Chapter 73: 73. Opposing rivals are numerous
"That’s our target? One of the six managers of the Tasting Commerce Association?"
Xia Na lowered her voice. Chen Che nodded, the corners of his mouth curving up in a sly smile.
He had just listened in on Ulat’s inner thoughts, but it wasn’t enough.
Black Bear only knew that the underground production plant for Pandora’s Kiss was somewhere beneath the Horus Grand Casino.
But Black Bear didn’t actually know where the exact entrance was.
A place like that—the entrance would definitely be hidden as hell.
Only someone high up like Ulat would know.
That’s why Chen Che made such a mess here—to flush out the management so he could listen to their thoughts and find out everything about this place.
Entering the Golden Gambling Pool.
Whether it was the decor or the scale of the gambling tables, it was leagues above the Bronze Gambling Pool.
"So what now? How do we investigate? That manager probably recognized you, right?"
"I’d say both of us have been made. Honestly, we’re probably both on Tasting’s watchlist."
"Relax, let’s just keep playing."
Chen Che’s gaze swept across all the gambling pools and suddenly landed on a poker table. He immediately brought Xia Na over.
This table was dealing classic Texas Hold’em.
Sitting across from Chen Che was a flashy playboy, draping his arm around a scantily clad woman, his hands all over her, showing off his swagger at the table.
When Chen Che sat down, the playboy’s eyes flicked over, and his pupils tightened sharply.
Chen Che grinned and greeted him.
"Young Master Chen, who would’ve thought you’d be here instead of playing at your own casino? Or wait—technically, the Horus Grand Casino is part of the Tasting Commerce Association, so you’ve still got a stake in it."
"Chen Che..." The man called Young Master Chen squinted his eyes at Chen Che.
Chen Che beamed and said, "Young Master Chen, how do you like my boss’s lingerie? Enjoying it? If it’s not stimulating enough, I’ve got some socks my boss wore—I can send those your way too. I’ve still got the authority to handle that stuff.
Ow, my back is killing me. Nana, come massage it for me, or else I won’t be able to carry anything soon."
Young Master Chen caught the real meaning behind Chen Che’s words—nothing but mockery.
How could Chen Che forget this Young Master Chen? From the start, it was him and that damn black man, Moore, who set him up, making him take the fall and getting the original Chen Che strangled to death.
Young Master Chen could tell that Chen Che was hinting about that scapegoat role he couldn’t handle carrying.
Young Master Chen never expected this pretty boy Chen Che to actually have some brains. He couldn’t figure out how this fool woke up in the casino world; he always acted like a hopeless idiot.
The perfect fall guy.
To this day, Chen Ming still couldn’t figure out how Chen Che cleared An Nishang’s doubts about him, shook off the blame pinned on him, and even got Moore—the pawn they painstakingly planted at An Nishang’s side—exposed and killed.
The news of Moore’s death—
Chen Ming was seriously shocked by that.
He couldn’t make sense of which link in the chain had gone wrong.
Listening to the layers of sarcasm in Chen Che’s words, Chen Ming knew full well that Chen Che had figured everything out.
Anyone who made it to the Golden Gambling Pool had impressive status. Hearing that Chen Ming was trying to buy An Nishang’s lingerie and seemed to be deliberately cozying up to her boy-toy, the looks they threw at Chen Ming changed.
Chen Ming’s face soured.
"You really are hard to kill, huh?"
Chen Che rubbed his neck, as if still haunted by the memory of being strangled, and said, "I gotta thank you, Young Master Chen! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have gotten a second life!"
"What, feeling lucky again today? Last time you lost a fortune in my casino. Outta respect for Director An, I went easy on you. But if you lose here again, I won’t be able to save you."
"Tsk-tsk, not gonna lie, my luck’s been great today. Won big already. If I take your money too, hope you don’t chicken out, Young Master Chen."
"Hmph, a little pretty boy living off women dares talk so big."
Before Chen Ming could snap back, a cold snort sounded from nearby. Chen Che turned and raised an eyebrow.
A familiar and detestable rival—his so-called nemesis...Xu Ziang.
This playboy from the Night Empire Headquarters was now also the Political Division Director at the Military Department.
At present, he looked full of youthful pride.
Apparently doing rather well for himself in the military.
Chen Che kept smiling: "Ah, Young Master Xu! I hear you were just appointed Director of the Political Division—congratulations, talk about young and talented!
But funny, I didn’t expect you’d have the free time to hit up the casino. Must mean the Military Department is full of capable people, so with you at the helm, you get plenty of leisure!"
Xia Na and Bobby couldn’t help but smirk at the corners of their mouths.
Chen Che’s words were all digs at Xu Ziang. As the new Director, instead of making his mark, he’s loafing in a casino—meaning, he probably isn’t in control of his office.
Probably even his subordinates can’t stand him.
Is Xu Ziang really free, though?
More like he’s useless—can’t grab any power.
Xu Ziang, of course, caught all the innuendo, but didn’t bother bickering back. Instead, he spotted Xia Na sitting on Chen Che’s lap.
For a split second, anger and jealousy flashed across Xu Ziang’s face—he recognized Xia Na.
Yet Xia Na was all over Chen Che.
Which made Xu Ziang—who’d never so much as held An Nishang’s hand—burn with jealousy.
"Looks like you, pretty boy, have it better than I do, even as a Director. But as An Nishang’s little house pet, you should show some loyalty instead of messing around with her underlings like this, you..."
Xu Ziang hadn’t finished before Chen Che, right in front of him, planted a kiss on Xia Na’s cheek and laughed at him: "Director Xu, you mean Nana? Eh, didn’t I have a little misunderstanding with Young Master Chen here before? My boss was worried about my safety, so she put Nana on bodyguard duty—plus, she’s super busy lately, so Nana helps me with personal stuff too..."
Xia Na, although annoyed by the kiss and the slobber on her face, hated Xu Ziang even more than she did Chen Che.
Her little hand pinched a chunk of Chen Che’s thigh, face utterly unchanged.
Xu Ziang’s expression froze—couldn’t take the upper hand against a pretty boy.
Some folks around didn’t recognize Chen Che, but hearing he was a kept man, looked at him with contempt... until they realized the woman supporting him was An Nishang, which made their hearts skip, and their eyes shift to show a bit of respect.
Sure, most men lusted after An Nishang’s looks, but a guy who actually dared throw her legs over his shoulders? There weren’t many of those.
Of course, plenty of guests were here just for cards and couldn’t care less about all this drama.
With mounting impatience, one gambler snapped, "Hey, are you guys playing or not? If not, move your asses!"
"Play! Of course we’re playing!"
Chen Che grinned and took his seat, pointing at the empty spot next to him: "Director Xu, wanna join us?"
Xu Ziang narrowed his eyes and sat down. "Deal the cards."
If I don’t clean you guys out today, I’m not a Chen... The smile on Chen Che’s face stayed soft and pleasant.