Chapter 21: A Robbery...?!

Through a calculated mix of carrots, sticks, and the strategic execution of a "warning to others," Lin Wendong had completely won over Han Daniu and his group. He had effectively become their undisputed leader.

Lin Wendong then proceeded to teach them the techniques he had acquired from his system skills, detail by painstaking detail. In doing so, he was effectively placing a bet—a gamble on the fear he had instilled in them. "I’ve shown them the consequences of defiance and dangled a massive carrot before them," he reasoned. "I’ve done everything I could; it should be foolproof."

Lin Wendong did not dwell on the morality of it, as counterfeiting was inherently illegal, and he certainly could not involve his home base, Ta Zhai, directly. By using a random group of thugs in this backwater, he ensured that if things went south, it would have no connection to him.

"This way, I can reap the profits without worrying about any backlash... Heh, heh, heh." Lin Wendong furrowed his brow, suddenly realizing he sounded like a classic villain from a novel.

Once everything was settled, he turned his focus back to his original goal: exchanging for U.S. dollars. It was well-known that Lie Er’ye and his gang dabbled in everything, including currency trading. In fact, it was under the guise of exchanging money that Han Daniu had brought Lin Wendong up the mountain in the first place.

"Exactly how much U.S. currency do you have?" Lin Wendong asked.

Han Daniu led him to the warehouse, where stacks of banknotes from various countries across the Blue Star were stored. After checking a safe, Han Daniu reported, "Boss, there is a total of over one hundred thousand U.S. dollars here."

After finalizing the arrangements, Lin Wendong instructed Han, "Keep fifty percent of the profits from the counterfeit U.S. bills for yourselves and give the other fifty percent to me. I will find a time to come and collect it."

Lin Wendong did not disclose the Ta Zhai official accounts to them. Any digital transfer would leave a trail; cash was the safest route. Despite having only known Lin Wendong for a few hours, Han Daniu felt a deep sense of gratitude and loyalty toward him. He had been a downtrodden slave, but since Lin Wendong arrived, he had eliminated his oppressor, elevated Han to a leadership position, and increased their benefits tenfold. Anyone who dared to speak ill of Lin Wendong would now have to answer to Han Daniu.

Returning to the city of Locke, Lin Wendong considered the arrangement with Han Daniu to be a minor matter. Whether he made money depended not only on the technical skills he provided but also on the business acumen of the group. If they managed it well, he would naturally be the primary beneficiary. Conversely, if they failed, he would suffer no significant loss.

"With this technology, even someone with basic business sense could earn millions of dollars a year," he mused. Lin Wendong shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside. Looking at the hundred thousand dollars in his hand, he realized he was still far from his target of one million.

"One hundred thousand is a significant sum, but for a city mayor, it is likely not enough." Even in a poor nation, a city mayor managed hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people. If he intended to bribe a mayor with only one hundred thousand, the chances of success were slim to none.

Consequently, he returned to the area near the airport, seeking out various currency traders. After a full day of effort, he finally scraped together one million U.S. dollars. Aside from the initial hundred thousand from Han Daniu’s group, the rest had been exchanged using the Chinese Yuan from the Ta Zhai accounts. Being in a foreign country, he preferred to remain low-key; a violent confrontation would only draw unwanted attention. He hadn't bothered with Lie Er’ye—though he had killed him, he had successfully turned Lie's subordinates, so no one would be pursuing the matter.

Lin Wendong checked into a hotel, preparing to seek out the local mayor the following day.

At eleven o'clock that night, outside the hotel where Lin Wendong was staying, three men sat in a van, confirming their intelligence. "It’s this hotel, room 8612. A Chinese man, estimated to be carrying over nine hundred thousand U.S. dollars."

"He’s alone," one said. "He went to every money trader in the area. They confirmed he exchanged over nine hundred thousand in total."

"The boss wants us to take him out. Be careful; do it quietly."

"Who is this guy, anyway? Why does he need that much cash?"

"Who cares? If he were official government, he wouldn't be dealing with street traders."

Unlike some nations, this country had never undergone a massive crackdown on organized crime. In a place like this, a city was essentially half shadow and half light.

"Let’s go." The three men stepped out of the van. One of them looked at the variety of weapons in the vehicle but ultimately chose a handgun. "The traders said this Chinese man has no weapons." This led him to believe a pistol would suffice.

They headed to the hotel, moving unobtrusively, and took the elevator to the sixth floor. The corridor was deserted and silent, the soundproofing of the rooms excellent. They crept toward room 8612. The leader signaled, and another man pulled a card from his pocket, sliding it into the door seal.

*Click.*

As the door opened, the three men surged inside, ready to execute their rehearsed plan: one to pin the target, one to silence him, and one to deliver the killing blow. It was meant to be a seamless, effortless heist.

But as they entered, they froze. The room lights were on, and the man with the Chinese face was sitting in a chair directly facing the door, as if he had been waiting for them. Most importantly, he was holding an AK-47.

Their pupils contracted in terror. "What is going on? They said he wasn't armed! Where did that AK come from?!"