Chapter 163 17

Chapter 163: 17

Though Country J is somewhat disorderly and its population diverse, it is not as chaotic as Country M, where daily skirmishes, sprawling compounds, and rampant drug trafficking are the norm.

Nevertheless, illicit grey and black market activities persist here, and the crime rate remains considerable.

Fortunately, the government is not complacent and actively collaborates with international law enforcement agencies.

However, deep-seated problems are not solved overnight; dismantling these criminal organizations will require sustained effort.

Pearl City, also known as the "City That Never Sleeps," teems with visitors day and night.

After that particular day, Cha Xin did not personally contact Shen Xi for several days.

However, during their dinner meeting, the two had largely ironed out the preliminary cooperation plans over drinks.

In the ensuing days, both parties were busy with their respective arrangements. A bespoke seven-day tour group from China to Country J was preparing for departure.

Although Cha Xin did not make a personal appearance, he continued to send subordinates to inquire about the progress of the "goods" from Shen Xi.

Facing these probing individuals, Shen Xi consistently deflected their inquiries with finesse, revealing only trivial information to allow them to report back.

He was deliberately compelling Cha Xin to initiate contact.

As Cha Xin maintained his composure, Shen Xi remained unhurried. He continued his flamboyant lifestyle, indulging in food, drink, and entertainment at the hotel daily. When the mood struck, he would visit the casino, generously tipping onlookers with his winnings.

For a time, the name "Mr. Shen" became synonymous with celebrity in the hotel casino.

Beyond this test of patience with Cha Xin, Shen Xi frequently encountered Ruan Cong at the casino. However, their interactions were limited to mutual nods across the crowd.

While dominating the casino, Shen Xi befriended a local security supervisor named Datu, a tall and robust man.

Shen Xi recalled that Datu, along with Ruan Cong, had subdued Khunla on a previous occasion, demonstrating impressive combat skills.

In contrast to Ruan Cong's guarded nature, Datu proved to be a rare "honest man." Much of the information about Cha Xin was gleaned from him.

Meanwhile, Rong Qing also unearthed further details about Ruan Cong.

Five years prior, Ruan Cong's younger brother vanished during an overseas trip, later confirmed to have been trafficked to Country J by local human traffickers.

Intriguingly, the recipient of the trafficked individual in Country J at that time was none other than the current Cha Xin.

Recalling Ruan Cong's demeanor when recounting this experience, Rong Qing became even more convinced that his loyalty to Cha Xin was far less genuine than he professed.

The true motive behind Ruan Cong's presence by Cha Xin's side, and his gradual acquisition of trust, remained elusive.

However, Rong Qing understood that, regardless of the reason, it presented a potential leverage point.

After all, to utterly disrupt Cha Xin's human trafficking empire would indeed make the journey worthwhile.

At this juncture, patience was paramount.

Both sides resembled anglers, each waiting for the other to lose composure, thereby becoming the prey.

From Datu's casual remarks, Shen Xi inferred that Cha Xin was likely growing anxious.

The tour group's information was meticulously safeguarded. Despite employing various methods, Cha Xin could not fully ascertain their movements.

Such an occurrence within his territory infuriated and distressed Cha Xin. Yet, he still refrained from contacting Shen Xi first, allowing Shen Xi to continue enjoying his life as a guest.

He typically stayed at the casino until five or six in the morning, then ordered the hotel's most lavish breakfast to his room.

Delivering breakfast to "Boss Shen" even became a coveted task among the staff, as the high-rolling Boss Shen, after a night of gambling, was exceptionally generous. Those who delivered his meals consistently received a substantial tip.

Afterward, Shen Xi would sleep until three in the afternoon. On days when he felt inclined, he would visit nearby attractions, sometimes accompanied by his lover, Xiao Yuan.

His days were spent in carefree luxury.

With police cooperation, Cha Xin's smuggling routes were steadily being curtailed, almost to a critical point. This compelled him to seek cooperation with Shen Xi. If this supply chain were severed, or intercepted by another organization at this crucial juncture, Cha Xin's influence in the region would be irrevocably diminished.

Concurrently, Rong Qing had also completed her preparations.

With favorable timing and personnel, all that was needed was the final catalyst.

.

Indeed, two days later, Cha Xin proactively invited Shen Xi to meet at the Green Bud Bar that evening.

This time, however, Shen Xi rebuffed him: "I'm not free tonight. Let's make it tomorrow."

Witnessing his defiant attitude, Cha Xin gritted his teeth in frustration.

Fortunately, before he could erupt, Shen Xi added, "I'll visit tomorrow and have a few more drinks with Boss Cha."

Cha Xin then reasoned that another day wouldn't make much difference: "Alright, Boss Shen, see you tomorrow."

.

Night fell.

The small Pearl City pulsed with a vibrant tapestry of revelry, wealth, and desire.

If the hotel casino symbolized wealth, amplifying greed and desire, and the pleasure houses represented indulgence, satisfying unrestrained appetites, then the Green Bud Bar embodied alcohol, luring patrons into addiction and decadence.

In contrast to Cha Xin's recent pretense, Shen Xi now appeared courteous and amiable.

That evening, Shen Xi arrived punctually at the Green Bud Bar as invited.

The bar's exterior was brilliantly illuminated, and inside the main hall, the atmosphere was even more electrifying. Young people danced in the club, deafening music reverberated through the space, and colorful lights flashed incessantly.

To mitigate the glare of the bar's intense lighting, Shen Xi wore sunglasses that day.

Cha Xin remained absent, but Pan Na was already waiting at the entrance. Upon Shen Xi's arrival, she personally escorted him through the main hall to a dimly lit private room.

Pan Na found nothing unusual about Shen Xi's sunglasses—such eccentricities were hardly surprising for a playboy like him.

Still, she casually inquired, "Boss Shen never seems to part with his sunglasses. Are they something important?"

Shen Xi's attention was clearly elsewhere. He replied offhandedly, "Astigmatism. My eyes can't handle the light."

Then, under Pan Na's slightly perplexed gaze, he added, "Of course, they're no match for Boss Pan's eyes—so large and beautiful, a single blink could captivate anyone."

Pan Na subtly rolled her eyes, completely losing any inclination to engage in small talk with him.

The table was already laden with various bottles of alcohol—beer, red wine, whiskey, rum, and vodka.

As soon as Shen Xi sat down, someone began pouring him a drink.

Shen Xi was in no hurry to taste the alcohol. Instead, he swirled the glass in his hand, observing everything in the room with a smile, remaining silent.

As the agreed-upon time passed and Cha Xin still hadn't appeared, Shen Xi's finger-tapping on the glass grew increasingly impatient, and his gaze toward Pan Na became more mocking, as if awaiting an explanation.

Pan Na felt profoundly uneasy under his scrutiny, a familiar sense of dread resurfacing. Yet, she had a mission—to keep Shen Xi there. So, she steeled herself, forced a smile, and continued to open bottles for him.

"Boss Shen, please wait a moment. Mr. Cha must have been delayed by something—he certainly didn't mean to disrespect you. In the meantime, feel free to sample any of the drinks here; it's all on my tab. Someone, come keep Boss Shen company."

Without waiting to see if Shen Xi approved, Pan Na ushered in four beautiful women from Country J, instructing them to drink with him.

The women delicately approached, all calling out "Boss Shen" as they raised their glasses and presented them directly to Shen Xi.

Shen Xi glanced at the women before him, and when he looked back at Pan Na, his gaze had softened considerably.

He set down his glass, removed his suit jacket, and unhurriedly pulled open a drawer beneath the drinking table. Scanning the room, he said, "Just drinking is rather dull. Let's play cards or dice. Whoever loses either removes an item of clothing or drinks. I'll give you all a head start of one item."

Shen Xi's suave gesture naturally elicited exclamations from the women. Coupled with his strikingly handsome features, they were even more eager to participate, all vying to go first.

Shen Xi deftly leaned forward, avoiding the hand of one woman who attempted to touch his chest, and smiled at them. "No rush. Line up properly—everyone will get a turn."

In the first round, Shen Xi lost. Amid the women's teasing cheers, he removed his sunglasses and set them aside.

This action stunned the woman playing against him in the first round, and she immediately protested. Just as she was about to whine in a high-pitched voice, she looked up and met Shen Xi's eyes.

Those eyes were truly captivating, but in a place like this, the more beautiful something appeared, the more dangerous it likely was.

Earlier, with his sunglasses on, she hadn't seen clearly—perhaps the shades had masked Shen Xi's intensity. But now, confronting those eyes, she felt a cold shiver. Even though the man before her wore a gentle smile, it still sent a chill down her spine.

While she was still dazed, one of her companions grew impatient, nudging her aside and eagerly pushing forward to challenge Shen Xi again, coyly saying, "Boss Shen, no cheating this round. If you lose, you have to take off a piece of clothing."

Shen Xi readily agreed.

But whether it was cards or dice, Shen Xi seemed to possess divine luck, winning almost every subsequent round.

Pan Na joined them for two rounds, was penalized with two drinks, and then left the room, heading to another private booth.

This room was significantly more soundproofed and lavishly decorated than the previous one.

Cha Xin, who had been absent for a while, sat sternly on a black water buffalo leather sofa.

With a clap of her hands, Pan Na had two thugs drag in a young girl.

She asked her, "Do you know the man who just entered the private room?"

The girl didn't even dare lift her head, cowering as she shook her head timidly. "N-no... I don't..."

Hearing this, Pan Na looked triumphantly at Cha Xin.

Cha Xin, however, showed no reaction to the answer. He snorted coldly and asked calmly, "Are you sure you saw him clearly? Let me ask you again—what color were the sunglasses he was wearing?"

"H-he..." The girl stammered, her trembling body shaking even more violently. She didn't even have the courage to look up again—how could she have noticed the color of his sunglasses when she hadn't even seen his face clearly?

Cha Xin pressed further, "How many rings was he wearing on his hands?"

The girl lowered her head even more, remaining silent.

Cha Xin changed his tone. "I'll ask you one more time—do you know the man you were just shown? Think carefully before you answer."

The girl's body was covered in bruises and whip marks, leaving her as frightened as a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow. She shook her head in terror. "I... I didn't get a good look... I'm nearsighted... The lighting here is bad, and it was too quick. I'm sorry... Please give me another chance. I'll look carefully next time..."

Only then did Cha Xin frown slightly. He condescended to stand, walked over to the girl, and suddenly gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "If I catch you lying one more time, I'll..."

He paused mid-sentence. The girl's terrified tears had already streamed down to his fingers. Cha Xin twisted her face forcefully from side to side, then suddenly broke into a lewd and sinister smile. "I'll send you to the lowest-grade brothel. Once you've been used up, I'll chop you into pieces and feed you to the dogs."

With that, he released her. The girl's already unsteady body couldn't hold herself up any longer. Her legs gave way, and she crumpled to the floor, too frightened even to cry.

After being trapped here for so many days, she knew all too well that the man before her wasn't bluffing. If her performance didn't satisfy him, the threats he'd uttered would become her ultimate fate.