Chapter 127 - 54: Mercenary Erqi, Loan Shark Boss Liu Hui (2)
Shen Yanzhi surveyed his surroundings. "I doubt it."
He was a professional mercenary, after all. He should have some professional integrity.
It wouldn’t make sense for him to scam us over a few million.
Besides, public safety was pretty poor in this area. A loan shark company with no legal protection couldn’t exactly rent a proper office. They were bound to be in some back alley.
He tightened his grip on Jiang Li’s hand and gave it a little squeeze. "Besides, you still owe him the final payment. He wouldn’t dare try to cheat you."
Jiang Li nodded thoughtfully. "You’re right. I guess I was being overly suspicious."
The car crawled along before finally stopping outside a dilapidated tenement building. The driver flashed a grin full of yellow teeth. "Can’t drive any further. I’ll have to ask you to walk the rest of the way."
Though annoyed, Jiang Li still paid the fare and got out of the car, hand in hand with Shen Yanzhi.
Just as they reached the end of the alley, they saw Erqi leaning against a wall, seemingly waiting for them.
Seeing the two of them, Erqi jerked his chin. "You’re here."
Jiang Li glanced around, asking uncertainly, "Their lair is here?"
Erqi nodded. "It’s just up ahead. I’ll take you."
As they walked, he briefed Jiang Li and Shen Yanzhi on what he’d learned. "The group has 65 members in total: five leaders and the rest are grunts. They’re from all over the world. They make their living through scams, cons, and loan sharking."
’Wow, 65 people.’
’That’s not a small operation.’
Jiang Li remarked with genuine admiration, "You’re incredibly fast. You got the full rundown on them in such a short time."
Erqi glanced back at Jiang Li, unable to stop himself from retorting internally, ’You think this is a *short* time? You really don’t have a clue what mercenaries are capable of!’
But Jiang Li still owed him a final payment of several million, so no matter what he was thinking, he kept a straight face and replied humbly, "It was nothing. Just doing my job."
They finally arrived at a tent walled in by a large number of urea sacks. Erqi stopped and pointed. "This is the place."
Jiang Li’s face was a picture of utter confusion. ’Seriously? People can live in a place like this?’
’Are you kidding me?’
Before Jiang Li could voice her question, Shen Yanzhi had already pulled aside the tent flap.
Inside, a crowd of people were sitting, lying, and standing around. All of them were tied up with rope, looking like a pot of crabs waiting to be steamed. The scene was rather comical.
Jiang Li’s eyes immediately landed on the man in charge. He was trussed up, his face beaten so badly it was swollen like a pig’s head. She had to fight to keep from laughing out loud.
She turned and gave Erqi a thumbs-up. "Impressive. You really are something else."
’A mercenary hired for a hefty price is really on another level. His skills are absolutely insane.’
’Back in Hua Country, even a week wouldn’t have been enough to get a single lead.’
’Suddenly, she had the urge to poach him and take him back home.’
Sensing Jiang Li’s intense gaze, Erqi instinctively took two steps back. A shiver ran down his spine. "It was nothing."
The moment the leader saw Jiang Li, he looked as if he’d just seen his own mother and immediately cried out, "Big Sis!"
His desperate cry startled Jiang Li.
Tears and snot streamed down the man’s face as he spoke with a sincere, earnest tone. "From now on, we’re all your underlings! Can you please tell him to let us go?"
Jiang Li scanned her surroundings, found a relatively clean stool, and sat down. With the air of a queen, she said, "Letting you go isn’t out of the question."
All eyes were fixed on Jiang Li’s face as they waited for what she would say next.
People in their line of work were ultimately just trying to make money.
As long as they could still make money, switching bosses was no great loss to them.
That was why they were willing to hear Jiang Li’s terms.
Jiang Li’s gaze swept over the crowd. She smoothed her clothes and spoke, her voice ringing with authority. "First: you wash your hands of this life. No more of your current dirty business. If anyone breaks this rule, I’ll personally take one of your hands."
’In truth, she understood why they did what they did. It was all about making money.’
’And since she had money, she was willing to give them a platform to do it right.’
’They could earn money through their own abilities, with their own two hands, without having to live in constant fear.’
Seeing no objections, she continued with her demands. "Second: since you’re calling me Big Sis, you’ll work for me from now on. You do what I say, when I say it. No arguments, and no whining in my presence."
Of course, the benefits of working for her would be substantial.