Yang Wei tilted her head and thought for a moment: "I think it's a bit unreasonable. Why would the Vietnamese attack a police station for no reason... Unless they wanted to kill all the gang leaders involved in the negotiations at the police station? But obviously, the bomb attack was on the second floor of the police station. Those negotiating upstairs were not injured, so I think this attack was more of a demonstration. I think the Vietnamese wanted to provoke the authorities and simply launch a large-scale purge."
"Their goal is simple." I sighed. "Right now, the most honest ones are the Vietnamese. They've consolidated all their power! Now that the police station has been attacked, the police will definitely launch a massive anti-gang operation! All the gangster establishments in Vancouver are just waiting to be wiped out again and again! But the Vietnamese will undoubtedly suffer the least... because they've already consolidated their power. And the most unfortunate ones are the Chinese gangs, the Arabs, the Indians, the Iranians... Of course, our big circle is lucky too; at least I don't think Doug will target us. And, recently... we've been behaving very well."
"This is a classic case of turning the tables on them." Yang Wei smiled bitterly. "It seems that the Vietnamese leaders are indeed not simple people... You tried to muddy the waters, so they simply went all out and made things bigger! Now that the police have already broken off relations, you can only obediently endure it and can't take any more action! Your plan to muddy the waters has failed."
I shook my head, but I wasn't discouraged at all: "Hmph, victory and defeat are common in war. I'm young, and this is my first time in charge. Losing the first battle isn't shameful. We'll figure out how to get back at them! Hmph... I'm not worried about that. It's just that the Vietnamese have caused such a big commotion, they've actually suffered losses too, at least this police crackdown on organized crime won't be over for at least two or three months. Everyone's closing down their shops... let's see who suffers the most!"
I paused, my eyes turning grim, and slowly said, "What I'm most concerned about right now is the origin of this 'Cobra'! The guy I killed on the rooftop wasn't Vietnamese at all! He was a white man! But I spoke to him, and it's clear that the Cobra he mentioned is an organization, not an individual! There seem to be some people whose codename is Cobra. What is their relationship with the Vietnamese? And... Cobra owes our Big Circle a blood debt! Now I've finally found the creditor!"
"You...you wait a moment." Yang Wei's eyes were complicated. "I've made some new discoveries here."
She then left the ward. A moment later, Hansen entered.
The tall, imposing Black man slowly walked to my bedside, his face cold and indifferent. He then sat down in a chair, his resolute face showing a hint of hesitation as he glanced at Yang Wei.
"Hansen, tell him what you know," Yang Wei sighed.
“Yes, Miss.” A hint of menace flashed across Hansen’s dark face. Looking at me, he slowly said, “Mr. Chen Yang, regarding ‘Cobra,’ I do know some information. I once served in a US special forces unit and participated in some overseas covert operations… I know there’s a very active mercenary organization in Africa called Cobra. We’ve dealt with them before. These people are very capable and have a very effective system. At the time, they were working for a small African country. But later, a coup d’état occurred in that country, with the involvement of Western political forces, and the small country’s government was overthrown. Cobra lost its boss and became a completely independent mercenary organization. According to what I’ve heard since, they have now completely transformed into a free-roaming organization that takes on jobs worldwide, charging very high prices… I think perhaps the people you met this time are from this mercenary group… They were probably hired by the Vietnamese.”
Hansen paused, looking at me with his thick eyebrows furrowing. "I regret that you didn't tell me about the unfortunate incident on that island where several of your men were killed. However, after Miss Yang told me about it today, I must tell you something. That practice of killing the enemy and severing their heads, lining them up... that's the style of the Cobra I'm familiar with! The Vietnamese wouldn't do that, but the Cobra would. I know that they massacred small villages and other small armed groups in Africa. After winning, they would slaughter all the prisoners of war, sever their heads, and line them up to intimidate the enemy."
After a pause, Hansen slowly said, "In Africa, many small countries with chaotic political situations are rife with killings. It's a world full of cruelty and violence! So I need to remind you that you've not gotten involved with a gang, but with a group that enjoys killing... a war machine."
After saying this, he stood up and walked to Yang Wei's side. The black bodyguard suddenly spoke in a serious tone: "Miss Yang Wei, my duty is to protect your safety. However, given the current situation, your friend has gotten involved with a group of highly skilled, maniac killers. I must remind you that the situation is probably not entirely safe now. With me by your side alone, I'm afraid I cannot fully guarantee your safety. Therefore, I suggest you leave here and go home as soon as possible… Of course, I'm only offering advice. If you wish to stay, I will continue to protect you… But I will report the special circumstances here to my family. This is for your safety."
He finished speaking in a harsh tone, but a hint of concern appeared in his eyes. Then, the burly black man strode out of the room.
Yang Wei looked at me with a complicated expression for a while, then slowly said, "Chen Yang, now you probably need to consider some additional issues. Your enemies are no longer just simple gangs. I'm going out to make a phone call now to see if I can get some help from some of my old friends."
She gently squeezed my hand and slowly walked out of the room.
I leaned back on the pillow and pondered for a while...
Hmph, mercenaries? African mercenaries?
The Vietnamese are certainly willing to spend a lot of money hiring thugs!
I pondered this matter for a long time, thinking it over and over again, and finally I made up my mind!
I took my phone out from under my pillow and quickly dialed a number.
"Hello?" After the call connected, I said slowly in a calm voice, "Is this Fatty Fang?"
"...The voice on the other end of the phone was clear, and it was Fatty Fang's hearty voice, but his tone was somewhat wistful: "Good lad, I heard you've been causing quite a stir in Vancouver... Old Eight...sigh, I heard you're in charge now, what's up? Is there anything this old man can help you with?"
My tone was calm: "Brother, I am indeed in some trouble right now. The Vietnamese have hired a group of professional mercenaries as thugs, and things are in complete chaos here. They blew up the police station today, and I reckon we'll all be under constant police surveillance for the next few days! My brothers here will probably have a hard time making any moves... so..."
Before I could finish explaining, the fat man on the other end of the phone suddenly burst into laughter: "Haha... Bombed the police station? Damn! Those Vietnamese monkeys really dare to do that!! I get what you mean... Kid, enough of that, I'll try to send a team of 'paratroopers' over there to back you up, how about that?"
"Thank you, this is exactly what I need right now," I said slowly.
"Alright!" The fat man's voice was resolute: "I can agree to your request right now! The personnel will be transferred to you soon, but the rules will remain the same as before... Don't worry, I will persuade those old men here! We can't just see our people being bullied overseas! If those old guys upstairs refuse to send anyone, I, Fatty Fang, will come and help you myself with a gun!"
I was silent for a moment, then said seriously, "Thank you, brother!"
I put down the phone and looked out the window.
The hospital windows let in plenty of light, and the sky outside was very bright. But on this bright day, I... or rather, we...
We're about to unleash a bloodbath in Vancouver!
Hmph... a cobra, huh?
Everyone knows that the "paratroopers" of the Big Circle are the most elite group in the Big Circle! Many of them are veterans or have fought in wars!
Hmph, paratroopers versus African mercenaries...
Come on, Cobra?
Who's afraid of who?!
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter Thirty-Eight: 36 Degrees Celsius
"You can take a look. If there are no problems, please sign it." A young-looking, very polite policeman placed the written statement in front of me.
I didn't raise my hand; instead, the lawyer next to me picked it up first, examined it carefully, and then gave me an OK look.
I quickly signed my name and handed it back to the police.
"If there are any problems, we'll probably need to come back to you." The police officer stopped giving his statement.
“I’m very willing to cooperate with the police.” I smiled.
"By the way, I have the utmost respect for your bravery! Your skills are superb, which I greatly admire." The policeman stood up.
I didn't speak, but the lawyer beside me said in a professional, calm tone, "Alright, my client needs plenty of rest. Officer, if you have no further questions, I think we can leave."
Everything was so simple, so simple that I didn't even have to put in much effort.
Why? Because I have power and money now!
God knows, just a short while ago, I brutally murdered someone on the rooftop of the police station! But now? The police come to my room, first offering a round of pleasantries, then speaking to me politely. Afterwards, my statement is reviewed by a lawyer, and I can even ignore these uniformed officers at any time…
“I’ll take care of this for you.” The lawyer, a Chinese man with yellow skin, was a second-generation Chinese immigrant in Canada. “You just need to do as I say. This isn’t difficult. You’re injured, we have hospital records, and the police station bombing can be attributed to the deceased… We’re in a favorable position. The police won’t give you any trouble…”
Actually, I didn't really listen to what he said after that; I just nodded casually and gave a couple of half-hearted replies.
Even after the lawyer left, I was still lost in thought.
What am I thinking?
It might sound a little funny when I tell you.
I'm thinking back to my time in China, when I was nameless, powerless, and penniless. I was arrested and taken to a police station, handcuffed to a radiator, forced to squat, with a basin of cold water in front of me, and beaten with an electric baton… And then there was when I first came to Canada, I was arrested and taken to a police station, where I was beaten by the police…
What about now?
I smiled, a smile that was somewhat wicked and cold. I was lying in bed. I had killed someone, but the police had to be subservient to me.
That's the difference.
I rested for a while, and then Xiluo rushed in like a whirlwind, almost breaking down the door of the ward.
Seeing me lying peacefully in bed with my eyes open, Xiluo breathed a sigh of relief and looked at me very seriously: "I thought something terrible had happened to you... I was so scared by the situation. If you had collapsed too, everything would have been over."
I lay in bed, but surprisingly, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. I glanced at Xiluo: "Do you have any cigarettes?"
"have."
Xiluo was smart enough to close the door and hand me a cigarette.
I took a leisurely puff and laughed, "Look, we smoke so much, we'll all die of lung cancer sooner or later when we get old. But everyone dies eventually, in a few decades. It'll be either cerebrovascular disease, lung cancer, or some other ailment... Whatever disease we get, it's still a disease! We're all going to die anyway, whether it's lung cancer or some other ailment, it's all pretty much the same."
Xiluo looked at me, somewhat bewildered by my words, and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
I chuckled, exhaled a puff of smoke, and looked out the window: "Look at the sky, isn't it bright? Soon, very soon! In three days at most, the weather in Vancouver will be completely different."
Xiluo noticed that I was acting strangely, but he didn't dare to say anything. He just sat there quietly, waiting for me to finish my cigarette.
I tossed away the cigarette butt, then yanked out the IV drip from the back of my hand and sat up. My ribs still hurt a bit, but I could bear it.
"Get me the paperwork done, I want to be discharged," I shouted.
"Are you alright... about your injuries?" Xiluo frowned.
I chuckled. "Hey, have you forgotten what I told you about smoking? What's there to be afraid of? It's just a minor injury, you can bear it and it'll pass. It'll only hurt a little. Besides, in this situation, brother, I'm not trying to be mean, but without me, I'm worried I really can't handle things alone."
I managed to sit up, and although it hurt a lot, I still smiled broadly, my brows furrowed as I smiled, to the point that I felt like a madman.
I punched Xiluo in the chest and then had him help me up.
I changed my clothes and put on my shoes in the room, then leaned on Xiluo and walked out of the ward. I saw several of my brothers standing in the corridor outside. These were all my trusted men; each of them had a gloomy face and a menacing look. They didn't look like good people at all, and the nurses and the like avoided them.
When they saw Xiluo and me come out, they immediately surrounded us. Seeing that I was alright, they all seemed relieved.
"Alright, stop standing there, I'm tough as nails, I won't die." I winced in pain, but still laughed loudly. Some quick-thinking people grabbed a wheelchair to push me out, but I refused.
“Stand up as you go out,” I said calmly. “Right now, countless people are watching us, both openly and secretly. Back home, I can lie down, writhe on the floor in pain, it doesn’t matter. But outside, I’ll walk back standing up!”
My brothers were all silent, except for Xiluo, who was supporting me. Everyone else walked behind me without saying a word. The atmosphere made me chuckle. I turned around and said with a smile, "What's wrong? You guys, why are you all looking so sullen... It's like a funeral procession. I'm not dead yet."
As I reached the end of the corridor, I saw Yang Wei approaching. Her expression was somewhat gloomy. Seeing me change my clothes and being supported by Xiluo, she immediately became annoyed and whispered sharply, "Chen Yang! What do you want?"
I said slowly, "Go back. My injuries are all external. What can be treated in the hospital, I can also treat back home. Here, with people watching me and countless police officers waiting outside, what else can I do but go back?"
Yang Wei thought for a moment, sighed, and took over Xi Luo's position. Xi Luo hesitated for a moment, but did not refuse, and obediently let Yang Wei take over supporting me.
"Alright, Xiao Wu. I'll take you home... I have something to tell you on the way."
I didn't see Hansen with her, but I vaguely guessed that Yang Wei might want to say something to me.
Sure enough. There were police officers waiting at the hospital. When I was checking out, there were police officers right next to me. They followed me openly, but they didn't interfere with my actions.
The only thing that surprised me was that as I stepped off the elevator and into the hospital lobby, I had just turned a corner when I saw a large group of reporters right in front of me!
Before I could react, a flurry of flashes went off in front of me. Xiluo and the others reacted instantly, leaping forward to block me, while police rushed over to help restrain the reporters.
I looked at Yang Wei strangely: "What happened? I'm just a gangster, how did my injury and hospitalization attract these paparazzi?"
Yang Wei smiled enigmatically: "Things are different now. These media outlets are all focused on the police station, and when it exploded, the whole of Canada was shaken! As for you, heaven knows how these reporters got inside information... But it could also be a misunderstanding. There were police officers with minor injuries in the police station explosion. They were all taken to this hospital. These reporters may not know your identity; they might have mistaken you for a police officer."
I chuckled and said, "Me? A policeman?"
As I suspected, the next day some newspapers did indeed publish photos of me being supported, with a serious and surprised expression on my face... The accompanying text read: "Police officer injured in the line of duty during police station bombing..."
"I'm afraid I should go back first." On the way, in Yang Weidi's car, her face was gloomy.
"Oh," I mumbled in response, looking out the window.
“That stubborn Hansen told my family about what happened here. My uncle just called me and sternly ordered me to go back immediately and not to get involved in this mess.” Yang smiled and said with a hint of disdain, “Hey, he’s getting old and he’s worried I’ll cause trouble outside.”
She glanced at me, and seeing that I remained silent and only stared out the window, she asked, "Why...why aren't you saying anything?"
I turned to look at her: "You should go back. It's good that you're going back. The situation is a bit chaotic right now... The planning stage is over, and now it's time to get down to business."
"You...you mustn't do anything rash!" Yang Wei said solemnly.
There were only the two of us in the car; she was driving, and I was sitting next to her. Behind and in front of our car were Xiluo's cars. Yang Wei's bodyguard, Hansen, was nowhere to be found.
"I questioned Hansen carefully about that mercenary organization; they're a bunch of war machines! A bunch of murderous madmen. I think the Vietnamese have dug themselves into a huge mess this time! These kinds of madmen are impossible to control. Hiring them is like inviting a god, but getting rid of him is another story! I have a suggestion for you… tolerate the police's large-scale crackdown on organized crime for now. This crackdown will be huge… but after this, other organizations in the underworld will definitely suffer significant losses. After this, many forces will be left in a vacuum… then you can step forward! Just wait to reap the benefits. That's when you can truly fight the Vietnamese! For now, you must be patient! Be careful the police don't wipe you out too." Yang Wei said slowly, "What I'm most worried about is that you're still too impulsive… those Cobra mercenary organizations are just passing through; they'll leave after they've done this job. The Vietnamese can't support these expensive thugs forever…"
"Slap, slap..."
I cracked my knuckles, looked down at my palms, and mumbled, "I know."