"To be honest, ever since you and Yi Yao got into trouble two weeks ago, we've been investigating the mastermind pulling strings from the shadows and the mole hiding among us."

"Who is it?"

Xiaodie blurted out the question before suddenly realizing: "You mean Qinghao..."

"No. We suspected him at first too, but Huang Qinghao’s just hot-headed—he’d never betray his brothers. That traitor is still among us." Card Brother flicked a playing card toward the mahjong table behind him. "Black Dragon Society and Jiangnan Gang have no real beef. The moment you two had your incident, that person moved immediately. This was a long-planned play. Dangerous."

I spoke up: "What happens if we let this mole keep operating?"

I still couldn’t see Black Dragon Society or Jiangnan Gang as proper gangs like in movies.

Black Dragon Society started as Long Fei’s joke—a small crew he formed at a dingy internet café. Like street kids calling themselves the "Axe Gang." Long Fei was the spoiled son of Long Teng, CEO of Shangjing City’s biggest tech firm. He had endless pocket money. After founding the society, he’d treat his "brothers" to gaming sessions and drinks.

With deep pockets, the group quickly became Shangjing’s most famous street faction.

While other gangs made underlings pay tribute, Long Fei did the opposite. Local hoodlums flocked to join for the perks. That’s how Black Dragon Society grew.

Long Fei once admitted he created it out of loneliness—craving the camaraderie he lacked at home and school.

What do rebellious middle schoolers need most? Simple: cash.

Long Fei paid them to party with him, filling his void of real friends. That was their entire bond.

I’d always assumed groups like this would fade after Long Fei left. Kids grow up.

But Card Brother’s presence changed my view.

Long Fei was a young master who’d once saved Ouyang Earth, a soldier. That gave Black Dragon Society connections. Now with Card Brother’s addition—even just this entertainment complex falling under their name—the society’s status turned... delicate.

Meaning: after Long Fei left, Card Brother became the hidden boss with deep pockets. But fearing old enemies might recognize him, he stayed in the shadows. He needed a frontman to preserve his "fallen rich kid joining street rats" act.

If the mole came from within, they might be tied to Card Brother’s past enemies. No wonder he was worried.

"Haha! Consequences are as unpredictable as a deck of cards. Isn’t the fun in not knowing the next draw?" Card Brother chuckled, nodding toward a sunglasses-wearing man smoking alone on a sofa. "Meet Jiangnan Gang’s leader, Lu Kai. His dad’s a Shangjing property tycoon—arrogant bastard. Oh, and he’s Lu Yibing’s brother."

"What?" I was confused. "Lu Yibing isn’t—"

"She’s Jiangnan Gang. Didn’t I tell you?"

*Jiangnan Gang members hang out daily in your Card Clan club?*

"Tough luck. That kid loves lollipops. Her brother’s too proud to buy them, so she comes here."

I facepalmed.

*So you’ve got that kink, Card Brother?*

Lu Yibing looked younger than Huang Yingdie, dressed like a child. She resembled an emotionless lolita from anime.

"Hey, don’t stare like that." Card Brother leaned close, hiding his mouth behind a playing card with a sly grin. "Wanna try dating Ice? She told me she likes you. Win her over, and with her dad’s property empire, half of Shangjing’s buildings could be yours."

I glanced at Xiaodie, still bewildered beside me. "Pass. You chase her."

"Haha! Ice spent fifteen years in the mountains. She knows nothing about romance—only cares about what she likes."

Just then, the sunglasses man stood up and flicked a lit cigarette at us. "Hey, blond punk! Think a card blocks my ears? I’ll knock your teeth out."

He wore a half-unbuttoned shirt. Though less built than Ouyang Earth, his chest muscles were obvious.

"Still so hotheaded."

"Cut the crap. Why’d you drag me here? I’m leaving if it’s nothing."

"Alright, alright. Let’s talk business." Card Brother waved everyone to silence.

"Listen up," Ouyang Earth announced, standing on the mahjong table. "I’m Black Dragon Society’s current leader. You all know about Yi Yao and Xiaodie. Sure, our crews scrap sometimes—men bleed but don’t cry. After fights, we drink and curse together. That’s youth! No scars, no brotherhood, right?"

"Damn right!"

"Haha! You’re one of us! Remember that punch you owe me?"

"Bring it on! Settle it upstairs later? Loser buys drinks!"

It felt like a family reunion.

"Normally, our private fights stay private," Ouyang Earth paused deliberately, "but only insiders knew about Yi Yao and Xiaodie’s feud. Yet outsiders were paid to attack Yi Yao’s father. That means—a mole from another faction is poisoning our brotherhood."

Outrage erupted below.

"Hell, I never knew this!"

"Yeah! I thought it was just girl drama!"

"So Huang Qinghao’s beating was..."

"What about Qinghao?"

"Don’t you know? He got jumped right after leaving the hospital. They claimed to be Black Dragon!"

"QUIET!" Ouyang Earth raised his hand. "Our problem: we don’t know who the mole is, where they’re from, or why they’re doing this. Stay sharp. Anyone got leads?"

"Tch. Troublesome." Lu Kai, Jiangnan Gang’s leader, stepped forward. "Jiangnan members! Confess now if you’re guilty. If I catch the traitor later? Tell your family to prepare a coffin."

*So brutal... Is he like Long Fei?*

"That’s all for now," Ouyang Earth continued. "Stay alert, but don’t distrust your brothers." He scanned the crowd. "Where’s Huang Qinghao? I summoned him."

Just then, elevator lights flashed. Metal doors slid open. A boy in black clothes stumbled out, gasping: "Boss! Boss... it’s bad!"

Lu Kai grabbed him like a sack of rice. "Spit it out! You dying?"

"Huang Qinghao... he’s..." Terror twisted the boy’s face. "He’s dead!"

"What?!"

Lu Kai wasn’t the only one shocked. Even Lu Yibing, lazily licking a lollipop nearby, turned her curious gaze toward us.

"What happened?" Lu Kai set the boy down and removed his sunglasses.

"Earlier, around five, I got the boss’s message. I went to tell Qinghao. He said he needed to pack things, told me to wait at our old abandoned factory. But when I got there... there..."

"Out with it!" Lu Kai snapped.

"Qinghao... he’d been shot..." The boy’s eyes widened with remembered horror. He choked up.

"You two were the only ones who knew that meeting spot?" Lu Kai pounced on the detail.

"Yeah, we talked on the phone. Just us..." The boy froze. "No way, Kai Ge—you think..."

*If only two people knew the location...*

"Easy now. Don’t fall for the enemy’s trap." Card Brother smoothly slid a playing card between them as Lu Kai raised his fist. "Did you call the police?"

"N-not yet... that area’s deserted. I..."

"Then tonight’s meeting ends here. We’re checking the factory. Anyone scared of corpses or busy later—leave now."