The moment the people in official uniforms pushed the door open, everyone, including myself, was startled into a state of panic.
Jiang Jinshan, as the host of the game, had never anticipated such a turn of events.
As for me, the sole big winner, I hadn't expected to fall not at the gambling table, but into the hands of the officials beneath it.
"Everyone, hands on your heads, don't move!"
Upon hearing this, I readily placed the money box aside and complied, squatting down with my hands behind my head.
One does not fight the officials.
Having already been in the wrong, if I were to resist for a few million, even if I could force my way out, there would be no good outcome in the end.
The leader of the officials was tall and sturdy, with a fierce look on his face.
The remaining men, holding batons, herded Qin Lan, Jiang Jinshan, and the others to the side, forcing them to squat down together.
After they had collected all the chips on the gambling table and some scattered cash, packing them into boxes, the leader immediately spoke, "These chips and cash are evidence of the crime. Take them all back, people and all."
With that, Jiang Jinshan and his group were escorted out of the room by the officials, men first, then women.
Given my earlier compliance, the leading official placed me at the very end of the line, personally escorting me.
If an outsider were present, they might have noticed a small detail.
The person walking in front of me was Jiang Jinshan's female companion, the one they called Lan Hua Nu.
The two of us were at the rear of the procession.
As everyone was led out of the hotel and into the police cars, I and Lan Hua Nu were put into the same vehicle.
As the flashing police lights and wailing sirens grew distant from the Four Seasons Hotel, the police car carrying me and Lan Hua Nu, which was at the end of the line, suddenly veered off its original course without any warning, heading in another direction…
…
That evening, just before seven o'clock.
Lan Hua Nu, myself, and the officials from earlier appeared at a barbecue stall on the outskirts of the city.
Once the barbecue was served and the beer was opened, the tense atmosphere completely changed!
The oppressive and anxious feeling vanished, replaced by the exhilaration of drinking and eating skewers.
Raising my glass, I looked at Lan Hua Nu and the others and said, "You friends are truly professional. You helped me successfully complete the 'Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell.' I toast you all!"
"Help yourselves, I'll finish mine!"
With that, I lifted my glass and drained it in one gulp.
The beer foam slid down my throat, carrying the icy liquid into my stomach. The cool sensation was incredibly satisfying!
Of course, what truly gave me an unparalleled sense of exhilaration wasn't the beer.
It was the feeling of being in complete control, of having meticulously planned every move in the entire fishing operation!
By now, everyone should have realized that there was no sudden raid on gamblers. It was all just a setup I had orchestrated to make my escape.
As for why I took Lan Hua Nu, Jiang Jinshan's companion, with me, let me have another drink and I'll explain slowly…
The enemy of my enemy is my friend!
Gu Yuhe, trying to leverage her authority to extort four million from me, would naturally not have her way.
The appearance of Lan Hua Nu, Jiang Jinshan's companion, was my best choice to turn a passive situation into an active one, shifting from defense to offense.
I forgot to introduce her. Lan Hua Nu's name is Ai Xiaoqing. Although she and Gu Yuhe work in the same hall, they are sworn enemies.
The reason for this is that within the Lan Hua Sect's branch in Longxi, there are two clearly defined factions.
Ai Xiaoqing and Gu Yuhe both come from these different factions.
A major characteristic of our country, from ancient times to the present, is its fondness for internal conflict!
Whether it's a time of peace or a period of war, the internal struggle continues unabated.
On the morning of the fifth day, when Ai Xiaoqing appeared with Jiang Jinshan in the hotel restaurant for breakfast, the moment she exchanged glances with Qin Lan, I knew I had been set up by the self-serving Gu Yuhe.
Therefore, after giving Jiang Jinshan the final hook and returning to my suite, I immediately messaged Camel, asking him to investigate the Lan Hua Sect for me.
I asked him to find out the true opinions of the higher-ups in the Longxi branch of the Lan Hua Sect regarding Mu Haitang's death.
The final investigation results were exactly as I had predicted.
According to Camel's description, the Lan Hua Sect's modus operandi was quite similar to that of our Que Men.
Once they accepted a job, they would demand a deposit from the client beforehand. Regardless of success or failure, the deposit was non-refundable.
Of course, the deposit wasn't taken for free.
If the mission failed, members of the Lan Hua Sect, like those in Que Men, would bear the responsibility and consequences themselves.
This is the true style of operation for those in the various factions and undercurrents of the Jianghu.
They could become selfish individuals when benefits were involved, fighting and scrambling for them, but once a job was accepted, the bottom line and code of honor had to be upheld!
Before I hired Mu Haitang, I had paid her the full reward, and she never betrayed me even in death.
Xiao Tianci's investigation leading to me was purely coincidental.
He deduced my involvement by investigating Mu Haitang's identity and the timing of my appearance at Tianci Tower to interact with Xiao Tianyu.
The Lan Hua Sect sent Gu Yuhe out to investigate the cause of Mu Haitang's death, but the former, acting on her own authority, directly confronted Xiao Tianci and me in an accusatory manner.
On the night of the confrontation at Tianci Tower, if I hadn't revealed my hand in front of Xiao Tianci, he likely wouldn't have taken Gu Yuhe seriously.
To weaken my strength, Xiao Tianci sinisterly chose to bribe Gu Yuhe, wanting to use her to fight me.
How much money was spent to bribe Gu Yuhe is known only to the two parties involved.
Subsequently, Gu Yuhe came to my door.
The insatiably greedy Gu Yuhe demanded four million from me. If I refused and caused a scene, it would be exactly what Xiao Tianci wanted.
Given my circumstances and the situation I was in at the time, I was eventually forced to agree.
Originally, Gu Yuhe's scheme was flawless. No matter how I chose, I would lose.
If I agreed, she would pocket four million.
If I refused, she would report me negatively, and the Lan Hua Sect would send people after me.
Unfortunately, in the end, her cleverness backfired.
Ai Xiaoqing, who was truly targeting Jiang Jinshan and playing a long game to catch a big fish, actually made an early appearance.
Before today's gambling match began, although Ai Xiaoqing had only appeared once on the morning of the fifth day, and Qin Lan had concealed it effectively, nevertheless…
A cheater's eyes are like fiery golden eyes!
At close range, no matter who it is, any change in facial expression is difficult to escape the cheater's piercing gaze!