Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 785: Chapter 29: Fish of the Jianghu

City Theater, side street, modified vehicle command center.

“Minister, the Trojan horse has successfully entered the concert hall. The number of criminals, their identities, and hiding locations… are being confirmed one after another,” the technician quickly reported.

The Minister couldn’t remain idle, as time was of the essence. If the criminals were provoked and became reckless before the hostages were rescued, a catastrophe would occur.

Never mind the rich and powerful inside; even for ordinary citizens, it would cause significant turmoil for the government… just like the terrorist attack that happened on the Union States’ soil over a decade ago. To divert domestic opinion, they could start a war against another country.

However, they had no such option! Because Roger was one of the nation’s most wanted criminals, having always been on the wanted list!

But if the government directly compromised with these bandits, it would undoubtedly be disastrous for this administration! The already fragile public trust might completely vanish!

“Hopefully, this Trojan horse can help us resolve this crisis…” The security minister rubbed his forehead in exasperation.

Among the four prisoners sent in, one had been persuaded to infiltrate as a spy and cooperate with the police rescue operation.

But would that guy truly comply and choose to cooperate with the government?

Let’s hope so…

The Minister sighed and directed his gaze back to the screen in front of the command platform, steadily observing the situation in the concert hall.

…

…

Actually, Bucky believed his judgment was not wrong.

Look, even though there were only two of them, Bucky and Batu, and there were six men and women on the other side, which seemingly gave them the advantage. But Batu was fully armed, and at least he himself had a dagger, didn’t he?

What about the others?

Two women in evening gowns, an old, shabby man, with three other unarmed men! It’s like two kings meeting rookie entry-level guys during a raid!

So Bucky thought his judgment was indeed correct!

But why had it turned out this way?

Why was Batu’s weaponry now in someone else’s hands? Why was he pinned to the ground by a woman in a red evening gown?

I’m a notorious bad guy!

“Bucky Balton Barkas, I recognize you.”

At this moment, Song Haoran was studying him with interest, “An advanced official of the ‘Former Imperial Capital Command’, rumored to lack real skills but with luck maxed out, a lucky general under the previous leader, often completing tasks inexplicably, belonging to the ‘winning by doing nothing’ type. But some say you’re an unfathomable man… is that so?”

Bucky opened his mouth, glanced at Batu, and found Batu had already been knocked to the ground, obviously unconscious.

“Who… who are you?”

At that moment, Lluvia had released Bucky, but took a gun from Oni’s hand and pointed it at his back. Bucky had no choice but to raise his hands to show he had no intention of resisting.

“In this environment, of course, we are enemies.” Song Haoran smiled slightly. “Additionally, what I’m curious about is, weren’t you supposed to be in prison? When did you break out?”

Song Haoran found it strange because when he used the ‘Badge of the Sun God’ not long ago, he sensed nothing about Bucky’s presence… or, during this period, had there been some new change?

Unable to always activate the ‘Badge of the Sun God’s’ sensing ability, it indeed seemed to have disadvantages.

“I didn’t break out…”

Bucky swallowed, realizing he often found himself being held at gunpoint. He was well aware that, to save his own life, he had to comply with the others as much as possible.

But…

Why could these people disarm him and Batu with their bare hands? It didn’t make sense!

“Oh? So, was it one of Roger’s requirements to the government?” Song Haoran nodded, keenly capturing a hint of Roger’s intentions. “Besides you, who else?”

Bucky could only confess directly, secretly noting this guy’s sharp intuition… Was this guy cheating?

Song Haoran fell silent… ‘Iris’, as a mercenary active in the South American Underworld, had done numerous deals — starting from his old man, the leader of ‘Iris’. It was a long journey. In the past, ‘Iris’ had indeed collaborated with the ‘Imperial Command’.

The ones Roger broke out of prison this time were heavily loaded.

Although they were captured and jailed, they still secretly controlled a lot of assets. Though ‘UPP’ suppressed many slums, it didn’t mean the traditional powers in this nation easily vanished.

They merely lay dormant, waiting for the day to return.

Song Haoran suddenly said: “Releasing you guys is simply a disaster. For our government, it’s undoubtedly a failure. So, to shut up the public, it’s best if you just die here! Later, words like ‘accidentally killed during a fight with thugs’ can cover it up.”

Bucky broke into a cold sweat. Naturally, he’d killed many; hence he understood the look when one intended to kill — this was precisely what the other person had!

Why release me?

Wasn’t it fine to stay in prison?

The food was good, entertainment was good, there were female prison guards to play with, and he could play poker with the Warden without worrying about assassinations from enemies! Except for not leaving prison, it felt like a vacation!

Wait, wait a moment!

What did he just say… our government? Could this guy be with the government?

“Wait! Don’t act yet!” Bucky hurriedly said, “Don’t act yet!! I came in with a special mission! I… I… I am…”

“You are?” Song Haoran narrowed his eyes, then chuckled: “Are you trying to say you struck a deal with the government, snuck in here to get the inside scoop, and coordinate from within?”

“How did you know…” Bucky was stunned, looking at Song Haoran with some astonishment — how could this guy guess his thoughts?

Song Haoran’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly, suddenly saying: “A Qiang, watch this guy, don’t let him move.”

Oni nodded, walked with a slightly unnatural gait, then clasped Bucky’s hands.

Song Haoran was checking the equipment stripped from Batu. He took out the opponent’s walkie-talkie, not sure what he was thinking. Meanwhile, Lluvia quietly came to Song Haoran’s side and asked in a low voice: “Do you really believe him? Should we check it out?”

If he really assisted the government, then Bucky would have hidden some surveillance equipment. If we can’t find it, lies will be exposed.

“Don’t you think it’s interesting?” Song Haoran squinted his eyes.

Lluvia asked, puzzled: “Interesting?”

Song Haoran said calmly: “Roger’s true intentions.”

However, Lluvia frowned and said, “But there are lots of explosives hidden here, it’s too dangerous. I promised dad to keep you safe.”

Song Haoran chuckled: “Do you really think Roger dares to press the detonator? Although he’s a madman, he wouldn’t be crazy enough to take his own life along with his enemies’—if he still has things he wants to accomplish, he’ll cherish his own life more. So, until he safely leaves the theater, we’re actually the safest.”

As he said this, he glanced at Luo Qiu and the others who were set aside and whispered in Lluvia’s ear: “Now the outside is packed with government people. They’ve surrounded the place completely. We could leave now, but once we step out of the theater, the police will surely notice. The three of them probably won’t have issues, but the three of us…”

Lluvia nodded with a serious expression.

Their identities are fabricated, unable to withstand police verification—and inside the concert hall, many hostages are still being held. If they were to safely walk out, unless all the police in Rio had fat in their brains, they would definitely investigate thoroughly.

“We can only wait for police rescue, and then merge with the hostages to leave,” Lluvia said helplessly.

If they had left before the police deployment, it wouldn’t have mattered, but now it’s clear they’ve missed the best timing.

Lluvia glanced at Song Haoran. Initially, before the incident, the strategist was just outside communicating with dad and could have left directly, but chose to stay…

Lluvia instinctively held Song Haoran’s hand, “The three people you’re with are burdens. Shouldn’t we just… After all, they’ve already seen our faces.”

Song Haoran shook his head: “They don’t know our identities, they just think we’re government rescuers sent to help. We may find it hard to leave, but they should be fine going out. Let’s find a chance later and send them out midway.”

“Strategist…” Lluvia seemed to want to say something.

Song Haoran said, “Dad taught us that more friends mean fewer enemies. Whether it’s Ferenc or Luo Qiu, their identities are not simple, maybe they’ll be useful in the future? Life is a huge world, and in it, we are fish; we’ll surely meet again.”

Lluvia said nothing more.

At this moment, they transferred the unconscious Batu and Bucky to a break room along the corridor. There’s quite a bit of food here, originally intended for VIP guests, but it now served as good items to replenish everyone’s energy.

In fear and tension, it’s easy to drain energy and deplete the body’s heat. Song Haoran suggested everyone take a ten-minute rest here.

Dr. Ferenc took out his phone, moved it around, but couldn’t get any signal.

Song Haoran said: “It’s useless. The bandits must have released special interference waves, otherwise, with so many people having phones in the concert hall, there’s no way the police wouldn’t know the situation here. Let’s say, without permission, communication channels can’t link to the outside.”

Dr. Ferenc shook his head, dejectedly grabbing a bottle of champagne here, walked to a corner, squatted down to drink sullenly, possibly to gather courage.

“Are you okay?”

Song Haoran saw Luo Qiu and You Ye sitting quietly in a corner, so he walked up to Luo Qiu and asked in a relaxed manner.

“I’m alright,” Boss Luo replied simply.

He should now be playing the role of a rich young master on a trip with a companion, so it’s not suitable to be too calm… So Boss Luo followed up with a concerned question, “Mr. Song, can we get out safely?”

Song Haoran smiled: “We’ll head to the second floor later. There’s a window in the restroom there, I checked it before, and beside the window is a sewer pipe, climbing down should be no problem. Outside are the police, as long as you don’t alert the bandits midway, if there’s a gunfight, you should be safe.”

“That’s good,” Luo Qiu nodded.

Song Haoran opened a pack of biscuits, handed it to Luo Qiu, and blinked, “Don’t let your lovely companion go hungry, that’s not gentlemanly.”

Luo Qiu smiled slightly. Song Haoran seemed inherently able to give people a good sense of security. Humorous without losing style, confident yet orderly, as if confident in being capable of anything.

With gods in his heart, confident as if he is that god, hence powerful.

“Ever played with a handgun?” Song Haoran asked while quickly releasing the safety on a handgun in front of Luo Qiu.

“Played in a shooting club,” Luo Qiu thought for a moment and replied truthfully: “But they’re all domestic models.”

“Actually, it’s not much different.” Song Haoran handed the gun to Luo Qiu, along with two clips, “Real guns are slightly heavier, so when aiming at an enemy, it’s best to raise your wrist slightly upwards to avoid shooting downward.”

He grasped Luo Qiu’s wrist, guiding him to hold the gun, then adjusted his posture, “Yes, just like that… Oh, very good, your hand’s not too shaky, you’ve got potential.”

Luo Qiu suddenly asked: “Is it okay for me to hold it?”

“If we encounter enemies and a shootout happens, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to protect you.”

Song Haoran waved his hand, “The best protector is yourself. Don’t have a mental burden, these are all murderers with blood-stained hands inside, if you kill one, King Yanluo might record your deed on his merit book.”

Boss Luo ‘relaxed’ a bit and laughed, “I feel like you’re cursing me to die later.”

Song Haoran laughed heartily, “Slipped up, slipped up, I meant in the future. My old man believes in this kind of stuff, I’ve heard it a lot since I was young, don’t mind it.”

“Your father is?” Luo Qiu slightly tilted his head up.

Song Haoran seemed unwilling to elaborate, just casually replied: “He’s a hospitable person, especially to our Chinese community. But he hasn’t gone out for a long time, resting at home recently.”

Boss Luo didn’t pursue the question further, keeping it natural.

And at this moment, a man’s voice suddenly sounded in the break room, startling Dr. Ferenc, almost jumping up—it turned out to be the communicator Batu carried, sounding off.

He took Bucky to the restroom and never returned, evidently arousing the bandits’ suspicion.

“Batu, Batu? Can you hear? Respond, respond! We found a missed fish on the fourth-floor corridor, and it’s a big one! Party leader Billy! Where are you, initiate a pincer attack! Respond, respond!”

The walkie-talkie kept making sounds.

“It’s Mr. Billy!” Dr. Ferenc stood up nervously, looking towards Song Haoran.