Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

Rome, Italy, Fiumicino Airport.

Golden sunlight bathed this ancient, eternal city, and the air was filled with the aroma of coffee and (pineapple) pizza.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Rome..."

Accompanied by an announcement, King Kong, carrying a silver briefcase, wearing an oversized pair of sunglasses, and whistling, walked out of the station exit.

Although he was humiliated by the mafia on Hong Kong Island, this optimistic master thief would immediately recover and be fully rejuvenated as soon as he changed his environment.

"One million US dollars, plus a perfect revenge..."

King Kong chewed his gum, feeling quite pleased with himself. That guy named "Rum" was indeed generous, paying the advance payment readily and promising top-tier intelligence support.

"Hey! Over here! Over here!!"

Just then, a slightly comical voice came from the crowd.

King Kong looked in the direction of the sound and saw a fat man wearing a trench coat and a detective hat, holding a sign that read "KING KONG," struggling to squeeze through the crowd.

Perhaps he was too excited, because the fat man slipped and fell flat on his face with a "plop," the sign in his hand flying far away and landing right on the foot of a passing Italian beauty.

"Scusi! Scusi!" the fat man hurriedly scrambled to his feet and apologized.

King Kong's lips twitched, and he pushed up his sunglasses: "This is the... local gangster's contact that Fourth Brother was talking about?"

That doesn't seem very reliable.

The fat man straightened his clothes, walked up to King Kong with a serious expression, and extended his hand: "Hello, I'm Toby, the most famous... uh, soon to be the most famous private detective in Rome."

"Nice to meet you." King Kong shook the chubby hand. "I hope your detective skills are better than your sense of balance."

"That was an accident! Purely an accident!" Toby laughed awkwardly, took King Kong's luggage, and said, "The car is outside. I'll take you to meet the other two experts."

……

In the center of Rome, near the Spanish Steps.

At the entrance of a Chinese restaurant with a "food truck" sign.

After helping Sofia take down that Mondale, Thomas and David, with the generous reward from Lu Chen, settled directly in Rome, upgrading from a mobile food truck to permanent Chinese restaurant owners.

It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was packed.

"Two orders of fried rice! One order of General Tso's chicken! Hurry up, David! The customers are getting impatient!"

Thomas, dressed in a neat white chef's uniform, carried three plates and weaved between tables and chairs like a circus performer, his movements as agile as a monkey.

"What's the rush! The pot's practically smoking!"

In the kitchen, David was sweating profusely as he tossed the ladle around, flames shooting high into the sky.

"Thomas! David! I've brought men!"

Toby pushed open the door and shouted.

"Welcome! How many... oh? Toby?"

Thomas put down the plate, wiped his hands, and glanced at King Kong following behind Toby. "Is this... the international thief?"

"You're a master thief, thank you," King Kong said, taking off his sunglasses and revealing his irresistible smile. He then conjured a rose and handed it to an Italian beauty who was eating next to him. "Signorina (Miss), you are more dazzling than the Roman sun."

The beautiful woman was immediately amused and burst into laughter.

"Wow, this guy's an expert!" Toby's eyes lit up, thinking he could learn a thing or two from this guy sometime.

……

The restaurant kitchen after closing time.

The four sat around a round table, which was covered with beer and the remaining main dishes from earlier.

"I won't do it!"

Thomas, while munching on a chicken leg, shook his head vigorously: "Infiltrate the Mafia godfather's estate? Steal their photo albums and ledgers? Toby, are you out of your mind? We're legitimate businessmen now, we just want to make fried rice peacefully, not be stuffed into concrete pillars and sunk to the bottom of the sea."

“That’s right,” David chimed in. “Last time in Spain it was to save Sofia, what’s it for this time? We’re not short of money.”

"For justice!" Toby declared righteously.

"Speak like a human being." Thomas rolled his eyes.

"For Miss Sophia's request..." Toby's voice trailed off, then he produced another check, "and this too... Miss Sophia said that as long as we help Mr. King Kong get the ledgers, she'll cover all the costs of expanding this restaurant."

"Pshaw, we'll get rich with our own hands." Thomas remained unmoved.

"Ahem," Toby glanced at David and played his trump card, "Actually... Miss Sophia also said that if we don't help, her mother, Ms. Gloria, might be very unhappy. You know, Ms. Gloria has recently been having an affair with David's father, Mr. Chen, at the nursing home..."

"What?!" David nearly spat out his beer. "My dad and that countess are still talking?!"

"Yeah, I heard they're even talking about marriage," Toby shrugged. "If you don't help, and Miss Sophia whispers a few words in her ear... oh no, I mean, complains a little to her mother, your dad's twilight romance might fall through, and you might be out of a job."

"Despicable! Shameless!" David slammed his fist on the table and stood up.

"For Dad's happiness, David, you'd better make a sacrifice," Thomas said gloatingly from the side.

"You can't escape either!" Toby pointed at Thomas. "Sophia said that if you don't go, she'll tell Jenny about how you peeked at Jenny's sister taking a bath during your last trip."

"Holy crap?! How did she know?!" Thomas's face turned deathly pale instantly.

"Cough cough."

King Kong, who had been watching the show the whole time, finally spoke. He took out a Swiss bank draft that he had prepared beforehand and gently patted it on the table.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in addition to Miss Sophia's agreement to the expansion, she also asked me to give you a service fee," King Kong said with a smile, "one million US dollars, not through the company account, but directly to the two of you."

The air suddenly fell silent for three seconds.

"hiss--"

Thomas and David gasped.

"Deal!" Thomas's hand slammed onto the check with lightning speed, his expression instantly transforming into one of righteous indignation. "Money is nothing! The main thing is that we hate the Mafia the most! Maintaining world peace is our duty!"

"Yes, yes, yes! It's our duty!" David quickly nodded as well.

"Hahaha! I knew you three were men of passion!" King Kong laughed, raising his glass. "Come on, to our 'Avengers,' cheers!"

"Cheers!!"

The four wine glasses clinked together.

After a few drinks, these four men, with their distinct personalities but also a penchant for women and greed, yet kind-hearted, quickly forged a deep revolutionary friendship.

"Brother King Kong, I heard you can pick locks? Can you open those old-fashioned safes?" Thomas asked, putting his arm around King Kong's shoulder.

"I'm not bragging, but there's no lock in this world I can't open," King Kong boasted, his eyes glazed with drunkenness. "Even the chastity belt of a Mafia godfather, I could pry it open!"

"Haha! This is great! We might actually find it useful!"

"Hey, look at the floor plan of that Mafia estate," Toby said, pulling out a map. "There's a swimming pool here; apparently, the Godfather's mistresses often sunbathe there..."

"Then what are we waiting for? We must go to the site for inspection tomorrow!" Thomas's eyes lit up.

"For the mission!"

"Yes! For the mission!"

The four men exchanged a knowing smile and let out a lewd and gleeful laugh.

……

At the same time.

Rome, Ciampino Private Airport.

As night fell, the airport runway was illuminated by a soft blue light.

A Gulfstream business jet painted with the Lubbers logo landed smoothly on the runway, like a ghost in the night.

The hatch opened.

Lu Chen, wearing a black trench coat, descended the gangway. The Roman night wind ruffled the hem of his coat, but it couldn't dispel the subtle yet imposing aura emanating from him.

Behind him followed a group of people with completely different auras.

On the left is Tian Yangsheng, wearing sunglasses, with a cold expression and carrying a long guitar case, along with the equally murderous Tian Yangyi and the other seven wolves.

On the right is Xiao Zhuang, dressed in a gray suit with melancholy and deep eyes. He holds an unlit cigarette in his hand and scans his surroundings warily.

The last person to walk was a man wearing a baseball cap, with his hands in his pockets, who looked somewhat neurotic.

Rick Peng, codename "Brandy".

"Darling!"

Sofia, who had been waiting nearby, came forward to greet them.

Today, she was dressed in a well-tailored black business suit, looking capable and elegant. But the moment she saw Lu Chen, the aloofness in her eyes melted away, replaced by deep affection.

"You've worked hard." Lu Chen reached out and put his arm around her waist, gently kissing her cheek. "Has everyone arrived?"

"Everything's arranged. Toby has picked up King Kong and successfully convinced Thomas and David. The four of them are currently... partying at a bar."

The reason for finding the Toby brothers again was not only because of their exceptional skills, but more importantly because the three of them did not belong to any faction. The only person who knew about their connection with Sofia, Mondale, had already "committed suicide," and their backgrounds were clean enough.

"Very well, then let's... ignite the Apennines!"