The middle-aged man walked into the shop and politely nodded and smiled at the three shop owners on the commercial street before turning his face to Chen Xiao, who was standing by the counter. It was obvious that Chen Xiao was the one who worked in the coffee shop, because he was the only one wearing an apron like those worn by coffee shop staff.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" Chen Xiao coughed.
"I want to make a request." Although the middle-aged man tried his best to keep his voice calm, a faint worry involuntarily showed in his eyes.
Entrustment?
Chen Xiao was somewhat bewildered.
Seeing that Chen Xiao didn't answer, the middle-aged man's anxiety deepened. He seemed to subconsciously glance back at the door—outside, the bodyguards stood as if facing a formidable enemy. Chen Xiao could tell that some of the bodyguards had bulging waistbands under their suit jackets, clearly carrying guns. Their seemingly scattered stance actually concealed a certain strategic advantage, highly effective for defense. The positions of the bodyguards perfectly covered all blind spots, ensuring that no matter which direction they looked, at least two people could keep an eye on them simultaneously.
"Don't worry, no matter what happens to you outside, or whether your request is accepted or not, once you step through this door, this is our territory. At least you are absolutely safe inside this door."
Uncle Tian, sitting to the side, spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice carrying a hint of confidence.
"Phew..." The middle-aged man seemed to finally let out a long breath. He glanced at Uncle Tian: "Excuse me..."
"No need to talk to me, talk to him. He's the one in charge of this coffee shop now." Uncle Tian smiled leisurely, crossed his arms behind his head, and leaned back on the sofa.
The middle-aged man's eyes held a strange glint, but he looked at Chen Xiao seriously, not daring to underestimate him in the slightest just because Chen Xiao was young.
"Hello, my surname is Lu." The middle-aged man spoke politely: "My name is Lu Chengzhe."
After saying that, he picked up the leather suitcase he was holding and gently placed it on the counter. He pressed down on the edges of the suitcase with both hands, and with two clicks, the suitcase opened gently, revealing its contents...
Chen Xiao glanced inside and his heart skipped a beat!
Given Chen Xiao's family's financial situation when he was young, he wouldn't be surprised if the box only contained money. Moreover, he wasn't surprised to see so many priceless diamonds and gold stored in the safe upstairs in the coffee shop.
However, inside this box was a sword!
To be precise, it is an ancient sword.
The three-foot-long sword, with its hilt and guard bearing ancient yellowish-green rust, was clearly an antique. While the blade also bore the marks of time, it still faintly gleamed with a cold light. Several red and green gemstones were inlaid on the hilt, emitting a soft, eerie glow…
Although Chen Xiao didn't know much about antiques, he could tell from the cautious look on the middle-aged man named Lu Chengzhe's face that the sword must be very valuable!
The sword was secured inside the box with several soft ribbons and was lined with padding.
Lu Chengzhe opened the box, carefully took out the sword, held it out with both hands, and said in a deep voice: "I know that your organization is extraordinary. If you want to entrust me with something, you will definitely not be interested in ordinary money and material things. However, this sword is my family heirloom. In terms of value, a similar longsword was auctioned at Sotheby's three years ago. It was from a similar period to mine, but its quality was slightly inferior. The price it fetched at the auction was ten million US dollars."
Ten million dollars?
Chen Xiao was also moved.
Uncle Tian and the estranged couple, on the other hand, remained completely calm, showing no surprise whatsoever, as if they were already used to such priceless treasures.
Zhu Rong glanced at Uncle Tian and pursed his lips: "Old Tian, you're the expert in this area, take a look."
Uncle Tian smiled, walked over, and gently lifted the sword with one hand...
The guy, who originally looked like a mechanic covered in engine oil, completely changed his demeanor after he took a sword in his hand! His previously unremarkable face and his peaceful, kind eyes suddenly became sharp and piercing after he held a sword in his hand!
Looking at Uncle Tian now, with a sword in hand, he stood proudly on the spot, his entire demeanor seemingly merging with the sharp edge of the sword! It was hard to tell whether he accentuated the sword or the sword accentuated him!
Buzz...
Uncle Tian flicked his finger lightly on the sword's edge, and the sword roared like a dragon. The sword's edge trembled slightly at a rapid frequency, and the sound actually made Chen Xiao feel dizzy!
"It's a fine sword." Uncle Tian said calmly, one hand behind his back, as he slowly placed the sword back into the box. He seemed to smile slightly, as if talking to himself:
"It's barely comparable to the one I used back in the day."
He spoke in a low voice, so low that only Chen Xiao, standing beside him, could hear him. Chen Xiao's expression turned strange…
Back in the day? His sword? Did this Uncle Tian like using swords? But the era of cold weapons is over a century ago...
Thinking of this, Chen Xiao suddenly felt a strange thought and couldn't help but glance at the man subconsciously...
Lu Chengzhe seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, raising his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead: "So, you gentlemen are willing to accept my commission?"
Uncle Tian and the incompatible couple exchanged glances. Uncle Tian seemed to smile, but then pointed at Chen Xiao and said, "Mr. Lu, I think you've forgotten what I just said. In this room, he's the one in charge. All the commissions, in this room, in this place, can only be decided by the person in charge of the coffee shop."
These words surprised not only Lu Chengzhe, but also Chen Xiao himself, who was stunned and frozen on the spot!
Entrustment?
A commission worth ten million dollars?
Me? The person in charge?
I'm in charge?
Chapter 41 [A Few Old Fools?]
The three unscrupulous business owners on the abandoned street all stared at Chen Xiao, leaving him speechless.
Lu Chengzhe seemed somewhat expectant, and said politely to Chen Xiao, "Sir, I am sincerely seeking your help, and the work I have entrusted to you absolutely does not violate your organization's code of conduct in the slightest... so..."
Although Chen Xiao was surprised, he was still quite smart. He swallowed hard and stammered, "Well... then, please tell me what you are commissioning me for."
After saying that, he couldn't help but glare at the three unscrupulous street vendors.
Lu Chengzhe shook his head: "Some business matters have offended people I can't afford to offend. Now, the lives of myself and my family are threatened."
As he spoke, he took out a thin document from a hidden compartment under the box and respectfully placed it on the counter between the two of them.
"This contains the detailed instructions. The situation is roughly like this: a month ago, I received an anonymous letter containing threats and intimidation. It demanded a large sum of money be prepared and transferred to a designated account on a specified date." Lu Chengzhe smiled bitterly. "I'm quite wealthy, and over the years, I've received many of these kinds of extortionate and intimidating attacks. Being rich has its troubles. Initially, I didn't pay much attention to this, treating it as a normal situation. But then, after the payment deadline specified in the threatening letter passed, a series of strange things started happening in my home."