Chapter 84: The Mysterious Suitcase

"Now you can speak," said Sun Dahai, his face twisted in fear as he looked at the handful of men sprawled on the ground, sobbing and howling in pain. Only a moment ago, those men had been clutching their weapons, jeering as they prepared to stuff the pale-faced stranger before them into a barrel and toss him into the sea. But in the blink of an eye, they were all flat on the ground. The speed was unbelievable.

His skills, his calm demeanor in the face of chaos—it was as if he hadn't even batted an eye while teaching those thugs a lesson. The cries and wails did nothing to disturb the icy indifference on his face. This was no ordinary man. They only made a living smuggling goods through the port, never imagining they’d provoke someone so formidable.

"I’ll only ask once: who gave you the goods?" The stranger’s voice was cold.

Sun Dahai was about to speak when Yao Bo blurted out, "Boss, we can’t say! If we do, we’ll be dead!"

"Dammit," Sun Dahai roared, rising and kicking Yao Bo square in the face, his fury boiling over. If it weren’t for this fool’s reckless behavior, he’d never have attracted such trouble. He’d thought the kid was clever, but it was nothing but misguided bravado. Even if they kept silent, the goods were already in the stranger’s hands—silencing a few of them would be easy. Why act tough now, when it counts? Where was this bravado before?

Yao Bo was stunned. What was happening? He felt wronged; he was only trying to protect their lives.

Seeing the look on his face only infuriated Sun Dahai more. He kicked Yao Bo a few more times before sidling up to the stranger, ingratiatingly, "Boss, ask whatever you want. I’ll tell you everything I know."

Sun Dahai’s ability to change his demeanor so quickly almost made Ye Qiu want to applaud him. Truly a man from the underworld—flexible, able to bow and rise as needed.

"Who gave you the goods? Where did they come from?"

"From Baosheng Province," Sun Dahai answered. "A man who makes his living by the sea gave them to me. He’s always out on the water; everyone calls him Sea Loach."

Ye Qiu gazed at Sun Dahai impassively. The expression seemed genuine. It appeared Sun Dahai really didn’t know who the mastermind was.

"I’m taking the goods. Keeping them is a death sentence."

"What goods? Are you here for seafood?"

Ye Qiu smiled. "Boss Sun, you’re quite interesting. If I get the chance, I’ll come back to buy seafood from you again."

Sun Dahai breathed a long sigh of relief. He’d survived. It hadn’t been easy.

...

"Sixth Master, what’s wrong?"

Jin Liu had the air of a true underworld figure, preferring to be addressed as ‘Sixth Master’ rather than ‘Boss.’ He rushed back to the office, rummaging through drawers and files, leaving his assistant perplexed.

"I’m going away for a few days. If anyone asks, tell them I’m abroad," Jin Liu ordered, having already purchased a ticket.

"Yes, Boss," the assistant replied, then remembered something. "Sixth Master, there’s a thirty-million contract to sign tomorrow."

"Have them wait until I return."

"What?" The assistant was dumbfounded. This wasn’t a domestic company where they could smooth things over with a drink—they had a rapport. This was a foreign company; if they stood them up, the deal would go to someone else.

"What are you ‘what’ing about?" Jin Liu kept searching, seemingly unable to find what he wanted. He sighed and urged his assistant, "Go to the bank and withdraw as much cash as you can, and do it quickly."

"Sixth Master, without an appointment you can’t withdraw much."

"Enough with the excuses, just get as much as you can."

After shoving the assistant out, Jin Liu called Wu Pipa. "Pipa, I’ve got a job overseas. If I don’t return in a few days, go see Doctor Xiao."

Wu Pipa wanted to say more, but Jin Liu had already hung up.

Jin Liu lit a cigarette, took a drag, stubbed it out, then left, calling his assistant to meet him outside the bank.

...

"Hey, Yezi, I joined the Cosmic Association. Old Chen introduced a manufacturer to me—come help me vet them."

"Big Sis, I’ve got things to do. Besides, I don’t know much about business," Ye Qiu protested. He’d just retrieved the box and hadn’t even examined its contents before his sister stopped him.

"Stop whining. I think you’ve been slacking lately, and that won’t do." Liu Yiran tugged Ye Qiu’s ear. "Listen, this tech company is no ordinary outfit. Their mechanical arms have won numerous patents. Big Sis needs someone to assist."

She could handle it herself, but for some reason, she just wanted to use work as an excuse to keep Ye Qiu from running off, to have him close by at all times.

"Fine, when?"

"In the next few days."

"Let me know when you’ve set the date. By the way, where’s Second Sis?"

"At the hospital. Her surgery schedule is packed."

"Then I’ll go find her."

Ye Qiu hurried off. He’d returned to get Xiao Yuru to help analyze the box’s contents, but Second Sister was already at the cosmetic hospital. Though he had an AI like Yunyan, Yunyan still lacked practical skills—a true professional was needed.

"This guy’s so secretive," Liu Yiran muttered. Ye Qiu’s furtive behavior, always seeking out Yuru as soon as he returned, struck her as odd. Something wasn’t right. No, she decided not to go to the office today. She’d secretly follow Ye Qiu and Yuru, to see what they were up to.

Ye Qiu arrived at the cosmetic hospital just as Xiao Yuru donned her surgical gown.

"Yezi, I’m busy today. Entertain yourself," she said, disappearing into the operating room.

Just then, Ye Qiu turned to see Lin Wan’er coming in.

"She’ll do," he thought.

"Come with me," he said, grabbing Lin Wan’er and pulling her outside.

"Where to?" Lin Wan’er was still upset about Ye Qiu’s blunt behavior last time. At the door, she struggled out of his grasp, annoyed. "Explain yourself. Where are you taking me?"

"Enough talk. I’ll explain on the way," Ye Qiu said, pulling her into the car.

Lin Wan’er considered getting out, but seeing Ye Qiu’s serious expression, she buckled her seatbelt.

"What’s with all this rush?"

"You studied medicine, right? I need you to help analyze something."

"I studied traditional medicine."

"Traditional medicine needs to keep up with the times," Ye Qiu retorted, starting the car and heading toward the unfinished development zone.

Rows of uncompleted buildings rose among tall grass—some wild stalks grew over a meter high. The area was surrounded by woods; at night, no one would dare come alone.

Lin Wan’er wasn’t worried Ye Qiu harbored any ill intentions. Though they didn’t get along, she knew his character, and besides, she was Xiao Yuru’s senior—Ye Qiu was just a younger brother.

"Ye Qiu, what are you dragging me out here for?"