Chapter 50: Prison Visit and the Reserve Plan

Half-asleep and with no idea what time it was, the heavy door of the holding cell was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

Amidst a flurry of heavy footsteps and a noisy commotion, Wang Yaotang rubbed his eyes and sat up, immediately spotting Sang Yunkai, who was looking around. "Lawyer Sang."

"Lawyer Zhou."

"Ah-Zhen."

Wang Yaotang scrambled to his feet, walked over to the iron bars, and peered outside. The police had let in three lawyers.

"What took you so long?" Wang Yaotang asked, sounding somewhat reproachful.

"Hey, I waited outside for ten hours. Is that any way to talk to me? Shall I just leave?" Sang Yunkai retorted briskly. "Ah-Yao, getting a promotion right inside the police station—now that is impressive!"

"And the trouble is just as big," Wang Yaotang laughed. "I was just wondering why you took so long to get here."

"The cops were all out on a massive sweep; nobody had time to deal with you lot anyway. Besides, you've got forty-eight hours," Sang Yunkai said with a smile.

"Can I make bail?"

"No, at least not for the time being."

"Liu Zhanwei, Cai Yijie, and the others..."

"Ah, the paperwork has been handled. Mr. Cai and another partner went on a business trip to Macau."

Wang Yaotang nodded. That was a relief.

"Mr. Guan Jiaxiang asked me to pass along a message: everything is fine. The police raided the venues, but both shops are under renovation anyway, so there were no losses. This morning's stock completely sold out, and the newspaper vendors gave very positive feedback. Old Li is working overtime on production, so you don't need to worry. He arranged for someone to pick up your sister, and he's having Cai Yijie's mother keep her company tonight."

Four-Eyes was remarkably efficient. Wang Yaotang nodded with a smile. "Pass a message to Four-Eyes for me. The police are making arbitrary arrests of legitimate businessmen, disrupting factory production and leaving families with nothing to eat—they're practically starving us to death. Tell them we've got no choice but to go have our meals down at the Yaumati police station. Have Old Li round up people: one hundred per adult, fifty per child. Just women, the elderly, and children."

"Uh, don't get too many people, though. Say, a hundred adults maximum, thirty kids. Tell that useless bastard Old Li to organize them properly. He can make his money, but if anyone gets lost or hurt, I'll break his legs."

Sang Yunkai stared in utter speechlessness. Did he even hear what he was just saying? What kind of legitimate businessman casually talks about breaking people's legs?

Organizing a protest was common enough, but demanding specifically women, the elderly, and children...

The mere thought of a crowd of women, old folks, and kids crying and making a scene outside the police station tomorrow morning, throwing the entire station into absolute chaos, brought a smile to his face.

And since they were all women, old folks, and children, the police couldn't hit them or even swear at them. Such a spectacle was bound to attract the media. What a vicious stroke of genius!

Bone-Scraper Dong, Mo Shijiu, and the others were also hanging over the railings, glancing sideways at Wang Yaotang. *You punk, playing dirty like this?*

In this era, machismo reigned supreme. Letting women and the elderly go out and fight battles for them was something even street thugs would consider too shameful.

Of course, there were plenty of bastards who made their wives prostitute themselves while they stood at the door to welcome clients...

"What are you looking at? I run a garment business, and my factory is full of female workers. Aren't female workers allowed to bring their kids and take care of their elders? Is there a problem!" A flicker of awkwardness crossed Wang Yaotang's face as he cursed back.

"A police station promotion ceremony, after all. If I don't stir up a bit of a commotion, I'm afraid I won't get out of here."

Bone-Scraper Dong and Mo Shijiu couldn't help laughing. Put that way, it wasn't entirely unreasonable—especially since Wang Yaotang wasn't your average hoodlum.

As Bone-Scraper Dong well knew, apart from swinging a chopper back when he was still just a low-level "Blue Lantern," Wang Yaotang hadn't stained his hands with blood since officially joining the triad, nor did he touch illegal businesses. He really was as clean as a whistle.

"At least you're self-aware," Sang Yunkai chuckled. "Fine, I've delivered the message. I'm off."

"I'm counting on you."

The lawyers each passed on their respective messages, dropped off the food they had brought, and took their leave. After eating, the men had no mood for idle chatter in the holding cell, so they each buried their heads and went to sleep.

Early the next morning, Wang Yaotang woke up in a haze. Having no idea what time it was, he raised a hand to rub the sleep from his eyes, rolled over, and stayed lying down. *Damn it, being stuck in a place like this makes everything inconvenient.*

***

The Yaumati police district had picked up quite a few people last night, and reporters had followed the operation closely. Quieros naturally stayed with it the whole way; the suspects weren't even brought to the precinct station but were sent straight to Lai Chi Kok for detention without bail, all awaiting trial in court.

He didn't get home until past one in the morning, and without getting much rest, he had to head straight back to work. During the morning briefing, his face was dark as thunder. "If there's anything to report, spit it out."

After a few trivial matters were settled, it was Biu's turn. "How should we handle the two factions in the holding cells? The twenty-four hours are almost up."

"Heh, speaking of that," 雷准 (Lei Zhun) from another unit suddenly chimed in with a smile, "the boys from Wo Shing Yee sure are arrogant. Last night, they held a promotion ceremony for a subordinate right inside the police station—made him a 'Double-Flower Red Pole,' setting a first for Hong Kong."

"Huh?" Quieros instantly blew his top. His face grew even darker, and he glared furiously at Biu. "A promotion inside a police station? Heh, marvelous, just marvelous! Biu, you've really given the Royal Hong Kong Police Force a wonderful present!"

Biu was left speechless with grief. The holding cells were managed by internal affairs; he had spent the entire day leading men out on sweeps. What on earth did that have to do with him?

Yet, with the superior officer venting his fury, he couldn't talk back in public and could only swallow his anger in silence, while mentally engaging in deep, intimate exchanges with every female relative of Lei Zhun's for the past eighteen generations.

Bad blood had long existed between the two men. Four years ago, when this position became vacant, Biu had beaten him to it, forcing Lei Zhun to wait three years before finally getting his promotion. With another opportunity for advancement to 'Senior Inspector' on the line this time, the two had clashed once again, and each of them wished the other dead.

"Since it's confirmed they were engaging in triad activities, charge them directly. A police station promotion, huh? Heh, I'll send him to get promoted in Stanley Prison!" Quieros said bitterly.

With that, he noticed Biu's troubled expression. Quieros raised an eyebrow. "What? Is there a problem?"

"Yes." Biu smiled wryly as he recounted his two previous encounters with Wang Yaotang. "I don't have a single piece of evidence regarding criminal activity on him."

"Hmph." A clean "Double-Flower Red Pole" piqued Quieros's interest. "I'll interrogate him personally."

***

Breakfast at the police station was bland and tasteless. As he was eating, the corner of his vision caught a pair of shoes appearing outside the iron bars. Slowly lifting his gaze, he saw Biu.

"Oh, Inspector Biu, all done with your busywork?" Wang Yaotang set down his meal box, wiped his mouth, and stood up.

Biu wore a stony expression. "The Chief Inspector wants to see you. Let's go."

*Chief Inspector? Quieros?*

The main event was finally here!

"Hold on a second." Wang Yaotang immediately opened the system store and clicked to purchase the academic skills 'English (Level 1)' and 'English (Level 2).'

[You have purchased 'English' (Level 1) (Level 2). Prestige spent: 600 points]

[Current Prestige: 1355/2925 ( Jianghu Hero)]

Skills: Driving (Level 1), Sanda (Level 1), Muay Thai (Level 1), Baguazhang (Level 1) / Fine Arts (Level 1), Photography (Level 1), Deportment (MAX), English (Level 2)

Closing his eyes for a brief moment, Wang Yaotang opened them again and smiled. "Let's go."

The iron door swung open. Wang Yaotang nodded toward Bone-Scraper Dong, Mo Shijiu, and the others, his gaze finally resting on Dandy Sam.

Dandy Sam's cheeks were sunken, and he kept muttering incessantly to himself. Their eyes met, and Dandy Sam flashed a toothy grin, his bloodshot eyes filled with a frenzied glint.

Wang Yaotang frowned slightly. He really should have used that card—*How can a great man willingly stay under another's thumb?*—much sooner.

This was going to be a bit troublesome.