Blind Jack reacted immediately, plastering a smile on his face as he walked over and reached out to help the young officer brush the ash off his clothes. “Sir, I’m sorry, I’m sorry...” As soon as his hand touched the young officer, the latter shoved him hard in the chest, pushing him away with extreme roughness. If Logan Reed hadn’t caught him in time, he would have landed heavily on his backside.

Blind Jack was clearly pissed off, tilting his big face up and pointing at the young officer. “What’s your problem?”

Logan Reed pulled down his arm while apologetically smiling at the young officer. “Sorry, my brother’s had too much to drink.”

The young officer shot Logan Reed a cold glance, said nothing, and strode through the doors of the Blue Moulin.

Once his figure disappeared, Blind Jack grumbled angrily, “What’s he showing off for? Damn! Even a lowly major dares to act all high and mighty?”

Logan Reed couldn’t help but smack him on the head. Blind Jack, afraid his hairstyle would get messed up, quickly smoothed his hair with his hand, then winked at Logan Reed with a look of smug satisfaction. Logan Reed already guessed what he’d done and lowered his voice: “Don’t forget the main reason we’re here.”

They entered the Blue Moulin, found a relatively secluded corner to sit in, and after ordering drinks, Blind Jack leaned forward and whispered, “That kid’s carrying two pistols.” Pistols were what they called “撸子”; they were used to communicating this way.

Out of the corner of his eye, Logan Reed located the young officer, who was sitting in the northwest corner, just like them choosing a spot that wouldn’t attract attention. He sat there alone, took off his overcoat, removed his military cap, and under the dim lights, his face appeared cold and aloof, with sharp features and a stern expression. His gloves were neatly placed together on the left side of the small round table, and in front of him was a crystal glass with half a glass of red wine, which he hadn’t touched at all so far.

Blind Jack snorted disdainfully, then pulled out his spoils from his pocket—a military officer’s ID, with the unit number and rank written on it. He had just filched it from the young officer. Although Blind Jack was fat and bulky, he had an exceptionally nimble pair of chubby hands.

Logan Reed frowned, feeling helpless about Blind Jack’s old habit of pilfering.

Blind Jack grinned. “William Clark, a minor major from the Fengtian clique.”

Logan Reed reminded him, “He’s military. You’d better not mess with him.”

Blind Jack shook his head. “Military? Just a pissant little officer. This is Huangpu—never mind him, even if their warlord came, under the French Concession’s roof, they’d have to keep their heads down. Everything depends on the foreigners’ mood.” At this, he got a bit worked up. “When did it become the foreigners’ turn to run things in China?”

Logan Reed picked up his wine glass, swirled the red wine gently, and said softly, “National affairs are beyond you, and not your concern.”

“The rise and fall of the nation is every man’s responsibility!” Blind Jack grew more and more agitated as he spoke.

At that moment, a French man in a black tailcoat appeared on stage. He rattled off something in French, then, in an exaggerated and strange accent, loudly announced, “Next, let’s welcome our beautiful Sophie, the dazzling flower from Europa, France, tonight’s brightest star—Grace Young!”

The crowd erupted in cheers. Even Blind Jack couldn’t help but take off his sunglasses, staring intently at the stage, eagerly awaiting Grace Young’s appearance.

Although Logan Reed was a year younger than Blind Jack, he was thorough in his actions, possessed an outstanding sense of the bigger picture, and was always alert, able to keep a clear head in any situation. These qualities were exactly why he could win over Blind Jack. While everyone else was focused on the stage, waiting for Grace Young to appear, Logan Reed noticed a group of people entering from outside.

At the center of the crowd, two men walked in side by side. On the right was Samuel Moore, and next to him, dressed in military uniform, was a short, stout man with a cigar perpetually clamped between his lips—this was the warlord of northern Jiangxi, John Robinson. They entered just as Grace Young was stepping onto the stage, so everyone’s attention was on the performance, and these two important figures went largely unnoticed. Although John Robinson was powerful in northern Jiangxi, he was not well known in Huangpu. This time, he had come to Huangpu seeking military funding and hoping to meet the French consul. Despite being a local despot in Jiangxi, he had no real footing in Huangpu. Without an introduction, the French consul had no interest in meeting a regional warlord like him. So he thought of Simon Moore, with whom he’d done business before. Everyone knew Simon Moore had connections everywhere in the French Concession, and had recently been elected the only Chinese director of the Public Works Bureau, making him the first choice for connecting with Huangpu’s upper echelons. Simon Moore didn’t disappoint—within a week of John Robinson’s arrival in Huangpu, he had already arranged meetings with three directors of the Public Works Bureau, and a meeting with the French consul was scheduled for two days later.

Chapter 0004: Turbulence (Part 2)

Logan Reed’s gaze followed Samuel Moore and his group into the private room, and by chance, he noticed that someone else was also watching them, just like he was.