Ethan P. O. V
After ensuring I had control over the situation, Chen Lien and I headed straight to Huang, Shanghai’s biggest gambling district. It’s not as large as Chengzu, but it has enough business space for me.
As I puffed on my cigarette, Chen Lien scanned the surroundings, making sure no one was around to interrupt our deal, especially Alesio’s men. That bastard, I’m sure he’ll do anything to get what he hasn’t managed to take from me yet.
The car that brought us to the location stopped in front of a small love hotel flanked by large casino buildings on both sides. Even though it was a small hotel, I was pretty surprised when I entered because the people there weren’t ordinary folks; they were all couriers and small-time dealers surviving by scamming and selling a bit of stuff from people like me.
Besides them, I also saw a few officials sitting with sexily dressed prostitutes, perfectly curved bodies and round chests prominently displayed, using their charms to entice the perverted officials who came for sex, gambling, and drunk.
A few steps into the hotel’s main lobby, we were greeted by hotel Staff in uniform. They asked us to wait and offered us some of their finest wine and a plate of cheese slices.
“When did you switch your smokes to regular ones instead of cigars?”
“Ever since, I couldn’t enjoy cigars as much.”
“Did you run out of cigars?”
“That won’t happen as long as I’ve got plenty of cash in my pocket.”
My reply sounded like I was trying to provoke myself as if I were gearing up for an unseen battle with Chen Lien. But he seemed completely unbothered by what I said, so he just smiled without saying anything else.
After waiting for a while with a bottle of vodka as my companion, the person we were waiting for finally arrived. It was Stevan Lee, the guy in charge of this entire district, from all the incoming money to the purchases of the goods I sell.
Laughing loudly and stretching his arms, Stevan walked towards me. “It’s really great to see you here, Alpha Ethan.”
“Isn’t that expected? You’re waiting for me to get what you want, and I need your money.”
I replied with full awareness, and since Stevan already knew my nature and preferences, he immediately invited me to discuss the fair price for all my goods.
Chen Lien asked a few of his men to bring all the stuff we had that day-several suitcases of cocaine and a ton of marijuana, two products Stevan always orders in increasing amounts every month.
Usually, I never come here because Danny handles everything, delivering all the Stevan requests and throwing in some extra as a bonus. Of course, I do that because I want to retain my loyal customers.
“This isn’t my business, but do you know Alesio, Alpha Ethan?”
I was about to leave the hotel but stopped and turned to him with a smile. “What do you know? Did that bastard say something to you?”
Stevan shook his head with an awkward expression. “It’s not like him, but I’m sure he mentioned something about not doing business with you anymore.”
That damn bastard. Turns out he’s gone this far just to try and take what’s mine. He didn’t need to go to such lengths just to threaten me. It’s almost funny because when he realizes I could do the worst to him, I won’t stop until I’m satisfied.
“So, what do you want? Ending our partnership after this?”
“Hahaha, of course, I would never do that, Alpha Ethan,” he replied. “I know the quality of your narcotics and weapons is the best. There’s no way I’d replace you with someone whose quality my customers might not even like.”
A statement that made me smile. “That sounds like something a sycophant would say,” I said, making Stevan laugh heartily.
“How about we start again next week? I might need more of the same stuff.” Stevan seemed to be trying to keep me from getting angry. He’s definitely worthy of being my partner in selling everything I have.
“Of course, you decide where you want to pick up,” I replied, then walked away, followed by Chen Lien, Danny, and a few others who came with me to the place.
“It seems Alesio knows your moves quite well. So now, what are you going to give him?” Chen Lien suddenly asked as soon as we got into the car.
I waited to answer. I took a cigarette from my jacket pocket, intending to light it again, but Chen Lien quickly grabbed it, broke it in half, and threw it out the window.
“What are you doing?”
“You’ve smoked enough today. You know you can’t really smoke like this, so why do you keep going?”
“What do you know?” I pulled my hand back when Chen Lien tried to grab the remaining cigarette.
He might be right-I hardly ever smoke like this. But I can’t carry a box of cigars-they’re too big to fit in my pocket, unlike these cigarettes. They’re flexible, and there’s plenty of them. But my habits are easy for Chen Lien to read, and now his question shifted to something more sensitive.
“If Christopher Gale makes you anxious, tell Claire who she is. Reveal her identity to her and provoke her like you usually do.”
“It’s not as easy as you think,” I replied, leaning back.
“Why do you say it’s not easy? Wouldn’t it be better to tell Claire directly instead of making her think you don’t want her?”
I squinted my eyes, staring at him intensely, then shook my head. “You’re crazy. Do you think Lucy would like this and let Claire become my Luna? Everything you say is easy to say but not to do. So stop speculating and start finding Alesio’s whereabouts. I need some of his teeth and blood. Don Azacha kids will definitely like this.”