While Robert Luo was busy giving speeches, Admiral Nathan Holland and Director Tyler Cui were assigning military exercise tasks, Helen—who had gone to gather news from the residents of Eastwind Old Street—rushed back. She found Shawn Young, quietly pulled him aside, and delivered some bad news: Minnie Wang and Maggie Chang had initially come to this temporary resettlement site, but the two women only appeared briefly before leaving in their car, and now no one knows where they've gone.
Shawn Young was startled by the news, muttering to himself, "If they're not here, where could they have gone? Could something have happened to them?"
"Uh—it's possible—because I just tried calling both of them again, and their phones still can't be reached. Right now, they're truly missing!" Helen said, frowning.
Hearing even the usually calm and cautious Helen say this, Shawn Young felt his heart sink again. He wanted to use the 'Clairvoyance Technique' to investigate, but there were too many people around and using it would cause a commotion. Shawn had to suppress the urge for now, thought for a moment, and asked Helen, "By the way, did any of the residents mention who they saw the girls interact with when they came here?"
"Hmm—I actually forgot to ask that! I'll go ask them right now." Helen's pretty face flushed as she realized she'd been too hasty and had overlooked that question.
"Okay—I'll go with you!" Shawn Young said, taking Helen's slender hand and walking together into the crowd of Eastwind Old Street residents to ask around. Since the residents considered Shawn one of their own, they answered freely. Soon, Shawn got an important clue from an eyewitness: yesterday, two beautiful young women arrived in a luxury sports car, went straight to the Eastwind Old Street Temporary Resettlement Office to find the person in charge, but it was after work hours and the manager had gone back to the city. Only Howie had assigned some thugs to guard the place and hang out in the office. The two women went in, but quickly came out looking upset and left in their car.
"So that means—Minnie and Maggie definitely interacted with Howie's guys!" Helen immediately picked up on this clue.
"Yeah—I'll go ask Howie!" Shawn Young nodded and walked over to the police car where Howie was being held. Peering inside, he saw Howie, his father David Kay, and their mysterious companion all handcuffed, looking miserable and slumped in the corner like dead dogs, their faces blank and eyes lifeless.
At that moment, Gordon Gao immediately stepped forward, saluted Shawn Young, and respectfully asked, "Chief, do you have any instructions?"
"Oh—let Howie out for a minute, I have something to ask him!" Shawn Young pointed at Howie as he spoke.
"Yes, sir!" Gordon Gao quickly opened the police car and dragged Howie out like a dead dog. Howie didn't resist at all, letting Gordon Gao haul him out without a word. Gordon couldn't help but wonder, "Is this guy so scared he's gone stupid? He can't even fart anymore—"
Shawn Young just sneered and didn't explain. He stepped forward, pressed his right palm to Howie's Spirit Gate, and sent a surge of true energy into him, instantly lifting the restriction placed on him. Howie's body jolted as if shocked, and his dull eyes snapped back to normal. Seeing Shawn Young sneering beside him, Howie shrieked in terror—and let out a loud fart!
"Damn! If you keep screaming and farting, I'll turn you into a real idiot!" Shawn Young, wrinkling his nose at the stench, glared at Howie fiercely.
Hearing this, Howie turned pale, tensed up, and didn't dare make a sound. He was now convinced that Shawn Young was someone who meant what he said—a real fiend!
Shawn Young was satisfied with his reaction and got straight to the point: "Howie, let me ask you—did you hide those two young, beautiful women who came here yesterday?"
"Huh? Beautiful—women!? I—I didn't see any other women! I was with Yvonne Chow all day yesterday hooking up, I never came here!" Howie hurriedly replied, trying to sound honest.
"Damn it, did you see them or not?! If you dare lie to me, you'll regret it!" Shawn Young grabbed Howie's collar, threatening him fiercely.
"I—I really didn't see any other women yesterday! I—I wouldn't dare lie to you—" Howie trembled, looking ashen as he protested his innocence.
"Hmph—your guys saw them! You'd better tell me the truth. Where did you hide them? If you mess around, I won't be nice to you!" Shawn Young pinched Howie's throat and threatened.
"Cough—cough—I really didn't see two young, pretty women! I'm telling the truth—and those guys working for me were all introduced by Beast! I really don't know anything—please, just let me go—" Howie was nearly choked out by Shawn Young, his eyes rolling back, desperately begging for mercy.
"Beast?! Who the hell is that?" Shawn Young instantly picked up on the word "Beast" and asked sharply.
"Beast—he's a crime boss who operates across Grandview City and Westwood City. He owns several big entertainment clubs in Westwood, and I go there a lot, so I got to know Beast! Most of the guys who came with me to keep order work for him. I'm not really close with them—" Howie explained, looking miserable.
"Crime boss?! Where's Grandview City?" Shawn Young asked immediately.
At that moment, Gordon Gao quickly explained, "Grandview City is a small city right next to Westwood, only about five kilometers away! That guy called 'Beast' is a real troublemaker—he's got some serious fighting skills, and he's famous in both Westwood and Grandview. He's ruthless, sly, and a total pervert. He did time for assault and molestation, been in and out of jail five times! After his last stint, he somehow got a wad of cash, rounded up a bunch of guys, and started running clubs and nightspots. They say he also lends money illegally. Because he's well-known and knows how to pull strings, he's doing pretty well for himself—"
"Yeah, yeah—Beast loves playing with women—especially young, pretty ones. In Westwood and Grandview, if a woman catches his eye, unless she has powerful connections, he'll do whatever it takes to get her—" Howie added.
Shawn Young was stunned, starting to suspect that Minnie Wang and Maggie Chang's disappearance was probably connected to this 'Beast.' He slapped Howie on the forehead, sealing his soul again and making him go blank. Shawn tossed Howie to the dumbfounded Gordon Gao and strode over to the police van holding the gang members.
That police van was huge, packed with dozens of half-dead thugs like sardines. Shawn Young coldly addressed the ones inside: "You all work for Beast? Who's the leader? Answer me now—or you'll regret it!"
Most of those thugs were bullies who picked on the weak and feared the strong. After being beaten by Shawn Young, they knew he was a terror. Someone immediately replied, trembling, "Yeah! Yeah—we all work for Beast—this time Beast told us to come here with Turtle—"
"Turtle? What a ridiculous nickname! Which one of you is Turtle—show yourself, now!" Shawn Young barked.
"Uh—that's me—I'm Turtle—" a timid voice piped up from the crowd of thugs. A skinny, sleazy-looking guy with green-dyed hair clutched his chest and nervously stepped forward.
"Uh—you're Turtle? You look just like a—green-haired turtle!" Shawn Young frowned at the guy, making the crowd of thugs burst out laughing.
"Yeah—I'm Turtle—my real name's Li Guitian. Beast gave me this nickname. Anyone working for Beast gets an animal nickname—" Turtle said nervously, hanging his head. He'd already been beaten up by Shawn Young before, and knew Shawn wasn't someone to mess with.
"Damn, Beast really is something else. It's bad enough he's a beast himself, but he has to make everyone else one too! What a freak—" Shawn Young muttered, then asked Turtle directly, "Let me ask you: yesterday, two young, pretty women drove here in a silver Porsche. Did you and your guys interact with them? Where did they go afterward?!"
Turtle trembled at the question, his eyes flashing with fear, and nervously asked, "Boss! Are you talking about Maggie Chang and her friend?"
"Oh! You know Maggie Chang! Then you must know where they went—spill it! Where did they go?" Shawn Young perked up and demanded sharply.
"They—they went to negotiate with Beast—because Maggie Chang's father, Leon Chang, borrowed money from Beast years ago and then disappeared. Beast has been trying to get his money back! So Maggie and her friend came yesterday to settle things. I sent them to deal with Beast directly!" Turtle said.
Hearing this, Shawn Young immediately understood—so Minnie Wang and Maggie Chang ran into trouble when they went to negotiate with Beast! They ran into unpredictable danger!
Without hesitating, Shawn Young told Gordon Gao to open the police van and drag Turtle out. "Now, take me to see Beast—right now!" he ordered.
"Yes—yes—" Turtle didn't dare say no, immediately nodding and bowing.
Then Shawn Young quickly explained to Gordon Gao and Troy Cui that he had to take care of this matter urgently. He and Helen got in the car with Turtle and sped off toward Grandview City.
After Shawn Young left, Gordon Gao thought for a moment, discussed with Troy Cui, and decided to send a special operations team to follow Shawn Young and help him handle the situation.