That evening.
I appeared at the Grand Lisboa in full regalia, accompanied by Li Wenting, who had also made a special effort to dress up.
When Li Wenting linked her arm with mine and we appeared at the entrance of the main hall...
Undoubtedly, the two of us, a golden couple, became the most dazzling pair in the room, instantly drawing the attention of countless people and the spotlights flashing from all directions.
Since He Zhonghua was determined to prevent me from participating, I naturally had to do the opposite.
Because I had already figured out He Zhonghua's thoughts and intentions, and knew what he wanted.
Legitimacy!
Just like the princes in ancient times who were not originally crown princes but successfully usurped the throne and inherited the imperial lineage, He Zhonghua wanted legitimacy!
Therefore, at this stage, Mr. He absolutely could not die. He Zhonghua could only subdue Mr. He and place him under house arrest.
Once the first step was in place, the next was the crucial second step – seizing power!
Unlike ancient times, the 21st-century society does not have the concept of raising an army to rebel. Everything done is merely for the purpose of seizing power.
And the key to He Zhonghua seizing power lies in the Grand Lisboa, which had recently become a new landmark in Haojiang.
The Grand Lisboa is a casino hotel located at the end of Lisboa Road in Haojiang. The hotel's main entrance faces the Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge (Old Taipa Bridge) and is owned and operated by Haojiang Tourism and Entertainment Co., Ltd.
In the vicinity of the Grand Lisboa, there are many other casinos and slot machine arcades, such as Wynn Macau. A covered walkway connects Lisboa to the Lisboa Palace Casino.
And these establishments are also owned and operated by Haojiang Tourism and Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Before coming to compete, I had asked Li Wenting for some information.
Among the aforementioned establishments, the Grand Lisboa is the only one where He Zhonghua has not yet gained absolute control.
Therefore, he intends to use the finals of the Gambling King Competition held at the Grand Lisboa tonight to implement his plan of seizing power and being crowned the new king.
In fact, these matters are not difficult to understand. It's like a family-run conglomerate where the chairman hasn't yet decided to relinquish power, but ambitious children are already eager to seize it.
The most sensible approach is to start with the profitable branch companies under the group.
Once all these branch companies are taken over, all that is needed is to offer numerous benefits to the employees within them, and the power grab will be instantly achieved!
It's best to win over loyal old guards and employees as much as possible. Those who cannot be won over should be suppressed in batches, forcing everyone to make a choice.
After all, everyone works to earn a living. Following the boss or following the boss's son is the same concept; the difference lies in who offers more money.
Therefore, in summary, the finals of the Gambling King Competition held at the Grand Lisboa tonight are crucial to thwarting He Zhonghua's power-seizing plan and rescuing Mr. He from his predicament!
Victory is the only option!
...
When He Zhonghua, surrounded by sycophants and flatterers in the center of the hall, saw my and Li Wenting's grand entrance, he was first slightly taken aback.
Immediately, he clasped his hands behind his back and gave me a meaningful cold smile.
I knew very well that at this point, He Zhonghua and I were both playing with our cards on the table.
It was certain that Mr. He would not be in mortal danger. The only question was who would ultimately win the championship trophy...
Taking a deep breath, I calmly walked towards the finals stage in the center of the hall.
There, the other eight participants were already seated in their respective positions, including Yu Shuang, whose expression was complex.
Undoubtedly, Queen Bee Yu Shuang was the most eye-catching woman on the finals stage.
She was wearing a low-cut red dress, generously displaying her figure.
Her voluptuous body, combined with her naturally alluring features, made Yu Shuang's every smile and gesture captivating.
Upon seeing me appear, Yu Shuang first breathed a sigh of relief, but immediately frowned again, signaling me with her eyes to be wary of the other seven people at the table.
I knew she was telling me that the finalists had been bought off by He Zhonghua and were preparing to collude against the two of us.
Receiving Yu Shuang's gaze, I inconspicuously walked to the last empty seat and sat down.
Shortly after I sat down, a host in a sharp suit walked onto the stage with a microphone.
After a lot of meaningless chatter...
"As per Mr. He's instructions, the organizing committee has made the following adjustments to this final!"
"This final will adopt a new phased elimination system. The first stage will be a nine-to-six format, the second stage will be six-to-three, and the third stage will be the final showdown of three-to-one, with the winner directly claiming the championship!"
"Next, I will introduce the competition events that will kick off the first stage..."
I understood why He Zhonghua had tried so hard to prevent me from participating. It turned out that Mr. He had already made preparations and modified the finals.
Now, it seemed that Mr. He's foresight was not just about preventing potential problems, but about hitting the nail on the head!
I was well aware of Yu Shuang's strength.
Setting aside her gambling skills, her ability to read people and discern their thoughts was something few could withstand!
As long as the two of us could successfully pass the first round, there was still a chance to win in the second round, facing four opponents.
As I pondered this, I inadvertently looked up at Yu Shuang, only to find her gaze also directed at me.
It seemed we were thinking along the same lines.
Given the current situation, tonight's finals were no longer just a gambling match.
It concerned the change of old and new powers in the Haojiang underworld, and which of the two factions would emerge victorious.
At the same time, this was also my last stand, and... a battle for revenge!
Because when I came over earlier, I had already seen He Chenguang's name on the big screen.
This meant that he was right before my eyes! And he was one of the seven people!
Therefore, I had to win the first round at all costs and gain more initiative before Mr. He could be rescued!
If I win the championship, He Zhonghua loses, and He Chenguang dies!
Conversely, if I lose, I die!
When I came back to my senses, the first round of the finals had already begun. The attractive female dealer had finished shuffling the cards and was dealing them.
The competition event for the first round was very interesting, called: Fu Gui San Bao (Three Treasures of Wealth and Honor).
Haojiang and Hong Kong share many customs and cultural similarities, such as the practice of seeking good omens in everything.
Those who don't understand won't know what Fu Gui San Bao is, and for those who do, I won't explain.
Let's move on...
As the cards were dealt one by one, my mind became much calmer.
Thinking too much now was useless. I had to focus on the present and give my all.