Octopus Casino, VIP Lounge.
Ian Song glanced around and asked with a smile, "Anyone still want to play?"
"Forget it, let's call it a day. Little brother, you really had us fooled!" The chubby middle-aged man grinned. Before this round, all four at the table thought Ian was just a rookie, but now, anyone who still thought so would be a fool—classic 'playing dumb to outsmart the experts,' as we say in China. (In other words, Ian pretended to be weak to win big.)
"That's right. I've played cards for years, but this is the first time I've met someone as skilled as you, little brother! Here's my card—let's grab a drink sometime!" The jade-ringed elder handed Ian a business card.
Director of Huamao Group, Harvey Hai.
"Cheating? As the old saying goes, 'If you want to frame someone, you'll never lack a reason.'" Ian sneered.
Ever since he turned the two elders of the Nangong Family into puppets, Ian had learned a lot about the power structure in Tianhe State from them.
Across all of Yanhuang—the nation Ian lives in—the Nangong Family was only third-tier, but in Tianhe State, they were the strongest among all third-tier families.
Slightly weaker than the Nangong Family were the Fu Family and the Hai Family.
Fu Qingfeng belonged to the Fu Family, and Helen Hai was from the Hai Family.
"So you're Mr. Hai. I'm Ian Song—I'll definitely treat you to a drink sometime!" Ian smiled and accepted the business card.
As the saying goes in China, 'No one hits a smiling face.' Harvey Hai smiled, "Ian Song is my new little brother. Leon, do me a favor and let this matter go, alright?"
Bang!
But then, Leon abruptly changed his tune: "However, all the money he won at the casino has to stay. I've got a lot of men to feed—I'm sure Director Hai understands how tough it is to run a place like this."
Harvey Hai's face instantly darkened. He stared at Leon, "Leon, are you really going to disrespect me like this?"
Leon kept smiling, "Director Hai, that's not fair. This kid cheated in my casino. By the rules, I should cut off his hands, but I'm giving you face by letting him keep them—he just needs to leave the money. You have to understand, Director Hai, I've got a lot of people to support. If he takes all the money, how am I supposed to pay them? You get what I mean, right?"
"Mr. Hai, I really appreciate your goodwill. But from here, just sit back and enjoy the show!" Ian said, his voice calm but confident, drawing everyone's attention.
"How dare you! Who do you think you are? There's no way Brother Leon would come here to see you! If you know what's good for you, go with Jason now, or you'll regret it!"
Before Jason could speak, Hugo Huang jumped in and yelled at Ian. Having brought Ian to the casino and caused such huge losses, Hugo knew Leon wouldn't forgive him—so right now, nobody hated Ian more than Hugo did.
"Your casino is really too arrogant!"
Harvey Hai suddenly spoke up from the side—he'd just remembered who Ian Song was.
"Enough. I don't want to waste words with you. You have three minutes—every minute over, I'll charge you an extra hundred million!" Ian raised a finger, his tone icy and unyielding.
As soon as Harvey Hai spoke, Jason Luo's expression grew more serious. As a martial artist, he knew full well that the real overlords of Jiangzhou were the Hai Family.
Leon Liang might be a boss of one of Jiangzhou's five districts, but compared to the Hai Family, he was nothing. The true king of Jiangzhou's underworld, Lord Dragon, was a Hai Family man.
Afraid that the clueless Hugo Huang might offend Harvey Hai, Jason hurriedly said, "Director Hai, we've discovered this kid was cheating at cards. Any money you lost will be fully refunded by our casino. Please, Director Hai, give us some leeway!"
"Cheating? If you want to frame someone, you’ll never lack a reason." Ian sneered.
"Hannah, step aside! I don't want you getting blood on you." Ian said gently to Hannah Han, showing no concern for Jason's approach.
"Uh..."
Jason Luo looked troubled.
Just then, Leon Liang entered with his other three bodyguards.
Leon Liang strode over to Harvey Hai and said sincerely, "Director Hai, I apologize. My men were careless and offended you. Please don't take it to heart!"
As the saying goes, 'No one hits a smiling face.' Harvey Hai smiled, "Ian Song is my new little brother. Leon, do me a favor and let this matter go, alright?"
"You want to cut off my hands and tongue? Well, I'm feeling generous—I'll just cut off your hands instead!" As soon as he finished, Ian reached out and clamped Jason's wrist.
But then, Leon changed his tune: "However, all the money he won at the casino must stay. After all, I've got a lot of men to feed—I'm sure Director Hai understands."
Harvey Hai's face instantly darkened. He stared at Leon, "Leon, are you refusing to give me face?"
Leon kept smiling, "Director Hai, that's not fair. This kid cheated in my casino. By rights, I should cut off his hands, but I'm giving you face by letting him keep them—he just needs to leave the money. You have to understand, Director Hai, I've got so many people to support, asking for money and food every day. If he takes it all, how am I supposed to pay them? Don't you agree?"
Splat! Splat!
He curled his lips into a faint smile and looked at Leon. "Leon, right? I'll give you one chance—cash out all the chips and transfer the money to my card right now."
"Ha!" Leon burst out laughing and looked at Ian as if he were an idiot. "You're pretty cocky. But do you know where you are, or who I am?"
"Aren't you just a gang boss?" Ian replied coolly.
Instantly, the whole room was stunned into dead silence—no one dared to breathe.
"Enough. I don't want to waste words with you. You have three minutes—every minute over, I'll charge an extra hundred million!" Ian raised a finger.
"Jason, cut off his hands and then slice out his tongue!" Leon ordered coldly.
"Yes, Brother Leon!"
As soon as he finished, Jason pulled out a dagger and strode toward Ian.
Seeing this, Han Dayuan turned pale with fear and instinctively moved aside, no longer daring to stand behind Ian.
"Hannah, step aside! I don't want you getting blood on you!" Ian said to Hannah Han, not caring at all about Jason's approach.
"Be careful!"
Hannah nodded and moved aside—she was actually quite confident in Ian's skills.
"Kill!"
With a murderous shout, Jason lunged, his dagger slicing toward Ian's left arm.
The blade was cold and fast as lightning.
"You want to cut off my hands and tongue? I'm kinder than you—I'll just cut off your hands!" As soon as he finished, Ian reached out and clamped Jason's wrist.
"How... is this possible!" Jason's face changed dramatically. Suddenly, pain shot through his wrist and he instinctively opened his fingers.
Just then, the dagger changed hands.
A flash of silver blade swept past.
Splat! Splat!
Blood splattered, and both hands dropped to the ground.
Bang!
Ian kicked out, sending Jason flying with a scream. He crashed heavily onto the floor.
Instantly, the whole room was stunned into dead silence.