Gao Jing's words left me with mixed feelings.
I was pleased that my earlier deduction about Ling Ling's team being highly professional was correct.
However, I was worried. According to Gao Jing, Ah Gui, the snakehead, belonged to the absolute top tier of the underworld. Such people would undoubtedly be sharp-eyed and sharp-eared.
While outsiders might not know the inside story of Mr. He sending people to find me, Ah Gui, as a snakehead, likely knew it all too well.
Despite his considerable rank and strength, he might not have the guts to handle such a hot potato as one hundred thousand patacas.
Not only that, but if Ling Ling actually managed to bring Ah Gui here, I might be apprehended on the spot.
Just as my mind was racing, wrestling with whether my impulsive decision was right or wrong, Ling Ling finished her call.
"Handsome, I've relayed what you said. Our boss said he can help you gather information if you really want him to, but there's a condition."
"Tell me!" I replied in a low voice.
Hearing this, Ling Ling directly faced me and spread her hands, saying, "Money first, then service!"
It was unexpected, yet entirely within reason.
For people at this level of the underworld, the unwritten rules of the street were merely optional decorations.
After a moment of deep thought, I frowned and looked at Ling Ling, asking tentatively, "It's fine to pay first, but can I pay half now?"
Before Ling Ling could respond, I continued, "Let me clarify, it's not that I don't trust your boss's capabilities, but I only have fifty thousand patacas on me right now!"
"It's already late at night, and there's nowhere to withdraw money! So..."
Upon hearing my words, Ling Ling showed a look of disbelief and said with a knowing smile, "Heh~ No way? Is it that coincidental?"
"When you mentioned the reward earlier, you didn't seem like someone who could only afford fifty thousand patacas."
"Why did it suddenly halve as soon as our boss spoke?"
I couldn't help but smile wryly, "I'm really not lying to you. If I had that much money, I'd give it to you right now!"
"Really?" Ling Ling asked, her eyes flickering with doubt.
Seeing her skeptical expression, I replied with a wry smile, "If you don't believe me, feel free to search me!"
With that, I spread my hands wide, presenting myself as being at her mercy.
Upon seeing this, Ling Ling's expression turned regretful and disappointed. She said listlessly, "Then I apologize, handsome!"
"My boss has already said that he needs to see one hundred thousand patacas before discussing anything further. I've delivered the message, and it's your own fault for not having enough money."
"It's already this late. If none of you need my services, then I'll be leaving!"
I understood Ling Ling's sense of disappointment. The one thousand patacas for acting as a matchmaker had slipped away so quietly.
This was pure, tangible income, with no need to hand over a cut.
After a brief deliberation, to prevent Ling Ling from harboring resentment or seeking revenge, I immediately took out another thousand-pataca bill from my pocket and slipped it into her hand.
My earnings for the night were two thousand one hundred, and after giving half away, I still had one thousand left.
Even though it was only one-tenth of the promised reward, it was at least a consolation.
Seeing my understanding, Ling Ling's expression faltered slightly. After tucking the money away, she quickly took a small card from her bag and handed it to me.
"Handsome, if you ever want to chat about life or discuss ideals in the future, remember to call me!"
With that, Ling Ling didn't linger. After giving me a flirtatious glance, she left.
After the prostitute Ling Ling departed, the three of us returned to our beds.
I didn't fall asleep immediately. Instead, I held my breath and listened intently for any sounds outside the door.
Only when I confirmed that there was no longer any noise outside the door did I drift off into a heavy sleep.
The next morning, seeing from the window that the vendors outside the hotel had all packed up, I asked Gao Jing to go downstairs and check out.
What Ling Ling had said last night had struck a chord: one could only worry about future matters when one was alive. Once one's life was threatened, all other thoughts were in vain!
So, if not now, then when should we leave?
Leaving the hotel, Camel drove aimlessly on the road.
Until I figured out how to escape the current predicament, I didn't plan to linger anywhere for too long.
At noon, as Camel slowly drove into the northern district of Macau, Gao Jing's phone suddenly rang.
It was the person who had contacted us last night about the black cards. The caller ID displayed "Black Dog."
During this sensitive period, to prevent Gao Jing from being interrogated, I had him put the call on speakerphone.
As soon as the call was connected, Black Dog's voice came through.
"Brother Jing, what do you say? I've got the cards ready for you. When are you coming to pick them up?"
Gao Jing didn't answer immediately. Instead, he first looked up at me.
Seeing me shake my head slightly, he said, "Black Dog, I might be busy these two days! How about you keep them for me for now?"
"When I'm free, I'll come find you and give you an extra thousand for safekeeping!"
"Heh~" Black Dog's laughter came through the receiver. "Brother Jing, what's our relationship? It's too distant to talk about safekeeping fees!"
"Are you in some kind of trouble that makes it inconvenient for you to show your face, and you're worried I'll bring people to catch you?"
As expected of someone who had been navigating the lowest rungs of society for years, if the other party showed even the slightest abnormality in their conversation, they could immediately deduce the problem.
Black Dog's words made Gao Jing instinctively grunt in agreement.
When he noticed my expression change, he quickly corrected himself, "Black Dog, you dog-mouthed bastard! I said I have something going on, and I do. I'll come find you for the cards another day!"
"That's it, I'm hanging up!"
Before Black Dog could react, Gao Jing hung up the phone.
Honestly, I was quite frustrated.
I thought I had found a Macau local expert for fifty thousand, only to find out that this local expert's mouth was leaky!
Compared to Camel, Gao Jing was too unprofessional!
Just as the atmosphere in the car became awkward due to Gao Jing's loose tongue, suddenly...
I saw several cars emerge one after another on the road behind us. Immediately after, these cars all converged towards us in a coordinated manner.
Without giving Camel a chance to accelerate and escape, the cars that appeared skillfully used a pincer movement from all directions, trapping our vehicle in place within less than three seconds.
The car that stopped directly in front of us was an imported Grand Cherokee. The driver's door remained closed, but someone got out of the passenger side.
It was a woman, not beautiful, but possessing an exceptional aura.
The woman walked slowly to our car, gently knocked on the window, and said, "Who is Chen Xiang? Mr. He requests your presence!"