Chapter 106: Intimidation

"Sir, the Jiangnan Four Young Masters are at Bailemen." Zhou Wei pushed the door open and entered, reporting in a low voice.

Lin Yu set down the documents in his hand, a flash of interest passing through his eyes: "It seems their play hasn't finished today."

"According to the informant's report, they just returned from the Security Command Headquarters and are now holding a private discussion at Bailemen. Sun Lingyun and Lu Xiao are both present."

"Oh?" Lin Yu stood up, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth, "Perfect, let's let these two see what a 'Lin Madman' is."

Bailemen, the innermost private room on the second floor.

When the door was suddenly pushed open, the conversation in the suite abruptly halted. A young man in an immaculate suit entered uninvited, and, under the astonished gazes of everyone, walked straight to the sofa and sat down.

"Who is this..." Lu Xiao frowned, looking at Qin Chang'an. As the eldest son of the Southern Jiang Military Governor's Mansion, he was highly displeased with such a rude intruder.

"Lin Yu." Qin Chang'an spat the name out, teeth clenched.

"Oh..." Sun Lingyun's gaze hardened. Though he had never met Lin Yu, the name was all too familiar to him. Eradicating the Ninth Division, bloodletting the Eastern Concession, extorting the Security Command Headquarters—each deed had caused a massive stir within the Jiangnan elite circles.

"I've long admired your reputation." Sun Lingyun gave a meaningfully deep smile, but his eyes examined the legendary madman. He hadn't expected Lin Yu to look so young, his demeanor not as crude as the rumors suggested.

"You flatter yourself, Young Master Sun." Lin Yu lounged lazily against the sofa, "The sole son of Five Province Military Governor Sun Commander, I've also heard your name for a long time."

"Lin Inspector is here today..." Liu Wen tried to smooth things over.

"Came to see the play you're performing." Lin Yu cut him off, "The Security Command Headquarters finished its act, and now this one starts?"

"What do you mean?" Lu Xiao sprang to his feet. He had never seen anyone so arrogant.

"Sit down." Lin Yu's voice suddenly turned cold, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes, "You alone have no right to speak in front of me."

The words were spoken plainly, yet they sent a chill up Lu Xiao's spine. Instinctively he glanced at Sun Lingyun, only to find the Crown Prince of the Five Great Provinces also pondering Lin Yu.

"Lin Inspector," Sun Lingyun began, his voice still gentle, "We did indeed visit Commander Yang today. But this is an internal matter of the Security Army; I wonder why the Inspector would..."

"Internal matter?" Lin Yu suddenly pulled a document from his coat, casually tossed it onto the table, "What about this then?"

The few gathered close, their faces turning ashen instantly. It was a detailed military deployment map, clearly marking the exact locations of two reinforced camps in the Five Great Provinces.

"That's impossible..." Sun Lingyun showed a shocked expression for the first time. He finally understood why this man could command the winds in Shen City. Such intelligence capability had surpassed his imagination.

"In this Shen City," Lin Yu's voice carried a hint of amusement, "there's nothing I don't know. If you want to play, I'm happy to join. But..."

His gaze suddenly sharpened like a blade: "If your stupidity throws Shen City into chaos, don't blame me for being unkind."

"You dare..." Lu Xiao's words were cut off as Sun Lingyun grabbed him.

Sun Lingyun stared at Lin Yu, feeling an unprecedented sense of pressure for the first time. The young man before him was far more terrifying than the rumors suggested.

"You have three days," Lin Yu stood, "to drive those two reinforced camps out of Shen City. Otherwise..."

He didn't finish, but everyone understood his meaning. As the door slammed shut, the suite fell into a death-like silence.

"So this is the Lin Madman?" Lu Xiao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, "No wonder..."

Sun Lingyun looked at the military deployment map on the table, his eyes complex, "It seems we've all underestimated this person."

"What exactly does this madman mean?" Lu Xiao gulped down a mouthful of wine fiercely, "Is he siding with Yang Chengdong?"

Sun Lingyun shook his head, his gaze deep, "No. If he truly intends to support Yang Chengdong, he'd just send troops directly."

"Could it be..." Liu Wen adjusted his glasses, "that he's using Yang Chengdong to counterbalance us?"

Qin Chang'an had remained silent, but now suddenly spoke, "Do you remember the line he said? 'Shen City is now a Firecracker Barrel'..."

"What does that mean?" Lu Xiao frowned.

"He said the Foreigners are eyeing us like tigers, and the concession forces are stirring restlessly." Sun Lingyun mused, "This madman, could he be planning to..."

"Want us to fight among ourselves?" Liu Wen took over, "but what benefit does that give him?"

The suite fell into silence. The four young men each contemplated Lin Yu's true intention. Every move of this madman seemed beyond their expectations.

Meanwhile, in the Fourth Bureau Chief Office.

"Sir," Zhou Wei said, somewhat puzzled, "Why warn them to withdraw the reinforced camps? If the Sun family's troops pull out, wouldn't Yang Chengdong's confidence grow even more?"

Lin Yu leaned back in his chair, gently swaying the tea cup in his hand, a meaningfully subtle smile at the corner of his mouth, "Do you think they'll believe I'm sincerely helping Yang Chengdong?"

"This..." Zhou Wei was taken aback.

"Qin Chang'an hates me to the bone, and Sun Lingyun is even more suspicious," Lin Yu set down the tea cup, "My move will instead make them doubt whether Yang Chengdong has already reached some sort of agreement with me."

"But sir," Zhou Wei still didn't understand, "if they truly withdraw the reinforced camps..."

"Then that's perfect." Lin Yu stood, walked to the window, "The current Security Army is a time bomb. Yang Chengdong appears outwardly as Qin Chang'an's uncle, but in reality has long established his own influence within the army. Although Qin Chang'an is a Young Commander, he holds no real power."

He turned, a playful glint in his eyes, "Tell me, would such an army be easier to handle than the Ninth Division?"

"You mean..." Zhou Wei suddenly grasped something.

"Let them fight, the fiercer the better." Lin Yu sneered, "When their internal split is nearly complete, we strike, achieving twice the result with half the effort."

"But sir, didn't you just say Shen City is now a Firecracker Barrel..."

"Precisely because it's a Firecracker Barrel, we must let them explode first." Lin Yu's voice carried a chilling coldness, "When the Security Army descends into chaos on its own, we tidy up the aftermath, and who can object?"

He gazed at the brightly lit Security Command Headquarters outside the window, "Yang Chengdong is the Old Fox, Qin Chang'an is a reckless youth, Sun Lingyun manipulates power, Lu Xiao is impulsive... When these people gather together, chaos is inevitable."

"And the court over there..."

"The court?" Lin Yu scoffed, "By the time they react, Shen City will already be mine."

Zhou Wei watched Lin Yu's back, suddenly feeling a chill. He finally understood why everyone called him "Lin Madman". Every move of this man was setting up a larger board.

And at that moment in Bailemen, the four young men were still speculating on Lin Yu's purpose, unaware that they had already fallen into a meticulously crafted trap.