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

The abandoned St. Andrew's Church in Kwun Tong District.

Sunlight streamed through the dilapidated dome, dappling the dusty stone floor. But at that moment, the temperature inside the church seemed to have plummeted to freezing.

"Kidnapping...Li Zeju?"

Dai Fuqiang's hand holding the cigar suddenly trembled, and a piece of scalding hot ash fell onto the back of his hand, burning a red mark, but he was completely unaware of it.

Hong Jipeng, standing beside him, also stopped fiddling with the C4 explosives. His chubby face, which always wore a kind smile, froze. Behind his glasses, an incredulous glint shone.

After a brief period of deathly silence.

"Hahaha! Hahahaha!"

Suddenly, Dai Fuqiang burst into laughter, clutching his stomach, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. He laughed so hard that tears almost streamed down his face.

"Director, have you been shutting down the loudspeaker for too long? Did it damage your brain?"

Dai Fuqiang pointed to the megaphone overhead and loudly mocked, "Yes, the Li family is very rich. Since acquiring Hutchison Whampoa, their net worth has skyrocketed. Now, who in Hong Kong doesn't know that Li Chengjia is about to become the richest Chinese person!"

"But do you know what level of security a top-tier billionaire like him has?"

Although Dai Fuqiang was a ruthless bandit, he was definitely not stupid. Having been in the underworld for so many years, he knew all too well the backgrounds of those wealthy people.

"The Li family's Deep Water Bay mansion is so grand that not even a fly could get inside! When Li Chengjia goes out, at least three bulletproof cars clear the way, and his bodyguards are all retired mercenaries! Fully armed, with real guns!"

"You're going to kidnap the Li family? Why don't you just let me rob arms from the British garrison in Hong Kong?!"

Hong Jipeng nodded in agreement.

"Director, this brother is right," Hong Jipeng pushed up his glasses, regaining his tech-geek rationality. "It's easy to blow someone up, but hard to kidnap someone. I can use a remote-controlled bomb to blow up the Li family's convoy. As long as I have enough explosives, I can even flip over a bulletproof car."

"But if he dies, there's no money. To kidnap a living, breathing person unharmed under the noses of so many armed bodyguards, and to evade the net of 30,000 police officers across Hong Kong..." Hung Kai-pang shrugged. "That's simply a fantasy. This deal is big, but you only have one life. I don't do business that loses money."

Listening to the two of them arguing back and forth, no angry rebuttal came from the loudspeaker.

Instead, the cold, mechanical voice let out an extremely contemptuous sneer.

"Li Chengjia's security was indeed impeccable. As an extremely insecure old fox, his motorcade was even more heavily guarded than the Governor of Hong Kong. However, what I have been referring to is the kidnapping of his eldest son, Li Zeju."

"Is there a difference? That's his own son! Does he go out without bodyguards?" Dai Fuqiang retorted.

"Of course there's a difference," the voice from the loudspeaker suddenly became deep and seductive, "Reach out and feel the hidden compartment under your seats."

Dai Fuqiang and Hong Jipeng exchanged a glance, then squatted down and began groping around under the dilapidated wooden bench.

Soon, both of them found a heavy file folder sealed with waterproof kraft paper.

"Open it."

Dai Fuqiang tore open the seal of the file folder and poured its contents onto the bench.

With just one glance, Dai Fuqiang's pupils contracted sharply, and the fingers holding the cigar trembled slightly uncontrollably.

photo.

Dozens of extremely clear candid photos.

The main subject of the photos is a young man wearing black-rimmed glasses and a suit, who looks somewhat refined and reserved—Li Zeju, who has just returned from graduating from Stanford University in the United States and joined Cheung Kong Holdings to assist his father.

Besides the photos, there was a thick stack of printed paper, densely covered with various data.

"Li Zeju had just returned from the United States and wanted to establish a pragmatic and low-key image within the group, not wanting to be labeled a 'spoiled brat' by outsiders. Therefore, he not only refused to ride in his father's ostentatious bulletproof motorcade, but also chose to travel alone. Even to appear approachable, his car was just an ordinary Nissan President sedan, without bulletproof glass or an armored chassis. He was usually accompanied by only one driver and one bodyguard."

"A cub that has broken away from the protection of its pack and thinks it can walk independently on the grassland. This is our chance."

As Dai Fuqiang listened, he quickly flipped through the documents in his hand. The more he read, the more cold sweat beaded on his forehead, but the more the fire of greed burned in his eyes.

This intelligence is so detailed it's outrageous!

The data not only indicated the exact time Li Zeju left his Deep Water Bay mansion every morning, but also compiled statistics on the traffic flow, traffic light duration, and police response time along his three most frequently traveled routes (Shouson Hill Road, Deep Water Bay Road, and Wong Chuk Hang Road).

Even the resume of the sole bodyguard was on it: former Royal Hong Kong Police, 45 years old, suffers from mild hypertension, shooting score A, combat score B.

"My God, this is too exaggerated..." Dai Fuqiang's eyes lit up.

In the past, when he planned robberies, he would at most scout out the bank entrance, calculate the time the armored truck would stay there, and the speed at which the police would arrive.

This intelligence is like stripping Young Master Li bare!

With this detailed intelligence, which is like a "heavenly eye," Dai Fuqiang felt that he had a 70% chance of success, not to mention kidnapping a rich second-generation, even if he were to kidnap the Japanese empress!

"How's it going, scriptwriting team and props team?" the mechanical voice sounded again, "Now, do you have any questions about the script for this grand production?"

"there is none left."

Dai Fuqiang took a deep breath, carefully put the documents back into the paper bag, and his eyes blazed with unprecedented fervor and confidence.

"Director, you're a genius!" Dai Fuqiang licked his lips. "With this thing, I'm definitely going to pull off this job! Ten billion! Even if I die, I'll die surrounded by money!"

"I have no more questions." Hong Jipeng stuffed the C4 explosives back into his bag, his honest face completely disappearing, replaced by an almost perverted excitement. "How can a big production of this scale not have some grand scenes?"

"very good."

The mechanical voice was very satisfied with the two's attitude. "Now let's clarify the division of labor."

"As the director, I'm responsible for providing you with all the intelligence, weapons, and vehicles you need. And once we get those ten billion old banknotes with non-consecutive serial numbers, I'll be responsible for laundering them for you overseas, ensuring you have the life to take them and the life to spend them."

"Dai Fuqiang, as the screenwriter and lead actor, you are responsible for planning the specific interception and kidnapping operation. Most importantly, you are to personally demand the 1 billion ransom from Li Chengjia."

"I'll go ask for it?!" Dai Fuqiang was taken aback. "How? By phone?"

"Calling is too insincere. I want you to go alone into the Li family mansion and ask him for it in person."

crazy!

Dai Fuqiang felt a chill run down his spine. He'd just kidnapped someone's son, and now he dared to swagger into a house guarded by bodyguards to demand money? Did he have a death wish?!

"Director, you're sending me to my death! Even if our son is in our hands, what if he calls the police or has his bodyguards detain me?" Dai Fuqiang protested.

"That's where our 'props team' comes in."

The voice from the loudspeaker shifted the topic to Hong Jipeng.

"Hot and explosive, your mission is to provide absolute security for the tycoon."

"I want you to make a 'bomb vest' by hand. Use your best C4, plus a pincushion-style trigger fuse, anti-disarming device, and heartbeat monitoring detonation device. In short, make it an unsolvable work of art."

"Dai Fuqiang will walk into the Li family wearing this vest. If the Li family dares to make any rash move, or if Dai Fuqiang's heart stops beating, the mansion in Deep Water Bay, along with the richest man inside, will instantly turn into a pile of ruins."

"Using Li Chengjia's life to protect Dai Fuqiang's life. Is that enough of a bargaining chip?"

Gudong.

The sound of swallowing saliva echoed through the church again.

Dai Fuqiang's eyes gleamed with an alarming light. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "This is amazing! As long as I have a bomb strapped to my body, that old bastard Li Chengjia won't dare to lay a finger on me! He's so rich, he's definitely more afraid of death than I am! Hahaha! This feeling of extorting money from a tycoon under my feet... it's absolutely incredible!"

"I love this idea!" Hong Jipeng rubbed his hands excitedly. "Bomb vest, defuse device, deadbolt switch... Give me a week, and I guarantee I'll make a piece of top-notch equipment that even bomb disposal experts would kneel down and call me grandpa!"

"Since everything is fine, let's get started! There are two things at the very bottom of the paper bag."

The mechanical voice gave the final command.

Dai Fuqiang immediately reached into the bottom of the paper bag and pulled out two black, brick-like, heavy rectangular objects.

"These two phones use encrypted frequency bands."

"From today onwards, all communication concerning the plan must be conducted on this mobile phone; leave no trace of anything else."

The mechanical voice gradually lowered in tone, like a curtain falling.

"Get your props ready. Let's begin this earth-shattering spectacle that will shock the world!"

"Sizzle—smack."

The hum disappeared, and the loudspeaker was completely powered off.

In the empty church, Dai Fuqiang and Hong Jipeng held their mobile phones tightly and smiled at each other.

Those were two bloodthirsty wolves, their sinister grins suggesting they were about to be unleashed.

……

at the same time.

Less than 500 meters from the abandoned church, in an inconspicuous three-story village house.

The village house looked dilapidated from the outside, but the inside was surprisingly spacious. The walls were covered with soundproofing foam, and several high-precision military listening devices were flashing red lights. On several black-and-white monitor screens, the footage of Dai Fuqiang and Hong Jipeng leaving the church was clearly displayed.

This is a secret intelligence point of the "Distillery" organization in Kowloon.

A middle-aged man wearing a gray trench coat, sunglasses, and with his hair neatly combed was standing in front of the monitor.

Fourth Brother, or rather, within the "distillery," his code name is Rum.

As the number two figure in the "distillery" and Lu Chen's most trusted workhorse, Fourth Brother practically took charge of coordinating all the dirty and tiring tasks within the organization. From recruiting assassins and building an intelligence network to planning this kidnapping, he was like a tireless, precise machine.

Watching Dai Fuqiang and Hong Jipeng get into their cars and leave on the screen, Fourth Brother took off the metal microphone he used to change his voice and let out a soft breath.

He walked to the table, picked up the dedicated red secure phone, and dialed a number.

The phone was answered after only one ring.

"Boss, the fish has taken the bait."

"Very good," Lu Chen chuckled on the other end of the phone, "Those two lunatics didn't disappoint you, did they?"

"Absolutely not." Fourth Brother looked at the screen. "Their greed and madness perfectly matched our expectations. Especially that Hong Jipeng, a rare demolition genius."

"That's good. After all, it took me a lot of effort to find them."

To ensure the success of this mission and to avoid getting himself dirty, Lu Chen not only found Dai Fuqiang, who had kidnapped the Li family in the future, but also paired him with Hong Jipeng, who was equally ruthless. This lineup was truly luxurious.

"For the next two weeks, have the Windcatchers keep a 24-hour watch on them. But don't interfere with their actions; let them do what they want."

"Since Li Chengjia wants to join forces with the Hong Kong British government to strangle me in the matter of Hong Kong Island Telephone Company."

Lu Chen's voice instantly turned icy cold, like the Grim Reaper who controls life and death.

"Then I'll use his eldest son's life to remind him that some things shouldn't be eaten indiscriminately!"

"Understood! Don't worry, boss, I'll direct this scene perfectly."