Chapter 506

That kind of money would be enough to let him make a comeback somewhere else and start over from scratch.

Even if he didn't start over and went back to the country, it would still be a hefty sum of capital, enough to live well on.

If he kept holding on like this, the theater wouldn't last much longer either, and in the end it would only end up going bankrupt in his hands.

Boss Zhang signed his name and said earnestly, "You must be careful of those people—they're very unfriendly to outsiders. The moment you achieve anything, they'll make an example of you to warn everyone else who comes to this city!"

Xu Can nodded lightly.

"Since I dared to take it over, I'll definitely be careful of those people and won't let them lay a hand on us again. I also want the Huaxia people who come to this city afterward to be able to do business with peace of mind!"

A dark basement.

Every pool table was in the middle of a busy game.

Smoke curled through the room at the far end.

A bearded big brother sat in the very center, surrounded by his men.

"Big Brother, I heard that theater got a new owner, and he's a Huaxia person, but we couldn't find out exactly who. Should we go give him a show of force?"

He pulled the cigarette butt from his hand and took a long, smoky drag.

He tossed it casually onto the floor behind him.

A little brother hurried over respectfully and stubbed it out.

"I don't need to handle this one myself, do I? What's there to fear about a Huaxia person!"

"Daina, after watching so many of the elders handle things, it's finally your turn to step up!"

The man who had been called hurried forward.

A head of dirty dreadlocks paired with dark eyeliner made him look a little intimidating at first glance.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely get this done for you. I'll make him kneel down and call us 'daddy'! That seems to be what Huaxia people call each other!"

His dopey look was plain for all to see.

Xu Can looked through the theater's recent account books.

The fact that these rights hadn't been secured, even though they were all blockbuster films, made the losses to the theater painfully obvious.

But from now on, all of Xu Can's films would screen in these chain theaters—no need for all the tedious steps in between. The rights were his own, and the box office earnings would all be his too.

Saving the theater was the next move.

"Where's your boss? Tell him to roll himself out here—the Huaxia guy!"

"Hey, I'm talking to you! Where'd you all go!"

When had the staff ever seen anything like this!

The previous security guards had done nothing but stand around chatting, so Xu Can had fired them along the way.

There hadn't been time to hire new security or front-desk staff yet, so naturally they were terrified and scattered to hide.

You couldn't really blame them for not calling Xu Can either—these people had never had much interaction with the new boss to begin with.

Xu Can set down the account book and walked out of the office.

The moment a Huaxia face appeared, Daina, baseball bat in hand, walked over with his little brothers.

He lifted his chin and glared at Xu Can, trying to pressure him with his presence.

"So it's you, kid. Looks like you're a scrawny one too. Why don't you Huaxia people just obediently surrender to me, and I'll let you off easy. Otherwise, today you'll have to get on your knees for me!"

Xu Can gave a cold snort.

Scrawny?

They must be talking about themselves.

He'd just dressed a little looser today for ease of movement; he never expected to be looked down on like this.

He rolled his wrist.

It had been a long time since he'd thrown hands—today was going to be a real fight.

"You don't even have a weapon and you're still this cocky. For fairness, how about a one-on-one?"

Daina swept a contemptuous gaze over Xu Can.

There wasn't a trace of imposing aura anywhere on him. Although most Huaxia people practiced martial arts, with a frail frame like that, one slap would be enough to send him down!

"No need—come at me all at once!"

Xu Can rolled his neck, utterly unbothered.

"What big talk! Brothers, let's all rush him together! I want him to see what a painful price he'll pay for that arrogant mouth of his!"

"Charge!"

Smack! Crash!

"Ah!"

"Why are you hitting me!"

"Don't kick me!"

"Pfft!"

Daina clutched his stinging cheek as he lay on the ground.

He turned his head and saw more than ten of his brothers sprawled all over the floor in awkward poses, every one of them wailing.

There wasn't a single one without a wound.

But none of them were fatal.

Xu Can was still standing in the exact same spot—he hadn't moved even an inch.

The ease on his face showed his strength as well.

"Let's go, retreat now!"

Watching them leave while leaning on each other, Xu Can finally turned his head away.

"From now on, you don't need to be afraid. If they come once, I'll beat them once; I certainly won't let them succeed again. Where is the manager?"

A man in a black waiter's suit standing in the corner rose to his feet.

"It's me!"

Xu Can stepped forward and patted his shoulder.

There was no intention of blame.

"Next, arrange the staff transfers for the cinema. Those who want to stay can continue working. For the vacant positions, continue recruiting. As for the other branches, it's trouble for you to notify them; I don't have time to handle everything one by one!"

"Yes! I will, boss!"

Xu Can snorted, then shook his creaking neck.

"Moving suddenly like this still feels a bit unfamiliar."

Leaving the entire hall of staff in shock.

"In the past, none of those little hooligans who came to cause trouble left in such a wretched state. Now we don't know if this is good or bad; they certainly won't give up easily!"

"So what? Our boss is so powerful. If they come once, we beat them once, until they can't bear such losses. What tough attitude can they have to sue us? Clearly, they came to cause trouble on purpose. We have surveillance here; it's just self-defense!"

Dana, in a panic, led his brothers to get medical treatment first!

"Try your best not to let the boss see that our injuries are severe!"

Back in the room.

The boss frowned tightly, looking at Dana's return with no results.

He kicked him.

The man, kicked several meters away, clutched his chest tightly. His previous wounds hadn't even healed, but this blow struck him heavily, and a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed onto the ground.

Ken, the third brother nearby, spoke with great worry, "Big brother, just let the fourth one off. It wasn't on purpose. This is his first time going out on a mission; it's unavoidable that there are some unfamiliar places. Since he's injured, we should avenge him for him; we can't have internal strife!"

Gerald, as if he hadn't heard, picked up the cigarette butt from his mouth.

He pressed it down hard onto the exposed skin.

"Remember this wound, and remember your failure. Where you fell, climb up from there. Go find that man for me, capture him, and tear him to pieces. Only then can you forever remember your shame and establish your authority in front of the brothers!"