NOVEL NEXT Chapter 50: Shi
"Blake, I've heard from my men about your stunt. You really outdid yourself—wreaths, paper money, and a coffin at someone's wedding! Ha ha!"
It was in the VIP private room 888 at the Entertainment Club KTV.
A man in his forties with a square face and a hearty demeanor was holding up his glass, talking to Blake.
The man's name was Shi, a somewhat old-fashioned name.
However, Shi was a man with a formidable reputation in the underworld of Shanghai.
As the general environment became increasingly stringent, many so-called gang leaders who engaged in petty crimes and violence either fled or were imprisoned.
Shi managed to navigate the gray areas and establish a large entertainment club, a testament to his cunning and intelligence.
Blake had spent two million yuan that day—not on violence but on creating a scene. This wasn't a major crime.
So, everyone involved was happy with the outcome. The task was done smoothly, and the money was earned easily.
Besides, the two million was just a start.
"Brother Shi, I owe it to you. Your men did a great job, and without them, my grand show wouldn't have been so spectacular!"
"We just took the money for the job. Brother, you're too kind!"
Shi laughed heartily, clinking glasses with Blake again before speaking seriously.
"Brother, that coffin didn't end up with them. My men brought it back. What would you like us to do with it? Should we send it to your place or melt it down into gold bars?" Shi's service was top-notch.
Blake didn't pretend to be modest. He hadn't planned for this to be a one-time deal.
He waved his hand.
"Once a gift is given, there's no taking it back. A coffin, as they say, symbolizes promotion and wealth. Since those two scoundrels can't appreciate it, if you don't mind, Brother Shi, consider it a token of my appreciation for you and your men's hard work."
To be honest, Shi had thought that after this job, Blake would throw in another few hundred thousand yuan as a bonus for the men's efforts. He hadn't expected a gift worth several million yuan.
Shi, being savvy, couldn't just accept such a huge sum for such a small favor.
"Brother, let's be honest. I'm a man of the underworld. A coffin, even with a body in it, wouldn't bother me. But this was just a small task. The initial payment was already generous enough. I'm afraid I can't accept such a massive gold piece!"
"This whole entertainment club must have cost over a billion yuan, right? A few million shouldn't be an issue?" Blake pointed to the opulent surroundings.
"Ah, I don't have that kind of money. Don't be fooled by how easily we make money. I have to support a lot of men and smooth things over up and down. Not much actually lands in my pocket."
"This is just a small private enterprise of a big boss. I'm just here to maintain order and act as a guard dog. They were kind enough to give me a small share." Shi spoke frankly, without hiding anything.
"Alright! Since Brother Shi is so straightforward, I won't beat around the bush either. I don't want to rely on my family's wealth. I've come to Shanghai to build something of my own. But being new here, I need someone to show me the ropes and a strong figure to back me up."
Blake didn't specify his business plans, but it was clear he was talking about legitimate ventures, just needing some manpower for errands and local connections.
In case of any trouble, it'd be handy to have someone to smooth things over.
He didn't have many friends in Shanghai. For example, renting a Ferrari convoy was something he had no contacts for, and Shi had to step in to arrange it.
Having a reliable and sensible local contact would make any endeavor much easier.
With everything laid out openly, Shi felt much more at ease.
However, Blake remained cautious. Regarding the golden coffin, he only suggested converting its value into a membership card for the club, allowing him to come and go as he pleased in the future. This was just another way of giving himself an exit strategy.
Blake didn't mind, knowing there would be plenty of opportunities to deal with things slowly over time.
For the trouble involving Gu and Qu, Shi helped Blake find a lawyer. They negotiated that in exchange for returning the company shares and additional compensation, Blake would not press charges against the two. Naturally, they dared not pursue charges against Blake for injuring them either.
With Shi's expertise, it didn't take long to uncover the full extent of their assets. Besides the company shares, the compensation amount was calculated to squeeze them down to their last penny. This left them with nothing but debt, and the scandal at the wedding destroyed their reputations, making it impossible for them to stay in Shanghai.
Shi, still worried that Blake might not be satisfied, drunkenly suggested more sinister ways to handle the couple. He mentioned car accidents, drowning, various accidents, and even using HIV-positive people to seduce them.
Blake just smiled and shook his head. As long as the two didn't appear in front of him again, he was satisfied. With their accustomed lavish lifestyle turned to one worse than a dog's, he saw no need for further retribution. In some way, he felt they played a part in his ability to travel to this world and gain his system.
Blake had no interest in keeping the company shares, so he sold them at a low price to a venture capital firm. He had initially invested five million yuan in the company, but selling the shares netted him over 80 million yuan in cash. It was a substantial profit, recouping the money he had spent recklessly during this period.
After dealing with all these matters, Blake entrusted Shi with finding a location in the city to start a high-tech company. He planned to use Tony's AI designs to enter the market and firmly establish himself in Shanghai.
With others handling the site selection, registration, and hiring, Blake found himself with nothing to do for the first time in a while.
Having been back for over twenty days, he had accumulated enough energy to travel again. Feeling bored, Blake inquired with the system.
"If I travel again, do I still need to advance the plot to a certain point before I can return?"
[Yes, the Marvel world requires a significant plot advancement before the host can choose to return.]
"System, is there any way in the future that I can switch between the Marvel world and reality at will?"
[Insufficient permissions. I can only tell the host that this restriction will change over time, though it's unlikely you'll reach a point of complete freedom to switch. The specifics will become clear as the host grows stronger.]
"Alright."
Blake nodded and initiated the travel again.
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