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

East Japan, East Longitude (Tokyo).

Winter had arrived, and fine snowflakes drifted down from the sky, draping this bustling yet oppressive metropolis in a silver coat. At this time, Tokyo was in the midst of the frenzy and glory of its bubble economy boom; the neon lights of Ginza blared all night, and the streets of Shinjuku were filled with men and women living a life of decadence.

Haneda International Airport, VIP private helipad.

A silver-gray Gulfstream G2 cut through the snow and landed smoothly.

This is a big toy that Lu Chen just acquired, used by a bank to settle a debt. After all, with the development of Golden Harvest and High Table Group, he will travel abroad more and more frequently, and it's time to buy a private jet.

As Lu Chen stepped out of the cabin, a biting cold wind mixed with snowflakes rushed towards him.

Three black Toyota Century cars had been waiting for some time at the foot of the gangway. Three women stood beside the cars, creating a unique scene in the snowstorm.

Standing in the middle was a woman wearing a black mink coat over a deep red cheongsam. She had wavy hair, bright red lips, and a slender cigarette between her fingers. She exuded a mature, dangerous, and alluring aura, and was none other than the "Queen of Counterfeit Money"—Ruan Wen (codename: Vermouth).

A month ago, Lu Chen had already completely won over that queen and revealed his true identity to her, which shocked her quite a bit. After all, who would have thought that the chairman of Jiahe would be the behind-the-scenes boss of the winery?

To her left is Ishii Oren, dressed in a solemn black kimono and wooden clogs; to her right is Gogo, dressed in a classic JK school uniform and exuding a well-behaved girl vibe.

"Boss, welcome to East Longitude."

Ruan Wen stubbed out his cigarette, smiled, and went to greet him. He didn't perform any grand ceremony, but rather extended his hand gracefully like an old friend.

Ishii Oren and Gogo, on the other hand, were much more respectful, bowing at a ninety-degree angle in unison and speaking in loud voices: "Lord Lu!"

Ishii Oren was indeed very sensible. After returning to Tokyo, she showed no disloyalty and immediately brought the remaining members of the "Crazy 88" group under Ruan Wen's command, making them Ruan Wen's sharpest weapons.

"Anything unusual happening in Japan lately, right?"

"Thanks to the boss, everything is going very smoothly," Ruan Wen said, linking her arm with Lu Chen's in a natural and intimate gesture. "Sister Ishii is very capable; she's helped me deal with a lot of unruly troublemakers. Now, in Tokyo's underworld, the mere mention of 'Takamagahara' sends shivers down your spine."

"Get in the car, it's cold outside."

Lu Chen got into the extended Toyota Century. The interior was warm and cozy, with the leather seats emitting a faint fragrance.

The convoy slowly started moving, heading towards the bustling heart of Tokyo.

"Is this the new headquarters in Takamagahara?"

An hour later, the convoy stopped near the busiest intersection in Shibuya.

Looking out the car window at the towering building that seemed to reach into the clouds, Lu Chen gazed at it.

The building features a full glass curtain wall design, shimmering under the neon lights. At the top of the hotel, three huge gilded Chinese characters—Takamagahara—shine brightly in the night sky.

"Yes, boss."

A hint of pride flashed in Ruan Wen's eyes. "I previously bought this poorly managed old five-star hotel in Sebu and completely renovated it. I thought, since we're going to establish an underground order in Japan, we can't hide in the shadows. We need to stand at the highest point and look down on these ants."

Lu Chen smiled.

This idea suits his taste perfectly.

Stepping through the gate, Lu Chen felt as if he had traveled through time and space, entering a bizarre and fantastical dream world.

Takamagahara.

Just as its name suggests, this is where the gods reside, a paradise.

What comes into view is a huge atrium with a double-height ceiling.

Instead of gaudy gold and glitter, it uses extreme red and black as the main colors.

The floor was paved with expensive obsidian, so shiny it reflected light. Overhead, countless red oil-paper umbrellas hung upside down, each with a warm yellow palace lantern hanging beneath it, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

In the center of the hall is an indoor artificial lake, its waters crystal clear, teeming with koi carp. At the heart of the lake is a stage covered in red flower petals, where several geisha dressed in twelve-layered kimonos are playing the shamisen, their enchanting music captivating the senses.

The corridors on both sides were filled with beautiful women dressed in various uniforms—kimonos, cheongsams, bunny girls, and even JK uniforms. Each of them had been rigorously selected, with sweet smiles and captivating eyes.

"Welcome to Takamagahara!"

As Lu Chen stepped in, two rows of hostesses bowed in unison, their voices soft and sweet, like a hundred birds paying homage to a phoenix.

This isn't a gang stronghold; it's clearly a paradise on earth built with money and desire!

"How is it?" Ruan Wen asked, linking arms with Lu Chen, a hint of smugness in her eyes. "I hired the best designers from France and Kyoto, and spent two hundred million to create this."

"very nice."

Lu Chen nodded. The level of luxury here even surpassed any of his properties in Hong Kong. This kind of extreme sensory stimulation could indeed drive those Japanese people under immense pressure crazy.

"This is not only our headquarters, but also the most high-end money pit in the entire East Asia," Ruan Wen said as he led the way. "The bottom three floors are the casino, the middle floors are the top-tier clubs and guest rooms, and the top floor is our office area. Even the Governor of Tokyo is a regular here."

The group arrived at the VIP banquet hall on the top floor.

Here you can overlook the entire Tokyo Tower and the dazzling night view.

Two people were already waiting in the room.

A stunning woman in a backless evening gown, her arm adorned with exquisite cherry blossom tattoos, tosssing a set of dice in her hand. A perfect blend of wildness and gambler's ruthlessness—Michiko Nishiwaki.

The other was a mixed-race beauty dressed in a business suit and wearing glasses, holding an account book, with an elegant and professional expression—Sophie.

"Boss, let me introduce you," Ruan Wen said, pointing to Nishiwaki Michiko. "This is Michiko. She used to be the top dealer at the Scarecrow Club, and now she manages the underground casino in Takamagahara. Her dice skills are unmatched in all of Japan."

"Hello, boss." Michiko Nishiwaki bowed slightly, her eyes filled with a hint of inquiry and awe.

"This is Sophie," Ruan Wen said, pointing to the mixed-race beauty. "She's a talent brought back by Ishii. She's fluent in four languages. She was originally Bill's chief financial officer, and now she's in charge of financial auditing and legal affairs in Takamagahara."

Lu Chen nodded.

This team is quite impressive.

With Ruan Wen overseeing the overall operation, Ishii Oren in charge of the military, Michiko in charge of making money, and Sophie in charge of accounting, a prototype of a transnational criminal syndicate has been formed.

"Sit down, let's eat and chat."

Lu Chen sat down in the main seat.

The exquisite kaiseki cuisine was served in a continuous stream. But everyone's attention was clearly not on the food.

"I heard that the so-called 'Underground Council of Japan' is going to hold a meeting in three days?" Lu Chen asked casually, picking up a piece of bluefin tuna sashimi.

"Yes."

Ruan Wen's smile faded, and he said seriously, "The Japanese Underground Council is composed of three major organizations—the Black Dragon Society, the Yamaguchi-gumi, and the Sumiyoshi-kai—as well as dozens of medium-sized gangs. They control all of Japan's underground businesses—the Scarecrow Club was previously a member. Our Takamagahara has expanded too quickly recently, encroaching on their territory. This meeting is ostensibly to discuss whether to accept us, but in reality…"

"Actually, they want to set rules for us, or divide us up," Ishii Oren added coldly. "Those old bastards should have been in their coffins long ago."

"Since they want a meeting, let's go," Lu Chen put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and said, "Perfect, I also want to see what the Japanese underworld is really like. If they're obedient, we'll keep them as dogs; if they're disobedient..."

Lu Chen didn't continue, but the coldness in his eyes sent a chill down the spines of Sophie and Michiko, who were unfamiliar with him.

"However, these are all minor matters."

Lu Chen changed the subject, "Have you finalized your schedule for tomorrow?"

"The boss has been arranged," Sophie quickly opened the folder and reported, "Tomorrow morning at 10:00, a special board meeting will be held at Nintendo headquarters."

In the past few months, Nguyen Van has acquired a 41% stake in Nintendo through a series of shell companies in the Cayman Islands and Panama, with the covert assistance of the High Table, surpassing the Yamauchi family to become the largest shareholder.

Lu Chen's lips curled into a mocking smile.

Hiroshi Yamauchi, the man known as the "tyrant of the gaming world," the autocratic business godfather who single-handedly built the Famicom empire.

He probably never dreamed that while his Famicom was still in its infancy, a company from Hong Kong not only released the more powerful JF console first, but also quietly bought out his home turf.

Lu Chen tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "Tomorrow's board meeting is sure to be exciting."

……

late at night.

The presidential suite on the top floor of Takamagahara.

This is Nguyen Van's private estate, an extremely luxurious place.

After taking a shower, Lu Chen sat on the tatami mat by the window, wearing a bathrobe, looking at the snow scene outside, with a glass of whiskey in his hand.

"Click".

The door was gently pushed open.

A delicate fragrance wafted over.

Ruan Wen walked in.

She removed her heavy makeup from the daytime, revealing a natural beauty that made her even more radiant. She wasn't wearing that imposing mink coat, nor was she wearing a cheongsam.

She was only wearing a semi-transparent black silk nightgown, and underneath... she was naked.

Her perfect curves were faintly visible beneath the silk, exuding a deadly allure.

She was holding a bottle of warm sake and two cups.

"Boss, still awake?"

Ruan Wen walked to Lu Chen's side, knelt down, and poured him a full glass of wine. Her movements were gentle, but her eyes held a vulnerability and longing that she usually didn't see.

"Thinking about something?" Ruan Wen asked.

I'm thinking of you.

Lu Chen turned his head and looked at the woman who had lived behind lies and a double in the original movie.

Ruan Wen's hand trembled, and a little wine spilled.

"What are you thinking about?" She smiled, feigning composure.

"I was wondering why you were still awake so late, and why you came to my room." Lu Chen reached out and gently stroked her cheek.

"...Because I'm afraid," Ruan Wen said slowly after a moment of silence.

Even though she now owns the entire Takamagahara, she still lacks a sense of security.

In the movie "Project Gutenberg," she is portrayed as someone who is extremely insecure, adept at disguise, and prefers to stay behind the scenes. This is especially true after she sees the appearance of equally outstanding women like O-Ren Ishii and Michiko.

She needs reassurance.

A guarantee stronger than any contract or promise.

I want to be your woman.

Ruan Wen looked directly into Lu Chen's eyes and revealed her ambition, "Not just a subordinate, not just a tool... I want to be connected to you by blood. Only in this way can I confidently protect this land of Japan for you."

As she spoke, she gently untied the ribbon of her nightgown.

The silk slipped off.

A body as perfect as white jade was displayed before Lu Chen.

Lu Chen did not refuse.

In Nguyen Van's worldview, mere loyalty is cheap. Only a bond formed through both mutual benefit and emotional connection is truly secure.

"Then so be it."

Lu Chen wrapped his arms around her slender waist and pressed her down onto the bed.

Outside the window, the lights of Tokyo Tower went out.

But at the top of Takamagahara, a game of conquest and being conquered has only just begun.

Silent all night.

Only wind and rain.