No. 45 Eyes Gazing into the Darkness
“To be honest, we’ve been investigating the mastermind behind the incidents involving you and Yi Yao for the past two weeks, trying to identify the mole within our ranks.”
“Who is it?”
Xiaodie blurted out the question, then her eyes widened in realization. “You mean Qinghao…”
“No, we initially suspected him, but Huang Qinghao is just impulsive, not the type to betray his brothers. The mole is still among us.” Pai Ge tossed a playing card onto the poker table behind him. “There’s no real conflict between the Black Dragon Society and the Jiang Nan Gang. Whoever orchestrated those incidents reacted immediately after you and Yi Yao clashed. It was clearly premeditated. This person is dangerous.”
“What are the consequences if we let this mole continue operating?” I asked.
Although their nature had shifted somewhat, I still struggled to view the Black Dragon Society and the Jiang Nan Gang as serious criminal organizations.
The Black Dragon Society had started as a small group formed by my “boyfriend,” Long Fei, on a whim at a local internet cafe. It was like a bunch of kids playing pretend, calling themselves the “Axe Gang.” Long Fei, being the son of Long Teng, the CEO of the largest internet company in Upper Capital City, had endless pocket money. After forming the Black Dragon Society, he would often treat his “brothers” to internet cafe sessions and drinks.
With ample funding, the group quickly gained notoriety in the city.
In other gangs, the underlings paid tribute to their leader. But with Long Fei, it was the opposite. Other delinquents, seeing the perks of joining the Black Dragon Society, flocked to join, and the group grew rapidly.
Long Fei had once confessed to me that he had formed the Black Dragon Society out of loneliness. He craved the camaraderie and acceptance he lacked at home and school.
What did rebellious teenagers want most? Simple: money.
Long Fei gave them money, let them indulge in his escapades, filling the void in his life. Their relationship was that simple.
I didn’t know if there were any real gangs in Upper Capital City, but I had assumed that small groups like the Black Dragon Society would disband after Long Fei left. It was all just a game, and these kids would eventually grow up.
But Pai Ge’s appearance had changed my perception of the Black Dragon Society.
Long Fei was a rich kid who had once saved Ouyang Dati, a soldier. This gave the Black Dragon Society a certain level of protection. And now, with Pai Ge’s involvement, the entertainment complex had become part of their assets. Their status had become more complex.
Which meant that, after Long Fei’s departure, Pai Ge, with his vast wealth, had become the true leader of the Black Dragon Society. But due to his sensitive identity, he had to remain hidden, fearing his enemies. He needed someone to act as his proxy, to maintain the facade of a “fallen rich kid joining a delinquent group.”
If the mole was indeed targeting Pai Ge, it made sense that he would be worried.
“Haha, the consequences are as unpredictable as a deck of cards. Isn’t that what makes it interesting? You never know what the next card will be.”
He chuckled, then gestured towards a man in sunglasses sitting alone on a sofa, smoking a cigarette. “Let me introduce you. This is the leader of the Jiang Nan Gang, Lu Kai. His father is a real estate tycoon in Upper Capital City, a very arrogant man. And he’s Lu Yibing’s brother.”
“What?” I was confused. “Isn’t Lu Yibing…”
“She’s a member of the Jiang Nan Gang. Didn’t I tell you?”
Jiang Nan Gang members frequenting your entertainment complex?
“She has a sweet tooth. Her brother would never buy her lollipops, so she comes here.”
I stared at him, speechless.
So, you have a soft spot for little girls.
Lu Yibing looked even younger than Huang Yingdie, her clothes and demeanor childlike. She was the epitome of an emotionless anime loli.
“Hey, hey, don’t look at me like that. By the way, have you considered pursuing Bing Bing?” He leaned closer, shielding his face with a playing card, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “She told me she has a crush on you. If you win her over, with her father’s connections in the real estate industry, half the properties in Upper Capital City will be yours for the taking.”
I glanced at Xiaodie, who was still confused. “I’ll pass. You pursue her yourself.”
“Haha, I told you, she spent her entire childhood in the mountains. She has no concept of romance. She’s only interested in things she likes.”
Just then, the man in sunglasses stood up and flicked his cigarette butt at us. “Hey, blondie, don’t think I can’t hear you just because you’re hiding behind a playing card. I’ll beat you up.”
He was wearing a half-unbuttoned shirt, revealing his muscular chest. Although he wasn’t as bulky as Ouyang Dati, he was clearly not someone to be trifled with.
“Haha, you’re still as hot-tempered as ever.”
“Cut the crap. What did you call me here for? If it’s nothing important, I’m leaving.”
“Okay, okay, let’s get down to business.”
Pai Ge waved at everyone, signaling them to stop what they were doing.
“We called you all here today to discuss something important.”
Ouyang Dati stepped onto the poker table, all eyes on him. “I’m Ouyang Dati, the current leader of the Black Dragon Society. I’m sure you’ve all heard about the incidents involving Yi Yao and Xiaodie. We’ve had our share of fights, but that’s normal between men. We bleed, but we don’t cry. We fight, then we drink together, we complain together. That’s what youth is all about. No pain, no gain, right?”
“Right!”
“Haha, so you’re one of us now? Remember that punch you owe me?”
“Bring it on! Let’s settle it upstairs! Loser buys drinks!”
It felt like a gathering of close friends.
“Usually, our internal squabbles are our own business. But…” Ouyang Dati paused for effect. “The conflict between Yi Yao and Xiaodie was an internal matter. Yet, someone hired outsiders to attack Yi Yao’s father. This means there’s a mole among us, someone who’s trying to sow discord between us.”
His words sparked outrage among the crowd.
“What the hell? I didn’t know about this!”
“Yeah, I thought they just had a fight. I didn’t realize it was so serious.”
“So, that incident with Qinghao Ge was also…”
“What incident with Qinghao Ge?”
“You didn’t hear? He was beaten up shortly after he was discharged from the hospital. They said they were from the Black Dragon Society.”
“Quiet down!”
Dati raised his hand for silence. “The problem is, we don’t know who the mole is, where they’re from, which gang they belong to, or what their motive is. I’m warning you all to be careful. And if any of you have any information, speak up.”
“This is troublesome.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Kai, the sunglasses-clad leader of the Jiang Nan Gang, stepped forward. “Listen up, Jiang Nan Gang! If you’re the mole, confess now. If I find out later, your family will be collecting your body.”
He was as domineering as Long Fei.
“That’s all we have to say. Be vigilant, but don’t be too suspicious of your own brothers.”
He scanned the crowd, his brow furrowed. “Where’s Huang Qinghao? I told him to come.”
Just then, the elevator doors opened, and a boy in black clothes rushed towards us, his face pale, his breathing ragged. “Boss, boss… cough, cough, we have a problem!”
Lu Kai grabbed him by the collar. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Slow down!”
“Huang Qinghao, he…” The boy’s eyes were wide with fear. “He’s dead!”
“What?!”
Everyone, including Lu Kai and even Lu Yibing, who had been silently licking her lollipop, stared at him in shock.
“What happened?”
Lu Kai released the boy and took off his sunglasses.
“I received your message around five o’clock and went to inform Qinghao Ge. He said he needed to pack some things and told me to meet him at that abandoned factory we used to hang out at. But when I got there… when I got there…”
“Spit it out!”
“He was… he was shot…”
The boy’s voice trailed off, his eyes filled with horror.
“You’re saying only you and him knew about the meeting place?”
Lu Kai immediately grasped the key point.
“Yes, we talked on the phone. Only we knew…” The boy’s eyes widened in realization. “No way, Kai Ge, you don’t think…”
What did it mean if only two people knew about the meeting place?
“Don’t jump to conclusions.”
Pai Ge, seeing that Lu Kai was about to lash out, casually placed a playing card between them. “Did you call the police?”
“N-not yet… that area is deserted. I…”
“Alright, let’s end the meeting here. We need to go to that factory and investigate. If any of you are afraid of seeing a dead body, or have other matters to attend to, you’re free to leave.”
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