Chapter 966: Chapter 962: Money Doesn’t Matter! The Shanchuan Five Brothers had been running together for many years, their tacit understanding far beyond that of ordinary people. In just a few breaths, they exchanged looks and came to a conclusion... they’d still get that two million US dollars in their hands first, then talk about anything else.
With a plan in mind, the leader spoke leisurely, "Let’s keep things clean and separate. First, pay off the remaining two million, settle this job, then we’ll talk about other stuff."
Sugai Yishu instantly blew his top. "You guys are doubting my credibility? My father is an elder of the Mizuno Clan—how could I possibly cheat you out of a measly few million US dollars?!"
The Shanchuan Five Brothers weren’t angered; instead they followed his lead and said, "Since that’s the case, then let’s just settle the balance. A few million may not be a big number for you, but for the five of us brothers, it’s definitely not something we can just shrug off."
Sugai Yishu, whose heart was still bleeding, grew even more furious. "I said, as long as you help me capture that punk alive, I’ll give you another million US dollars on top. If we keep wasting time and that kid runs off, don’t blame me for not warning you. When that happens, don’t even think about getting a single cent of that previous two million!"
"So you’re planning to stiff us?" The Shanchuan Five Brothers stepped forward in unison, their eyes equally filled with coldness, the threat already written all over their faces.
Thinking that the knife was in his own hands anyway, Sugai Yishu suddenly felt much calmer. Sticking his neck out, he said, "I never said that. As long as you do what I told you, your money will naturally be paid in full. But if you don’t listen to me, then you’re not getting a single cent."
This blatant "yeah I’m shameless, and there’s no way I’m taking money out of my pocket easily" scoundrel expression instantly enraged the Shanchuan Five Brothers.
"Not a single cent, huh?" One of the five stepped out, sizing Sugai Yishu up from head to toe, vicious light flickering in his eyes.
Sugai Yishu’s heart instantly tightened, but over the years he’d dealt with wave after wave of workers demanding their wages, so he was very experienced. He knew that at a time like this he absolutely could not panic, otherwise the odds were ten out of eight that he’d be forced to cough up the cash.
Only by taking an absolutely hardline stance, paired with relatively mild language—two-pronged at once—could he keep the situation firmly under control!
However, Sugai Yishu had forgotten one thing. Those workers who came to demand their pay didn’t dare, and didn’t have the ability, to do anything to him; they were terrified that if they angered him, he’d refuse to give them even a single coin.
But the Shanchuan Five Brothers were different. The five of them had the ability to kill him at any time, and they weren’t afraid of him withholding payment at all. They had ten thousand ways to make him obediently hand over the money.
Seeing the five Shanchuan brothers with clearly darkened expressions, closing in on him step by step, Sugai Yishu could no longer control his rising panic.
"You... what are you going to do?" Sugai Yishu forced himself to hold together his crumbling nerves and stammered, "Are you really planning... not to ask for... for the money anymore?"
The Shanchuan Five Brothers exchanged a look, then slowly fanned out, closing in on Sugai Yishu as they chuckled, "No worries, money or not doesn’t really matter anymore!"
...
On the other side, a large crowd of rubberneckers had already gathered at the bar entrance after hearing the commotion. Xiao Tian had to put in quite a bit of effort before he finally managed to drag Adison Claire and "hack" their way out of the crowd.
But just as they broke out, Xiao Tian suddenly halted his steps and showed a helpless smile.
Adison Claire asked in confusion, "What’s wrong? Weren’t we going to use this chance to get out of here?"
Xiao Tian let out a bitter laugh. "No need. Sugai Yasuaki is already here."
"You’re kidding, right?" Adison Claire looked left and right. Other than the large crowd of onlookers, she didn’t see Sugai Yasuaki’s figure anywhere, so she said, "But I don’t see—"
Halfway through her sentence, she stopped.
Because at the intersection ahead, a very familiar luxury car appeared in their line of sight. After it turned the corner and she saw the familiar license plate, Adison Claire’s expression became rather interesting.
The two of them had left the hotel no more than half an hour ago altogether, yet Sugai Yasuaki had already tracked them down this fast, and pinpointed their exact location. That level of skill truly could be called "reaching everywhere."
Of course, it might also simply be that Sugai Yishu was too much of a moron, so Sugai Yasuaki didn’t even have to try hard to easily find Xiao Tian and Adison Claire.
Once the car stopped, the door swung open immediately. Sugai Yasuaki stepped into view and strode quickly toward Adison Claire and Xiao Tian.
Seeing the large crowd of onlookers not far away, and the dust all over Xiao Tian and Adison Claire’s clothes, Sugai Yasuaki felt his heart sink sharply as he asked, "Mr. Xiao, did that bastard Sugai Yishu make a move on you?"
The current situation left Sugai Yasuaki feeling tangled. On the one hand, seeing Xiao Tian safe and sound did let him breathe a sigh of relief. But Xiao Tian being fine also meant, conversely, that Sugai Yishu very likely might have met with some kind of mishap.
In Sugai Yasuaki’s mind, whether someone like Sugai Yishu—who stood on the opposite side from him—lived or died wasn’t all that important. But that was on the premise that he himself hadn’t been involved.
Because if Sugai Yishu really did suffer an accident, the first person to be suspected would be him, Sugai Yasuaki. The two of them could be said to be family, which sounded rather ironic, but it was an undeniable fact.
And Sugai Yasuaki clearly didn’t want any extra incidents at this juncture, not with so many pairs of eyes following every move.
In that moment, Sugai Yasuaki couldn’t help thinking more and more in the worst possible direction. If Xiao Tian really had killed Sugai Yishu, how was he supposed to explain why he was so close to the scene?
A coincidence? There was no way things could be that coincidental, right?
As time ticked by, the more Sugai Yasuaki thought about it, the more he felt he’d be unable to explain himself no matter what, and that people would definitely seize the chance to blow the whole thing up.
But who could he blame for this?
Blame Xiao Tian?
Obviously not.
Blame Sugai Yishu?
That he could!
But if Sugai Yishu was already dead, what would be the point of blaming him?
Thinking of this, Sugai Yasuaki couldn’t help cursing inwardly that even in death that bastard would still find a way to disgust him...
Just when Sugai Yasuaki had almost convinced himself that Xiao Tian had killed Sugai Yishu, he heard Xiao Tian say, "Sugai Yishu brought five experts. We had no choice but to fall back for now."
"What?!"
Sugai Yasuaki was both shocked and delighted. He hurried to confirm, "You’re saying Sugai Yishu wasn’t killed by you?"
Xiao Tian said, a bit speechless, "When did I ever say I killed Sugai Yishu?"
"Huu..." Sugai Yasuaki let out a long breath, the stone in his heart finally dropping. Only then did he suddenly realize that Xiao Tian really hadn’t said a single word from beginning to end; it had all been his own wild imagination.
"Let’s get in the car first," Sugai Yasuaki said.