At this moment, Shawn Young walked up to Scarface Ma and asked, "Who called you?"
Scarface Ma, seeing Shawn Young approach and remembering his terrifying methods, felt his legs go weak. He stammered, "It—it was Chief Howard Kay from the Public Security Bureau. He said we should stop messing with the Gong family and leave immediately—"
"Oh! The police chief? If he knew you guys were causing trouble here, why didn’t he send anyone to stop you? Why call you in secret instead? Why would he do that?" Shawn Young found it odd and asked immediately.
Scarface Ma’s face changed, and he hesitated, unwilling to answer. Shawn Young’s expression darkened, about to explode, when Chicken—who’d been standing behind—suddenly leaned in and whispered, "Shawn, that Howard Kay from Clearview City’s Public Security Bureau, he and Goldtooth from the Tiger Mafia—they’re in it together!"
"Uh—Chicken, you mean our Clearview City police chief is the Tiger Mafia’s secret protector?!" Shawn Young asked.
Chicken glanced at Scarface Ma, who was looking at him with a complicated expression. Shawn Young saw this and knew Chicken was holding something back, so he didn’t press further. Instead, he sneered, walked straight up to Scarface Ma, who panicked and backed up until his body was against the wall with nowhere to go. Shawn Young stepped forward and kicked him hard in the stomach—"Thud!"—sending Scarface Ma tumbling to the ground like a rolling gourd.
Before Scarface Ma could recover, Shawn Young stomped on his chest. With a bit of force, Scarface Ma felt his breath cut off, his chest almost crushed, and a wave of terror mixed with suffocation washed over him. He quickly begged, "Spare me, boss! Please, let’s talk this out, just don’t hurt me anymore, okay? I—I admit defeat!"
"Is that so? Fine. I’ll ask you some questions now. If you lie even once, I’ll throw you off the building!" Shawn Young said coldly.
"Okay, okay! Ask me anything. Whatever I know, I’ll tell you." Scarface Ma knew very well that if he kept quiet, he’d be doomed. At worst, he’d confess and run for it later. He was just an old hand in the Tiger Mafia, not some big shot, and definitely not loyal enough to die for them.
"Right now, I just want to figure out one thing—why did Police Chief Howard Kay know you guys were causing trouble here? What’s the scheme between you?" Shawn Young asked coldly.
"W—we were sent here by Chief Howard Kay himself!" Scarface Ma blurted out, giving Shawn Young an answer he never expected.
"What!? Howard Kay sent you to collect debt?! Wasn’t the Gong family’s loan from your boss Goldtooth? How does Howard Kay fit into this?!" Shawn Young was incredulous.
"Boss, it’s true! The Gong family owed Goldtooth over three million in loan shark debt, but after we hounded them for a while, Gong Shouwang sold off his assets and paid back two million. Chief Howard Kay secretly owns a third of Goldtooth’s casino, plus shares in our Tiger Mafia-run clubs, bars, and bathhouses. Howard Kay and his cops all have secret stakes! Basically, in Clearview, with Howard Kay and his men backing us, Tiger Mafia got this big. He and Goldtooth are like brothers—Goldtooth walks in and out of the police station like it’s his own home. The cops even call Goldtooth ‘Deputy Chief’!" Scarface Ma spilled everything like beans.
"Damn! That’s just messed up! Corrupt bastard!" Shawn Young was furious at this shocking truth, but pressed on, "So if the Gong family still owes over a million, why would Howard Kay call you off? What’s going on?"
Scarface Ma shook his head, looking miserable. "Boss, I—I have no idea why he suddenly changed his mind! I’m just the hired muscle. He called and told us to leave, so I did. I really don’t know what the big bosses are up to!"
Shawn Young didn’t think he was lying, but he could sense something fishy about Howard Kay’s sudden call. Unable to figure it out, he pressed Scarface Ma again, "Howard Kay’s not the type to grow a conscience and call you off out of the blue. What’s the real reason?! Think hard—what’s off about this?"
Scarface Ma wasn’t dumb. He thought for a moment, then said, "After we started chasing the Gong family for debts, Gong Shouwang’s daughter rushed back from college and reported us to the police, but it was useless. Goldtooth said that after she couldn’t borrow money anywhere yesterday, she went to see Chief Howard Kay for help. But he ignored her, just—just—"
"Just what?" Shawn Young sensed this was the key point.
"Howard Kay, he… he kind of hinted something to Gong Shouwang’s daughter—implied she should know what to do—and then, I really don’t know what happened after that," Scarface Ma said.
Shawn Young was startled, suspecting something serious was up. He continued, "Tell me—what does Howard Kay like most?"
"He—he loves women. Young, pretty women. Whenever our Tiger Mafia club or bathhouse gets fresh talent, Goldtooth always saves the best for Howard Kay to try first. Howard Kay loves playing with girls in the luxury suites at the club! Goldtooth even set up a private room for him at the fanciest bathhouse, so he can ‘inspect the girls’ in peace. But what he really likes are clean, pretty college girls. He’s got a few villas in the suburbs just to keep several young, beautiful college girls as mistresses. He goes there to have fun whenever he’s got time. Not many people know about this—I only overheard Goldtooth’s men talking about it. Even Howard Kay’s own wife doesn’t know." Scarface Ma said.
"Damn! This is bad—Jiaojiao might get taken advantage of by that sleazy bastard Howard Kay!" Shawn Young instantly imagined the worst. He grew agitated, pressed harder on Scarface Ma’s chest, and gritted his teeth, "Tell me right now—where’s that old pervert Howard Kay?"
"Cough—cough—th-this, I—I really don’t know!" Scarface Ma was nearly out of breath under Shawn Young’s foot and wailed in panic.
"Idiot, call him now!!" Shawn Young practically roared.
Scarface Ma snapped out of it, hurriedly pulled out his phone, and dialed Howard Kay’s number. But it was switched off. He tried several times—still off. "Howard Kay—he’s turned off his phone!" Scarface Ma’s face went pale, and Shawn Young looked even paler. Shawn knew—if he didn’t find Howard Kay fast, Jiaojiao might be in real danger!!