when he saw the crowd gathered outside to watch.

At the station, GS was put straight into an interrogation room.

Officer Wei followed him in, sat opposite him, and told everyone else to leave.

"What are you playing at, Officer Wei?" GS asked in a drawl, crossing his legs.

"It's tradition. Whenever a new branch boss takes over, we bring him in and hold him for twenty-four hours. Not just you-even your dragon head has to come in," Officer Wei said casually.

"If I hadn't gone today, someone else would have."

"Did you really need to make such a big production of it?"

"If I hadn't, wouldn't that have been disrespecting you, GS? Now tell me, where did Bigmouth Nine and Broken-Nose Man go?"

"They ran away after the turf war!" GS spread his hands. "I told you before."

Officer Wei pointed at him but dropped the subject.

He already had a pretty good idea.

"By the way, you're not really going to raid my places, are you?" GS suddenly asked.

"I said it in front of all those people. Don't I have a reputation to protect? I'll have to raid them for a few days, at least for appearances. Then I'll find some other excuse," Officer Wei said bluntly.

"Fuck!"

GS thought it over. A few days of raids would cost him at least a million.

After sitting there a little longer, Officer Wei stood up. "Enjoy your coffee."

"Got any pretty girls? Send them in for a chat," GS called.

"This is a police station. You think it's a brothel?" Officer Wei was so angry that the corners of his eyes twitched.

"I just want to get acquainted with my future colleagues before I return to the force. Come on, Officer Wei, give me a chance!"