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

The day after Taras's death, the sun rose in Tokyo as usual.

On the streets of Shinjuku, the alley where the fight took place that night has been cleaned up, and even the bullet marks on the asphalt road have been filled with repair asphalt.

People went to work as usual, squeezed onto the subway as usual, and lined up at convenience stores to buy sandwiches as usual, completely unaware of the bloody undercurrents that had taken place the night before.

However, in the underground world unseen by ordinary people, a vast network from Takamagahara and the Yamaguchi-gumi is slowly tightening.

……

On the night Taras was killed, three tactical mobile teams from Takamagahara launched a swift attack, heading straight for the Shinigami Group's core stronghold in Tokyo.

Shinjuku, Minato Ward, Ikebukuro... By dawn, there was no longer a single property belonging to the Shinigami Group in Tokyo.

As for the Kansai region, including Osaka and Kobe, Toshinari Eguchi personally took command. He mobilized almost all of the Yamaguchi-gumi's mobile forces to wipe out the remaining hideouts and underground banks of the Shinigami-gumi one by one.

However, what was more deadly than the encirclement and suppression by external enemies was the chaos within the organization.

The Death Squad was built upon Taras's personal strength and iron-fisted prestige. Therefore, with Taras's death, his deputy Sergei was unable to control the unruly leaders under him.

With their leader gone, the leaders of the various strongholds began to fight their own battles—some sealed off the warehouse doors and ordered their men to set up machine guns; some contacted Southeast Asian arms dealers they had previously cooperated with overnight, hoping to replenish their ammunition and start their own operations; and others tried to contact the Yamaguchi-gumi and Takamagahara to negotiate, hoping to surrender in exchange for a way out.

The entire organization fell into complete disarray within twelve hours of Taras' death.

To make matters worse, the attitudes of local police departments were also problematic.

Not only Deputy Chief Inspector Iwata, but police forces in many regions had long been fed up with these Russian thugs. Using the "evidence" provided by Takamagahara, the Metropolitan Police Department launched a massive operation overnight, seizing assets and following the leads to apprehend dozens of key members of the Shinigami Group.

In just three days, the once rampant yakuza behemoth in Japan became a mere shell of its former self.

……

Inside a dilapidated and cramped rental apartment in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Sergei, the former deputy and now the acting leader of the Death Squad, sat on a shaky wooden chair with a handwritten retreat plan spread out on the broken table in front of him.

His face was ashen, and his sunken eyes were bloodshot.

Fate is so ironic. Just three days ago, he was one of the most powerful Russians in the Eastern Underworld. Now, all he has left is this rented, dilapidated apartment and less than thirty defeated soldiers.

"Withdraw," he finally decided, his voice hoarse. "Take what you can, and burn what you can't. Destroy all ledgers, lists, and contact information."

"Boss...where are we retreating to?" the subordinate asked anxiously.

"Shizuoka and Yamanashi."

Shizuoka Prefecture has a port, while Yamanashi Prefecture is mostly mountainous. One is convenient for maritime resupply, and the other is convenient for hiding and concealment. With their complex terrain, they have always been the best choice for the retreat of Japan's underground forces.

Moreover, both locations are far from the core of Tokyo and have weak police forces, so the Yamaguchi-gumi and Takamagahara may not be willing to expend huge manpower to hunt down these stray dogs.

"Boss... what about the other territories?" one of the subordinates asked unwillingly.

Sergei remained silent for a long time, then looked at his men with a resolute expression: "...We will return. The Russians can be defeated, but they will never be crushed!"

"Yes!" The subordinate was deeply moved by these words, nodded heavily, and turned to leave in preparation for retreat.

As he watched the door slowly close, Sergei finally lost his composure and collapsed onto the worn-out chair, letting out a long sigh of relief.

He knew better than anyone that once he retreated, he would never be able to come back.

With Takamagahara, the Yamaguchi-gumi, and the Metropolitan Police Department looming overhead, it was a miracle that he could even survive and retreat to Shizuoka, let alone turn the tide.

Of course, he couldn't tell these truths to his subordinates. After all, some of them had been in Dongjing for five or six years, had already married and had children, and were used to the nightlife and ramen here. If there wasn't even a sliver of hope to sustain them, the team would probably collapse instantly.

He folded the land consolidation plan neatly and stuffed it into his pocket, then slowly walked to the window. In the distance, the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji gleamed with a cold, white light in the twilight.

He suddenly remembered that autumn five years ago when he followed Taras to Tokyo. At that time, they had nothing but ambition and the guns in their hands.

Now, the gunmen are dead, and their ambitions are buried in this cold night.

"Let's go," he said softly.

Scattered footsteps echoed in the corridor, growing farther and farther away, lighter and lighter, until they finally disappeared completely into the deep twilight of Shizuoka.

……

When the news reached Hong Kong Island, it was a warm afternoon. Lu Chen invited Zhao Mengsheng's family to have a picnic at the newly completed Kowloon Memorial Park.

Kowloon Memorial Park is located on the site of the former Kowloon Walled City. The park's design preserves the outline and texture of the Walled City, while transforming the ruins into a landscape.

At the entrance stands a granite monument inscribed with the words "Kowloon Walled City Memorial Park". The base of the monument is also inlaid with a blue brick that was removed from the old wall of the walled city. The surface of the brick has been worn smooth by the years, recording the past of this land.

As you enter the park, you are greeted by a gravel path, with newly transplanted flame trees planted on both sides. Their branches and leaves are sparse and have not yet grown into dense shade.

At the end of the trail is a small square, in the center of which is an abstract sculpture—made of rusted steel and dismantled old water pipes welded together, with rough lines, looking like a sleeping building from a distance.

Further in, there is a wide open lawn, at the end of which is a newly built children's playground, complete with slides, swings, and climbing frames.

The weather was nice today, and several picnic mats had been laid out on the lawn, where many citizens brought their children to enjoy the spring scenery.

The Lu family's picnic mat was laid out in the innermost spot, next to a newly transplanted old banyan tree. The old banyan tree's canopy spread out a large expanse of green shade, and a low stone railing had been built around its roots. Cola and Sprite were lying next to the stone railing, their chins resting on their paws, squinting in the sun.

On the placemat, Mei and Lai Di chatted casually while skillfully arranging the food—several boxes of cut fruit platters, freshly squeezed juice, canned yogurt, and several bags of potato chips that Lu Qian had secretly put in.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Ya Zi was using a foxtail grass to tickle Ke Le's itch, while He Min sat on the edge of the cushion and put a knitted hat she had made on Xiao Lu Qian's head.

Today, Xiao Luqian was wearing a light blue down jacket with a hood that was a bit too big, pulling down to cover half of his face. He didn't take it off, just left it on, and looked excitedly toward the slide.

"Mom, when are Jiajia and the others coming?" he asked, looking up.

Ruan Mei placed a box of pineapple cakes on the corner of the mat: "It should be ready soon. Your Uncle Zhao and I agreed to meet at three o'clock."

Just then, a familiar sound of footsteps came from the direction of the trail. Xiao Luqian turned his head and saw Zhao Mengsheng and his family of three walking towards them with smiles on their faces.

Today, Zhao Mengsheng wore a dark gray short-sleeved polo shirt, black pants, and swapped his leather shoes for a pair of comfortable sneakers, looking much more relaxed than usual. He carried a basket in his left hand and held Jiajia's hand in his right.

Han Xiulan walked beside him, wearing a beige coat, her hair casually tied back, her eyebrows and eyes relaxed.

Jiajia was wearing a pink jacket and her ponytail was tied high. As soon as she saw Lu Qian in the distance, she let go of Zhao Mengsheng's hand and rushed over like a little butterfly.

"Brother Lu Qian!"

"Jiajia, you're here!" Xiao Luqian hurriedly stood up from the mat, but his hat almost flew off because he moved so fast.

The two children huddled together as soon as they met. Jiajia grabbed Lu Qian's hand and eagerly pointed to the slide not far away: "Let's go play on that!"

"good!"

The two children held hands and ran towards the playground. Seeing this, Cola and Sprite, who were lying by the stone railing, also got up quickly and followed happily, wagging their tails.

"Slow down!" Ruan Mei called out from behind, then shook her head helplessly, pulled Han Xiulan to sit down next to the amusement park, and chatted about their private conversation while looking after the children.

"Jiajia has finally recovered these past two days," Han Xiulan said with a smile. "What happened last week really scared me."

"Who isn't?" Ruan Mei sighed softly. "If A'en hadn't been there that day, I wouldn't even dare to think about it."

"Fortunately, it's all over now," Han Xiulan said softly, looking at her daughter laughing in the distance. "Our Lao Zhao hasn't even been going to the newspaper office much lately; he's been spending all his time with us, mother and daughter."

"Really?" Ruan Mei was somewhat surprised.

"He may not say it, but he's more afraid than anyone else," Han Xiulan smiled. "He's usually so shrewd in the office, but when it comes to his daughter, he completely loses control."

“It’s all the same,” Ruan Mei said. “Hui Zhong told me that A Chen didn’t close his eyes for more than 20 hours on the plane back that day.”

The two women exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word.

On the other side, Lu Chen and Zhao Mengsheng sat on a cushion, each holding a cup of tea.

"Taras is dead." Lu Chen took a sip of tea and softly broke the silence.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Mengsheng paused slightly in his teacup. Then, a hint of pleasure appeared on his usually calm face.

"Good riddance. The fewer people like him there are, the better."

"Currently, his deputy has led the remaining troops to Shizuoka and Yamanashi, and my men are pursuing them," Lu Chen said calmly. "The name 'Death God Group' will no longer exist in Japan."

Zhao Mengsheng nodded, his gaze falling on his daughter playing on the slide in the distance. After a moment of silence, he said in a low voice, "Hong Kong should not have this kind of thing happen."

"Since the Qing Dynasty, Hong Kong Island has been a financial center due to its advantageous geographical location, but it has also been the most active place for intelligence exchange and underground transactions in East Asia. Various forces have intertwined here, and it has always been so."

"But just because it has been this way since ancient times doesn't mean it should be this way," Lu Chen continued, his tone calm yet carrying a firm weight. "From now on, Hong Kong Island must become one of the safest cities. Its prosperity should not become a breeding ground for crime."

Zhao Mengsheng raised an eyebrow: "This is a huge project."

"No rush, take your time, and you'll help me too, won't you?"

Zhao Mengsheng was stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter. The heaviness from before dissipated considerably, replaced by a sense of agreement.

He didn't boast; he simply extended his thick palm to Lu Chen.

Lu Chen smiled and reached out to shake his hand tightly.

A tacit understanding between the men spread.

However, the next second——

"Mommy! Jiajia kissed me!"

Lu Chen and Zhao Mengsheng both froze and turned their heads away.

Jiajia had slid down the slide at some point and was standing in front of Lu Qian, her hands behind her back, her little face upturned, and her lips pouting.

Lu Qian covered his right cheek, staring at her in shock, his ears burning red.

Cola, not understanding what was happening, excitedly spun around in place, while Sprite sat a few steps away, its huge tail rhythmically sweeping the grass.

The teacup in Zhao Mengsheng's hand fell onto the cushion with a "clatter," and Lu Chen could even see the veins on his temple throb slightly.

"Pfft—" Lu Chen couldn't help but laugh out loud, but quickly composed himself, picked up his teacup and pretended to take a sip, glancing at Zhao Mengsheng under the cover of his laughter.

Zhao Mengsheng's lips pursed into a straight line: "Jiajia, come here."

Oblivious to her father's dark expression, Jiajia ran back happily: "Dad! I just kissed Brother Lu Qian!"

"I saw it."

"His face is so soft! Like jelly!"

"..." Zhao Mengsheng's expression was quite interesting, glaring at Lu Chen with three parts helplessness and seven parts resentment.

"Cough cough cough," Lu Chen coughed twice, and clarified righteously, "It wasn't my son who instigated it."

Zhao Mengsheng took a deep breath, looked at his daughter's innocent and smiling face, and then at the little boy in the distance who was still covering his face and staring blankly after being kissed. He swallowed back the resentment he felt.

"Jiajia," he knelt down, pressing his hand on his daughter's shoulder, his voice gentle yet tinged with a hint of clenched teeth, "Girls shouldn't kiss strangers so easily, understand?"

"When can we kiss?" Jiajia tilted her little head and asked innocently.

"..." Zhao Mengsheng opened his mouth, but couldn't answer.

Han Xiulan, standing to the side, laughed heartily, while Ruan Mei couldn't help but cover her face and chuckle. She then beckoned Lu Qian over and pinched her son's flushed cheeks, asking, "Qianzi, why are you blushing?"

"N-nothing." Xiao Luqian lowered his head, pretending to step on the shadow of the cola.

Cola, unaware of what was going on, thought its little master was playing with it and happily tugged at Lu Qian's trouser leg.

Laughter echoed across the lawn. The phoenix trees in the distance were still bare, but everyone knew that by next summer, they would be covered in a profusion of red blossoms.

……

As time went by, the evening glow began to spread from the west, turning the lawn and slides into a warm, golden hue.

"It's getting late, we should go." Zhao Mengsheng stood up and patted the grass clippings off his trousers.

Han Xiulan was helping Jiajia straighten her skirt. The little girl was still clutching a blade of grass in her hand, waving reluctantly at Lu Qian: "Brother Lu Qian, can we play together again tomorrow?"

"It depends on whether I have time," Lu Qian said after thinking for a moment.

"Then you must have time!" Jiajia emphasized earnestly.

Lu Chen stood to the side, suppressing a laugh, and looked at Zhao Mengsheng's face, which had become serious again. He deliberately changed the subject: "Old Zhao, should I arrange a security team for Jiajia? Just to make sure everything is foolproof."

Zhao Mengsheng shook his head: "It's alright, I've already reported to the capital, and someone will come to protect them in a while."

Lu Chen nodded. The elite troops sent from the capital were undoubtedly impeccable in both skill and loyalty, so he didn't bring it up again.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries. Zhao Mengsheng picked up the thermos, and Han Xiulan took her daughter's hand. The family of three walked along the gravel path they had come from towards the park exit.

Jiajia took a few steps out, then suddenly turned back and waved to Lu Qian: "See you tomorrow, Brother Lu Qian!"

Xiao Luqian waved and said, "Goodbye!"

The next second, Zhao Mengsheng noticeably quickened his pace, pulling his daughter along. Jiajia was led to jog, her ponytail swinging playfully in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Lu Chen watched the family leave until the three figures completely disappeared behind the phoenix trees at the park entrance, then smiled and withdrew his gaze.

Cola yawned, rolled over and exposed its belly, while Sprite lazily stood up and shook its fur.

"Dad," Lu Qian asked, tilting his head up, "Jiajia said she wants to come to our house to play with me tomorrow, is that okay?"

"That depends on whether your Uncle Zhao agrees or not."

"Hmm... but Uncle Zhao seemed quite unhappy just now," Xiao Luqian analyzed earnestly.

Lu Chen bent down and patted his son's head: "You'll understand when you grow up."

Little Lu Qian was completely confused, but he wisely didn't press the matter. Instead, he turned and ran to hug Cola tightly. Cola was lifted up on one side by his hug, its big tail wagging rapidly.

Ruan Mei put the last empty can into the wicker basket, stood up and patted her clothes: "It's about time to go back. Qiu Di said she was coming back tonight. If we go too late and leave her all alone at home, she'll probably pout and complain about being lonely again."

"it is good."

Lu Chen nodded, and the family walked outside. The setting sun shone down from behind, casting their shadows together intimately, making them stretch out extremely long.

Back in the car, Lu Qian was still excitedly telling Ruan Mei about the fun he had on the slide. Lu Chen smiled as he helped his son fasten his seatbelt, then gestured to Tian Yangsheng to get going.

As the car started, the outline of Kowloon Memorial Park gradually disappeared into the deep twilight in the rearview mirror. The abstract sculpture, welded from scrap steel and old water pipes, radiated a dazzling and warm pure golden light under the glow of the setting sun.

"Boss," just then, the woman in the passenger seat suddenly turned to the side, "Attorney Jane Austen called just now, saying she'd like to meet with you."