There was no public welcoming ceremony; we quietly returned home. This time, I was determined to deal with Tan Zhong and his faction. Assassination was out of the question; it would earn me the label of a terrorist in the eyes of the people, making it hard to command respect later. Doing so would be no better than outright announcing that Red Dragon was my creation and moving to establish violent world domination. Therefore, this matter required careful, long-term planning.

Liu Xue had successfully reemerged. After being repackaged by Warner under the Pan-American banner, she abandoned the sexy image she had cultivated over the past year, instead presenting herself to the public as a pure, demure ingénue. Although this shift cost her some of her dedicated followers, it was her decision, and none of us interfered.

To the outside world, Liu Xue claimed she had taken time off to study, and her disappearance to film commercials was merely a ruse. The Feng Hua Xue Yue Company was furious about Liu Xue’s contract breach, especially the shadowy new owner, the Japanese San Kō Gumi, who sent an ultimatum to Warner: either give up Liu Xue or pay massive damages. Meanwhile, the Silver Wing organization also began making trouble, but after suffering losses of two key enforcers in several skirmishes, they temporarily ceased their activities.

Liu Xue had grown accustomed to life at our house. She even bought a property next door to our building and brought her parents over from Hong Kong. Not only was living nearby convenient, but it also guaranteed their absolute personal safety. Although she could have insisted I honor the previous protection contract, she canceled that plan after learning my true identity.

That day, I was coming home from the Cultural Troupe when Zhu Da and Cai Bao’er invited Liu Xue out for dinner. Liu Xue insisted I join them. “Zhao Qian, come with me. It’s awkward for me to dine alone with two men. Besides, you have to guarantee my safety, right?”

I replied, “But I’m a man too. You don't need to worry about your safety; I’ve added triple insurance. If a fatal accident occurs, I have ways to mitigate it.”

“No way!” Liu Xue firmly stated. “If you don’t come, I won’t either. They are your good friends anyway.”

I was already stressed about how to handle Tan Zhong. The old man, realizing he couldn't contend with me militarily anymore, had pivoted toward politics. He now controlled the People's Congress and the Politburo; even the Chairman was wary of his power. I couldn’t think of a good solution immediately. Perhaps accompanying Zhu Da and the others for a drink would help clear my head.

As if to emphasize his unique relationship with the superstar, Zhu Da and Cai Bao’er chose a public restaurant for their dinner with Liu Xue. Sure enough, shortly after Liu Xue sat down, she was recognized. Fortunately, Zhu Da was prepared; more than a dozen of his underlings stood nearby, successfully intimidating the onlookers into keeping their distance.

Cai Bao’er greeted me, “Commander Zhao, what brings you here? Being close to the water gives you an advantage. Since Miss Liu lives in your home, she should naturally join us for a simple meal.” Although Liu Xue’s parents didn't live in our building, Liu Xue preferred staying with Fang Yanmeng and the others, often spending the night on the third floor.

Liu Xue interjected, “Don’t blame him; I dragged him here. It’s been unsafe recently, and I need a qualified bodyguard.”

Zhu Da waved at the waiter to bring the food. “What safety concerns? Isn’t it just the San Kō Gumi? I’ve already sent men to take care of them. Just wait for the news later.”

Liu Xue knew these two heavyweights cared deeply for her and were loyal fans. However, Japan’s San Kō Gumi was a world-renowned syndicate; they weren't something that could be dealt with just by saying so. She smiled gratefully without taking it too seriously, sitting between me and Cai Bao’er. Seeing this, Zhu Da pulled me aside, resulting in him and Cai Bao’er flanking Liu Xue, even insisting I take photos of them.

After taking the photos, seeing me looking somewhat preoccupied, Zhu Da clapped my shoulder. “Alright, Commander Zhao, difficult times are temporary. That old bastard won’t meet a good end. Since you won’t use force, we just have to wait for the right moment to deal with him. For now, let’s the three of us brothers have a drink.”

I patted the Laser Sword hanging from my waist. “If we were to use force, we wouldn’t fear three million masters. But if we did that, how could we lead the people in revolution later? What difference would that make from a tyrant? We are indeed waiting for an opportunity—an opportunity to completely annihilate that Tan fellow.”

My Laser Sword and Dragon Lady Belt, which I used six thousand years ago, were preserved perfectly. Because things hadn't been very safe recently, I carried the sword with me. This thing was much more useful than a gun, suitable for large-scale annihilation, which suited my taste perfectly. As for Zhu Da and Cai Bao’er’s bronze hammers, they couldn’t carry them openly and had to reluctantly put that thought aside.

Speaking of drinking, Liu Xue objected. “Why just the three of you? Are you not planning to treat me to a drink?”

Zhu Da was momentarily stunned. “I thought you didn’t drink. Firstly, you’re a girl, and secondly, you need to maintain your public image.”

Liu Xue countered, “Maintaining my public image by not drinking is only for outsiders. But with you three, there’s no need to be polite. My god-sisters have already given me a clear picture of your backgrounds. I don't need to pretend to be a lady, right?” When did Liu Xue become sworn sisters with them? They certainly wouldn't discuss the good qualities of me and Zhu Da; they were likely gossiping about some scandalous four-A activities.

Although our table was in the public hall, it was far from the other tables, with over a dozen underlings standing guard between us. While many fans gathered, they only surrounded the area from a distance and dared not approach. The walls were made of large, transparent glass, and many passersby on the street noticed Liu Xue dining in the hotel and began taking photos through the glass. While the fans were eager for a face-to-face encounter with Liu Xue, they could also tell that the men dining with her were the leaders of the Brotherhood Alliance and the Hualong Society; no one dared to act rashly.

I told Liu Xue, “Look at all those fans outside. If you lose control after getting drunk, it will cause trouble, so perhaps you shouldn't drink.”

Liu Xue pouted. “I finally get to be my true self for once, and now you all want to put shackles on me again. Can’t you just let me be free once? If you won’t let me drink, then you won’t drink either, or I’ll spill the beans when I get back.” Living in the circle of women, Liu Xue certainly knew the reason for my abstinence from alcohol.

Zhu Da pointed to his belly and asked me, “By the way, how are the others? Any movement? Continuing the bloodline is important, but one shouldn't neglect enjoying life.”

I replied, “I’m more anxious than you! My mother has nagged me dozens of times. Please change the subject next time.”

Zhu Da raised his glass. “We won't mention it, won't mention it. Let’s drink. When this temporary difficulty passes, you’ll look back and realize the experience itself is a precious asset.”

I raised a finger and praised him. “Commander Zhu, what you just said strikes a chord with me. Your cultural level has certainly risen lately! Drink! None of you are allowed to betray me. If they ask, just say I only had soft drinks.”

In the center of the restaurant, there was a circular video wall, and the LCD screen facing us displayed Liu Xue’s latest MTV album, which looked superb. This hotel actually belonged to Galaxy International, so Zhu Da having some privileges was no problem at all.

Liu Xue took a small sip of wine, noting that a girl trying to indulge couldn't compare to men. “Give me your thoughts,” she said, gesturing toward the MTV playing on the screen to Zhu Da and Cai Bao’er.

They both said in unison, “No comment. It’s fantastic! The girl is beautiful, and the production level of the big company’s music is extraordinary. Don’t worry, it will definitely be even more popular than before.”

Liu Xue seemed slightly unhappy. “I want to hear your honest feelings.”

Zhu Da hesitated. “Honest thoughts? Well, your styling this time is too conservative. Of course, I’m not advocating for you to go back to the overtly sexy route—I was actually against that initially—but could you release an internal ‘sensual edition’ just for our inner circle to view?”

Cai Bao’er echoed his sentiment repeatedly. Liu Xue almost spat out the wine she had swallowed. She looked at me. “Zhao Qian, your friends are too lecherous. Should I release an internal sensual edition?”

I was focused on one of the lead dancers on the screen—wasn't that Yun Yao? These guys hadn't reported anything to me lately; she was already collaborating with Liu Xue. I would have to interrogate her strictly when I got home.

Liu Xue knew what I was watching. “Yun Yao dances very well. She will be an even brighter star than me in the future,” she said.

I watched while saying, “She’s too young and lacks experience. I’ll have to trouble you to mentor her more.”

Liu Xue pouted. “Do I need you to tell me that? We are the best of friends. Hey, tell me, are you going to approve the internal edition or not?”

Looking at the two women on the screen, I suddenly downed a glass of beer. “Yes.”

Mida and Cai Bao’er were touched. “Soulmates!” Liu Xue made a swooning gesture toward me that was quite captivating.

However, I had one more thing to say that I didn't voice: it would be best if they could film a version intended only for my personal viewing. But I feared that saying it out loud might earn me a punch from Liu Xue. Yun Yao, of course, wouldn't object; she refused to perform a striptease dance for me face-to-face, but filming a movie might be different.

Zhu Da kept checking his watch, muttering, “It should be time by now. Maybe the front desk forgot to switch the feed.”

Cai Bao’er grumbled beside him. “I told you to send a few experts! You said that was overestimating those bastards. If this operation fails, we’ll look like fools in front of them.”

Just then, the screen abruptly changed. The signal switched to the news channel. National television had also begun broadcasting live news extensively over the past year, unlike before when reports needed three or four rounds of strict censorship before reaching viewers as old news. With the internet so advanced now, falling behind meant no one would watch, so national TV had to reform as well.

“Good evening, viewers. We now bring you an important news bulletin from Japan. As night fell, sudden gang warfare erupted across various locations in Japan. After more than an hour of chaotic fighting, reliable sources confirm that nearly two hundred key leaders of the Japanese San Kō Gumi were killed, with tens of thousands of regular and associate members suffering heavy casualties. According to incomplete statistics from the Japanese police, the death toll from this gang clash may exceed one thousand.”

Liu Xue reacted most strongly upon hearing the name San Kō Gumi, but the news anchor’s words stunned her. She recalled what Zhu Da had said upon arriving and stammered, “D-did you... did you really send people to wipe out the S-San Kō Gumi?”

Zhu Da said proudly, “I am the Brotherhood Alliance leader personally appointed by Commander Zhao. If my words don't count in front of Commander Zhao, how could I possibly remain the leader? I sent out the masters from all twelve Halls and swept away the Japanese gangs in one fell swoop. From now on, the Japanese underworld belongs to our Brotherhood Alliance. If we say make adult films, we make adult films. If we say deal drugs, we deal drugs.”

I chuckled. “You’d better make sure your men don't accidentally injure Mutō Ran; otherwise, you’ll lose a lot of die-hard A-fans.”

Zhu Da replied, “It shouldn't happen; I specifically gave instructions. However, we targeted over twenty-five hundred San Kō Gumi branches, involving more than forty thousand people. With an operation this large, no one can guarantee who might be accidentally hurt. It’s up to fate. I estimate the police will suffer casualties too.”

Liu Xue was glued to the television coverage. When Zhu Da mentioned this, she casually remarked, “If the police death toll exceeds ten, Japan has already issued a nationwide martial law, forbidding anyone from moving around freely. Will the people you sent be alright?”

Cai Bao’er spat. “Since we dared to go, we weren't afraid of them daring to investigate. I bet those guys are already drinking victory toasts in a submarine right now. But their operation was delayed by ten minutes longer than expected. I said we should send top-tier experts, but Zhu Da refused.”

Cai Bao’er likely wanted to pull in Super Soldiers from Xia Huren, but Zhu Da preferred using underworld figures to settle underworld matters, so he disagreed. However, with the Brotherhood Alliance now armed to the teeth, wiping out the San Kō Gumi was not an issue. Although the San Kō Gumi was a world-class syndicate, they were nothing compared to the might of the Brotherhood Alliance.

Zhu Da’s success in eliminating the San Kō Gumi in one go was a good thing. A lot of groundwork must have been laid beforehand. Two hundred core members, twenty-five hundred branches, nearly forty thousand members—such a massive amount of data required immense intelligence work, and finishing them off within an hour meant deploying forces well over ten thousand strong.

The anchor continued reporting: “According to official Japanese investigation of eyewitnesses, the black-clad individuals who carried out the one-sided massacre were all masked. They were equipped with powerful AK rifles and grenades and wore high-performance bulletproof vests. After clearing all San Kō Gumi branches within an hour, they withdrew safely and rapidly. Some witnesses reported seeing them retreat toward the sea. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has dispatched a fleet and submarines for a search. As of now, no organization has claimed responsibility for this massacre.”

Zhu Da scoffed. “What they said is exaggerated. We only killed about a thousand people who deserved it. My four brothers and I haven't shied away from killing hundreds of thousands before.”

Liu Xue’s small mouth fell open in shock. “You... you’re not joking, are you? Only a thousand people? You’ve killed hundreds of thousands before? H-how come I never heard any news about that?”

Cai Bao’er interjected, “It was the 'Wolf Pack, Hungry Dogs' incident. You weren’t even born then.”

Liu Xue, unaware of what happened six thousand years ago, didn't know that the four of us had once killed over a million clones and Beastmen. Seeing the confusion on her face when Cai Bao’er mentioned she wasn’t born yet, I told her, “Ask Elena or Dragon Girl when you have a chance. They witnessed that event. It’s too long to explain from the beginning now.”

Liu Xue nodded. She already knew many of our secrets, and now another, more mysterious and terrifying event had occurred. She couldn't wait to rush home and find Elena; she was very fond of Elena, especially her blonde hair and eyes.

Cai Bao’er began gesticulating wildly, explaining to Liu Xue how he and Zhu Da had planned this event. With numerous Brotherhood Alliance members guarding the surroundings, they weren't afraid of eavesdroppers. Moreover, given Zhu Da and Cai Bao’er’s personalities, even if people knew they were responsible, they wouldn't be scared. Furthermore, everyone present was a descendant of the Dragon; they wished every Japanese person would be wiped out, and they especially wished this slaughter had been carried out by the Dragon Country.

I asked Zhu Da, “After clearing out the San Kō Gumi, what’s your next plan?”

Zhu Da replied, “The San Kō Gumi was the largest criminal organization in Japan. Besides provoking Miss Liu Xue, they were the biggest obstacle to our entry into the Japanese underworld. So, taking advantage of the situation, we took them out tonight. Next, the Brotherhood Alliance will quickly establish branches across Japan, seizing control of the Japanese underworld amidst the chaos. Once we control Japan’s economy and gangs, we’ll see how long they can keep jumping around.”

I smiled and did not object to Zhu Da’s plan. Advancing overseas syndicates was already a strategic goal for the Brotherhood Alliance. “While you’re at it, probe the Silver Wing organization. They dared to assassinate her twice, knowing full well Red Dragon was protecting Liu Xue. I think they really want to die.”

Zhu Da slammed the table. “I’m also furious, but Tiger said I shouldn’t interfere with this matter. I handle gang affairs, but he handles assassin matters.”

I saw a man walking toward us and stopped Zhu Da’s line of conversation. “Let’s stop talking for now; someone is approaching.”

Cai Bao’er also spotted the man. He cleared his throat. “None of you stop me later! If I don't make him call me Grandpa today, my surname will be Potato!”

A Brotherhood Alliance member moved to intercept him, but Zhu Da waved him away, allowing the man to approach our table. The man smiled obsequiously. “Miss Liu Xue, I’m honored to run into you here.”

Liu Xue said coolly, “Why is Young Master Tan here?”

The newcomer was none other than Tan Tian.