Emily Brooks nodded wearily. “I’ll come see Second Brother again tomorrow.”

Henry Brooks supported Emily Brooks as they left the hospital, watching her get into the car and drive away. After a moment of silence, he took a pure silver cigarette case from his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, and placed it between his lips.

With a “click,” a spark flashed as a hand reached out from behind Henry Brooks, holding a lighter to light his cigarette.

Wisps of blue smoke drifted into the night. The sky was pitch black, and all around was silent. In front of the hospital building, only the faint red glow of Henry Brooks’s cigarette tip could be seen.

“That kid isn’t dead yet?”

The person behind Henry Brooks slowly walked up beside him, eyes flickering like ghostly flames. It was none other than The Brooks Family’s highly paid consultant, Mr. Harris.

Henry Brooks snorted coldly. “He’s really hard to kill. Even your most prized Maoshan sorcery couldn’t finish him off.”

“This is getting troublesome. Two people from The Brooks Family have met with misfortune in a short time—the police are starting to pay attention.”

Mr. Harris spoke with a cold expression.

“We can’t try to kill him again.”

Henry Brooks took a deep drag on his cigarette. “If there’s another murder attempt, the police will definitely investigate thoroughly. Besides, dealing with the body is a hassle. As long as he stays in Hong Kong, he’ll be discovered sooner or later.”

“So what does the young master suggest?”

“Don’t we have a human trafficking deal with the Africans at dawn?”

“That’s right. We promised them a batch of laborers to work in the diamond mines in Africa. The deal is at the Kwai Chung cargo terminal, and the transaction will take place in an hour and a half.”

“Then let’s play a game of ‘disappearing people.’”

Mr. Harris’s vintage black robe fluttered without wind. “You mean to sell that kid to the African mines as a laborer?”

A cold, sinister smile appeared at the corner of Henry Brooks’s mouth. “You know as well as I do—once someone goes there, there’s no coming back alive.”

“That’s an interesting idea. If we sell them one extra laborer, we’ll get another hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars.”

“What do you think the old man would feel, if he knew from the afterlife that his precious son ended up there?”

Henry Brooks laughed demonically and waved his hand. “You handle this personally. In an hour and a half, I want Ethan Brooks shipped overseas, turned into an African refugee.”

“It will be done, young master.”

Mr. Harris’s wide sleeves billowed, like a giant black bat, as he vanished into the hospital building.

“White Fox! White Fox!”

Suddenly, Ethan Brooks, lying unconscious in his hospital bed, began to shout wildly. The heart monitor beside him spiked violently, green sparks flickered on the machine, and the alarm blared.

Hurried footsteps of nurses echoed in the corridor. They pushed open the door, only to see a strange creature less than a foot tall, green and goblin-like, standing on the bed and baring its sharp white fangs at them.

The nurse screamed in terror. With a bang, the heart monitor exploded, thick smoke billowing and sparks flying everywhere.

A chilly night wind swept in through the open window. In the darkness, several green goblin-like creatures hoisted Ethan Brooks and, like ghosts, vanished into the distance.

2:00 a.m., Kwai Chung cargo terminal.

With a thud, Ethan Brooks was grabbed by several burly men and stuffed into a shipping container.

In less than half an hour, the foreign ocean freighter at the dock was fully loaded with containers. Amid the low sound of the ship’s horn, it prepared to set sail.

Henry Brooks let out a long sigh of relief.

“Mr. Brooks, a pleasure doing business.”

The African man across from him nodded in satisfaction and handed over a heavy combination-locked case. Henry Brooks signaled his men to open it—inside, it was filled with green hundred-dollar bills.

“Mr. Brooks, please count the money.”

Henry Brooks closed the case and waved his hand. “No need. This isn’t our first deal. Surely we trust each other by now?”

The African man laughed heartily. “Let’s work together more in the future.”

“Don’t worry. Whether it’s laborers or women, just name your price. From now on, in Hong Kong, what I, Henry Brooks, say goes.”

The African man turned to leave, but Henry Brooks suddenly said, “You’re not going to let these people come back to Hong Kong and cause me trouble, are you?”

A cruel smile appeared on the African man’s face. “Once they’re at my mine, I’ll work every last drop out of them. Otherwise, how could I justify the money I paid?”

Henry Brooks smiled faintly. The freighter slowly left the dock, disappearing into the vast expanse of sea and sky.

“Congratulations, young master. The biggest threat has been eliminated.”

Behind Henry Brooks, Mr. Harris’s eerie face appeared.

Henry Brooks threw his head back and laughed triumphantly. “After holding back for so long, The Brooks Family is finally under my control!”

“From now on, I think all of Hong Kong will be under your command, young master.”

Mr. Harris said in a sinister tone.

Gazing at the dark, surging sea, a cruel smile appeared at the corner of Henry Brooks’s mouth. “Goodbye, my dear Second Brother.”

Chapter Three: The Mine’s Unlikely Hero

Half a month later, the ocean freighter docked at a remote island off the coast of South Africa.

Though it was late at night, the island was still ablaze with firelight. In the vast diamond mine, crude elevators were operating up and down.