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Chapter 544 Family Feuds, Orphanage

Fang Cheng sat in the chair and listened to the explanation with a blank expression.

They neither expressed understanding nor continued to question him.

She simply crossed her arms over her chest and quietly looked at Ah Le with a scrutinizing gaze.

Only after the other person couldn't help but look away first did he speak in a deep voice:
"After you escaped, you haven't contacted any other members of the East City Gang or revealed your whereabouts?"

"No."

Ah Le leaned against the wall and shook his head laboriously:

"Although the president told me to break through and deliver the message, I thought about it carefully and realized that there must be a mole in the organization."

"This trip to the secret base is top secret. Apart from the dozen or so brothers who are going with us, only a handful of high-ranking members of the gang know about it."

"Now that all those brothers have died in battle and the guild leader has been captured, it couldn't possibly be that I leaked the information myself, could it?"

His lips twitched, forming an expression more painful than tears:
"Therefore, the one who betrayed our whereabouts was definitely the person closest to and trusted by the chairman, a high-ranking member of the organization who holds real power."

"This traitor is probably already plotting how to eliminate his rivals and seize power."

"As the guild leader's confidant, if I dare to return to the guild now, wouldn't I be walking into a trap?"

At this point, a suppressed anger flashed in Ah Le's bloodshot eyes.

"Moreover, when dealing with monsters with special abilities, sending more of those gang members who only know how to wield knives is just asking for trouble."

“This isn’t a gang’s fight for territory, where you can win just by having more people. If we go there with a lot of people, we might not only fail to rescue the chairman, but we could also end up hurting him.”

"Unless those monsters are willing to set up a stage and fight the East City Gang face to face, making us pay with hundreds of lives..."

Ah Le lowered his head and didn't say anything more.

Such an absurd thing is impossible to even imagine.

Fang Cheng nodded slightly.

Ah Le truly lives up to his reputation as Shen Wei's top bodyguard; he's clear-headed and acts with remarkable caution.

I dare not go back to the gang, I dare not go to the club.

They even deliberately cut off contact with all acquaintances to avoid being discovered by the Bloodthorn Mercenary Group through these clues.

This seemingly extreme "physical isolation" is, in the case of unclear friend or foe, precisely the most correct rule for survival.

He, an "outsider" with no connection to the East City Society but with sufficient power, became the only variable and hope.

"call--"

Ah Le let out a long breath, his chest heaving violently.

Clearly, his frank confession had taken a lot of his energy.

After recovering slightly, he looked up at Fang Cheng, his tone earnest:

"I've thought it through clearly. The only way to save the chairman is to find a master with special abilities who also possesses unique skills."

"Since they didn't kill him on the spot, it means they must have had other plans."

"As long as we can find a skilled person who can keep the situation in check to negotiate, everything is negotiable, whether it's money or something else."

Fang Cheng remained silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke up and questioned:
"Since Chairman Shen was kidnapped by an alien, why don't you ask the powerful backer of the organization to mediate?"

As he spoke, his sharp gaze pierced Ah Le's eyes.

"Don't tell me you don't have anyone backing you up. You can't possibly sell out your own backer too, can you?"

This is practically common knowledge in the underworld.

To be able to gain a foothold in a place like Dongdu, a place teeming with hidden talents, and to stand firm for decades.

Fang Cheng simply did not believe that the Dongcheng Society did not have a powerful family or official backing.

Reporting a crime to the police is taboo, but seeking help from a powerful patron is perfectly natural.

Now that something like this has happened, instead of seeking help from others, they're coming to me for assistance, which doesn't make sense.

"You might not believe it if I told you..."

A helpless expression appeared on Ah Le's face:

“We, the Dongcheng Society, really have no powerful backers.”

Fang Cheng frowned slightly, still keeping his arms crossed, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.

How could someone become one of the three major gangs in Dongdu without any powerful backing? And even rival the Red Tiger Gang, which had Noah's support?

What a liar.

Seemingly sensing Fang Cheng's suspicion, Ah Le quickly explained:
"If I had to say which one it is, it would probably be the Shen family."

"The Shen family?"

Fang Cheng's eyes flickered, quite surprised.

"Yes, it's the Shen family, the most prestigious family in Dongdu."

Ah Le nodded, took a breath, and then explained in detail:
"The chairman's surname is Shen, and he is indeed from the Shen family. Perhaps because of this reputation, other forces and even the Metropolitan Police Department have to give him some face and are wary of him."

“But I have followed the chairman for so many years, and I know very well that the chairman broke with the Shen family decades ago. He has been expelled from the family tree, and the two sides are like strangers.”

"The so-called aristocratic background is nothing more than the chairman using his position to bully others."

At this point, Ah Le's eyes dimmed slightly:
"As for the reason for the split, that's the chairman's family matter, and I have no right to ask."

"To be honest, after escaping last night, I immediately ran to the Shen family mansion, thinking that out of blood ties, I should ask them to rescue the chairman."

"result……"

Ah Le shook his head, his tone full of bitterness:
"I didn't even get through the gate before the butler there set his dogs on me and chased me out."

Fang Cheng raised an eyebrow and didn't dwell on the matter.

The world of the wealthy is a deep and complex place; such dramas of broken family ties and estrangement are not uncommon in that circle.

It's understandable that a behemoth like the Shen family would look down on Shen Wei, a distant relative involved in organized crime.

The room fell silent again.

Ah Le talked too much, his face grew paler and paler, and he leaned weakly against the wall to rest with his eyes closed.

A breeze seemed to have picked up outside the window, causing the curtains to sway slightly and casting dappled shadows on the floor from the lamplight.

Fang Cheng looked at the swaying shadow, pondered for a moment, and asked the most crucial question:
"How exactly did you get involved with the 'Bloodthorn' gang?"

If this issue isn't clarified, Fang Cheng will find it difficult to judge just how deep these muddy waters really are.

Logically speaking, although the underworld and the circle of extraordinary people occasionally intersect, there is no fundamental conflict of interest.

After all, they are from completely different worlds.

If the other party is only after money, a seasoned veteran like Shen Wei would definitely pay up to avoid disaster when faced with an irresistible force.

How could things possibly escalate to the point of tearing off all pretenses, kidnapping, and massacring bodyguards?
Unless... they are mortal enemies.

Fang Cheng's mind raced as he stared intently at Ah Le's face.

When Ah Le heard this question, his eyes flickered slightly, and his lips moved as if he hesitated.

"If it's inconvenient to say, the door is over there. Goodbye."

Seeing this, Fang Cheng pointed directly to the door and coldly ordered them to leave.

"No! You've misunderstood!"

Ah Le hurriedly waved his hand, trying to explain. But because of the sudden movement, he aggravated the wound on his abdomen, and the pain made his whole face scrunch up.

But he forced himself not to groan and quickly spoke:

"It's not that I don't want to talk about it, it's just that I don't really know what their ultimate goal is."

"if……"

Ah Le paused for a moment, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

"I mean, if, as I previously guessed, it's very likely related to the secret base we went to this time."

"The East City Gang's secret base?"

"No, that's the chairman's private property."

Ah Le nodded, his tone becoming exceptionally serious:
“That was a warehouse for an orphanage, but the orphanage was established with funding from the chairman and housed a group of very special children.”

"Like Bloodthorn, they are all extraordinary individuals who have awakened special abilities."

Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing within them:
"A gangster boss running an orphanage? Or an orphanage specifically for people with supernatural abilities?"

"What exactly is Shen Wei trying to do? Is he training assassins from a young age to serve him?"

Ah Le gave a wry smile, seemingly having anticipated Fang Cheng's reaction:

"The chairman... is not the kind of pure gangster boss you imagine."

“When he was young, he also suffered a lot and saw too many children being ostracized and hurt because of their status as “different people”.”

"They lose the protection of their families, become isolated and helpless, and have nowhere else to turn, ultimately turning into antisocial monsters and causing too many tragedies."

At this point, Ah Le paused, his voice lowering slightly:

“These are the words the chairman said to me personally. This orphanage is more like his obsession and ideal.”

"He wanted to give those children a place to go, a place where they wouldn't be discriminated against or hunted down because of their differences."

"As for Bloodthorn..."

Ah Le changed the subject, his previously dim eyes becoming firm, as if he was gradually clarifying his thoughts.

"I suspect that their target is not the president at all, but those children. The president was just implicated."

"Otherwise, they wouldn't have chosen this exact moment to secretly follow the convoy, and only captured the chairman without harming him."

What's so special about those children?

Fang Cheng raised an eyebrow and pressed for more information, astutely capturing the key details.

"I am not sure."

Ah Le shook his head, a hint of confusion still lingering between his brows:
"The chairman has always been tight-lipped about the orphanage. He usually only lets the brothers in the gang be responsible for the distribution of supplies to the outside, and forbids us from having any actual contact with those children."

"All I know is that place is important, more important than any of the East City Club's properties."

He looked at Fang Cheng, his eyes filled with pleading:
“Mr. Fang, I know this sounds incredible, but right now, those children and the chairman are in grave danger.”

"Please, I beg you, help us."

Fang Cheng did not respond immediately, but slowly lowered his arms that were crossed over his chest.

"Even though you've said so much, what makes you think I can fight those monsters?"

As he spoke, he leaned forward, his gaze fixed intently into Ah Le's eyes:

"Come to think of it, I only really showed off my fighting skills a little at the club."

"People with skills like mine are a dime a dozen in Dongdu. How did you discover my secret?"

Ah Le avoided eye contact with him and answered with her head down:
“I’ve seen the video of you and Xu Hao’s match in the club’s ring.”

"Although we've only fought once, I can tell you didn't use your full strength at all. You were completely relaxed throughout the whole process, as if you were toying with Xu Hao."

He licked his dry lips:
"You should know that Xu Hao is a newly promoted Double Flower Red Pole in the Red Tiger Gang. He once single-handedly defeated dozens of knife-wielding men who attacked him. It is said that he is also connected with a certain supernatural organization, and his physical fitness exceeds the limits of ordinary martial artists."

"You were able to easily deal with that hot-tempered guy, which means your strength is definitely far superior to his."

"besides……"

Ah Le looked up at Fang Cheng, seemingly having nothing to hide:

"Last year, a shocking murder occurred at the Red Tiger Gang's warehouse in the Lingang District. Hundreds of gang members were slaughtered overnight."

"After analyzing the various clues from the scene with the chairman, we concluded that you are very likely the mysterious killer."

He swallowed hard, lowering his voice even further:
“Especially the night before the incident, you practiced shooting all night at the Xishan shooting range and also bought combat uniforms and bullets.”

"That special combat suit is almost a perfect match for the image of the assassin in the legends."

Fang Cheng's expression remained unchanged, but his gaze was sharp as a knife, as if it could pierce through people's hearts.

The temperature around us also dropped.

Ah Le's Adam's apple bobbed, and his muscles involuntarily tensed.

It felt like being stared at by a ferocious beast; every hair on my body stood on end.

Cold sweat streamed down his forehead, soaking his temples, and even his breathing became labored.

Just when Ah Le felt he was about to suffocate, that terrifying aura suddenly dissipated.

Fang Cheng withdrew his gaze and regained his composure, as if the heart-stopping moment just now was merely an illusion.

Ah Le seemed to have all his strength drained away, leaning against the wall, clutching his chest and breathing heavily.

My heart pounded in my chest, and it took a long time for it to return to a steady beat.

Have you mentioned this to anyone else?

Fang Cheng's indifferent voice rang out again.

"no!"

Ah Le quickly shook his head, solemnly promising:

"Only the chairman and I knew about this; even the gang's second-in-command was kept in the dark."

"The president... he values ​​you highly, believing you have the talent and potential to become a top expert, and has repeatedly ordered me to keep this a secret."

"Moreover, he had even drafted a plan to secretly fund you and help you resolve some of your worries, but he just hadn't found a suitable opportunity."

Mentioning Shen Wei, A-Le's emotions flared up again, and his eyes reddened slightly.

"The chairman also mentioned to me that you are unfathomable, but a person worth befriending. Now, in the entire East Capital, I only believe that you can save the chairman."

"Mr. Fang, please help us!"

As Ah Le spoke, he placed his hands on the wall, trying to straighten his body.

The wound on his abdomen was aggravated, causing him to grimace in pain, but he still gritted his teeth and struggled to kneel down before Fang Cheng.

"As long as you can save the chairman, my life is yours! I will go through fire and water without complaint!"

Fang Cheng didn't speak, but just quietly looked at the tough guy in front of him who was enduring the pain.

Silence fell in the room once again.

A few seconds later, Fang Cheng stood up, walked to the window, and drew back the curtains.

Gazing at the neon lights flashing on the distant city skyline, my thoughts were in turmoil.

(End of this chapter)