"Right then, Fatty, immediately have the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits deploy for protection. The situation with Marquis Qin should be stable by now. Send them to lie in ambush near the Dragon Gang headquarters!" Yang Yi frowned, suddenly remembering something, and said, "Also, notify the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends in Hainan to secure all major checkpoints leading to Macau. If you spot any reinforcements from the Green Gang, show no mercy!"

"Understood, I'll see to it," Lin Fatty replied before walking out.

Xuanyuan Bing was puzzled. Based on Yang Yi's previous intentions, she had expected him to devour both major gangs in one swift move. Instead, the current situation seemed focused on a one-on-one confrontation, yet there was a palpable sense that another strategy was in play.

Glancing at Xuanyuan Bing, Yang Yi smiled faintly. "The Green Gang must be dealt with, certainly, but we shouldn't eliminate those who can be persuaded to surrender. Assimilation is, after all, an excellent solution. However, if any member of the Green Gang dares to step out of line within these next few days, they die."

Hearing this, Xuanyuan Bing was momentarily stunned. For the first time, she sensed an innate arrogance in Yang Yi, and two words instantly surfaced in her mind: "Aura of Pride!"

She had once heard that the Aura of Pride was a substance... a temperament... a physical manifestation... encompassing all things in the universe. It could be called a type of Qi, or perhaps a floating, submerging entity, or even...

Thinking of this, Xuanyuan Bing suddenly trembled. Yang Yi noticed and asked with confusion, "Bing'er, what's wrong?"

"I... I'm fine?" Xuanyuan Bing's denial was obvious, but given Yang Yi's complete lack of knowledge on the matter, she ultimately held back her questions.

"The innate Aura of Pride—only those destined to be emperors have possessed it since antiquity. This Aura is a very ethereal thing; to an old man like myself, it can kill, and it can save. It seems this child is unaware of the peerless constitution he possesses. Well, it's better that way; the time is not yet right!" A white-haired stranger stood atop a tall building, occasionally stroking his white beard, his eyes gleaming as he spoke to himself.

At this moment, within the former British Consulate of Macau, now the Dragon Gang Headquarters.

Long Tian was already frowning early in the morning, poring over documents. The more he read, the tighter his brow furrowed, until he even cursed aloud, "Damn sons of bitches, damn sons of bitches!"

Smack!~~~

Just as Long Tian angrily slammed his hand onto the desk, a figure entered from the doorway. It was none other than the professional beauty, Xiao Yun. She asked, knitting her delicate brows, "Young Master Long, what has you so enraged?"

"See for yourself!" Long Tian tossed the documents on the desk toward the professional beauty.

Tap! The documents landed perfectly intact, not scattering on the floor, but settled neatly in the professional beauty's hands. She briefly lowered her brow, understanding from the force used how angry Long Tian truly was.

Quickly flipping through the pages, her exquisite, beautiful face filled with shock. "This, what is going on?"

"I don't know either. I received word first thing this morning that there were spies in our Macau casinos, even internal assassinations! And that’s not all!" Long Tian grit his teeth angrily. "Now, all the major casinos in Macau are in chaos, simply because some people are spreading rumors that they are using some leverage to purge our core members."

"Young Master Long, could this situation be..."

"You mean the Black God Gang?" Long Tian’s usual composure was shattered by the situation. He snorted coldly. "Hmph, besides them, I genuinely cannot imagine who else would dare move against my Dragon Gang so boldly."

"But, there's no evidence right now, perhaps..."

"Xiao Yun, arrange immediately. Quell the chaos in the major casinos for me and report the situation to me promptly."

"Yes, Young Master Long."

"It seems the time for a serious move is upon us. The reports indicate two factions, but who else besides him would dare attack my Dragon Gang? The Green Gang is allied, and the North is completely out of the question..." Thinking this through, Long Tian fell deep into contemplation.

Indeed, the Century Grand Casino had undergone a complete overhaul, secretly betraying them. Numerous casinos of all sizes had fallen under the control of an unidentified force. This had caused widespread unease among the casinos loyal to the Dragon Gang, especially because these infiltrators were disseminating information that unsettled even the floor managers and upper-level personnel. Those involved in the underworld knew that internal disorder inevitably led to mysterious deaths.

No one alive was unafraid of death, especially the wealthy—even those hoodlums, punks, and riffraff who constantly shouted about violence and brandished machetes were terrified underneath their bravado. Given a chance, they would probably wet themselves before dying.

Therefore, everyone in the upper echelons of the casinos was fearful. Fearful that they would be the next to die.

"Marquis, control has been established. We now hold the main control over more than a dozen casinos in Macau. As for the Century Grand Casino, those men dispatched by the Dragon Lord were truly swift and decisive. They handled everything in a single night—truly formidable." Tian She reported to Qin Hou, who was seated on the sofa.

"En. The Dragon Gang has always presented an image of powerful men and strong horses to outsiders, but who knows that even the strongest fortress has its weaknesses? In reality, nothing matters as much as who can perceive the weakness of that fortress; such a person is a king!" Qin Hou closed his eyes slightly.

"Marquis, what are you implying?"

"He was able to dispatch these men so quickly. What further meaning do you think that holds?"

"So, the Dragon Lord intended to strike at the Dragon Gang through the casinos all along, and we were merely pawns in his hand?" Tian She frowned.

"Whether we are pawns or not, I don't know. Zi, we now have no other choice. Since we've chosen this path, we must walk it steadily. After all, he is certainly worthy of our anticipation."

"En!" Tian She responded, falling silent.

Meanwhile, back at the Dragon Gang Headquarters.

"Young Master Long, Young Master Long!" The professional beauty appeared, uncharacteristically flustered, repeatedly shouting into Long Tian’s office.

Hearing the voice, Long Tian quickly put down the documents and stood up, asking the anxious professional beauty, "What is it? Has something happened?"

"It’s bad news, Young Master Long! The Century Grand Casino has been taken over by an unknown force, and more than a dozen casinos within our sphere of influence in Macau have successively submitted to that same power! I can’t even get past the entrance now," the professional beauty explained.

"What? Have you determined the origin of that force?" Long Tian's body jolted upon hearing this.

"No, that force is too mysterious. It doesn't look like the Black God Gang, nor does it resemble the North."

"Oh? How so?"

"My subordinates reported that this unknown force arrived from America yesterday afternoon! So..."

"America?" A cold glint flashed in Long Tian's eyes. He quickly inquired, "Are the people in that force foreigners?"

"No, they are Huaxia people."

"Huaxia people?" Long Tian’s initial suspicion evaporated, replaced by a fresh wave of doubt.

The professional beauty looked at Long Tian and asked, "Young Master Long, could this group be people dispatched by the North or the Black God Gang from elsewhere?"

"I can’t say for the North, but the Black God Gang is somewhat suspect. They don't appear to have forces in America, nor do they have power there," Long Tian said, then suddenly remembered something. He immediately instructed, "Xiao Yun, investigate immediately. Find out exactly where that group came from, and preferably trace their movements over the last month."

"Yes, I'll go now." The professional beauty agreed.

"Wait. First, call the Green Gang. Tell them the Black God Gang is likely about to make a move. Ask them to deploy people on the outskirts of Macau to keep watch, and also pay close attention to the Black God Gang’s personnel in Hainan. Alas, this Dragon Lord of the Black God Gang is too cunning; one slip-up and things will become very troublesome."

"Yes!"

"Go," Long Tian waved his hand, sitting down with an air of dejection, looking up at the ceiling with a cold smile playing on his lips.

The situation was getting increasingly interesting. Yang Yi's covert control over the Dragon Gang's foundation was undoubtedly aimed at finding the most opportune moment to annihilate them from the shadows. The Dragon Gang's various forces exiled in the South would inevitably collapse without a fight.

Moreover, there was one thing Yang Yi wasn't worried about. It wasn't the Dragon Gang's elite guards in other regions—the most powerful branches affiliated with the Dragon Gang—who might resist or even fight the Black God Gang to the death. He was worried about the North.

The North had always given him a strange feeling. Since his emergence, those people there had remained completely silent, possessing an air of profound, entrenched power. Although the princes in the North scorned the affairs in the South, it was unavoidable to suspect they might be using Yang Yi for some purpose.

Using the Black God Gang to overrun the South, and then the North making a move, launching a full-scale attack on the Black God Gang—such a sudden development gave Yang Yi a massive headache. While he possessed the strength to resist, if they struck right after he had stabilized the South, it would drain his vitality, and then...

Thinking this, a thought suddenly popped into Yang Yi's mind: "If all this is connected to the heir of that legendary Ye family, wouldn't that mean... Heh heh, things are indeed getting more and more interesting."