Era of Mist

Chapter 221: Chapter 220: Preparing to Close the Net

Hmph?

’Still hmphing? What is there to hmph about? Do you think you’re some cute girl? It’s not like it sounds good when you do it.’

Shi Tiexin looked at Ah Hui, his expression unchanged. He didn’t even bother to acknowledge him.

Ah Hui wasn’t even a factor in Wang Dafu’s plan. Wang Dafu had mentioned before that the Squad Leader had actually sent Ah Hui to undermine him. Although Wang Dafu hadn’t gone into detail, Shi Tiexin was sure that Wang Dafu had already figured out exactly what to do with Ah Hui.

Now that the plan was proceeding smoothly and it was time to close the net, there was no need to waste words on this guy.

Sanfan, however, tried to smooth things over. ”Ah Hui, we’re all on the same side here.”

”You’re taking his side? If he hadn’t started a fight with the Hongshun Society in the first place, would any of this other stuff have happened?” Ah Hui was scowling, his face a mask of displeasure. ”He beat up Hongshun’s men and stole their goods, and now look! The Squad Leader has to come clean up his mess! This is all because of him, and he still has the nerve to show his face?”

”Well, about the fight... he was actually just helping me,” Sanfan chimed in, though his expression remained inscrutable. ”Those foreigners who caused a scene at my place were really after me.”

Shi Tiexin had heard about that too. The investigation had confirmed that the troublemaking Westerners were actually Ouyang Hong’s men. It was a surprise that Ouyang Hong had managed to gather so many Western fighters.

”That’s his fault too! If he hadn’t killed Death Fire, would Ouyang Hong be sending people to stir up trouble everywhere? Do you have any idea how much I’ve lost recently? That was money, real money!” Ah Hui slammed his hands on the table. With everyone watching, he wasn’t afraid of Shi Tiexin coming over to give him another ’hug’.

So what if he could fight? ’Would you dare to make a move with everyone watching?’ That was probably Ah Hui’s mentality.

”Well, now they’re here to hold us accountable. I’d like to see how he’s going to get out of this tonight!” Ah Hui kept clamoring, feeling like he’d finally gotten to vent his frustrations.

”Alright, that’s enough arguing,” Wang Dafu said, suddenly standing up. ”It’s time. Follow me to the entrance to welcome the Squad Leader.”

Shi Tiexin didn’t spare Ah Hui another glance and followed Wang Dafu out. Ah Hui was just a mad dog barking; not worth wasting his breath on. The major event tonight was what truly deserved his attention.

The four of them waited at the hotel entrance, lined up according to their rank.

Ten minutes, twenty minutes... they kept waiting, but no one came.

Wang Dafu was calm and unhurried, his expression poised, as if completely untroubled by the Squad Leader’s tardiness. Shi Tiexin’s face was equally placid. No matter how nervous he was on the inside, he at least projected an aura of command on the surface, which made Wang Dafu nod inwardly in approval when he saw it.

At a time like this, when talent was sorely needed, a man like Shi Tiexin was invaluable.

Sanfan and Ah Hui’s performances were much worse. Ah Hui, in particular, paced back and forth in agitation, finally ordering a subordinate to bring over three chairs.

Four people, three chairs. It was obvious who was being left out. Of course, Wang Dafu had someone bring another chair, not letting Shi Tiexin stand.

At six-thirty, a car finally rolled up slowly. Before it came to a complete stop, Wang Dafu walked forward with a smile and personally opened the car door for the person inside.

A middle-aged man got out.

He looked to be around the same age as Wang Dafu, about fifty or so. But he lacked Wang Dafu’s dashing demeanor and handsome features; his face was slick and cruel. A long life of luxury had left him heavy-set with a potbelly so large it made him stoop slightly. He was already half a head shorter than Wang Dafu, and the stoop made him seem shorter still.

It was hard to feel any goodwill toward this man based on his appearance, especially his eyes, which were sharp and stingy, full of petty calculation. They were a world apart from Wang Dafu’s refined, profound gaze. Standing together, anyone would think Wang Dafu was the big boss, while this man was just a human doormat for the boss to step on when getting out of the car.

And yet, this was the Squad Leader.

”Squad Leader, you’ve arrived,” Wang Dafu said, his expression respectful and mild.

”Hmph!” The Squad Leader also let out a hmph. Interestingly, his tone sounded remarkably similar to Ah Hui’s—they were clearly cut from the same cloth. ”You’ve made such a huge mess here. Did you think I wouldn’t have to come? Ah Fa, your management skills are terrible!”

”Yes, it’s all my responsibility,” Wang Dafu replied without arguing. ”Squad Leader, may I ask who the mediator will be this time...?”

”I’ve invited Mr. Sun.” The Squad Leader looked annoyed. ”This whole pile of crap, and I have to go and ask Mr. Sun to come. You’re just making more trouble for me. The Hongshun Society business needs to be handled slowly, by thinking of a long-term solution. Rushing for quick profits is out of the question, understand? Alright, you all wait here for Mr. Sun and greet him for me.”

With that, the Squad Leader swaggered into the hotel, leaving the four of them at the entrance.

The four had no choice but to keep waiting.

Night fell, and the lights came on. Another half hour passed before a motorcade slowly approached. Wang Dafu once again went to greet it with the same gentle and respectful posture, once again personally opening the door and helping someone out. This time, it was a long-bearded old man who looked to have failing eyesight.

This old man was incredibly arrogant. He would deign to look at Wang Dafu with his eyes, but for everyone else, he used his nostrils. Of course, Shi Tiexin was so tall that looking up at him with just his nostrils would have been a real challenge for the old man’s neck, so in the end, he didn’t even bother looking at him at all.

Wang Dafu’s attitude was warm and respectful, absolutely flawless. He escorted the old man into the hotel.

Shi Tiexin fell behind, glanced at his phone, and saw a coded text message that others wouldn’t understand. After a quick scan, he casually deleted it, his expression unchanged as he took two steps to catch up.

’The prey is on the move.’

What remained was more waiting—a seemingly endless wait. The Squad Leader and Wang Dafu sat with the old man in the lobby, while Ah Hui and Sanfan crowded around, trying to curry favor with the Squad Leader. No one paid any attention to Shi Tiexin, and he didn’t need them to. He simply waited quietly on his own, regulating his state of mind.

Half an hour later, another text arrived. Shi Tiexin glanced at it and deleted it as before.

Another half an hour passed. It was now past eight in the evening, and both the Squad Leader and the old man were growing impatient. The old man, in particular, complained out loud several times, saying that if it weren’t for his respect for the Squad Leader, he absolutely would not have come to mediate. The Squad Leader kept offering placating smiles, but his expression toward Wang Dafu grew increasingly sour.

Just then, Wang Dafu received a phone call. He then announced, ”The men from Hongshun are here.”

Shi Tiexin walked to the window and glanced out. They had arrived, indeed.

And—wow, what an entrance!

A long procession of ten Mercedes-Benzes, five in front and five behind, escorted a Rolls-Royce in the very center. The massive motorcade had barreled menacingly through the streets of Tokyo, but as it approached, it slowed to a crawl. The leisurely pace conveyed a clear provocation: ’We’re going to make you wait, and there’s nothing you can do about it.’

Of course, the provocation was a subjective feeling, an emotional tint seen through colored glasses. If one were to swap those glasses for a different color—say, rose-colored ones—and look again... it actually looked a lot like a wedding procession.