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"Boss, it's bad! The people from East District are coming!" A shout erupted like a bomb, shattering the tense atmosphere on the rooftop.
Li Zhenghao squinted, his sharp gaze lingering on Park Bucheng for a moment, a cold smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "It seems we have more important matters to attend to today. You, come with me!"
Park Bucheng let out a silent sigh of relief; he had nearly exposed himself just now. In the instant Li Zhenghao turned away, he swiftly shoved his notebook into the inner pocket of his jacket, his heart still pounding like a drum.
He hurried to catch up with Li Zhenghao, his steps feeling unsteady as his mind replayed the earlier tense moment. If Li Zhenghao discovered that he was hiding information, the consequences would be dire.
In the main hall of the hideout, chaos reigned like boiling water, bubbling and frothing. A dozen or so underlings gathered at the entrance, their expressions tense like a group of frightened rabbits, eyes fixed on the outside as if a beast would charge in at any moment.
Li Zhenghao strode confidently to the door, his powerful presence instantly intimidating everyone. Park Bucheng shrank back into the crowd, trying to minimize his presence, but his eyes darted around like radar, capturing every subtle change in the environment.
"Li Zhenghao! Get out here!" A booming voice called from outside, laced with a strong scent of gunpowder. "How dare you mess with my territory? If you don't give me an explanation today, this matter won't end here!"
Park Bucheng narrowed his eyes; through the crack in the door, he saw twenty or thirty fierce-looking individuals outside, armed and ready for a fight. Leading them was a burly bald man wearing a thick gold chain around his neck, standing like an iron tower—Jin Taishan, the boss of East District.
Li Zhenghao snorted dismissively and curled his lip. "Jin Taishan, have you lost your mind? What do you mean I've messed with your territory? You can eat your meals however you want, but don’t speak nonsense."
"Stop pretending!" Jin Taishan roared, veins bulging on his forehead. "My casino was smashed up, costing me tens of millions! The surveillance shows it was your men! The evidence is clear; do you still want to deny it?"
Park Bucheng's heart skipped a beat; he knew this had nothing to do with him since he had been active near the hideout for days and hadn’t had time to smash any casinos. Could someone be framing him? A sense of unease crept over him—there seemed to be a larger conspiracy at play.
Just then, a woman in a black suit stepped forward from behind, elegantly adjusting her collar and exuding an air of authority with every gesture. "Gentlemen, why not sit down and discuss this? Getting so worked up will only ruin our relationship."
Park Bucheng's eyes lit up; he thought to himself: Wait a minute, isn't that Kim Soo-yeon, the public relations director of Taiji Consortium? What is she doing here? Could it be…
Li Zhenghao clearly recognized Kim Soo-yeon, and his expression shifted slightly, the previously arrogant demeanor now subdued. "Director Jin, your presence is an honor," he said, attempting to regain composure.
Kim Soo-yeon smiled gently, revealing a charming grin. "Shall we move to a more suitable place for our discussion? The hotel's conference room is ready, and the serene environment will be better for communication."
Ten minutes later, Park Bucheng followed Li Zhenghao and others into a luxurious hotel conference room. He had intended to remain in the background as an invisible observer, but to his surprise, Li Zhenghao called him to sit beside him.
"This kid looks sharp; let him be a witness," Li Zhenghao remarked meaningfully, a flicker of something unnoticeable flashing in his eyes.
Park Bucheng shrank back slightly, feigning a submissive demeanor while his mind raced with thoughts. The circumstances of this negotiation were peculiar, and Kim Soo-yeon's appearance was particularly intriguing. He noticed her fingers tapping restlessly on the table, the rhythm chaotic, indicating her inner turmoil; something was clearly troubling her.
As the negotiation commenced, Jin Taishan abruptly tossed a stack of photographs onto the table. The images revealed several individuals vandalizing a casino. "These are your people! The evidence is irrefutable; do you still want to argue?" he challenged.
Li Zhenghao glanced at the photos, his face darkening ominously like clouds before a storm. "These individuals were indeed my subordinates, but they were dismissed long ago. Their current actions have nothing to do with me," he retorted.
"That's nonsense!" Jin Taishan slammed his hand on the table, glaring fiercely. "They are still operating on your territory! Do you dare claim ignorance?"
Just as the atmosphere grew tense and charged, Park Bucheng suddenly spoke up. "Um… I think I've seen them at Zhang Hu's place."
At this remark, all eyes turned toward him like spotlights. Park Bucheng pretended to be startled, stammering, "I… I saw them last time when I went to collect protection fees; they were drinking at Zhang Hu's place and seemed to be discussing something…"
A glint of interest sparked in Li Zhenghao's eyes as he fixed his gaze on Park Bucheng. "Oh? Go on; tell us everything you know."
Park Bucheng lowered his head, his voice dwindling to a whisper like a mosquito buzzing. "They… seemed to be planning something and mentioned boss Jin's casino…"
Jin Taishan's expression changed. He knew very well that Zhang Hu had been trying to annex his territory for years, and they had been in a constant battle, both openly and covertly. If this conflict was indeed instigated by Zhang Hu, then it would mean... He began to suspect whether he had fallen into a trap designed to lure him away.
Kim Soo-yeon interjected at the right moment, her tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. "Gentlemen, I believe this matter requires further investigation. Why don't we each take a step back and give each other some room? Impulsive actions won't resolve the issue until the truth is revealed."
After a heated exchange of words, both sides finally reached an agreement. Jin Taishan agreed to withdraw his men for the time being, while Li Zhenghao promised to assist in investigating the matter and provide Jin Taishan with an explanation.
After the meeting, Park Bucheng pretended to head to the restroom but actually followed Kim Soo-yeon. At the corner, he deliberately bumped into her and hurriedly apologized, "Sorry! I didn't mean to."
At the same time, as he helped Kim Soo-yeon up, he discreetly slipped a note into her palm, his movements so swift that they were nearly imperceptible.
Kim Soo-yeon paused for a moment before regaining her composure and nonchalantly holding the note in her hand. "It's fine, just be careful."
Back at their base, Li Zhenghao summoned Park Bucheng to his office. "You performed well today. It seems I didn't misjudge you; you've got some skills."
Park Bucheng lowered his head, feigning humility. "It was just luck..."
"Enough with the act," Li Zhenghao suddenly shifted his tone to a serious one. "I'm giving you an opportunity to investigate Zhang Hu and Jin Taishan's backgrounds. Find out what they're really up to."
Park Bucheng's heart raced; was this a test or did Li Zhenghao have other intentions? Before he could ponder further, Li Zhenghao added, "And also look into Kim Soo-yeon. That woman is not simple; I have a feeling she has ulterior motives."
As he left the office, a glint of determination flashed in Park Bucheng's eyes. He knew that a bigger storm was on the horizon. The note he had given Kim Soo-yeon contained only one line: "How much have you uncovered about the deal between the Taiji Consortium and the Gangster?"
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