“……………”
On the table in front of me, there was that gleaming scimitar nailed to the ground. The cold light of its blade reflected on my face. At that moment, everyone looked at me as if I were a ghost, or... as if I were a madman.
I even pulled out a tissue and casually wiped the blood off my hands and body. Then, looking at Norton, who was visibly furious, I smiled and said, "Mr. Norton, I think we can continue our discussion... but perhaps we'll have to reduce the number of people involved. Now, if anyone has a phone, it would be best to call an ambulance."
...
*Smack!*
Norton slammed his fist on the table, pointed at me, and shouted, "Mr. Chen Yang, please don't forget, this is a police station! Right in front of me, you actually committed such a heinous act of assault against someone! You..."
I stared at him without flinching, my smile fading as I said coldly, "Mr. Norton, I think you've forgotten my name and my brother's name... Have you forgotten? We are the Big Circle! You should also know what happens to anyone who dares to bully the Big Circle!"
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room froze.
Aziz's bodyguard was still lying on the ground, and the leg of the chair I was sitting on was pressing down on the back of Aziz's hand. Although he was unconscious, he was still groaning in pain. Norton glared at me with angry eyes, as if he was about to explode at any moment, and the fat on his bloated face was trembling.
I noticed that his eyes were filled with a gloomy look, as if he was hesitant. Even in his rage, he still lacked confidence!
Yes, he lacked confidence!
The windows in the room were all closed, and in the extreme silence, I could even hear the slogans shouted by the protesters on the street below...
That's why I dare to be so arrogant! I just dare!
Because I know Norton, he wouldn't dare do anything to me right now!! The current situation is like a powder keg in the Vancouver underworld; just a spark could set it off!
Yes, Norton is a high-ranking officer in the police force... but so what? Those with nothing to lose have nothing to fear! Precisely because he's a high-ranking officer, he has to shoulder more responsibilities and consider more things!
Yes, he's a cop, and I'm a thief. From any perspective, it seems I should be afraid of him. If things really get out of control and the authorities use drastic measures against us, we have no way to resist…
However, if things really escalate to that point... hmph... then not only will the government lose all its prestige... but Norton's police uniform will probably have to be ripped off forever!
Therefore, they dare not use force...
Moreover, this chaos came too suddenly. If there had been prior warning, the police would naturally have had their own methods to handle it—suppression, division, appeasement, intimidation, and so on. But the current situation is like a bomb suddenly thrown in front of us… catching everyone off guard!
Get this straight: the fact that the police actually gathered us underworld bosses together for negotiations is unprecedented... that in itself is a compromise.
So, the claim that Norton is tough? I think it's mostly an act!
Having figured this out, I felt quite at ease. I leaned back in my chair, deliberately loosened my tie, and slowly smoked, watching Norton.
As a high-ranking officer in the police force, Norton was no fool; even in his rage, he could still see the situation clearly.
“Jeff…” he practically spat out, “Send an ambulance to get Mr. Archiz and his men to the back.” He avoided my gaze, then added, “Also, send a team to guard outside. If anyone dares to cause trouble here… handle it according to the rules!”
Hmph, deploying a squad of police to guard outside? Or are they just trying to save face and put on a tough front?
I sneered, "Since you're going to keep pretending, I might as well just tear off your mask completely!"
Seeing my sneer, Norton took a deep breath: "Mr. Chen Yang, I hope you understand that the police's patience has its limits. We sincerely invite everyone to sit down and negotiate, but if you continue with this attitude... please note, this is a police station, and you have now physically assaulted a gentleman in front of two senior police officers! I expect you to give me an explanation afterward!"
An explanation afterward? Ha... this is just trying to save face...
I have no intention of giving him any leeway; I'm here today to cause trouble!
What a joke! If the police can handle the situation, why would I try to take advantage of the chaos?
"No need, I can give you an explanation right now." I said calmly, "I think what just happened should be clear enough."
“Of course, at least twenty pairs of eyes saw it,” Norton couldn’t help but retort.
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow, placed my hands on the table, glanced at the bosses around the table, and slowly said, "Gentlemen, regarding what just happened, is there any gentleman who clearly saw it and is willing to come forward as a witness?"
...
No one spoke.
There's a curved blade stuck in front of me! And my eyes are filled with a mad, murderous aura! In this situation, who would be crazy enough to take on this kind of trouble?
These bosses are all from the underworld, so naturally they're not afraid of me. But after all, nobody likes to cause unnecessary trouble.
Poor Aziz was bullied by me, but he wasn't exactly popular to begin with. And now the whole situation is chaotic; everyone's fighting each other, there are conflicts between them… In a time like this, who would be willing to stand up for him and offend me? Offend the Big Circle?
Seeing that no one spoke, I smiled and stared at Norton: "Dear Mr. Norton, it seems that no one saw what just happened."
Norton was so angry that his face turned pale. Just as he was about to speak, Yang Wei, who was next to me, suddenly spoke up.
She coughed lightly, drawing all eyes to her, then smiled calmly: "Mr. Norton, and this... um, Officer Jeff, is that right?" Her gaze swept over the two officers: "I think it's necessary for me to make a protest to the police on behalf of Mr. Chen Yang. First of all, since both senior officers are here now, we reserve the right to file charges against the parties involved for the unfortunate incident that just occurred."
Then Yang Wei whispered something in my ear, and I smiled and nodded. I said loudly, "Alright, Mr. Norton, I am now, as a law-abiding citizen, filing a police complaint against Mr. Aziz and his entourage for attempting to murder me!"
I deliberately adopted a serious tone and laughed, "Everyone saw it. The conflict only started because we had a disagreement, but his men pulled out their guns and knives first! God is my witness, when the police summoned us here, I wasn't carrying any weapons… The only metal items my entourage and I had were probably lighters. And just now, this Mr. Aziz, his men actually drew their guns on me… and I only managed to injure him in self-defense…"
I glanced at Yang Wei: "Hmm, is it okay if I say it like that?"
Yang Wei suppressed a laugh: "That's right, that's exactly it."
“Look, Mr. Norton,” I said with a smile, spreading my hands, “I’m a law-abiding citizen, but even a law-abiding citizen has the right to protect themselves and fight back when someone tries to harm them, right? These are all clearly stated in the law.” I pointed to the knife in front of me: “They brought the knife, and the gun on the ground is theirs too… There’s no doubt about that.”
Norton was nearly driven mad with rage. Even with his excellent self-control, he couldn't hold back any longer. He slammed his hand on the table, turned, and stormed out, knocking over a chair in the process.
As soon as he rushed out, Jeff's expression changed. He looked helpless, gave me a deep look, and seemed speechless before quickly chasing after him.
The room erupted in a buzz of conversation, the focus naturally being on me. I had been incredibly arrogant just moments before, and now, facing everyone's gaze, I remained completely unfazed. The three representatives of the Hua Gang glanced at me, seemingly shaking their heads slightly. Given their style, they probably thought I had gone too far. Whatever, these guys were always cowardly, adhering to strategies like biding their time and practicing moderation; they deserved to be bullied.
As for the others, their gazes towards me were much more complex. Some were clearly smiling and showing goodwill, while others were looking at me with a hint of wariness.
The situation has been chaotic these past few days, with everyone fighting and killing each other. This Aziz from earlier is the leader of an Iranian gang. During the skirmishes, they seized some territory that originally belonged to our Big Circle. I had previously ordered a retreat, so we didn't retaliate after they took that territory.
These people probably think I'm targeting Aziz in retaliation for the turf war. And these past two days, other gang leaders who also tried to take our territory have quietly moved a little further away from me.
Ten minutes later, the conference room door was pushed open again, and Norton walked in with an embarrassed expression. This time, he didn't even dare to look at me, and when he scanned the room, he simply skipped over me.
He sat back down in his original spot, took a deep breath, and suppressed his anger. He said in a deep voice, "Alright, something unpleasant happened just now. Let's focus on the important matter at hand."
At that moment, several policemen walked in and carried Aziz and his two bodyguards out of the room. I obediently stepped aside.
I really went all out just now. The chair leg was pressing down on this guy's hand, and I deliberately ground it down a few times when I sat down... Hmph, with my strength, this guy's hand bone is at least comminuted! Even if it heals, he'll never be able to handle a knife or gun with ease again in his life!
I noticed that after Norton came in and sat down, there was another man besides Jeff. This man was about thirty years old, but had a head of gray hair, a thin face, and looked very shrewd.
After they came in, Jeff simply stood next to Norton, while the man, who wasn't wearing a police uniform but just a gray suit, sat down next to Norton without making a sound.
"Gentlemen, we've gathered you all here today hoping to resolve this issue." Norton's voice was still loud, but it lacked the forceful tone of before: "I think that for a long time, while we can't say we've been completely at peace, we've at least managed to coexist peacefully. But in the last two days, some very unpleasant things have happened, things that have caused considerable trouble not only for everyone here but also for the police!"
Part Two, Chapter Thirty-Two: The Famous "Big Dog"
Norton spoke for a while, and his tone gradually became much smoother, and his momentum recovered a little, but he still didn't dare to look at me.
“I think this is something no one wanted to see! Nobody likes trouble… and neither do we in the police force… In just two short days, there have been nine shootings, sixteen retaliatory assaults, and four gang-related killings in this city! The situation is deteriorating!” Norton said slowly, “I know you are all people of status, and your men are armed and well-connected! But I hope you understand one thing! This is Vancouver, and it is still under the Maple Leaf flag! It is not anyone’s private territory! All actions here must comply with the law and the rules!”
He then smiled, his tone softening slightly: "Of course, the police won't interfere in your personal feud. Although we're on opposite sides in this world, everyone understands that while we've always suppressed organized crime, we won't go too far as long as it's within certain limits. As for your personal grudges, we won't interfere now, nor will we in the future. However, there have been too many fights and killings these past few days! This situation cannot be allowed to continue! I've invited everyone here today so that, while you gentlemen are all here, you can clarify your differences face-to-face. Afterward, we can reach an agreement—an agreement that satisfies everyone! Once we reach an agreement here, I hope that after we leave this room, the streets of Vancouver will be quiet!"
Buzz!
An uproar immediately broke out below, and someone shouted, "Talk? How can we talk? Yesterday, six of my men were injured in the East District, and two of my shops were burned down! Are we just going to let this go like this?!"
He had barely finished speaking when someone retorted, "Shut up! You Indian swine! If your men hadn't crossed the line first, my men wouldn't have fought with you!"
Then someone else shouted, "You're all talking nonsense! My construction company was inexplicably shot at the day before yesterday, all by Aziz's men! But why did your men attack our territory last night? Have you joined forces with Aziz?!"
"Holy shit..."
“FUCK…”
“SHIT…”
For a time, most people were cursing each other.
"Quiet!" Norton, seeing that his shouts had no effect, slammed his fist on the table and yelled, "Quiet!!!"
Bang!
With a loud bang, the situation was brought under control. Norton slammed his fist on the table, his face a mixture of anger, annoyance, and helplessness: "I'll say it again..."
He seemed about to say something more. At that moment, the man in the gray suit who had been sitting next to him suddenly grabbed his hand, interrupting him.
Immediately, the man stood up. He was very thin, but very energetic. He spoke in a soft, pleasant baritone voice, though his tone was somewhat cold.
"Gentlemen, I only have one announcement to make: in forty-eight hours, the government has decided to launch a massive anti-gang operation throughout Vancouver. We will be deploying three-quarters of Vancouver's police force... and, depending on the situation, we will consider, if necessary, drawing on the military! Of course, I personally do not wish for that to happen." He spoke slowly, his voice neither warm nor cold: "So, there are only two options: First, either you resolve your issues at the negotiating table immediately and end the street fighting as soon as you leave the house! Second, you can continue your disturbances, but in forty-eight hours, we will be forced to use force!"
He spoke slowly and deliberately, yet with a composed demeanor. Moreover, Norton didn't seem annoyed by his interruption, which indicated that this man's status was no lower than Norton's!
After saying this, the man looked at me, as if he cared about me a lot.
He said slowly, "I've heard there's a Chinese saying, 'Too good to lose everything.' It's not a pleasant phrase. But I want to make it clear that the government's compromises are only within certain limits! Today, our willingness to sit down and negotiate with you is already the maximum compromise we've allowed! If it goes beyond that limit... we are prepared to face the worst-case scenario!"
He said these words to everyone, but his gaze was fixed on me alone, as if he were threatening me: either we all compromise now, or... we'll all perish together!
Everyone's expression changed!
Because nobody's a fool! Although the gang leaders are usually very arrogant, they also know that if they openly oppose the authorities, any underworld organization will suffer a terrible fate!
Seeing that his words had an effect, the mysterious man's voice grew even colder as he said in a deep voice, "So, from now on, I suggest everyone stay in this room and resolve your issues before leaving! You can leave only when your problems are resolved, and we will consider you our friend!"
"OK." After he finished speaking, I stood up first, casually straightened my clothes, glanced at them, and said, "In that case, I think I have no need to stay here."
“Mr. Chen Yang…” A spark flashed in the man’s eyes, but he remained calm and composed, seemingly adept at controlling his emotions. He said indifferently, “Do you really choose to stand against the police?”
“No, no, no…” I shook my head. “You’re wrong, sir. I think you must not have understood the situation! I, my men, and everyone here are innocent! Since the day before yesterday, these riots in Vancouver have nothing to do with me! Absolutely nothing!” I smiled easily. “You can ask Officer Jeff, or Mr. Norton, whether the police have arrested any of my men for causing trouble. You need to understand one thing: I have always been a law-abiding citizen. I have never done anything illegal in Canada… and in the police file, I am as pure as a virgin!”
"..." This guy looked at me, seemingly speechless.
"You can talk your business, you can have your own grudges, but I don't. From beginning to end, I've remained completely uninvolved. My people haven't participated in any vendettas or fights. All my people have stayed home peacefully, with only two cooks from the kitchen going out to buy supplies each day. Apart from that, no one else comes or goes from my place." I gave the man in the gray suit a cold look.
Then, I cupped my hands in greeting to the three elderly members of the Chinese community and waved to the three policemen: "Gentlemen, I still have some soup to cook at home, so please excuse me for not chatting with you here."
After saying that, I didn't even glance at these people, and led Yang Wei and the others out of the conference room.
Behind me, I vaguely heard the Hua Gang members sigh: "Big Circle has always been arrogant, but we've never seen him this arrogant before..."
As I walked out of the conference room, the police officers in the corridor looked at me with some surprise, but no one stopped me. I walked side by side with Yang Wei towards the back stairs.
"Are you really that confident?" Yang Wei chuckled softly.
"You're smarter than me, so stop pretending." I sighed and answered in a low voice.
Sure enough, before I even reached the stairwell, the conference room door behind me opened, and the man in the gray suit rushed out. He quickly walked behind me and called out in a steady voice, "Mr. Chen Yang, please wait a moment."
I stopped in my tracks and subtly exchanged a glance with Yang Wei.
“Mr. Chen Yang, may I have a talk with you?” He walked up to me, his voice frank and his expression sincere. “I think we might be able to have a meaningful conversation, which could be helpful to both of us.”