Big Howard settled the boys in the club, then sat back down next to Brother Ben, ordered a drink from the bartender, and said, “Brother Ben, the place got raided by the cops, feeling down? For guys like us on the streets, it’s normal for the cops to show up. We were actually pretty lucky this time.”

“Want to find a couple of girls to blow off some steam? There’s a new batch of schoolgirls over at Ma Lan.”

“I heard there are even students from Hong Kong University. College life is the best.”

“Heh.” Robert Bolton chuckled, “Are they real students, or just girls dressed in school uniforms?”

“To serve the boss, they’re definitely the real deal.” Big Howard guaranteed.

Robert Bolton shook his head, “No need, I’m actually in a pretty good mood. After all, it was that cop who got the short end of the stick. I’ll just have a few drinks and head home.”

Big Howard nodded, “Alright, boss, I’ll drive you back later.”

Robert Bolton and Big Howard had two more glasses of whiskey together. Then, surrounded by a group of underlings, the two bosses left the club and got into a Mercedes-Benz. But since it was still opening hours for the club, Wayne had to stay and watch the place. Though he was reluctant, he could only see them off to the bar entrance, and then Big Howard drove away from Temple Street.

Don’t drink and drive!

As the Mercedes-Benz turned the corner on Temple Street, Robert Bolton spotted a phone booth by the roadside. He immediately raised his eyebrows and said, “Howard, stop the car.”

“Screech!” With a stomp on the brakes, the Mercedes stopped by the curb. Big Howard got out from the driver’s seat and quickly opened the door for the boss. Robert Bolton stepped out and walked toward the phone booth, while Big Howard stood alone in front of the car, hands behind his back, a gun at his waist, scanning the street alertly.

Late at night, there were few cars on the street. The sea breeze in Hong Kong was damp and chilly, lifting a few strands of bangs. Robert Bolton entered the old-fashioned red phone booth, clinked a coin into the slot, picked up the receiver and held it between his shoulder and ear, tapping in the number, and waited for the call to connect.

“Beep... beep... beep...” After a brief dial tone, the call was answered. A clear male voice spoke against a noisy background: “Criminal Intelligence Division, who’s this?”

The other party seemed to be busy at work, with lots of conversation and footsteps in the background.

“It’s me, Ben.” Robert Bolton said, leaning against the phone booth, head lowered.

“Oh, boss, how’s your second mom’s health lately?” The clear male voice asked, then looked up and gestured to his superior, covering the receiver and mouthing, “It’s family.”

The intelligence division chief nodded in understanding, turned to speak with the O Division chief Mark Hall, holding a file listing more than a dozen of the most prominent triad members recently.

William Hall frowned slightly but said nothing. Robert Bolton continued, “Second mom was asking why you haven’t had time for dinner lately. You’re so busy with work, you need to take care of yourself.”

The clear male voice turned away and spoke quietly, “There’s a big operation in the force right now. The Commissioner himself is overseeing it. I’m really busy and can’t get away.”

“What operation? You won’t even come home for soup?”

“Last time, Wo Kee and Sun Kee had a big showdown in Yau Ma Tei, left dozens of bodies behind. The Commissioner’s not happy, so now everyone’s got to act...” The man glanced around, saw his colleagues had moved aside with the chief, and quickly said, “Operation One! That’s the code name!”

“O Division, Narcotics, Major Crimes, Customs... Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories... all six major regions, over a dozen departments working together. The goal is to take down a triad and make an example. Now that Yee Hoi Society is so high-profile, you need to be careful.”

“Alright.”

“Alright.”

“Brat, don’t just focus on work. Come home for soup when you have time.” Robert Bolton said with a smile.

The night breeze

grew even noisier.

Leaves, trash, and cigarette butts on the ground were swept up.

He hung up the phone.

A man in the Criminal Intelligence Division’s office finished his call with family, then hurriedly picked up his files and went to apologize to his superior, a little embarrassed.

No one in the underworld knew that Prince Ben’s four heavenly kings actually numbered five. The fifth wasn’t a sworn brother, nor one of the Thirteen Protectors, but a once-bullied, obedient kid from school.

That’s the underworld—unfathomable.

Chapter 013: The Grand Secretary’s Mindset

“The police have a major operation.”

“The target is Yee Hoi Society.”

“The most high-profile in Yee Hoi Society is Prince Ben.”

“I am Prince Ben.”

“So this means the police operation is aimed at me.”

...

“Let’s look at it another way.”

“The police want to make an example out of a triad.”

“It just happens that I’m the most high-profile.”

“But it could just as easily be another triad, another underworld boss.”

...

Robert Bolton sat back in the rear seat of the Mercedes, lowered the window a bit, feeling the cold wind blowing in, using the chill to calm his thoughts.

His fingertips tapped lightly on the edge of the window.

The Grand Secretary’s mindset comes into play!

“The police operation code names are actually set in advance by each Commissioner. Every code name has a corresponding level, and it’s never just decided on the spot.”

“The level and advance setting of the code name are meant to let every officer in charge of the operation intuitively sense its importance.”

“‘Operation One’—the name is simple, just means ‘the first battle,’ but it could also imply the First World War, or perhaps the number one ranked war!”