quid pro quo

"Oh?" I looked at him curiously, eager to hear what offer he had that might actually tempt me.

Of course, my primary concern was my own safety. I had no intention of risking my life in a pointless exchange.

"I have a Desert Eagle, limited edition in silver, along with two magazines! How about that?"

To get me to kill Boss Cai, Yang Lianting was showing his hand. Only a fool would want gold bars; you can't take them with you! Firearms for protection are the real deal!

I put down my cigar. "Why me?"

"You're skilled, and Liu Shiyi wouldn't suspect you. If I hadn't ended up in Shengli Park, I wouldn't have asked you to do this!"

Yang Lianting complained pitifully, probably recalling how Liu Shiyi "eliminated" his confidants, gnashing his teeth in hatred.

"How can you guarantee that you won't betray me afterward, or sell me out to Liu Shiyi?"

Killing Boss Cai is easy, but the challenge is how to do it and handle the aftermath. I doubted Yang Lianting would betray me; his situation was more awkward than mine, and betraying me would only doom himself.

"Why would I be stupid enough to betray you? What good would it do me? If I get you killed, Professor Ace will definitely come after me! Alright, to get you on board, I'll be generous and give you the gun first! After the job, you'll get the bullets."

To gain my trust, Yang Lianting stood up and went into one of the bedrooms. Moments later, he returned with a sandalwood box, sitting down beside me.

"A diversion—hiding a gun in a Buddha bead box."

The wooden box was exquisite, emitting a faint sandalwood fragrance. Inside, a string of sandalwood Buddha beads lay on black velvet. The scent was even more pleasant than that of the box.

The beads were jet black, glossy, and emanated a soothing sandalwood aroma. Though I didn't know much about them, I could tell they were valuable.

It seemed Yang Lianting was serious about this. I'd always wanted a gun for self-defense, and this was a golden opportunity.

"These are purple sandalwood beads from a royal temple in India. I'll give you the gun along with my blessings for success."

Purple sandalwood, known for its hardness, intricate grain, and rich aroma, is called the wood of emperors, symbolizing wealth and good fortune. It's believed to bring prosperity, and beads blessed by monks hold even more value.

I asked, surprised, "Do you believe in Buddhism?"

If he did, that would be quite...

"I don't give a damn about Buddhism. This is something my former boss got on a trip abroad, blessed by the head monk of a royal temple! The string of 108 beads cost him 1.08 million yuan. I'm just using it to show my sincerity to you."

Yang Lianting, full of reluctance and helplessness, removed the velvet layer, revealing a silver handgun underneath.

A semi-automatic pistol developed by the U.S. and Israel, with a 9.1mm caliber, perfect for hunting. It's also a favorite among military enthusiasts. 

Due to its weight, recoil, and excessive power, it's rarely used by the military, but it's the ultimate handgun every man dreams of owning.

To avoid showing my inexperience, I pretended to be calm and didn't inspect the gun.

"I'll reluctantly accept this gift. Now, tell me your plan and how I should cooperate."

Before he could change his mind, I quickly grabbed the wooden box and hugged it.

Yang Lianting was momentarily stunned, then lowered his voice, "The Fuzhou gang has arrived at KK Park. After the auction tomorrow, they'll leave together. I'll arrange for someone to get you out. Once in town, ambush Boss Cai, leave no witnesses, and destroy the evidence. Then, frame the Fuzhou gang to cover our tracks."

"How will I leave the park and get back after the job?" I asked. This was crucial. If I couldn't return, it would be a dead end.

"The company delivering crocodile fry will be here tomorrow morning. Their truck never gets inspected. I'll get you in there, and you can get off halfway and hide in the woods. Boss Cai will have four bodyguards, but you're more than a match for them. I'll also get you an AK-47. Tomorrow night, while the higher-ups, including Liu Shiyi, are at the Golden Casino, you'll hide in the trunk of my Audi, and I'll bring you back."

Yang Lianting wrote down the license plate number of the truck and his car, marked the ambush route, and the disposal site to ensure my safety.

"I can't do it alone; I need at least one more person. Can you arrange that?"

I tore off the paper and put it in my pocket. Fighting alone was doable, but shooting five people on my own was risky. 

Yang Lianting said, "Okay, at most two people. Three won't fit in the trunk."

"Fine. Inform me when the truck arrives tomorrow. I'll pretend to be sick and skip work. My cousin will keep Liu Shiyi occupied. Do you have local thugs' uniforms? I don't want to expose my identity in town."

Uniforms would save a lot of trouble, and I could also look for Yan Yun.

"I have some."

Yang Lianting went to the bedroom and brought out two green uniforms.

"Alright, let's keep in touch tonight." I took the uniforms and prepared to leave.

"Happy cooperation."

Yang Lianting also stood up and solemnly extended his right hand.

"Happy cooperation."

I shook his hand briefly and quickly left the apartment, taking some luxury items with me to avoid suspicion.

Once Boss Cai was dead, we'd be truly tied together, at least securing Yang Lianting's position as deputy supervisor, which would benefit us.

Three minutes later, I returned to my medium-sized dorm with a bunch of stuff. 

The others were still sitting and staring at each other. Chen Weiqiang's head was now completely shaved, with cute band-aids, making him look oddly conspicuous.

"You..."

Wrench looked me up and down, his eyes revealing some confusion. 

Ba Yi, the big guy, even started pulling at my clothes and sniffing around.

I pushed him away and put everything on the bed.

"Don't overthink it. I just had a chat and brought back some luxury items for you to try."