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

Rome, Ciampino Private Airport.

The roar of the engines was deafening, and the Gulfstream business jet, painted with the Lubbers family crest, was ready for takeoff.

Beside the runway, Lu Chen stood at the foot of the gangway, giving Sophia a reluctant goodbye kiss while continuing to give her his instructions.

"The Mafia issue is settled. With Paul and those officials' cooperation, the Italian underworld will belong to the High Table for the next ten years," Lu Chen said, smoothing Sofia's wind-blown blonde hair with a deep gaze. "But don't limit your vision to the Apennine Peninsula. The High Table's battlefield is now in Japan."

"I understand. I've been working on the plan you mentioned before," Sofia said, sounding a little frustrated. "But the Iron Lady's privatization reform of state-owned enterprises hasn't been going smoothly. There's too much opposition in the country, which has also affected the progress of the High Table Conference."

"Times have changed," Lu Chen said with a confident smile. "In another month, the Falklands War will be decided. Japan will win, and by a landslide. This will not only salvage the last vestiges of the Japanese Empire's dignity, but more importantly, it will bring the 'Iron Lady' of 10 Downing Street to the pinnacle of her prestige. Once she rides the wave of victory, the Iron Lady will boldly implement her neoliberal economic policies."

"Sophia, I want you to mobilize all the liquid funds of the High Table and the Lubers family, and even use that batch of gold," Lu Chen's eyes gleamed with greed. "When that feast begins, I want you to be the most greedy crocodile. Eat as much as you can, and plunge your tentacles deep into the economic lifeline of the Kingdom of John."

"Understood, darling," Sofia tiptoed and gave him a deep kiss. "When you come back next time, I'll buy London and give it to you."

……

More than ten hours later.

Hong Kong Island, Kai Tak Airport.

When Lu Chen stepped out of the plane, he was greeted by the humid sea breeze and dazzling neon lights of Hong Kong Island.

Upon returning to Hong Kong Island, Lu Chen did not rush to handle official business, but instead went to visit his harem.

Ruan Mei was as virtuous as ever, having prepared a nourishing soup for him; Ya Zi was even more fiery, perhaps due to the pressure within the police force, her attachment to Lu Chen grew stronger; as for Laura, who had just joined, this up-and-coming fashion designer was as docile as a lamb in front of Lu Chen.

After showering his three female confidantes with affection and sharing their innermost feelings, Lu Chen finally had time to deal with serious matters a few days later.

……

Yau Tsim Mong, Kowloon, DOA Group Headquarters.

This building, which looks like a security company building on the outside, has a completely different underground world.

Three underground floors, a top-secret laboratory.

This place was originally a warehouse for storing munitions, but it has now been transformed into a high-tech research and development center. Dozens of researchers wearing cleanroom suits and gloves are busy at work.

In the very center of the laboratory, on a huge workbench, lay three shocking piles of metal debris.

These are the previously destroyed and recovered Multi-functional Box, "Black Tyrant No. 1", and "Black Tyrant No. 2".

Although the outer shell is badly damaged, the internal sophisticated hydraulic transmission system, fire control circuit board, and core components of the powered exoskeleton still exude a mesmerizing industrial aesthetic.

"Boss, you've arrived," an elderly professor with graying hair greeted him. He was the head of the Mechanical Engineering Department, whom Lu Chen had poached from Hong Kong Polytechnic University with a hefty sum, and also the leader of this reverse engineering team.

"How's the progress?" Lu Chen changed into a cleanroom suit, put on goggles, and skillfully equipped himself with full protective gear.

"It's very difficult," the old professor sighed. "The Italian military and the Pentagon are indeed far ahead of us in terms of technology. Whether it's the high-density battery pack of that power core or the chip algorithm of that fire control system... our team has been studying it for a week, and we haven't even been able to completely reconstruct the circuit diagram."

"That's because your thinking is wrong."

Lu Chen walked up to the wreckage of Black Tyrant II, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

In his eyes, those complex circuit boards and mechanical structures seemed to become transparent in an instant. The path of every circuit, the logic gate of every chip, and the formula of every alloy were automatically disassembled and reassembled in his mind.

"Move probe number 3 to area C4 and adjust the voltage to 3.5 volts. That chip isn't for logic control; it's a dongle," Lu Chen instructed rapidly as he operated the device. "And that hydraulic pump—don't use brute force to remove it. It has a double-sealed structure. Freeze it with liquid nitrogen before disassembling it."

Under Lu Chen's personal guidance, the mecha that had baffled dozens of experts was transformed, like an onion being peeled, revealing its core layer by layer.

For the next month, Lu Chen practically lived in the lab.

With his extraordinary intelligence at level 10, he mastered the technology that was at least ten years ahead of the rest of the world in a very short time.

"Incredible... It's a genius design... Boss, you're a prodigy too!" The old professor's hands trembled as he looked at the drawings Lu Chen had produced.

Lu Chen divided the results into two categories.

The first category is extremely sensitive military technology.

This includes the load-bearing structure of the individual soldier's exoskeleton, the miniature fire control radar, and that rudimentary but effective signal processing system.

"Seal all this data and protect it with the highest level of encryption," Lu Chen instructed Tian Yangsheng.

These things are too hot to handle, and my company doesn't need this kind of technology anytime soon, so keeping them would just be a burden. It's better to give them to those old generals in the north next time I go to the mainland.

In the early 80s, the military industry in the north faced its most difficult period. This technical data was enough to save the mainland's individual soldier equipment development from a decade of detours, and it was also an invaluable treasure for establishing a deep relationship with the capital.

The second category is "cutting-edge technology" that can be converted into civilian use.

The most valuable components were the high-density nickel-metal hydride battery technology designed to power the mechs, along with the high-performance chips and associated integration technology.

"Old Cheng," Lu Chen said as he walked out of the laboratory, took off his sealed cleanroom suit, and addressed Cheng Yiyan, the CEO of Jiahe, who was already waiting outside.

"Boss." Cheng Yiyan respectfully handed over the towel.

Has the office building housing the Golden Harvest headquarters in Central been cleared out yet?

"The entire building has been cleared out; all the original tenants received compensation and moved out. Now the entire 30-story building belongs to us."

"Very good!" Lu Chen wiped his hands, his eyes gleaming with the ambition of a business empire. "Immediately establish three top-notch laboratories at headquarters: a communications laboratory, an energy laboratory, and a semiconductor laboratory."

"Give them these documents," Lu Chen pointed to a thick stack of blueprints on the table. "I want them to use these technologies to create three things for me: a mobile phone that is smaller, lighter, and has a longer battery life than the old-fashioned mobile phone; a high-density rechargeable battery; and... our own high-performance chip."

"Boss, you mean...?"

"Motorola's 'brick' is too ugly."

Lu Chen took out a sketch he had drawn himself. It was a prototype of a mobile phone, only the size of a palm, with a flip design—it was based on the classic Motorola MicroTAC, but it was released a full seven years earlier.

"We need to define the future."

"Yes! I'll get right on it!" Cheng Yiyan excitedly left with the blueprints. He knew that Jiahe was about to carve out another piece of flesh from a brand new field.

……

Time flies, and it's already mid-June.

The world situation has changed dramatically.

In the South Atlantic, the Falklands War ended in a swift and decisive victory. Argentine forces surrendered, and the Union Jack was raised again in Port Stanley.

This victory was like a shot in the arm for the already declining Japanese Empire.

London was in an uproar, and even in Hong Kong, a colony thousands of miles away, the arrogance of the foreigners reached its peak. They seemed to have returned to the "Emperor on which the sun never sets," looking at the Chinese with the arrogance of victors.

Wan Chai, Police Headquarters.

Assistant Director's Office.

The air was filled with the smoke of cigars and the smell of expensive whiskey, and the television on the wall was showing news footage of the British army's triumphant return.

Richard, the high-ranking foreign executive who spearheaded "Operation Inspector General," sat with his legs crossed on his desk, a wine glass in his hand, his face flushed.

Standing before him was a female police officer in uniform, looking smart and capable, yet with a complex expression.

Queen of the Night Flower.

"Look at this! Hu!" Richard pointed at the television, speaking in his arrogant Oxford accent, "See that? This is the power of the British Empire! No one can challenge the Queen's dignity! Not the Argentinians, not those second-class citizens here!"

The Queen of the Night lowered her head and didn't speak, but her hands, placed at her sides, were clenched into fists.

These blatant racist remarks disgusted her.

"Let's get back to business..." Richard turned around, his cloudy blue eyes fixed on the tyrant, his tone instantly turning icy. "Hu, your mission progress is extremely disappointing. That guy named Lu Chen is still sitting comfortably in the Jiahe Building counting his money, and what about you? You've been infiltrating for so long, and you haven't even caught a hair on his head!"

"Sir, Lu Chen is very cautious, and..." The Boss Lady bit her lip, "and after these past few months of contact, I haven't found any evidence of him engaging in any illegal or criminal activities. His businesses are all legal, and he's donated to many schools and hospitals..."

"Shut up!!"

Richard slammed his hand on the table, causing the red wine in his glass to splash everywhere.

"Legal? That's because he's very secretive! How could someone who can build a vast business empire in just a year and a half, and might even have ties to the Italian underworld, be clean?!"

Richard felt his dignity had been challenged, and his gaze towards the bully revealed distrust: "Hu, don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Are you bewitched by that pretty boy? Have you forgotten your identity as a police officer?"

"I didn't, sir." The female officer straightened her back, but there was a hint of panic in her eyes.

She did waver.

During their time together, she saw Lu Chen as domineering, intelligent, affectionate, and charming. He protected those around him, and he dared to challenge foreign firms for the interests of the Chinese people.

In comparison, the foreign boss in front of me, who was full of profanity and only wanted to fabricate charges to divide up Chinese assets, was more like a criminal.

"Ha, that's for the best," Richard pulled open a drawer, took out a black box, and threw it in front of the woman: "This is a miniature listening device used by MI5. I want you to install it on Lu Chen."

"Sir?!"

The tyrant was horrified. "This is illegal! We have no right to do this without a judge's warrant, and the court won't accept evidence of illegal wiretapping..."

"Judge? F**k the judge!" Richard grinned menacingly. "This is the moment of victory for the Japanese Empire! Here, I am the law! With the recording, no matter the means, I can convict him!"

"Inspector Hu, this is an order!" Richard's tone was full of threat. "I'm giving you three days. Either install the bugging device, or... you decide."

The dominatrix, holding the cold, black box, walked out of the office.

The corridor was bustling with people, all talking about the victory on the Falklands.

But the Queen of Flowers only felt a chill all over her body.

She looked out the window at the towering Golden Harvest Building in Central.

Justice? Law?

All of this became a joke in the face of the colonizers' arrogance and greed.

She has to make a choice.

Is it loyalty to this tainted uniform, or... loyalty to that man, and to one's own heart?