Chapter 205: Bandit Logic, Utterly Shameless
“Cao Ye is joking. As long as it can satisfy you, Cao Ye.”
Just a mistress. In the past, she wouldn’t even qualify as a concubine; she could only be considered keeping a mistress.
Not to mention a mistress—as long as she’s not a proper concubine, she can be used to entertain guests.
Even now, plenty of people seek shelter from nobles, resources, or promotion opportunities by channeling benefits through their ‘concubines,’ treating these women as stepping stones to build relationships.
Nicely put, they’re called concubines, but they’re really just high-class prostitutes given the title of ‘concubine.’
Although Du Dan held a much higher place in his heart than those women—after all, she could help him make money.
But compared to forging a connection with Cao Weida, she was just a woman—what was there to care about.
“Oh? Is that so? You’ve really put thought into this.” Cao Weida smiled, glancing sidelong at Du Dan, who was staring wide-eyed in utter disbelief at everything.
Alas, how pitiful—working herself to death to make money for a man, only to be ruthlessly handed over to someone else for profit.
Her heart must feel terrible right now, right?
Tsk tsk, now this is interesting.
Hearing Cao Weida say this, Shao Yongming was even happier inside; he thought Cao Weida had accepted his goodwill.
After all, according to his investigation materials, Cao Weida was indeed a greedy and lecherous sort.
“These are nothing—just a little token of sincerity. As long as you’re satisfied, Cao Ye.”
But the next moment, Cao Weida’s words made his face freeze instantly: “Unfortunately, I’m not satisfied.”
With a wave of his hand, “Men, tie them up and take them all away!”
With his hands bound behind his back, Shao Yongming clearly hadn’t expected this outcome. Incredulous, he said, “Cao Ye, what do you mean? Is my sincerity not enough?”
“No problem—you just name it. As long as we can accept it, I’ll satisfy you with the utmost sincerity!”
“Idiot, do I lack your money or women?” Cao Weida looked at him like a fool. “Besides, once I arrest all of you and pin the crimes on you, your money will still be mine.”
“Not only can I get your utmost sincerity, I can get everything you own. Why would I agree to you?”
“.” Shao Yongming was so angry his mouth trembled—this robber logic was utterly shameless!
Seeing he was about to be dragged away, Shao Yongming panicked for real. “Cao Ye, Cao Ye! I’m Master Liu’s man—we’re on the same side!”
“Who’s on the same side as scum like you? Don’t drag me down with you.” Cao Weida’s face was full of disgust. Same side? He couldn’t afford that shame!
A bunch of scum whose consciences had been eaten by dogs—fit for it?!
Bah!
“Looks like we really can’t talk this out!”
Shao Yongming, who had just been panicked, suddenly laughed—a cold one, with killing intent in his eyes: “My men have this place surrounded—not even a fly can get out!”
“If you want to walk out of here today, take your men and get lost obediently. I can pretend nothing happened!”
“Also, that reporter’s camera must be handed over. Otherwise, you’ll all die here, and no one will ever know!”
As a core member of the trafficking women organization, he had already learned killing intent.
The matter of trafficking and imprisoning dozens of women absolutely could not be exposed. Once it was, even with Liu Huai protecting him from above, he couldn’t escape unscathed.
What he needed to do now was stall Cao Weida and the others to let him go. Once free, he’d kill them all immediately!
As for offending Ono Shiota and those people…
While alive, relationships endure, but once dead, who would seek justice for a corpse?
At most, he’d bleed some money later, spending a fortune to beg forgiveness from the Taijuns.
He’d thought Cao Weida would be worried or scared, but unexpectedly, Cao Weida’s reaction was beyond his expectations.
Far from worried or scared, he laughed out loud, not even looking at him but turning to Xian Yi instead: “Hey, big reporter, did you hear what he said? He wants you to hand over the camera. Are you going to?”
“Huh?”
Xian Yi froze for a moment, then clutched the camera to her chest like a hen protecting her chicks, alertly saying, “I’m not handing it over! This is evidence I barely managed to capture!”
Cao Weida was amused by her look—like a little puppy guarding its food.
“Alright, since you’re not handing it over, neither are we.” He affectionately pinched her cheek; she looked cuter the more he saw her.
“Wah… what are you doing?” Cheek pinched, Xian Yi looked all aggrieved, her big clear eyes blinking.
Cao Weida grinned and let go, then his face hardened. A Browning appeared in his hand, muzzle pressed to Shao Yongming’s forehead.
“Sorry, Ba Wan says she doesn’t want to give it to you, so go die.”
“Don’t—”
Seeing the killing intent in Cao Weida’s eyes, Shao Yongming’s soul nearly fled. He just started to beg for mercy.
But before he could, there was a ‘bang’ gunshot. His eyes bulged as he slumped to the ground.
Until death, he hadn’t imagined Cao Weida would just kill him like that!
How dare he!?
If Cao Weida knew his final thought was this, he’d scornfully spit: Since you know Ono Shiota and those little devils won’t show mercy to a dead man, didn’t you consider that if you die, Liu Huai won’t either?
Shao Yongming was executed by firing squad on the spot; all the thugs present shuddered.
Damn, this madman!
He actually dared to shoot!
If anyone was the most afraid at the end, it was Du Dan.
Her mood today had been up and down, her heart never settling from what happened.
The instant Shao Yongming was killed, she was so scared she went limp.
If not held up by the patrolman, she’d have collapsed.
Good thing, good thing—he even dared to kill Shao Yongming directly. If I’d stayed stubborn before, I’d really have been beaten to death…
“Your lives are in my hands, yet you dared threaten me—who gave you the courage? Not even Liang Jingru is as bold as you!” Looking at the corpse, Cao Weida curled his lip, as if eyeing an idiot.
Holstering the Browning, Cao Weida declared: “Mingyue Dance Hall organized trafficking women—irrefutable evidence. The criminal Shao Yongming, knowing exposure was inevitable, refused to surrender obediently and instead tried to attack this patrol officer—utterly heinous! Executed on the spot by this patrol officer!”
“Tie up the rest and take them back to the police station for interrogation! Don’t let a single bad element disrupting Beiping public order escape!”
Seeing Shao Yongming executed, Si Jicai sidled up worriedly: “Cao Ye, why’d you kill him?”
“Why keep a dirty-hearted scourge like that alive?” Cao Weida suddenly realized. “You mean killing him like this is too easy on him?”
“True—should’ve left him for Liu Zhan. Tsk, pity; one less tool to hone his ancestral craftsmanship. He’ll probably be heartbroken.”
“.” Si Jicai was torn between laughter and tears. Was that his point?
“Cao Ye, that guy just said we’re surrounded. To kill him, at least wait till we get back to the police station and fabricate something. Killing him now means no hostage, right?”
“Are you dumb? You really think the people outside are Shao Yongming’s?” Cao Weida looked at Si Jicai like an idiot. The man had good character, but this brain was too straightforward.
If it stayed that way, he couldn’t handle big tasks.
Shaking his head inwardly, he explained: “If they were really Shao Yongming’s, he wouldn’t have rushed in so rashly. Forgot who’s behind this Mingyue Dance Hall?”
“You mean the people outside are Liu Huai’s men?”
“Not too dumb after all.” Cao Weida stepped on Shao Yongming’s corpse, sneering: “If I didn’t kill Shao Yongming, we’d be in real trouble today. But killing him lets us walk out safe and sound—you believe me?”
“Huh? Like that?” Si Jicai’s mind fogged; something seemed about to click—maybe a brain.
“Forget it, don’t think if you can’t. Just do as I say.” He’d spelled out the answer, but seeing Si Jicai still confused, Cao Weida shook his head.
Oh well, every gain has a loss. Si Jicai’s brain wasn’t flexible, but Cao Weida was satisfied with one thing: loyalty to him, plus good character—he was usable.
Most times, loyalty mattered more than ability!
“Got it, subordinate will handle it right away!”
Si Jicai was baffled, but Xian Yi, overhearing everything, had her eyes darting.
Once Si Jicai left, Xian Yi eagerly hugged Cao Weida’s arm: “Big Brother Cao, I know what you meant just now!”
Feeling the soft sensation on his arm, Cao Weida tilted his head at her, then at the hugged arm, amused: “Yeah, you’re the smartest. Let go now—I just shot a man dead in front of you, and you’re not scared.”
Xian Yi glared at the corpse. “Hmph, he deserved it—he was a bad guy!”
“And Big Brother Cao, you’re the big hero punishing bad guys!”
“Since you’re a big hero, of course I’m not scared! I even like it!”
Far from letting go, she hugged tighter.
Making the tactile sensation on his arm even more pronounced.
Too bad, no capital meant no capital—hugging tighter just made it awkwardly pokey.
Tilting his head at her delighted face, Cao Weida inwardly wondered: Could this girl really like me?
Shouldn’t be—I haven’t even met her many times.
Maybe she noticed my dashing good looks?
Or my profound inner qualities?
“Big Brother Cao, aren’t you going to ask what I figured out about what you said?”
“Why ask?” Cao Weida looked at her puzzled. “You know it, fine. Besides, you’re so clever—not like Si Jicai’s dumb brain. What’s strange?”
“.”
Xian Yi was thrilled yet frustrated—had the answer but couldn’t share it; so stifling.
Like a gossip who learned a secret but couldn’t tell; how agonizing.
“No! Ask me—ask me now!”
Watching Xian Yi shake his arm, Cao Weida smiled wryly—such childishness.
“Fine, fine—you tell, I’m listening.”
Across from Mingyue Dance Hall, in a tea house second-floor private room.
Liu Huai, one of the East Asia Academic Research Association’s managers, sat leisurely sipping tea at the coffee table. The open window faced Mingyue Dance Hall’s main entrance.
“Director.” A special agent entered respectfully.
“How’d it go?”
“Cao Weida rejected the recruitment, and he killed Shao Yongming.”
“Killed him, huh.” Liu Huai couldn’t help laughing. “Smart one— no wonder he earned favor from Ono Taijun and Fujita Taijun. Indeed, no one’s success comes purely from luck.”
“So Director, what next?”
“Since Shao Yongming’s dead, have everyone withdraw.”
“Yes!”
The special agent obeyed, retreating respectfully and carefully closing the door.
Liu Huai sipped tea, set the teacup on the coffee table, turned to Mingyue Dance Hall, annoyance flashing in his eyes.
Cutting off someone’s source of income is like killing their parents.
Mingyue Dance Hall was indeed backed by him; without power supporting those trafficking women gangs, they wouldn’t have lasted—they’d have been devoured alive long ago.
To gain support, naturally, benefits had to be paid.
Now, with Mingyue Dance Hall’s people mostly caught on site, it meant one less source of income for him—how could he not be annoyed?
But annoyed or not, he had to endure.
If Shao Yongming weren’t dead, he could’ve risked killing Cao Weida—at worst, kill Shao Yongming in the chaos to prevent him implicating him.
But with Shao Yongming dead, no need to risk it.
After all, a firefight between sides wouldn’t be quiet.
If the little devils found out he tried to forcibly kill Cao Weida, his own trouble would be big.
He couldn’t take that risk!
“What’s this guy’s deal? Say he’s bold—he’s very cautious, never taking dangerous tasks.”
“Say he’s timid—he offends so many people.”
“The underworld ones aside—offended Lin Yuanjiang before, now me. Doesn’t he fear our revenge?”
After thinking forever, he didn’t know how to judge Cao Weida.
His actions before, after, left, right varied wildly, too erratic—like acting on whims, never playing by rules.
“Is he really Communist Party or Kuomintang?”
He had indeed found some evidence of Cao Weida contacting Kuomintang and Communist Party people, but it wasn’t enough to prove he was one of them.
Mainly because it involved Ono Shiota, Fujita Sosuke, and other little devil officials, making him afraid to act rashly.
Most crucially, Cao Weida’s every behavior had nothing to do with a special agent.
Which special agent was so brazen, so flamboyant?
