My heart skipped a beat. I took a deep breath and looked at him, the smile on my face fading away bit by bit. Then, in a calm, almost cold voice, I said slowly and softly, "Mr. Thorin, I must say, your joke was indeed very funny... really, very funny."
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter 106: Enticement! But the other way around!
The atmosphere became slightly tense. Thorin had narrowed his eyes and was looking at me, while I stared back at him without backing down.
Finally, Thorin smiled and looked at me with a smile: "Young man, being impulsive is not necessarily a good thing."
I looked at him and said, "Having too big an appetite isn't a good habit either."
Thorin fell silent. He saw the defiance in my eyes, paused for a moment, and then said calmly, "Do you know who that Larry was? He used to be a good friend of mine, a very influential person. In Halifax, everyone knew his name; he had a nickname there: 'The Terrifying Larry.' I used to be very supportive of him. But later he betrayed me, rejected my kindness, and even did some things behind my back that I couldn't tolerate..."
I understood the threat in those words, but my expression remained unchanged.
Before he could finish speaking, I interrupted him abruptly: "Mr. Thorin."
"Um?"
“First of all, I want to say that I have great respect for you.” I tried to keep my tone calm and natural: “I have always admired you as the de facto controller of the entire Canadian underground order. I think there are probably very few people in the world who can do what you have done.”
Thorin's expression softened slightly. Then I changed the subject, saying, "However, today, I have to refuse your suggestion. Because such a suggestion is a matter of life and death for me."
I tossed the cigar aside, lit a cigarette for myself, and smiled casually. "To be honest," I said, "I've tried many times, but I've never really liked cigars. Only cigarettes make me feel truly comfortable." I paused briefly, then glanced around at the people around me. "Mr. Thorin," I continued, "I must say, the fact that I'm standing here today, before you, that I flew all the way from Vancouver to see you… all of this is enough to show my sincerity, you see. I'm here to talk to you with great sincerity. So, I hope to receive some sincere suggestions from you… rather than a lion's appetite."
After I finished speaking, I looked at Thorin's men and gave him a wink.
"Alright, you can go now." Thorin waved his hand.
Ten seconds later, only Thorin and I were left, while his closest henchman stood outside the iron gate in the distance.
“What do you want to say? You can say it now, young man.”
“What I’m trying to say is that I understand what you want.” I looked at old Thorin: “Look. Even if I really gave you ten percent, it would only be ten million dollars in profit every year… God, your palace alone probably costs that much every year. Is that ten million dollars a year really that important to you? You see, even a child understands this… I’m certainly not more foolish than a child.”
I continued with a laugh, “So, the only explanation I can think of is… you want control of maritime trade… but I have to say, your appetite is too big!! Of course, I won’t say stupid things like, ‘This business was built by me, it should belong to me… and now you’re taking it away. That’s obviously unfair,’ because I know the rules of the game. We’re the underworld, and the underworld can be unreasonable, I understand that. I also know your eagerness to gain control… it’s obvious.”
“Young man…” Sorin seemed about to argue, but I smiled, shook my head, and stopped him from speaking. “No, no, Mr. Sorin, I respect you, and I also hope to receive your respect… at least respect my intelligence, OK? I’m not a fool, neither are you or I. You want this deal, and complete control. It’s just that you feel it’s not the right time yet, after all, we’re still allies… so this small portion of shares you’re asking for is just an excuse… you want to drive a nail into my cake first! Yes, a nail! That way, in two or three years, with your powerful influence, solid foundation, and this nail, you can even drive me out of Huaxing Company and out of this deal! Isn’t that right… For God’s sake, let’s be honest, I’m really tired of going around in circles.”
I stared straight at Thorin, my eyes showing no fear.
Thorin sighed, his face turning cold: "Do you know that the last person who dared to talk to me like that was ten years ago! I ended up throwing that person into a concrete mixer!"
I was silent for a moment, and we stared at each other... After a long while, I suddenly smiled, my tone slightly strange: "If I may ask, Mr. Thorin, how old were you ten years ago...?"
These words were like a needle, piercing Thorin's greatest weakness!
His eyelid twitched, and in that instant, I clearly saw an undisguised glint of ferocity in the old man's eyes! That fierce gaze was just like the crocodile I had just seen, seemingly filled with murderous intent and bloodlust! It looked as if it might devour me and tear me apart at any moment!
I tried my best to remain calm, shook my head, looked at Thorin, and slowly said, "I have no doubt that you have that ability... I even think that with your strength, you could even drive me out of Canada! After all, I am a person of Asian descent. No matter how hard a person of Asian descent works here, it is impossible to develop to the point of being a threat to you without the efforts of several generations. You see, I don't want to beat around the bush anymore."
“Say what you want to say, young man.” Thorin’s voice was devoid of any friendliness.
"First of all, I admit that if I turn against you, I will definitely be the one who loses in the end." I said calmly, "It's simple, but there are two possibilities. First, I agree to your demand for 10% of the shares now, and then I live a comfortable life for two years. After two years, you will take this whole pie from my hands... And in the war between us, you can use your overwhelming strength to drive me out! As for the second possibility... If I refuse your demands now, I even doubt whether I can leave this manor alive today... Or even if you let me go back to Vancouver, a large number of Hell's Angels gunmen will come to Vancouver immediately. It will be a war, and a war that I am destined to lose. With your connections, those gangs in Vancouver who are currently subservient to me will all turn to you overnight, and even the authorities will side with you... In short, I'm doomed." As I spoke, my tone gradually became calmer, and my voice became more fluent and natural. Finally, I even looked at Thorin with a smile: "Am I right?"
"So what's the reason you're saying this to me now? Have you gone mad? Are you looking for death?" Thorin sneered.
"No, no, no, I don't want to die, I don't want to die at all." I said seriously, "I'm living a very comfortable life right now. Look, I have my own power, a large number of subordinates, money, beautiful women, and status... Why would I want to die? It's precisely because I don't want to lose all of these things that I'm saying these words to you today."
Thorin's gaze was somewhat complicated, as if he could no longer see through me at this moment.
But only I knew that although I seemed calm and composed, the back of my shirt was already soaked with sweat!
"I'm taking a risk..." I muttered to myself. Moreover, I've completely deviated from the strategy Yang Wei had set for me. Yang Wei's strategy was for me and Sorin to stall, get bogged down in the details, and plead with him until we finally agreed to concede five percent.
But now, I don't know what happened, but just now it seemed like a flash of inspiration struck me! I suddenly realized that there might be other solutions to this problem... That's why I said those things that angered Thorin!
“Okay, based on my assumptions, in either of those two possibilities, I’m doomed… But, after I’m gone, that piece of cake falls into your hands. Are you really capable of making it work?” My eyes were filled with sarcasm. “I’ve never been a humble person, so what I’m trying to say is… before I did this, it seems like you already owned all of Canada, but you never thought you could do business like this, make money like this!”
“Indeed, you came up with this brilliant idea; in that respect, you are a genius,” Thorin sighed.
"So, do you think this ship can continue to sail smoothly without me at the helm?" I sneered: "I came up with this plan, and you kicked me out... I can guarantee that this plan will be destroyed by the person who takes over in less than two years."
"Oh, what other difficulties will there be? Do you have any other plans... um..." Thorin couldn't help but ask, but he stopped mid-sentence under my mocking gaze.
Indeed, even Thorin thought the question was absurd.
Imagine, he wants to seize my company, and he expects me to kindly provide him with a future development plan for the company after he takes it? No one in the world is that stupid.
“I have all sorts of talented people under my command,” Thorin said calmly. “Young man, don’t be too arrogant and think that the world will stop turning without you.”
"Thank you for your reminder, I will definitely remember it." I smiled, bowed gracefully, and then, under Thorin's furrowed brows and questioning gaze, I said calmly, "But, may I ask, how many people around you can you absolutely trust right now?" My smile gradually faded, and I said slowly, word by word, "I mean... the kind of trust that you would place in someone you could appoint as your successor!"
When the word "successor" was uttered, Thorin fell silent.
I felt a slight surge of excitement; I knew I might have made the right bet. I gritted my teeth and continued, "Alright, you see, I'll tell you the truth... Of course, this truth might be a bit harsh, but I believe that sometimes, harsh truths are effective... Oh, you know, there's a Chinese saying, 'Good medicine tastes bitter, and honest advice is hard to swallow!'"
"Go ahead and say it." Thorin was now completely overwhelmed by my presence.
"First, I want to ask you, are you so determined to get this business for your own benefit or for the benefit of your organization?" I sneered, "Oh, you don't need to answer now, please wait until I finish."
I finished my cigarette and immediately lit another, saying quickly, "Alright, my second question is... well, it might sound harsh, but I still hope you'll consider it carefully. You, the great Mr. Thorin, the number one figure in the entire Canadian underworld, a powerful man. But have you considered your age? I must say, you're already an old man. As an old man, a thoughtful leader, you must now seriously consider the issue of your successor. Otherwise, at your age, how many more years can you remain in this position? Three years? Or five?"
My meaning is very clear…
Thorin is old, really old. He's over fifty, and I've heard his health isn't very good. Like me, he suffered injuries when he was young, quite a few. People like that... their health deteriorates with age! How many more years can he hold on in this position?
He must have realized this problem long ago. Yang Wei told me this before: the reason Sorin is so eager to launder his money is because he knows he doesn't have much time left, and he wants to get things done as quickly as possible!
Okay. Even if he could live another ten or twenty years... could he really stay in that position until he dies of old age?
Damn it, this isn't some party leader, this isn't a government leader! This is the mafia! When he gets old, weak, and his eyesight fails him, even if he lives a few more years, he can forget about staying in this position!
Thorin had been striving to develop his organization into a "family-like" model. In this model, he needed to reserve positions for those related to him by blood… preferably direct blood relatives!
Unfortunately, there seems to be only one candidate... namely, that princess who is known for her outrageous behavior and licentious nature.
Even an idiot would know that Her Highness is absolutely incapable of being a good leader... she wouldn't even qualify as "qualified".
So, should we leave the position for someone else?
Old Thorin understood that even if he left the position to his most trusted subordinate or comrade... once he abdicated, no matter how loyal that person had been... he would not survive if someone else took power! Not only would he die, but his precious daughter would not survive either!
This is the rule of the underworld!
"I...I've actually already chosen a successor." Thorin seemed to age instantly, his eyes dimming. His words were directed at me, but it was more like he was speaking to himself, as if comforting himself: "I've chosen Allen. That young man is good, very intelligent, and he's always been loyal and respectful to me. He's also my godson...I think he will definitely..."
“But we’re the mafia.” I ruthlessly shattered old Thorin’s confidence. “Many people in the organization know you wanted the princess to succeed you. It’s just that you ultimately realized Sophie wasn’t a suitable candidate, so you decided to let this… um… Allen take over, right?” I sneered. “But tell me, once Allen takes over, will he tolerate someone who might… even just a potential threat to his position? No! Absolutely not!!”
I looked at Thorin: "Let me ask you the simplest question. If you were Allen, and you knew that your boss had wanted his son or daughter to take over the company, but ended up giving the position to you... after you took over, would you tolerate your boss's son or daughter continuing to live?"
"No!!" Thorin answered decisively, "Because their existence would affect the 'legitimacy' of my position, and if anything happens in the future, others will use this as an excuse to challenge my legitimacy as the leader! So I will definitely... eliminate them completely!"
Thorin was completely deflated: "But I will leave Sophie a sum of money so she can go to Europe, or somewhere else, and live a rich life. I know the rules of this game. Before I die, I will relinquish all my power and try my best to keep my daughter out of this circle..."
He spoke softer and softer, because he couldn't even convince himself of his own words.
Please, we're gangsters! We don't put our hopes on others!! Anyone who poses a threat to us... unless they're dead!! Otherwise, we won't trust them!
These are the rules of the game in the underworld!
“You are an excellent seeker, but at the same time, you are also a father.” I looked at Thorin, feeling the time was right, and smiled, “You see, that’s what I wanted to say. So, I think we have an opportunity to cooperate.”
I sat down next to Thorin, looked at him, and slowly said, "I admit that our so-called friendship before was just hypocritical and boring socializing... But now, I want this opportunity to become a true ally of the great Thorin family!! I mean, a true ally! An ally who will never abandon the other side, no matter what!!"
“Princess Sophie is only in her early twenties. I think a beautiful and healthy girl like her will live to at least eighty… Can you protect her until she’s eighty?” I laughed and said, “That’s obviously impossible.” Then I looked at Thorin and said, “But I can! I can protect her and be her most steadfast ally. Her most loyal protector.”
"So this is your plan?" Thorin sneered at me. "To be honest, you're not the first person to make this suggestion to me. Many people are trying to get to my current position through Sophie! Hmph!! Who knows if you're trying to use me to get close to my daughter. Then, after I die, you'll control the Hell Angels!"
I squinted and smiled slightly at him: "Mr. Thorin, please take note of my skin, hair, and the color of my eyes."
“…Yes, I understand.” Thorin’s eyes lit up!
"Look, I'm of Asian descent, I'm Chinese. Do you think a Chinese person could possibly usurp the leadership of the Hells Angels? Absolutely impossible! It's like Americans electing a yellow-skinned person as their president? Good heavens. That's absurd!!" I laughed. "As I just said, I'm of Chinese descent. In this white world, for Chinese people to build an organization powerful enough to threaten the Hells Angels would require at least several generations of effort, plus a bit of God giving me the right amount of luck... You see, for at least a hundred years, I can't threaten your family's position. So there's no conflict of interest between us. No conflict of interest—that's the best foundation for our friendship!!"
I further tempted old Thorin: "Think about it, Mr. Thorin... I know your lifelong wish. It's to establish a family-style development. You hope that the Hells Angels, which flourished under your leadership, can continue to develop in a family model... instead of the Hells Angels immediately changing their surname after your death!! If that happens, who will remember you ten years from now? But if it continues in a family model, then even a hundred years from now, you will still be the greatest first-generation leader of this organization!! Your name will be forever engraved on the first page of the family tree!" I looked at old Thorin and smiled: "I am willing to become Her Highness the Princess's loyal ally and protector! In that case... you can let that Allen go to hell. Let Her Highness inherit your position, and then, continue to develop the Thorin family!!"
This is where I've found Thorin's greatest weakness... human selfishness!
The Hells Angels were developed under Thorin's leadership! Thorin made countless contributions to this organization, which led to its current size and influence... Would Thorin really be willing to hand over such a vast empire to an outsider after him?
What a joke! Even someone as intelligent as Mr. Yang the Second would forgo employing a bright young man like Yang Wei and insist on making his incompetent son his heir!
This is human selfishness!!!
I must say, Yang Wei's experience actually gave me a lot of inspiration.
“Very tempting, very tempting… extremely tempting.” Thorin rubbed his temples. “Chen Yang, I’m starting to think you’re a formidable fellow. If you were white, I would kill you instantly! Because I feel threatened by you! And you just painted a very beautiful picture for me… Hmph, Thorin… the family! Oh, the family! What a wonderful name, it represents that my descendants will inherit the empire I created for them!”
However, Thorin changed his tone, looking at me coldly: "But how can you guarantee that your promise will remain unchanged? Hmph, be my daughter's ally, her supporter, her protector... Heaven knows how much sincerity is in those words! Perhaps once I'm dead, you'll change your mind! How can you expect me to believe you?"
"I'm sorry, you have no choice but to take a gamble, because I have no other way to provide evidence to convince you," I said calmly.
“Or, I have a good idea… Oh, I know Sophie has a crush on you, how about…” Thorin hadn’t finished speaking when I immediately refused: “No, I will not marry your daughter.”
"Why?" Thorin's eyes flashed with anger again. "Do you think my daughter isn't good enough?"
Yes, that's true. I really despise princesses... I would never marry a woman like that! Unless I really enjoy being cuckolded!
But I could never say such a thing: "Because I have a girl I love. I have a lover." I said seriously, "No, no, no, you don't need to say anything. I know what you want to say. I also know that sometimes business is more important than feelings. You may be trying to persuade me... but I still want to tell the truth... If I marry your daughter today under pressure, even if I appear calm on the surface, I will harbor hatred in my heart! That's the truth! No one likes being forced to abandon the woman they love to marry another woman! Once you're gone, do you think a man filled with hatred will still be devoted to your daughter?"
“Oh, you make a good point.” Thorin immediately gave up. He was a smart man; I had already said so much, he wouldn't force me to marry his daughter, it would only make me hate him! He understood this very well: “But, without the marriage alliance, how can I trust you?”
“So I said, you have no choice but to gamble.” I smiled, but it was a genuine smile. “Yes, there’s no evidence. You have no choice but to gamble, gamble that I will keep my promise. Becoming the princess’s ally is beneficial to me, I’m telling the truth. After all, only Sophie becoming the leader of the Hells’ Angels is ultimately good for me, while that… Allen? I’m not mistaken, am I? Hmm, I don’t know him. Who knows if he’ll continue to try and steal my smuggling business after he takes power. No, no, no, let Sophie be the leader. That way I’ll feel safe.”
I stared at Thorin: "This is a multiple-choice question... two options. A, you don't trust me, you kill me, steal my business, and perhaps you can gain tens or even hundreds of millions in profit every year... but you can only enjoy it for three to five years, and after you go to meet your maker, all of this will have gone to someone else! Is that meaningful? So, choose B, keep me. Although you might earn tens of millions less every year for the next three to five years, at least you're giving your daughter a chance! Yes, a chance, even if you only trust me 50% now, but use that 50% trust to exchange for a chance... a chance for your descendants to control a vast underworld empire! A chance for Thorin's bloodline to continue flowing in the veins of this empire!!"
Finally, I sighed, looked at Thorin, and smiled, "Now, I await your answer."
Looking at the hesitant expression on Sorin's face, I secretly chuckled to myself: Yang Wei was right, negotiation is nothing more than coercion and enticement... Coercion had already been used, but enticement had completely reversed, and I was the one enticed to bribe Sorin...
Damn, I'm a genius! Damn!
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter 107: The Princess's New Favor
When Thorin and I returned to the banquet hall side by side, we were as close as old friends. Thorin had also changed how he addressed me, no longer calling me "young man," but "my friend."
This subtle change in address at least shows that he no longer looks down on me, but truly regards me as an ally of equal standing.
Old Thorin was very warm and even affectionate towards me. He patiently led me around the venue twice, introducing me to many important figures. Later, he even made some jokes with me that are typical between men.
"Oh, my friend, look how young and handsome you are... Girls love young and handsome guys. Aha, don't be shy, Weiwei isn't with you right now."