A symbol of mature men

Chen Weiqiang's words had a double meaning, not only flattering Liu Eleven but also subtly reminding me of something.

However, I sensed there was more to his words than their literal meaning.

"Yes, Supervisor. Right now, I just want to win the Mid-Autumn Festival gladiatorial match to prove that Professor Ace made the right choice," I quickly echoed, afraid he might catch any hint of doubt in my expression.

"Very good. Educated people indeed have a higher awareness! I'm glad to have you on board!

Let's celebrate by taking you to the biggest casino in Myawaddy!" Liu Eleven said with a grand gesture, turning to walk out the door.

"Let's go, follow the Supervisor and see what it's like," Chen Weiqiang said as he shut down his computer, beating me to it.

I twitched my mouth and looked at Spanner.

Spanner, always following Liu Eleven, surely knew if we were really going to see the sights.

He nodded expressionlessly and followed Liu Eleven out.

Seeing his confirmation, I followed them out of the office, feeling conflicted.

*Click*

After locking the door, Chen Weiqiang came up to me with his old enthusiastic gesture, putting his arm around my shoulders, and asked, "How have you been?"

I frowned and brushed his arm off coldly, "Do you want the truth or a lie?"

"..." Chen Weiqiang hesitated, withdrawing his hand awkwardly.

"Why ask when you already know?"

I glared at him and hurried downstairs.

I didn't know what to feel about talking to him. On one hand, I hated him and wanted to kill him. On the other, I thought he might have been tricked by Lulu like I was...

But without a chance to talk seriously, I was truly conflicted!

So, I decided to just ignore him, keeping a stern silence.

Soon, the four of us were downstairs.

Spanner, being Liu Eleven's bodyguard, naturally rode in the same off-road vehicle as him.

I was placed with Chen Weiqiang and another black henchman in another off-road vehicle.

Since I had killed two black brothers in one move last time, my reputation had spread among the security team.

As a result, every black henchman saw me as a thorn in their side, wanting to kill me for revenge.

Liu Eleven had us ride with a local driver and a black henchman for a reason.

*Humph!*

As soon as I got into the back seat, the black man in the front passenger seat with an AK-47 glared at me with hostility.

Chen Weiqiang, unaware of my deeds here, assumed he was just being racist.

"Here, brother, have a cigarette to pass the time," Chen Weiqiang said as he took a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from his pocket, offering one to the driver and the black man.

Little did he know, after smoking his good cigarettes, they might still want his life.

Seeing him offer the cigarettes, I was reminded of myself.

When I was hospitalized and then discharged, didn't I learn to smooth things over everywhere?

People are indeed products of their environment.

When he tried to offer me a cigarette, seeing my cold expression, he guessed I still hadn't learned to smoke.

He smiled and lit one for himself instead.

*Vroom*

The off-road vehicle shot out of the heavily guarded KK compound, speeding towards the city.

Liu Eleven's car raced ahead, its tires kicking up clouds of dust from the rough road, making it hard for me to keep my eyes open.

*Cough, cough!* I had to endure the smell of smoke and roll up the window.

"A man's sign of maturity is knowing how to smoke!" Chen Weiqiang said, flicking his cigarette ash stylishly, glancing at me with a hint of a smile.

"None of your business."

I turned my head to look at the desolate eastern Myanmar forest, trying to remember the route leading outside.

"I wouldn't dare. I'm afraid of getting beaten up! But I do enjoy seeing you angry and unable to take me down."

"…"

Yes, he was absolutely right.

My anger was successfully provoked by him, but I couldn't just kick him out of the car.

"Look at you, just like in high school when you used to chase me around…" Chen Weiqiang leaned in and blew a puff of smoke at my stern face.

*Cough, cough... get lost!

You better hope you have nothing to do with that bitch, or I won't show any mercy!"

I pushed him away, continuing with my empty threats.

In my mind, I had already killed him countless times. But when the time came, could I really do it?

"Don't throw a tantrum. You won't do it, I bet!" Chen Weiqiang laughed nonchalantly, not getting angry at all.

The more unbothered he was, the angrier I got.

Mouths are for communication, but he just kept playing dumb.

Was he under Lulu's spell or something?

Realizing that being angry was useless and only made me suffer, I decided not to get angry anymore.

Once I won the match, Ace would surely grant my requests.

Then, I could settle scores later.

If I died in the ring, then it was my fate.

I'd accept it!

"I heard you're going to fight in a match. I'll bet on you to win!"

Chen Weiqiang said seriously, tossing his cigarette butt and opening the window.

"I'll bet he loses and gets turned into minced meat by the champion! Hahaha!" the black man laughed wildly.

"Really? Do you believe I can snap your neck right now, just like I killed them?"

I glared at the black man, making a throat-slitting gesture.

"Looking for death!"

The black man raised his AK at me.

"Big Black, calm down! If you start something, the Supervisor will kill your entire family!"

The local driver pushed down the AK and shouted angrily, slamming on the brakes.

"I just want him dead!"

The black man gritted his teeth, glaring at me, wanting to shoot me full of holes.

"It's not your place to kill him, and besides, you're no match for him! Behave, the Supervisor's stopping!"

The driver pushed him aside, quickly restarted the engine, and signaled that everything was normal inside the car.

Sure enough, Liu Eleven's car paused ahead for a few seconds, Spanner ready to check on us.

Seeing we weren't fighting, they continued on.

Under Liu Eleven's pressure, the black man behaved, gripping his AK tightly, glaring at me through the rearview mirror...

We drove in silence.

After a bumpy hour, we finally arrived at the fabled Myawaddy district.

The district was much like a rural town, with both high-rise buildings and low houses.

There were a few villas but countless slums.

The rich were filthy rich, doing all sorts of evil.

The poor couldn't afford food or education, sending young children to the Karen State Border Army camps to improve family life.

Girls worked as maids for the wealthy or in casinos to support their families at a young age.

Shop signs along the streets were in both Chinese and Burmese.

Most residents were Karen, living in southeastern Myanmar, just across a river from Thailand.

It was Myanmar's second-largest port city and a hotspot for gambling, drugs, and crime.

Myawaddy's compounds were densely packed, with no record of anyone being ransomed or escaping successfully.

If there was an exception, the outcome was always the same: death!