"Ah!! Kidnapping!?" Shawn Young exclaimed when he saw what was happening, but he didn't stop—he still intended to rush forward.
At that moment, Alex Easton suddenly grabbed him hard from behind and said, "Uh—Third Bro! I think we should just forget about this! This is way out of our league."
"Huh!? What are you talking about, Big Bro? They're kidnapping someone in broad daylight! Why can't we get involved!? What do you mean?" Shawn Young asked, confused.
"Uh—Third Bro, just listen to me, alright? We really can't get involved in this! These people are way out of our league. If you want to live comfortably, I say we just pretend we didn't see anything!" Alex Easton said, looking conflicted.
"Oh! You're worried because there are too many of them! Then let's call the cops! Let the police handle it. But Big Bro, don't hold me back—I need to catch up and see where they're running so we can rescue them!" Shawn Young said, suddenly enlightened.
"Yeah, Big Bro, even if we can't beat those guys, at least we can find out where they're taking the kidnapped people! Besides, one of the Three Campus Belles, Lilian Grace, is up there too!" Danny Dean added.
"Mhm, let Third Bro play the hero and save the beauty! If Lilian Grace gets rescued, wouldn't Third Bro have an epic love story with her?" Jake Jewel chimed in from the side.
"Sigh! I'm telling you—even the police can't handle this! We're just small fry, so let's not stick our necks out!" Alex Easton said gloomily.
"Why?!" the three of them asked anxiously.
"No reason—because the people kidnapping Lilian Grace and her boyfriend are from the Blue Wolf Syndicate! Didn't you see the tattoos on their arms? Only members of the Blue Wolf Syndicate have those tattoos. They're the most ruthless gang in the city! We can't afford to mess with them!" Alex Easton explained.
"Ah! The mafia?! Shouldn't the police be cracking down on them even harder? Why are they so arrogant?" Shawn Young asked in surprise.
"Sigh—Bro, you just don't get it. In our country, the mafia isn't like those in other places. If they didn't have powerful connections, who would dare be so arrogant? The Blue Wolf Syndicate has deep roots and influence in both the underworld and the authorities. Every year, the police do their anti-crime campaigns, but it's just for show. Honestly, the cops can't touch them—unless you're even tougher than they are!" Alex Easton sighed.
"But... but they've taken Lilian Grace! Are we just supposed to stand here and do nothing?" Shawn Young shouted, unwilling to accept it.
"I know, but—why would we risk our lives to save her? Are we really going to take on the mafia?" Alex Easton retorted.
Shawn Young froze and went silent. Danny Dean and Jake Jewel both sighed heavily. Danny Dean tried to persuade Shawn, "Third Bro, let's just listen to Big Bro! We really can't do anything about this!"
At that moment, the big truck ahead made a sharp turn at the intersection, driving close to their side of the road. Since Shawn and the others were diagonally across from an overpass, they could see the top of the truck as it left the scene. Suddenly, a surge of courage welled up inside Shawn. He turned to the three and said, "I've decided—I'm going to save her! If you can, please—please call the police for me!"
With that, Shawn dashed across the road, sprinted up to the top of the overpass, and when the big truck passed underneath, he leapt down from above. He nearly slipped off, but managed to grab onto a protruding iron frame at the edge of the truck, clinging to it for dear life.
"Whoa! Is Third Bro crazy?!" Alex Easton was stunned by what he saw.
"That's it, Third Bro's lost his mind and went to save her himself! Big Bro, what do we do now?" Danny Dean asked nervously.
"How should I know what to do?! Sigh—Third Bro's just going to get himself killed!" Alex Easton grabbed his hair and squatted down, frustrated.
"But we can't just leave Third Bro behind!" Jake Jewel said cautiously.
Alex Easton squatted on the ground, rummaging through his pockets for a cigarette but couldn't find one. He stood up, frustrated, and yelled, "Does anyone have a smoke for me?!"
Danny Dean hurriedly fumbled through his jacket, pulled out a pack of Jade Creek Lights, and handed it over. His hands trembled as he flicked the lighter several times before finally lighting it. Then, still shaking, he asked Alex Easton, "B-Big Bro! About Third Bro—are we really just going to do nothing?!"
Jake Jewel also came closer, looking at Alex Easton with hopeful eyes. "Yeah! Big Bro, come on—we're brothers, aren't we?"
"Brothers! That's right, we're brothers! Screw it—I'm in! Just call me crazy this once!" Alex Easton got up and angrily smashed his cigarette on the ground.
"Big Bro, are we really going to help Third Bro?!" Danny Dean asked nervously.
"That's right! If you're a real brother, you go!" Alex Easton said, already flagging down a taxi.
"If you're a brother, I'm in!" Jake Jewel gritted his teeth and hopped into the taxi with Alex Easton.
"Screw it, for my brother—I'm all in!" Even Danny Dean, usually timid, made up his mind and jumped into the taxi.
"Driver! Please catch up to that big truck up ahead. Here, five hundred—keep the change!" Alex Easton pulled out five crisp bills and handed them to the cabbie.
"Uh—sure, no problem!" The driver, a middle-aged man, perked up instantly at the sight of the money and threw all his skills into chasing after the truck.