The trafficker understood but didn’t say much.

Doing business requires trustworthiness; that’s the Ashen Gang’s tradition.

Since money has been taken, just get the job done properly.

The trafficker said indifferently, “Got it, this works well. You save money, we save trouble.”

He called over Ashen Gang members to transport the gold and then made a call, instructing the finance cashier to transfer the money directly to the donation project as Xiaotian You requested.

An hour later, after finishing the phone call, he said to Xiaotian You, “It’s done as you asked. We split over a hundred accounts for payments, check it.”

Xiaotian You refreshed the webpage and saw the total donation amount had increased by 32 million.

To be safe, he still called Ou Chenyu: “It’s handled here. Can you check from the backend if all the funds are in place?”

Soon, Ou Chenyu replied from the other side, “That’s fine. You should head back now, be careful of the Public Security Bureau on the way.”

“Hey.” Xiaotian You hung up the phone and shook hands with the trafficker, “I’ll come again later, pleasant cooperation.”

Xiaotian You sold the first batch of gold, then returned to the Inner City through the sewers.

This time luck was on his side; he didn’t encounter the sheriff and had an unobstructed journey.

He returned to the Tiger Base and found Ou Chenyu in the office.

Ou Chenyu: “Was everything smooth?”

Xiaotian You: “Ran into two patrolling sheriffs in the sewers, killed them both. Everything else went smoothly. It’s just that Ashen Gang is so ruthless, bargaining prices so aggressively! Can’t stand it!”

Ou Chenyu coldly said, “In extraordinary times, let’s leave it at that. Once things settle down, I’ll make them pay for it.”

Xiaotian You: “When will we sell the remaining gold? I feel the heat will only increase, better to get it all out sooner.”

Ou Chenyu: “Hmm, find some reliable brothers to handle it, get it all out within the next few days, put it in the bag.”

As they were talking, a knock sounded at the office door.

“Knock knock knock.”

KK’s voice came from outside: “Grand Captain Ou, are you there?”

Ou Chenyu’s expression changed and he rushed to open the door, grabbing KK by the throat and pulling him inside, sharply demanding, “What the hell are you doing?!”

KK looked utterly confused: “What do you mean what I’m doing? Ou Chenyu, have you lost your mind?”

Ou Chenyu’s gaze was piercing, “I asked what are you here for?”

KK widened his eyes, “I’m here to adjust the bomb countdown. Didn’t you tell me to come every few days?”

Ou Chenyu: “The countdown isn’t supposed to be adjusted until tomorrow, why did you come today?”

KK froze there, taking out his phone and staring at it blankly, then smacked his forehead with his palm, “Ugh, too much going on, got my days mixed up… Since I’m already here, you might as well help me out, saves me a trip tomorrow.”

Ou Chenyu’s eyes were sharp as blades, staring into KK’s eyes as if searching for clues.

KK was baffled, “Why are you glaring at me? I’m just a day early, not causing you any trouble, right?”

An electric arc flashed across Ou Chenyu’s eyes, his mechanical eye emitting sheet-like traces of light, starting to scan KK’s body.

The light path was somewhat dazzling, KK frowned and turned his face away, “You guys have security checks outside, I don’t have anything on me!”

“Don’t move if you don’t want to die!” Ou Chenyu warned fiercely.

KK allowed Ou Chenyu to scan and check, muttering complaints under his breath, “You’re so paranoid, you’ll turn schizophrenic sooner or later…”

Ou Chenyu’s mechanical eye scanned KK’s abdomen and detected the presence of a bomb; it hadn’t been removed, indicating KK was still under his control.

Ou Chenyu didn’t relent, continuing the scan.

Scanning the pocket, the mechanical eye signaled the detection of a metal object.

Ou Chenyu asked coldly, “What’s in the left pocket? Take it out.”

KK was exasperated, reaching in to take it out.

It was a small USB drive.

KK sighed, “Grand Captain Ou, aren’t you forgetful? Didn’t you ask me to copy the fiscal data from the Edge and bring it to you when adjusting the bomb countdown?”

Ou Chenyu took the USB drive and tossed it to Xiaotian You, “Let Max have a look, see if there’s anything other than the data inside.”

Xiaotian You fetched Max, who entered the room with a laptop.

Ou Chenyu reminded, “Don’t connect to the base’s network, boot up offline.”

“Got it.” Max unsealed the USB drive placed it on the desk, and then plugged the USB drive into the computer.

Ou Chenyu kept watching KK.

Max was operating the computer.

Xiaotian You was observing Max operating the computer.

No one noticed the extremely faint optical distortion emerging along the edge of the USB drive’s cap on the table.

It was a reconnaissance robot smaller than a grain of rice, equipped with an optical stealth microelectronic module, blending into the desktop using its camouflage function, silently slipping into the shadows of the corner.

Max examined the computer and turned back to Ou Chenyu, “Just financial statement data, nothing else.”

Ou Chenyu continued scanning KK several times, ensuring there were no abnormalities, then released him.

KK sat in the chair, complaining, “Ugh, I’m really so wronged! The truth serum was administered, the bomb was installed, and you still don’t trust me, making it seem like I’m plotting against you every day…”

“Enough nonsense.” Ou Chenyu pointed at KK’s nose and said, “Listen carefully, I dislike people without a sense of time. Next time you dare to show up outside the agreed time, don’t blame me for being rude.”

KK said helplessly, “Alright, alright, I’ll go now and come back tomorrow.”

Ou Chenyu: “Hold on.”

Xiaotian You stepped up to grab KK’s shoulder.

KK was used to being picked on, and was amused, “What are you planning again?”

Ou Chenyu squinted his eyes and said, “You got it right, since you’re already here, can’t let you go back for nothing.”

KK: “Oh, finally being considerate. Then thank you, I’ll finish here today and won’t have to come tomorrow.”

A mysterious smile appeared on Ou Chenyu’s face, “I’ll adjust the bomb countdown for you, but you won’t be going back today.”

KK paused, “What do you mean?”

Ou Chenyu: “You’ll stay here at Tiger for the next few days, I’ll keep you fed and taken care of, consider it as a holiday.”

KK’s eyebrows knitted tightly, his voice raised, “Are you kidding me? Running back and forth to your place is already dangerous. What if Su Mo gets suspicious when I don’t return to the Edge for several days?!”

Ou Chenyu smiled, “Relax, you’ll just stay a day or two, it won’t matter. If he really asks, just say you were out partying again.”

KK laughed angrily, “Ou Chenyu, can you stop making rash decisions? Consider my difficulties too, okay?”

The smile vanished from Ou Chenyu’s face, his eyes grew deeper, “Alright, since we’ve reached this point, I’ll be honest with you.”

“First off, even with the truth serum and the bomb implanted in your body, I still don’t trust you entirely.”

“I’ve always had this strange hunch that you and I are superficially aligned but not truly loyal to Tiger, and still working for Su Mo.”

KK was about to argue back, but Ou Chenyu interrupted him, “No need to rush to defend yourself, my intuition isn’t necessarily accurate, and I’m not saying that’s the case.”

“It’s just that I have some important business these two days, and there can’t be any mistakes. To be safe, you’ll stay with me as a hostage for a couple of days.”

“If I get things done smoothly, then great. We’ll continue collaborating, and I’ll give you an extra million as compensation.”

“But if, and I mean if, my business goes south for some weird reason, possibly tied to Su Mo…”

Ou Chenyu reached out, lightly patting KK’s cheek twice, “Then I’ll toss you into the meat grinder and make you into a patty to send to Su Mo.”

KK clenched his teeth, glaring at him defiantly.

Ou Chenyu paid KK no more attention, walked out of the office, leaving a remark behind, “Xiaotian, lock him up, keep a 24-hour watch. Report to me anytime there’s a situation.”

“Hey.” Xiaotian You seized KK’s shoulder, pushing him towards the holding room.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep