Chapter 547

Boss, what do you mean...?

Translation: "Boss, what you mean is......"

But need to keep ellipsis? Chinese has three dots. We'll keep "......". So: "Boss, what you mean is......"

Yuan Fengxiang lowered his voice, his expression probing.

Translation: "Yuan Fengxiang lowered his voice, wearing an inquisitive, probing expression."

But need to keep meaning: "Yuan Fengxiang lowered his voice, his face showing a probing inquiry." Let's produce natural: "Yuan Fengxiang lowered his voice, his face showing a probing inquiry."

The boss took a sip of wine, narrowed his eyes, and said: "Recently, I've heard rumors; someone said he secretly set up an arms factory over there, recruiting many people, wanting to go independent."

Translation: "The boss took a sip of wine, narrowed his eyes, and said: 'Recently, I've heard some rumors; someone said he secretly set up an arms factory over there, recruited quite a few people, and wants to go independent.'"

Yuan Fengxiang exclaimed in shock: "How could this be possible? How dare he? He owes his position entirely to your patronage, boss!"

Translation: "Yuan Fengxiang exclaimed in shock: 'How is that possible? How dare he? He owes his current position entirely to your patronage, boss!'"

The boss took another sip, slammed his glass on the coffee table, and said: "He's not like you; you live off your tongue, while he relies on skill. Who knows—maybe some armed group values his gun‑making talent and is trying to recruit him."

Translation: "The boss took another sip, slammed his cup on the coffee table, and said: 'He's not like you; you live off your tongue, he lives off his skill. Who knows—maybe some armed group values his gun‑making talent and is trying to recruit him.'"

Annan's face was cold: "Boss, if that's true, can he still stay?"

Translation: "A-Nan stared coldly: 'Boss, if that's really the case, can he still stay?'"

The boss pointed at Yuan Fengxiang: "So I've had you watch him, monitor his every move; I want solid evidence, not baseless speculation."

Translation: "The boss pointed at Yuan Fengxiang: 'So I had you watch him, monitor his every move; I want solid evidence, not baseless speculation.'"

Lianghao is an ambitious man; the fact that he can use his wife and children as bait without hesitation, and can make even the unruly Kui Lang willingly work for him, shows he refuses to just work under me.

Translation: "'Lianghao is an ambitious man—see how he can unhesitatingly use his wife and children as bait, how he can make even the unruly Kui Lang willingly work for him; it's clear he's not content to just work under me.'"

But for now, he doesn't yet have that capability, and I still need someone like him to work for me; going to the stronghold to kill and open channels is also a loyalty test for him.

Translation: "'But for now he doesn't yet have that capability, and I still need someone like him to do my bidding—going to the stronghold to kill people and open up channels is also a loyalty test for him.'"

This matter is very risky; it depends on whether he's willing to obey and what attitude he'll use to carry it out.

Translation: "'This task is risky; it all depends on whether he's willing to obey and what attitude he'll use to carry it out.'"

After saying that, he suddenly stared at Yuan Fengxiang without a word, making Yuan Fengxiang feel uneasy.

Translation: "Having said that, he suddenly stared at Yuan Fengxiang without a word, making Yuan Fengxiang feel a bit creeped out."

He hurriedly knelt on the ground, palms together, continuously expressing his loyalty, indicating he was willing to lay down his life for the boss.

Translation: "He hurriedly dropped to his knees, palms together, continuously expressing his loyalty, indicating he was willing to lay down his life for the boss."

The boss, with an elegant smile, helped him up from the ground and gave him a cigar: "Do your work well, be diligent, and I won't shortchange you; Dapeng's fate is the best warning."

Translation: "The boss, with an elegant smile, helped him up from the floor and handed him a cigar: 'Do your work well, be diligent, and I won't shortchange you; Dapeng's fate is the best warning.'"

If you don't let those below eat their fill, you'll eventually face backlash; but some people's appetites are just too huge, like a lion opening its mouth wide.

Translation: "'If you don't let your subordinates eat their fill, you'll eventually face backlash—but some people's appetites are just too big, they open their mouths like lions.'"

Yuan Fengxiang, trembling with fear, took the cigar: "My appetite is modest; as long as I can make a living and avoid being caught by the Chinese military police, I'll be satisfied."

Translation: "Yuan Fengxiang accepted the cigar with trepidation: 'My appetite isn't big; as long as I can secure a livelihood and avoid being arrested by the Longguo military police, I'll be content.'"

The boss patted his shoulder, hands behind his back, and walked out of the reception room; Yuan Fengxiang slowly straightened up, the obsequious smile on his face vanishing instantly, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes.

Translation: "The boss patted his shoulder, hands behind his back, and walked out of the reception room; Yuan Fengxiang slowly straightened up, the obsequious smile on his face vanishing instantly, a flicker of malignity flashing in his eyes."

Annan saw it but said nothing, limping away as well.

Translation: "A-Nan saw all this but said nothing, limping away as well."

He's gone.

Translation: "'He's gone.'"

Brother Yuan, I've taken down Dapeng—every shot was a headshot.

Translation: "'Yuan Ge, Dapeng has already been taken out by me—every shot a headshot.'"

Got it.

Translation: "'I know.'"

Leaving the mansion, they got into a jeep, and the underling eagerly lit a cigarette.

Translation: "Leaving the mansion, they got into a jeep, and the underling eagerly lit a cigarette right away."

Brother Yuan, what did the boss talk to you about? Did he mention handing over Dapeng's business and territory to you?

Translation: "'Yuan Ge, what did the boss talk to you about? Did he mention handing over Dapeng's business and territory to you?'"

Hehe, he told me to hide out at the old den for a while.

Translation: "'Heh, he told me to lie low at the old den for a while.'"

What?

Translation: "'What?'"

The underling was shocked: "We went through all that trouble to take down Dapeng—was it all for nothing? What is the boss thinking? You've been with him so long, why won't he let you touch the core business?"

Translation: "The underling exclaimed in shock: 'We went to all that trouble to take down Dapeng—was it all for nothing? What is the boss thinking? You've been with him so long; why won't he let you touch the core business?'"

Either he's just using you for show, or he's treating you as a high‑rank lackey—looking respectable but never letting you profit.

Translation: "'Either he's just using you to watch the premises, or he's treating you as a high‑rank lackey—letting you enjoy the prestige but never letting you profit from the perks.'"

Yuan Fengxiang said wistfully: "It's just because I'm Chinese that he doesn't trust me."

Translation: "Yuan Fengxiang said wistfully: 'It's just because I'm a Longguo national that he doesn't trust me.'"

The underling fumed: "How can he still discriminate? You've made him so much money, yet he gives you only a pittance, like tossing scraps to a beggar. You used to be a big shot back home, commanding respect wherever you went."

Translation: "The underling flared up: 'How can he still be discriminating? You made him so much money, yet he gives you only a pittance, tossing you scraps like a beggar? You used to be a big shot back home—wherever you went, you commanded the wind and rain, surrounded by followers.'"

You just need to move your lips—set up a Yuanbao liquor company, a shell firm there, and you could earn hundreds of millions.

Translation: "'All you'd have to do is move your lips a bit, casually set up a Yuanbao liquor venture, create a shell company there, and you'd rake in hundreds of millions.'"

I say, you might as well quit this and strike out on your own; go to Myan‑electric, contract a park, and specialize in telephone fraud.

Translation: "'If you ask me, you'd be better off quitting this and striking out on your own—head to Myanmar, set up a park, and specialize in telephone fraud.'"

With your gift for persuasion, you could easily make over a hundred million a year; then charter a plane straight to Hawaii, buy a big villa—far better than toiling here like an ox.

Translation: "'With your gift for gab and those sales tactics, you could easily pull in over a hundred million a year; then charter a plane straight to Hawaii, buy a big villa—surely better than toiling here like an ox or horse.'"

Yuan Fengxiang smoked glumly, offering no reply, but his mind had already begun scheming.

Translation: "Yuan Fengxiang smoked irritably, gave no reply, but his mind had already begun scheming."

Neither he nor Lianghao is the type to willingly stay subordinate.

Translation: "Whether it's him or Lianghao, neither is the type to willingly remain subordinate."

Originally, they were forced into it, having nowhere else to turn, so they temporarily sought refuge.

Translation: "Originally, too, they were forced into a dead‑end situation and had to seek refuge somewhere on short notice."

Given his years of accumulated connections and experience, if he could return to Myan‑electric, he could certainly build the largest telecom‑fraud industrial park.

Translation: "Given his years of accumulated connections and experience, if he could return to Myanmar, he could definitely build the largest telecom‑fraud industrial park."

As for what Lianghao is up to, he's heard a bit—it seems he's latched onto a new powerful patron; after all, hand‑crafted weapons, which are worthless domestically, are absolute gold here.

Translation: "As for what Lianghao is up to over there, he's heard a bit—it seems the guy has latched onto a new powerful backer; after all, the skill of hand‑crafting weapons, which yields no value domestically, is an absolute treasure here."

Yuan Fengxiang had him pull over to the roadside so he could relieve himself, saying: "Don't talk like that anymore; the Chinese military police are after me, and this is a good chance to lay low. Did the guy who swallowed Dapeng's secrets and secretly tipped them off get silenced?"

Translation: "Yuan Fengxiang had him pull over at the roadside so he could relieve himself, saying: 'Don't talk like that anymore—the Longguo military police are hunting me; this is a perfect chance to lay low. Dapeng's affair is buried in my gut; did the guy who secretly tipped them off get silenced?'"

He's already been killed.

Translation: "'He's already been killed.'"

Good; now only you and I know about this.

Translation: "'Good. Now this matter is known only to you and me.'"

Brother Yuan, rest assured—I'll keep this to myself, unless I die...

Translation: "'Yuan Ge, rest assured—I'll keep this to myself, rotting away inside me unless I die......'"

Bang!

Translation: "Bang!"

A gunshot rang out, and a mist of blood spread across the windshield.

Translation: "A gunshot rang out, and a layer of blood mist formed on the windshield."

Watching the underling slump over the steering wheel, his skull blown open.

Translation: "Watching the underling slump over the steering wheel, his skull burst open."

Yuan Fengxiang holstered his gun, dragged the body to the nearby woods, doused it with gasoline, and struck a match.

Translation: "Yuan Fengxiang holstered his gun, dragged the body to the nearby woods, doused it with gasoline, and struck a match."

Brother, don't blame me; you know too much. If you go blabbing, the boss will suspect me, and the Chinese military police will come after me—only your death puts my mind at ease.

Translation: "'Brother, don't blame me—you know too much. If you go out spouting nonsense, the boss will suspect me, and the Longguo military police will target me; only with you dead can I rest easy.'"

A few days later, inside a domestic anti‑drug detachment, applause broke out.

Translation: "A few days later, inside a certain domestic anti‑drug detachment, applause rang out."

Including the detachment chief, several narcotics officers successfully completed the international joint anti‑drug operation and returned smoothly from Kampot.

Translation: "Including the detachment chief, several narcotics officers successfully completed the international joint anti‑drug operation and returned smoothly from Kampuchea."

The detachment chief pulled a young man to the front, put an arm around his shoulder, and said: "This operation succeeded thanks to the navy brothers' strong support, but the biggest credit goes to Fang Wei!"

Translation: "The detachment chief pulled a young man to the front, put an arm around his shoulder, and said: 'This operation succeeded thanks largely to the strong support of our Navy brothers, but the biggest credit goes to Fang Wei!'"

It was he who promptly reported the tip he received, and, posing as a distant cousin, went undercover on a fishing boat to apprehend all the downstream smugglers.

Translation: "'It was he who received the tip and reported it promptly, and also, posing as a distant maternal cousin, he went undercover on a fishing boat and apprehended all the downstream smuggling criminals.'"

In the joint cross‑border apprehension mission, this kid led the charge, firing repeatedly and killing several traffickers.

Translation: "'In the joint international apprehension mission, this kid was at the forefront, firing continuously and gunning down several traffickers.'"

I have a suggestion: let's lift him up—what do you think?

Translation: "'I have a proposal—let's all lift him up, okay?'"

Sure!

Translation: "'Good!'"

A crowd surged forward, hoisting Fang Wei high and tossing him up.

Translation: "A crowd surged forward, hoisted Fang Wei up, and tossed him high,"

They laughed and joked, hot‑blooded and cheerful, for a while before setting him down.

Translation: "laughing and joking heatedly for a while before setting him down."

After the revelry, Fang Wei followed the detachment chief into the office, half‑listening as the chief described how pleased the bureau was, deciding to award him a medal, promote him, and raise his pay.

Translation: "After the revelry, Fang Wei followed the detachment chief into the office, half‑listening as the chief described how pleased the bureau was, deciding to award him a medal, promote him, and raise his salary."

You kid, why aren't you happy? Why are you putting on a deep‑souled act now?

Translation: "'You little brat, why aren't you happy? Why are you putting on a deep‑front act at a time like this?'"

Chief, I've reviewed the whole operation, every detail, and something feels off.

Translation: "'Chief, I've reviewed the whole process, all the details, and I just feel something's off.'"

What don't you understand?

Translation: "'What is it that you can't figure out?'"

I just feel everything came too smoothly, too easily, too simply—like someone was pulling a string, guiding us all the way to raid Dapeng's lair.

Translation: "'I just feel everything came too smoothly, too easily, too simply—it's as if someone were pulling a string, guiding us all the way to raid Dapeng's lair.'"

Fang Wei said: "Also, the Ministry of Public Security sent a list to assist in the arrests; the one called Yuan Fengxiang, and Liang Hao, we have visited and investigated, but have not found any clue, so......"

Detachment Commander raised a hand to stop him: "You're looking too far ahead, thinking too much. The assistance letter from the Ministry of Public Security merely hopes that, in addition to our mission, we'll try to see if we can catch them; in itself this is like looking for a needle in the ocean—who knows, they may have already fled elsewhere."

Besides, you think everything's going too smoothly—what's wrong with things going smoothly? Do you have to be bravely wounded, even glorious, for it to count?

Don't overthink it—you've made a merit, you're a hero now; as for the rest, don't dwell on it, take a few days off to rest and relax.

Fang Wei nodded helplessly: "Detachment Commander, I have a request; I want to go in person to thank the navy brothers who gave us major help in the operation—without them, we'd probably only have caught those few small-fry smugglers."

The Detachment Commander nodded: "Indeed we should thank them; go to the advertising company across the street and make a banner with the best fabric—once it's done, I'll go with you."

What should we write in the acknowledgment unit? Flood Dragon?

No, write Sea Land Third Brigade.

Sea Land—hasn't there always only been two brigades?

The Third Brigade was only recently established, but its momentum is fierce and its capabilities comprehensive; it's said that over the past few months they've racked up merits one after another—the aviation bomb from the xx Academy that was defused not long ago was handled by a Lu-surnamed company commander of the Third Brigade, the same person who discovered the drugs hidden on the island this time.

Fang Wei exclaimed: "No wonder they say the military is full of talent; I really ought to go pay a proper visit—see if I can learn from them, pick up some tips."

The Detachment Commander laughed: "It's rare to see such ambition in you; young people sharing common topics, more communication is good; I've also heard quite a bit about this Company Commander Lu's exploits—he's indeed a very capable person."

In the future, when we run into a big case, we might need to ask for their help—keeping relations good is essential.

At the same time, a speedboat arrived at the shore.

On board sat a group of soldiers with numb expressions, sallow and thin, unkempt and dirty-faced.

Lu Yang shouted twice before he managed to get them ashore; once ashore, each one was listless, standing there like a stone statue.

Obviously, these days of devilish training have mentally shattered everyone, leaving them numb.

Lu Yang made a call from the side: "Hey, Lao Gao, we're back, near the xx dock—send someone to pick us up."

Just as he was speaking, a military vehicle bearing the words 'Security Military Police' came from the intersection ahead; the two silver-capped occupants spotted Lu Yang and company, unkempt as they were, from afar.

Squad Leader, should we detain them or not?

Detain your sister, damn it!

The Squad Leader slammed the accelerator—whoosh—and zoomed past: "Just a bunch of frogmen who just came ashore—look at their bearing and you know; a few days ago some clueless guy detained a bunch of newly ashore submariners, and now they've been suspended pending reflection."

Damn, are frogmen really that badass?

They're full of resentment—better not get involved, just pretend we didn't see them.