Chapter 88: The Viper’s Guest Arrives
In the end, Brother Tong was rescued by the Law Enforcement Team. When they took him away, he was covered in blood, a complete mess.
As for the three million, Snake didn’t return a single cent. Not only that, but he even took the few thousand Brother Tong had on him.
Of course, after such a big incident, Electronic Dynasty had to shut down temporarily. But Snake wasn’t too bothered. The place wasn’t sealed off by the authorities, just closed for now. By night, he only needed to send a fall guy to take the blame, pay a fine, and reframe the incident as a simple brawl. By morning, Electronic Dynasty would be back in business.
With that settled, Snake swaggered away with his men.
Across the street, inside a small restaurant, Chen Xue Wen watched as Snake and his crew left, a cold smirk crossing his lips. He pulled out his phone and called Lai Hou.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
Lai Hou replied, “Sister Hong and her brother have already left by car.”
“Just as you said, we didn’t take him to one of the big hospitals in Provincial City. Instead, we went to a smaller one, where an expert will handle the surgery. Even if Snake sends people to look for them, finding them will be tough.”
Chen Xue Wen nodded in satisfaction. “Well done.”
“Alright, head back. We’re opening for business.”
Hanging up, Chen Xue Wen left the restaurant and strolled back toward Brothers Game Arcade. He knew the time had come for a direct confrontation with Snake.
To avoid a repeat of last time’s fiasco, he had preemptively sent Wu Li Hong and her brother away to Provincial City for treatment. But just in case, instead of a large hospital, he had Lai Hou find a smaller one to keep them hidden. This way, even if Snake wanted to use Wu Li Hong as leverage, finding her wouldn’t be easy.
When Chen Xue Wen arrived at Brothers Game Arcade, he saw a crowd gathered outside. These were the regulars, chatting away while waiting.
Seeing him, they greeted him excitedly.
“Brother Wen, you’re here!”
“Brother Wen, are you opening up?”
“We had nowhere to go all afternoon! Open up and let us in for a game!”
Chen Xue Wen smiled. “I’m here to open up. Sorry for keeping you all waiting.”
“When you get inside, I’ll give everyone some free tokens as compensation.”
The crowd erupted in cheers. These people weren’t exactly well-off, so free tokens were more than enough to make them happy.
Chen Xue Wen unlocked the doors and ushered everyone inside. Some went straight to the machines, while others hung around the counter, eager to chat.
“Brother Wen, have you heard about Electronic Dynasty?” a man asked mysteriously.
Feigning curiosity, Chen Xue Wen asked, “What happened?”
The man grinned. “The guy who won 1.6 million at your place this morning just went over there to play!”
At this, others leaned in, eager for gossip.
Chen Xue Wen took out a pack of cigarettes, handed them around, and asked, “So, how did that go?”
The man accepted his smoke, saw it was a premium brand, and grinned from ear to ear. Lighting up, he exhaled a cloud of smoke before launching into the story of Brother Tong’s fate at Electronic Dynasty.
Hearing how Snake had chopped off Brother Tong’s hand, the listeners gasped in shock. But when they learned Brother Tong’s background, many nodded in understanding.
Chen Xue Wen listened with a neutral expression, as if hearing it for the first time. But he was well aware of every detail. As he listened, he carefully observed the crowd’s reactions.
It was clear that opinions were mixed. Some believed Brother Tong had been cheating. Others thought he wasn’t cheating, and that Snake simply refused to pay up. Everyone had their own stance.
While this was going on, more customers entered the arcade. Among them were a few unfamiliar faces. But Chen Xue Wen recognized them from Electronic Dynasty—regular slot machine players. With Electronic Dynasty temporarily closed, they had nowhere to go, and given Brothers Game Arcade’s rising reputation, they had decided to check it out.
These gamblers didn’t rush to play. Instead, they watched from the sidelines, wary. Unlike casual players, slot machine gamblers valued a trustworthy establishment.
Seeing them, Chen Xue Wen felt a surge of satisfaction. His plan was working.
The man telling the story finished his cigarette, eyeing the pack on the table. Chen Xue Wen chuckled, handed him another, and even opened a new pack to share with everyone.
The man lit up again, looking pleased. “Brother Wen, that guy definitely cheated the machines. He knew the slot machine algorithms! That’s how he won 1.6 million.”
“You should go after him and get your money back!”
The crowd chimed in, all agreeing that Chen Xue Wen should reclaim his losses. After all, they had just accepted his cigarettes—of course, they’d take his side.
But Chen Xue Wen shook his head. “Forget it.”
“Knowing how slot machines work isn’t cheating.”
“I never set a rule against it. If someone can win, that’s their skill. If I can’t afford to pay, then I shouldn’t be in business.”
“How else can I keep my arcade running?”
His words were a direct jab at Snake.
The crowd was stunned. Chen Xue Wen was really letting go of 1.6 million?
But his words won them over, earning admiration.
“Brother Wen, you’re a real man!”
“You have guts!”
Flattery poured in, though much of it was sincere. Chen Xue Wen smiled. “It’s not about guts, just good business. Reputation is everything.”
“But this was a costly lesson.”
“I need to call Monkey and have him put up a sign—‘No Entry for Arcade Engineers!’”
The crowd burst into laughter.
Nearby, the slot machine players who had been hesitating exchanged glances. One of them stepped forward, placing 500 yuan on the counter.
“Boss, load me up some credits. I’ll give this place a try.”
Chen Xue Wen grinned. “You got it!”
This was just the beginning. With this first step, Snake’s business would gradually drain into Chen Xue Wen’s hands, an unstoppable tide.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation