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

While Dai Fuqiang and Hong Jipeng were busily preparing for the world-shaking "billion-dollar kidnapping case" in Hong Kong, a capital restructuring, without gunpowder but capable of affecting the lifeline of a nation's communications, was also secretly and rapidly progressing in the capital of the Japanese Empire on the other side of the world.

……

One week ago, at 10 Downing Street, Westminster, the city of the British Empire.

London in March is always shrouded in a persistent, cold, gray fog. The drizzling freezing rain patters against the ancient buildings along the Thames, adding a touch of melancholy to this former capital of the British Empire.

In the famous private study on the second floor, the oak in the fireplace was burning, making a soft crackling sound.

The air in the study was filled with the aroma of Darjeeling tea, but the atmosphere was subtly oppressive.

The current Prime Minister of Japan, known in awe as the "Iron Lady," sat behind her large oak desk. She wore her signature blue suit, her hair was neatly combed, but her sharp blue eyes now held an undisguised weariness and anger.

Opposite her, sitting on a velvet sofa, were a man and a woman.

The woman wore a minimalist yet priceless black haute couture business suit, her long blonde hair styled in an updo, exuding a cool and capable aura. She was Susan, the CEO of the High Table Group in the UK.

The young man sitting next to Susan, with his legs crossed and idly playing with his sterling silver pocket watch, was the Iron Lady's eldest son, and her greatest weakness in life—Marco Satchel.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister."

Susan put down her exquisite teacup and broke the silence first, "Regarding the privatization bill for 'British Telecom,' our High Table Group's acquisition team is fully prepared. Funding, technical personnel, and subsequent restructuring plans are all in place."

"We are here today hoping that you can exercise your special executive privileges, bypass the lengthy and cumbersome debates in the House of Commons, and expedite the approval process to complete the asset transfer as soon as possible."

Hearing Susan's words, which were almost a "coup," the Iron Lady's brows furrowed tightly.

She glanced at her son Marco, who sat beside her with an expectant look in his eyes, and a deep sense of powerlessness and regret welled up in her heart.

Since last year, in order to quell the black box incident, obtain damaging information about the royal family and even the opposition party, and find allies for privatization reform, she chose to form a strategic alliance with the mysterious and massive "High Table Group." She even tacitly approved her son Marco's appointment as a high-paid senior "advisor" at an energy peripheral company of the High Table Group, both to secure a good job for her disappointing son and as a show of support for the High Table Group.

This was originally a political deal where everyone got what they wanted.

But she never expected that the High Table Group would demand returns so quickly and have such a huge appetite!

British Telecom was an absolute monopoly giant in the communications field of the British Empire, and a true national strategic asset.

The Iron Lady was indeed pushing forward with a large-scale privatization policy for state-owned enterprises, and she had indeed long ago tacitly approved selling British Telecom, the most lucrative piece of the pie, to the deep-pocketed High Table Group. This was intended to weaken the powerful domestic unions that were constantly striking, while simultaneously using the huge acquisition proceeds to fill the government's fiscal deficit.

However, according to the British political process, privatization reforms of this level would take at least half a year of debate in Parliament, and countless hearings and power struggles before they could be implemented.

Now, they're actually demanding she use her prime ministerial privileges to force things to move forward quickly! If the opposition gets hold of this, it'll definitely be a political storm!

“Ms. Susan,” the Iron Lady replied firmly, her fingers interlaced, “the Empire is a country governed by the rule of law, and parliamentary procedures are inviolable. British Telecom employs over two hundred thousand people and is vital to the UK's communications lifeline. If we forcibly cut off the approval process, and the unions launch a nationwide strike, can the High Table Group bear that responsibility?”

Despite the Iron Lady's pressure, Susan maintained her elegant composure.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, since we dared to make this request, we have naturally prepared the bargaining chips to silence the opposition and labor unions."

Susan took a gold-embossed document from her briefcase and gently pushed it onto her desk.

"This is the final commitment from the High Table Group."

"First, during the privatization and restructuring of British Telecom, we pledged to retain 80% of the original number of positions and would never lay off employees on a large scale."

"Secondly, within five years of the completion of privatization, the High Table Group will invest £1 billion in BT Group to lay a new generation of fiber optic networks and communication base stations. We guarantee that within five years, not only will there be no job losses, but there will also be a 20% increase in new jobs!"

"..."

Upon hearing these conditions, the Iron Lady's tense facial muscles finally relaxed slightly. The conditions offered by the High Table Group were indeed enough to silence most people.

It's important to understand that the biggest fear in privatizing state-owned enterprises is that capitalists, after taking over, will conduct massive layoffs to improve their financial reports, potentially triggering social unrest. Yet, the High Table Group not only promised to protect 80% of jobs but also pledged to personally invest £1 billion to expand its operations and create more positions?

This is practically paving a golden road for her re-election! With this pledge in hand, those union leaders won't be able to utter a single word!

However, as a shrewd politician, the Iron Lady knew that capitalists never do anything that doesn't benefit them. What was the other side really after, willing to pay such a high price?

While the Iron Lady was still weighing the pros and cons.

"Mother."

Marco, who had been silent all along, suddenly closed his pocket watch, leaned forward, and spoke in a highly inflammatory tone.

"I think Ms. Susan's suggestion is excellent. The domestic economy is so bad right now, and strikes are increasing every day. The High Table Group is willing to show such sincerity in helping the government solve employment and funding problems, what are we waiting for?"

As the nominal "advisor" of the High Table Group, Marco naturally had to speak on behalf of his master.

He looked at his mother and blinked. "Besides, those old fogies in parliament only know how to stall. The longer it drags on, the more problems will arise. You've always been known for your decisiveness; this is the time for you to show your strength. Just pass it through an executive order."

Looking at her son's impatient face, the Iron Lady sighed inwardly.

She knew her son too well. Marco's fervent lobbying was definitely not for the economic recovery of the British Empire, but for the money in his own pocket.

that's the truth.

Marco was overjoyed. Before coming to Downing Street, Susan had privately promised him that if the lobbying was successful and the acquisition of British Telecom was completed ahead of schedule, the High Table Group would deposit a seven-figure bonus into his Swiss account as a "consulting fee."

Marco is currently pursuing a top Hollywood actress relentlessly. To win her favor, he's spent lavishly on yachts, luxury cars, and jewelry, already accumulating massive debts. This seven-figure prize is like a godsend for him; how could he not give it his all?

Looking into her son's expectant eyes, and then at the promise on the table that would make her invincible in the political arena.

The Iron Lady eventually gave in.

Politics is, in essence, an art of compromise.

"Alright," the Iron Lady exhaled a long breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, "Ms. Susan, I see the High Table Group's sincerity."

"At this week's cabinet meeting, I will use the Prime Minister's absolute veto power to forcibly end the pointless debate in the House of Commons. I will also authorize the Treasury to establish a special task force specifically to handle the High Table acquisition."

"I will take care of all the formalities for you. The rest of the handover process will be completed within half a month."

A barely perceptible glint flashed in Susan's eyes.

half a month.

This was precisely the directive Lu Chen issued through Sofia. If the High Table Group could acquire British Telecom within half a month, not only would Hong Kong Island Telecom be successfully acquired before May, but the construction of next-generation digital signal base stations in the UK could also be completed this year—this was what Lu Chen valued most: seizing the initiative.

The most profitable industries in the world are always monopolies. Once the base station deployment is complete, Lu Chen's new phone will be launched first in Europe! At that time, the entire European telecommunications market will be under his control!

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, your wisdom will be a blessing to the Empire." Susan stood up and bowed slightly.

"It's a pleasure working with you, Mother! I knew you were the best!" Marco stood up excitedly, already fantasizing about how he would spend the night in that actress's bed.

After the two left.

Silence returned to the study.

The Iron Lady leaned back in her chair, rubbing her throbbing temples. The cooperation with the High Table was like drinking poison to quench thirst; while it resolved the immediate crisis, she always felt that this unseen hand was slowly tightening its grip on the Japanese Empire's neck.

She pressed the internal communicator on the table.

"Bring Mrs. M in."

A few minutes later, the side door to the study was pushed open. A middle-aged woman in a gray tweed suit, with eyes as sharp as a hawk, strode in.

She was the head of the Imperial Military Intelligence Bureau, codenamed: Madam M.

"Prime Minister." Mrs. M walked to the table and nodded slightly.

"How's the background investigation on that 'High Table Group' going?" The Iron Lady asked directly, without any preamble. Although she was an ally, she would never allow an organization with an unknown background to run rampant in Japan.

Mrs. M's expression turned somewhat grim. She opened the top-secret red folder in her hand, her tone grave.

"Prime Minister, the other side's organizational structure is extremely tight. Whether it's the flow of funds, personnel transfers, or the communication methods among high-level officials, they all employ extremely complex single-line encryption. It's very difficult for our agents to infiltrate their core level."

"However, through six months of investigation, we have still managed to uncover some clues."

Mrs. M handed several intelligence photos to the Iron Lady.

"The High Table Group not only controls a vast amount of legitimate capital, but in the underworld, they also have a terrorist armed organization codenamed 'Winery,' which is responsible for assassinations, money laundering, and eliminating dissidents."

"And what surprised us the most was..."

Mrs. M pointed to one of the photos. The photo showed the profile of a distinguished young Chinese man.

"The unusual convergence of various capital flows and the gathering of intelligence ultimately pointed to the Far East, to our colony—Hong Kong."

"In Hong Kong, there is a company that has risen rapidly in the past year, called 'Golden Harvest International Group'. Its chairman is named Lu Chen."

"Lu Chen?"

Upon hearing this name, the Iron Lady raised an eyebrow slightly. She had heard of this person before; after the black box incident, he had acquired the Hong Kong Island branch of the long-established Standard Chartered Bank, made billions during the Hang Seng Index crash, and was even nominated as a Justice of the Peace by the Governor of Hong Kong…

"Yes," Mrs. M nodded. "According to our intelligence network in Hong Kong, this Lu Chen has extremely close personal and financial ties with several European leaders of the High Table Group. In fact, Golden Harvest Security Company's operating style is strikingly similar to that of 'The Winery' in some respects."

"Therefore, some analysts within the intelligence agency have boldly speculated..." Mrs. M paused, seemingly finding the speculation somewhat absurd, "that this Chinese man, Lu Chen, who is far away in Hong Kong, is very likely the true mastermind behind the High Table Group, that is, the supreme leader."

Upon hearing this conclusion...

The Iron Lady, who had been listening intently, suddenly paused, and then couldn't help but let out a very rare, sarcastic laugh.

"Heh...M, have your MI6 analysts been reading too many novels lately?"

The Iron Lady casually tossed the photo of Lu Chen onto the table, as if she were watching a joke.

"A Chinese man in his early twenties? A young man from a colonial background with no social standing?"

In her view, the behind-the-scenes controllers of an underground empire with tentacles reaching all over the world and even influencing the British Prime Minister must be ancient European nobles with centuries of history, or European and American super-rich families like Rockefeller hidden deep within.

How could a power game of this caliber be dominated by an Easterner with no political connections?

"Prime Minister, do you mean...?" Mrs. M asked tentatively.

"This is a logical fallacy based on common sense."

The Iron Lady confidently gave her judgment, and at that very moment, she personally threw the correct answer into the trash can.

"This young man named Lu Chen is indeed very dazzling and has great business acumen. But he could never be the mastermind behind the High Table."

"There's only one truth," the Iron Lady declared confidently. "The true head of the High Table Group is a powerful, long-established European or American family. Lu Chen is merely an extremely capable agent they've chosen, a 'white glove' they're using to expand their territory in Asia!"

"Lu Chen is at most an important member of the High Table Group, responsible for managing the Far East assets for the mastermind behind him."

Mrs. M agreed with the Prime Minister's "reasonable" analysis.

Indeed, from the perspective of Europeans' traditional thinking, the idea of ​​a Chinese person controlling and ruling the European underworld is even more fantastical than aliens landing in London.

"The Prime Minister's analysis makes perfect sense; we've been blinded by our own limited perspective."

Mrs. M nodded in agreement, completely abandoning her suspicions about Lu Chen being the "final boss." "It seems Lu Chen was just a smokescreen. The true core of the High Table Group remains hidden in Europe. I will immediately adjust the direction of my investigation and focus my main efforts on digging deeper into the ancient families of Europe."

"Go. We must dig out the truth behind them. The British Empire cannot be led by the nose by a bunch of ghosts hiding in the shadows." The Iron Lady waved her hand.

With Mrs. M gone, the study fell silent once more.

The Iron Lady picked up her slightly cold cup of black tea, looked out the window at the London rain and mist, and remained confident in her ability to control the future situation.

She had no idea.

It was precisely her inherent arrogance and deep-rooted Eurocentric prejudice that provided Lu Chen, thousands of miles away, with the most perfect and impeccable bulletproof vest.