Chapter 226: The ICAC Apologizes

On the television screen, the Director of the Hong Kong Transport and Trade Department, Cao Xiangrong, said proudly to the reporters:

"This order from Tesla totals as much as 2 billion Hong Kong dollars. In the history of Hong Kong's heavy industry, it is absolutely an epoch-making achievement, unprecedented!"

"The emergence of Tesla Group is a breakthrough from zero for Hong Kong's manufacturing industry, and even more so, the glory of 'Made in Hong Kong' and the pride of us Chinese!"

"It proves that our Hong Kong commercial vehicle enterprises already possess world-leading technical strength."

"Tesla Group is the pearl of our Hong Kong industry. I am proud of you!"

Cao Xiangrong did not spare any praise for Tesla Group; if one didn't know better, they would think he had taken money.

Ban Naixin did not want to watch the subsequent footage; he turned off the television, his face deathly pale.

He had originally thought that with the 3 billion procurement order from Bar Group and Zhongba Group, he could nail Chen Jiajun to the wall.

But what he never expected was that Tesla Group could obtain such a high-value order internationally.

A 2 billion Hong Kong dollar order—doesn't this just prove the reliability of Tesla Group's T1 double-decker bus?

Doesn't this just prove that the 3,000-unit procurement order is without issues?

At this very moment, Ban Naixin felt like a clown stripped of his clothes, standing in front of the public.

Looking at the pale-faced Ban Naixin before him, Chen Jiajun revealed a mocking expression: "Ban Naixin, you had better think carefully about how the Independent Commission Against Corruption will compensate for the losses. Goodbye."

After speaking, Chen Jiajun brushed off his suit and walked out.

One thing that could be confirmed was that Ban Naixin's political career had reached its official end at this moment, and because of his actions, the hard-earned prestige of the Independent Commission Against Corruption would also suffer a heavy blow.

Before Chen Jiajun reached the door, a large group of Independent Commission Against Corruption agents in suits and leather shoes walked in. The person in the lead held up his credentials and shouted: "Sir Chen, I am Cheng Deming, Investigative Officer of the Internal Investigation and Monitoring Group. I am sorry. We will hold a press conference later to clear your name."

"Heh." Chen Jiajun showed a look of sarcasm and strode out of the Interrogation Room.

"I am sorry."

Cheng Deming still apologized to Chen Jiajun, then walked up to Ban Naixin and said:

"Director Ban Naixin, I am Cheng Deming, Investigative Officer of L Group. We suspect that you have abused your power in the cases involving Zhongba and Bar Group... Please do not make things difficult for your brothers."

The L Group of the Independent Commission Against Corruption is the Internal Investigation and Monitoring Group.

The history of L Group is as long as the Independent Commission Against Corruption itself, specifically tasked with investigating disciplinary violations and corruption allegations involving Independent Commission Against Corruption personnel, as well as non-criminal complaints involving the Independent Commission Against Corruption or its staff.

The L Group's investigation into the Independent Commission Against Corruption Commissioner Ban Naixin was the first of its kind in the ten years since the Independent Commission Against Corruption was established.

The evening lights began to twinkle.

Kowloon, Shenshuishe, Pipa Hill, Tai Po Road; this is one of the few luxury residential areas in the Shenshuishe vicinity.

Near the top of the hill stood an old-fashioned blue-brick Tang Lau. Steel fences enclosed the stone house along with a large area of green space around it.

At this time, several fierce-looking, sturdy men were guarding outside the iron gate, their eyes scanning the surroundings from time to time.

This was Feilao Li's first luxury mansion. This mansion, far from the urban area, was the warehouse for Feilao Li's laundry powder business.

The police were unlikely to think that a mansion in a wealthy area would not be used for living, but for splitting up laundry powder.

When Feilao Li had to deal with underworld figures, this was also his gathering place; he generally would not entertain underworld figures at his Kadoorie Hill villa.

Two top-spec Mercedes-Benz 450SELs, sandwiching a Rolls-Royce, drove up the mountain road toward this place. The several sturdy bodyguards outside the gate immediately focused their gazes on this motorcade, their hands subconsciously resting on their waists.

The motorcade slowed to a stop. The rear window of the Rolls-Royce slowly rolled down, revealing the face of Luotuo.

The lead bodyguard hurriedly stepped forward and said politely: "Uncle Luotuo, sorry for the trouble."

"Uncle Luotuo, Wuya, and Yaoyang have arrived. Open the gate."

As he spoke, the sturdy bodyguard took his walkie-talkie and told the people inside the villa.

The iron gate opened from within. The motorcade stopped in the front courtyard. After Luotuo got out of the car, he brought Yaoyang, Wuya, and the others to the backyard. At this time, Deng Bo of Wo Shing Shing, Lin Huaile, Da D, and Hong Hanyi and Huxu Yong of the 14K were already sitting there.

In the backyard, floodlights illuminated the night as if it were day. In the center was a circular pond, and the area around the pond was partitioned into sections by iron bars, housing fighting dogs such as Pit Bulls, Dogo Argentinos, and Mastiffs.

At this time, Feilao Li was standing in front of an iron cage with bars as thick as a child's arm, independent of these animal areas, watching his men throw several hunting dogs into the cage.

As soon as the several fighting dogs stepped into the enclosure, they immediately surrounded and attacked a tiger inside the cage.

The tiger had not yet reached adulthood. When besieged by the several fighting dogs, it was initially a bit hesitant, cowering in a corner and standing up. One of the reckless Tosa dogs bit at it, and the tiger immediately triggered its beastly nature, pouncing toward the Tosa dog on all fours.

The Tosa dog only had time to let out a few miserable cries before its neck was bitten by the tiger, and it died. The remaining few fighting dogs were scared silly, cowering in the corner, unable to move, and peed themselves on the spot.

"Damn his mother."

Seeing the tiger enjoying its food, Feilao Li shook his head and cursed angrily. He turned his head, saw Luotuo, and said with a smile: "Uncle Luotuo."

"Fatty Li, a tiger is always a tiger. How can a few mongrels fight it?" Luotuo said with a smile.

"Haha, sit."

Feilao Li made a gesture of invitation. He picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for everyone: "Please."

"The tea color is like amber, the tea fragrance is like camphor, and the aftertaste has a medicinal scent. It looks like authentic Songpin Hao."

Deng Bo was the first to pick up a cup of tea to taste it, commenting as a master of tea tasting.

"Deng Bo, if you like it, I'll get you a few pieces to take back and taste later. Come, please."

As Feilao Li spoke, he opened the cigar box on the table, while he himself took out a pre-rolled Ma smoke and lit it, taking a few deep puffs.

Luotuo took a cigar, and the Xiashanhu Wuya at his side took out a lighter to help Luotuo light the cigar. Everyone began to puff away. Luotuo held the cigar between his fingers and asked: "Fatty Li, is there something you called us over for?"

Feilao Li took a deep breath of half the Ma smoke, waved his hand, and said: "Everyone, sitting here today are Uncle Mei and Taizi of Hong Tai, Deng Bo of Wo Shing Shing, Hong Hanyi, Huxu Yong... and you, Uncle Luotuo, Wuya, Yaoyang.

We have one thing in common: we all started out by trading white powder and pills."

"In all of Hong Kong, where are the most important profit zones?" Feilao Li sat facing south, pointing his index finger to the south: "Across the sea in Causeway Bay, Wanchai, and Lan Kwai Fong in Central."

Speaking to this point, Feilao Li picked up the teapot to pour tea for everyone in turn, flicked the ash from his cigarette, and continued:

"These territories are all under the control of Hongxing. Now, the Hongxing Dragon Head is like a trapped beast in a cage, unable to move."

"It is time for us to cross the sea and make a move. Today, I, Fatty Li, have gathered everyone here because I want to form an offensive and defensive alliance with you all to seize Hongxing's territory together. Dalao Jun is a big shot; if the police want to make arrests, they will definitely arrest him first."

The intention was very obvious: Feilao Li was inciting everyone to eat away at Hongxing's profit zones on Hong Kong Island.

Hong Tai Dragon Head Uncle Mei agreed: "That's right. Unless he can really put down his status and go all out to fight us, Dalao Jun is being watched by all of Hong Kong right now; instead, we are more at ease!"

"I truly do not believe that he, Chen Jiajun, would dare to challenge us to a full-scale showdown on his own."

Hong Hanyi puffed on a Cigar and said with a smile: "Come to think of it, Dalao Jun wiped out the families of drug-dealing bosses like Wang Bao and Lian Haolong a few years ago, and he even brought down the Sun Yee; otherwise, how could our lives be this comfortable?"

"Hong Hanyi, according to you, we still have to thank Dalao Jun?"

Mei Shu squinted his eyes.

Hong Hanyi waved his finger: "Of course, we must thank him doubly for taking over the entire Hong Kong Island; without him, we wouldn't be where we are today, right? Besides, we are going to Hong Kong Island to trade white powder and pills, which has nothing to do with Dalao Jun."

"Well said, he, Dalao Jun, walks his sunny path, and we walk our single-plank bridge." Mei Shu gave a thumbs up.

Seeing that the crowd's emotions had been stirred up, Feilao Li said: "Everyone, I, Feilao Li, only want the territory of North Point, as well as Women Street and Sneaker Street in Mong Kok; as for the rest, just include me when you are making money."

Money, Feilao Li had already earned enough.

Now he was considering how to wash his reputation clean; holding Women Street and Sneaker Street in his hands would be perfect for making his garment factory business bigger and stronger, and as for the rest, he did not care.

His experiences during this period had taught him one thing: if you don't want to be manipulated by others, you have to wash yourself clean, and the cleaner you wash, the better.

"Then I want Causeway Bay."

"I want Wanchai."

"Leave Central to me, then?"

"Then what about me?"

The crowd discussed it in a hubbub, as if they had already fallen into a beautiful fantasy.

Deng Bo coughed and said: "Everyone, allow me to say a few words; out here in the underworld, whoever conquers a territory owns it, and it is still too early to talk about these things."

"Deng Bo is right." Feilao Li took in everyone's expressions and looked at Luotuo: "Uncle Luotuo, what do you think?"

"You are asking me what I think?"

Luotuo put down his teacup and smiled slightly: "Li Pangzi, we have known each other for over ten years; these years you have been making A-Goods, getting close to those Legislators, and your methods of operation, even your taste in tea, are becoming more and more like Dalao Jun..."

"Let me put it simply: if we can bite Dalao Jun to death, then we can talk about this issue; otherwise, everything is just empty talk."

Although Luotuo was a drug-dealing boss, he still had loyalty and righteousness in his heart.

What kind of person was Feilao Li?

Someone who came out of Hung Hing.

How did Dalao Jun treat people?

He had not touched Feilao Li in the slightest these past few years.

Yet this traitor, Feilao Li, now wanted to bite his former sworn brother and Big Brother to death.

Such a person, he, Luotuo, would absolutely never associate with deeply.

The gangsters out here in the underworld all started as people with cheap lives, so poor they only had their lives left.

But even if one only had one life left, loyalty and righteousness still had to be upheld.

Although Dalao Jun acted in an overbearing and ruthless manner, as an old veteran of the underworld, Luotuo had to give a thumbs up for how he treated the brothers under Hung Hing.

If Feilao Li dared to bite Dalao Jun today, he would dare to betray this group of people tomorrow.

Of course, if Feilao Li really did bite Dalao Jun to death, Luotuo would still be happy to see it happen.

After Luotuo finished speaking, Feilao Li also heard the irony in Luotuo's words about him blindly imitating others.

Putting down the teapot, Feilao Li's expression changed several times in a very short time, and finally, he gave a hearty laugh: "Uncle Luotuo, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world."

"How can it work if you want to eat this piece of cake but don't want to put in any effort?"

Just as Feilao Li finished speaking, a noisy sound rang out from outside the door.

"Who are you people?"

"Dumu."

"Hung Hing's Dumu? This is Uncle Li's territory; we don't welcome you from Hung Hing."

As soon as the words fell, a sound like a bellows emitted from a prehistoric beast came: "Screw you, you few pieces of trash, are you qualified to speak in front of me?"

After a flurry of punches and kicks, there was an earth-shattering "Bang" sound; the iron gate made a jarring, screeching noise, and with a loud "Boom—", it suddenly collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash.

Feilao Li's expression changed and he roared: "Not good, Dumu has killed his way here, hurry inside!"

The underworld toughs in the backyard scrambled to pull out Handguns, Machetes, and other items; Feilao Li immediately pulled open the back door of the Tang Lau, and everyone hid inside, while one sharp-witted Majai took the opportunity to open the tiger cage.

The voice arrived before the person: "Feilao Li, your daddy is here to discuss something with you."

By the time everyone entered the Tang Lau, Dumu arrived with dozens of Hell Knight gunmen holding MP5 submachine guns, carrying an indestructible and invincible momentum.

For a moment, the fighting dogs in the backyard crawled on the ground, whimpering incessantly.

And the underworld giants hiding in the Tang Lau, such as Feilao Li, Luotuo, Mei Shu, and Deng Bo, were even paler in the face.

There was no other reason.

It was only because the person standing before them was the underworld's recognized Second Route Marshal—Dumu, who had not tasted defeat in these past few years!

Moreover, the dozens of sturdy gunmen standing behind Dumu could tear everyone present to shreds in an instant.

Truth often lies within the range of cannons; this saying holds true everywhere.

"Roar."

Just at this moment, the tiger in the tiger cage felt the pressure of Dumu's momentum, let out a beastly roar, and lunged directly toward Dumu.

Dumu did not even dodge, but instead laughed loudly and met it head-on.

Everyone's pupils constricted; a man fighting a tiger?

In the blink of an eye, the tiger opened its blood-red maw and leaped forward to pounce on Dumu.

"Go to hell!"

Dumu was calm and composed; he planted his feet firmly on the ground and swung fiercely at the King of Beasts.

"Roar!"

The next moment, one man and one beast, two figures, slammed violently into each other.

The tiger's paw swiped at Dumu's arm, tearing his coat and making a dull sound.

"Bang."

Dumu's fist, carrying the power of wind and thunder, simultaneously swung at the tiger's head.

"Roar."

After a muffled thud, the tiger cried out in pain, its entire body sent flying backward uncontrollably under Dumu's superhuman strength.

Dumu pressed his advantage, his 2.3-meter-tall frame moving nimbly through the backyard to jump in front of the tiger.

Without waiting for the tiger to react, he pinned it firmly beneath him, grabbed its head, and struck it again.

Fists rained down like raindrops, and the tiger let out one miserable cry after another.

The crowd was horrified.

"Fuck your mother! Is a tiger all that great!"

"Someone! Take it back later and keep it as a guard dog for my Big Brother."

After throwing dozens of punches in a row and completely beating the tiger into submission, Dumu clapped his hands and stood up.

Dumu took an MP5 submachine gun from a Hell Knight and roared at the Tang Lau: "I'm only counting to five; if you don't come out, then don't ever come out."

The Hell Knights, dressed in full U. S. military individual equipment, pulled their charging handles, disengaged their safeties, and aimed their muzzles at the Tang Lau.

"Five."

"Four."

"Three."

Feilao Li shouted out the window: "Dumu, this is my home, what kind of madness are you pulling here?"

"Two."

Dumu couldn't be bothered to answer and continued counting down.

"I surrender, I surrender."

"Dumu, let me state beforehand, I only came over for tea," Luotuo shouted first.

"Dumu, let's talk this over properly," followed by Deng Bo.

"I'm coming out right now, don't shoot, don't shoot," then came Mei Shu of Hong Tai.

A group of underworld giants were forced out just like that, and finally, a pale-faced Feilao Li, leading dozens of his men, carrying Five-Four Big Black Stars, Brownings, Machetes, clubs, and other gear.

"I am here today on behalf of Chen Jiajun to convey his message.

He says he has no objection to where you sell Laundry Powder or pills from now on.

But, do not affect our Hung Hing business, and do not cross the line; if you cross the line, those dogs are your fate."

After speaking, Dumu waved his hand.

"Da-da-da-da."

The Hell Knights pulled their Triggers, the fighting dogs in the cages let out bursts of miserable cries, and in no time at all, these fighting dogs were all dead.

"Withdraw," Dumu said, then pulled the tiger and walked away.

Leaving behind a group of people staring at each other in dismay.

Not until the motorcade outside drove away did the crowd remain standing where they were, savoring Dumu's words.

Dumu's words just now were actually very clear: you can come to Hung Hing's territory to distribute goods, but you are not allowed to disturb Hung Hing's business, you are not allowed to enter Hung Hing's venues, anything else is fine.

"Ahem, we in Wo Shing Shing still have some matters..."

Lin Huaile, who was the first to react, greeted Feilao Li and left the villa with Deng Bo and Da D, Lin Huaile taking out his phone as he walked.

"Li Pangzi, we in Hung Lok still have a meeting tomorrow."

Mei Shu of Hong Tai and his son Taizi exchanged a look and hurriedly walked toward the front yard.

"Li Pangzi, let's have tea together when you're free," Luotuo of Tung Sing let out a cold laugh and also left.

"Uncle Li, my girlfriend made me some nice soup."

Hong Hanyi looked at the fact that only he, Huxu Yong, and Feilao Li were left, found an excuse, and also hurriedly walked outside.

"Haha, see you again."

Huxu Yong revealed a bright smile and also left the Li residence with a few Majai.

From the moment he arrived, Huxu Yong hadn't said a single word; the reason was simple: he didn't believe this bunch of people in Hong Kong could handle Dalao Jun, who possessed a private armed force.

He, Huxu Yong, had already experienced Dalao Jun's style back in Macau.

How impressive was the Number Gang in Macau back then?

The entire Macau street was full of Number Gang Majai, the entire Putian casino was full of Number Gang Majai making money, and yet even a territory like that was easily handled by Dalao Jun.

Tonight, he was merely there to drink tea due to Feilao Li's invitation.

At this moment, a refined man in a suit and gold-rimmed glasses walked into the backyard and said urgently to Feilao Li: "Uncle Li, it's bad."

"Speak," Feilao Li said expressionlessly.

"Hung Hing's Dalao Jun has already left the Independent Commission Against Corruption, and furthermore, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has held a press conference to apologize to Bar Group, Zhongba Group, and Tesla Group," the refined man said hurriedly.

"What?" Feilao Li's expression changed drastically.

"TB is live-streaming it right now," the refined youth said.

Feilao Li immediately walked into the Tang Lau and turned on the television; the screen showed the spokesperson of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in a suit, facing the cameras and microphones as they apologized:

"... Facts have proven that this time it was a misunderstanding caused by our Independent Commission Against Corruption failing to conduct a thorough investigation beforehand."

"On behalf of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, I extend my sincerest apologies to the three aforementioned individuals and the three groups involved."

"On behalf of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, I extend my sincerest apologies to the many shareholders..."

(End of this chapter)