“Ku Wai?! Why are you here?! Jin shouted as he was fighting against the lackeys without throwing much of a punch. With these many gangs that appeared at Tiangong Shopping District, he could only hope that the Tiger Princess’ triad would be on his side and intervene.
“Hmm… how to put it well enough. Our magnanimous princess had placed us on permanent guard duty, alongside your policemen.” Ku Wai smirked as he jumped down from the roof of the shophouses and fought side by side with Jin.
“Care to explain what’s going on exactly? How come there are so many gangs all of a sudden in this place? Some reunion gathering? Or did Ong tell the truth that they are planning something big here?” Jin smacked one of the gangsters with his Panda head bamboo staff that was now infused with Black Panda Fire energy.
Because the staff was imbued with Jin’s Maqi of the Black Panda Fire energy, each time the Panda Head staff hit someone, they would be ignited by it, causing them to be burned with blackish fire. Even though Jin made sure he tried to only harm and not kill them, there were times he could not control the output, and he inadvertently created several more casualties.
“Before I answer, you have a really cute staff with you.” Ku Wai praised as he punched his way through with his bare fists. Jin rolled his eyes up momentarily and inserted more Maqi into his BamBoo staff, causing the Panda Head to open its mouth and spewed fire like Flamethrower. Some of the Triad gangsters were in front of him were burnt to a crisp in the aftermath.
“Well, I am sorry. I am not manly enough like you to use your bare fists!” Jin retorted as his flames got even more prominent and wider, attempting to scare the gangsters away. Meanwhile, the Deranged Dogs and Prosperous Pigs Triad had also descended to fight against the Three Eyed Tiger Triad. Without the police to maintain any order, the gangsters had been using whatever they could find in the streets as well inside the stores for cover and weapons.
“You know how the Rats had been scurrying around the district for quite some time. What Ong said is most likely true. Our sources have stated that the Ruby Rat Boss has his eyes set on this piece of land for development. It’s apparently not a new thing, and it had been in consideration for some time now. But it did not seem to be an urgent priority at all until now.” Ku Wai kicked away the gangster and punched another with an uppercut.
“However, your increasing fame and presence, as well as the string of events such as the kidnapping of your employee, had made Wo De Tian reevaluate his decision and actively pursue for this district.”
“So, the other gangs’ involvement is because they are in cahoots with De Tian to redevelop this land here? But there is nothing much here that is worthy of any value!” Jin said while retaliating his attacks against the Ruby Rats. Even Ong, who was staring from afar, started to become a little pissed that everything was not going their way.
“To think the Three Eyed Tigers are here to aid Jin.” Ong thought to himself as he decided to make a few phone calls because of the change of developments.
In the meantime, the Ruby Rats’ attacks got even fiercer despite their dwindling numbers. “Then that means even if we managed to defend this place, De Tian would continue to harass me, right?! Not to mention those behind the other gangs whose members are involved. With their members getting killed or injured, they could just use it as an excuse against me too?” Jin asked as he blocked an attack for Ku Wai.
“Wait! Wouldn’t they have a grudge against your gang too? I mean aside from me!”
“Hmph! You shouldn’t worry about that now. Besides, what else do you want to do? Surrender so they can peacefully slaughter you? Or officially declare a Triad war against four Triads?” Ku Wai questioned Jin. “No matter how many you kill here, there will always be more of those Triad members all over the country. Killing the head off will not work. Heck even if you wipe every single one of them, the Royal Zodiacs will come after you instead!”
“If so, why are you guys risking your lives for this place or for me?” Jin slammed the staff through a lackey’s chest, and he coughed blood out from the result of the attack.
“Those higher up will deal with it ultimately. No matter what happens, the losing side will simply pay off the winning side, and all is good. Some of the dead members will simply be declared as bad apples and discarded. As for us helping you, there is only one reason we do that!” Ku Wai shouted since the whole place was just damn too noisy.
“Because the princess demands so! We serve only for our princess!” A nearby Three Eyed Tiger Triad member shouted in return, and the rest echoed along.
“User, there are a few ways to get through this. Do you wish to listen?” The System spoke out of turn, and Jin accepted.
“A short time reversal.” The System offered and Jin was shocked that the System who was always selfish had decided to propose such a method.
“Thanks to the increased resources and processing capability that the System has acquired, the System can reverse time to the point where you spoke with Grandma Yuan while the Demon Exorcist Trainees were resting.”
“Won’t it reduce your treasured processing capacity?” Jin asked as he stepped back and aided a Three Eye Tiger lackey up.
“Definitely. At the very least, a 2% reduction in overall processing capability is to be expected. This is without tampering with the minds of all involved. Since there is no reason to twist reality, most will simply suffer feeling a major case of deja vus. However, this method could allow User to be able to find the Ruby Rat Boss and take him down before the matters blow up as much.” The System replied.
“Huh, don’t you think it will embolden them even more to attack the place?” Jin questioned but that slight distraction caused a Ruby Rat Triad Gang member to stab him from behind. Thankfully, the Living Armour plates were active and blocked the attack, giving Jin enough time to counterattack and finish the other party off.
“User can call the police to reinforce the place before you leave. System is sure that the inspectors will take you seriously. Additionally, User would have past Sub System User Yuan by his side to vouch for him.” The System replied while it had already taken countermeasures into the picture.
“It does not change the fact that the other gangs that are in cahoots with De Tian, will not only resume the ambush but possibly exact revenge too.” Jin assisted the injured member to Ku Wai as his Vice Triad Leader shouted for the medic in the bloody, crowded fight of attrition in Tiangong Shopping District.
“You can see how fervent they can become. I do not believe the gangs will stop if they know a little shop can bite against them.”
“Another possible way out is to accede to their demands. The development lease to the shopping district will be expiring next year. Even If User manages to survive their attack this time round, the business will be affected as a whole due to the lack of confidence in the place’s security.”
“Tiangong district has been hit once with a tragedy. Despite your efforts to increase the number of customers in the area, a second blow such as this will only create undesirable rumours for this particular place.” The System stated.
“So what? You want us to surrender our stores? And the livelihood of all the other store owners in this place? Where do you want to hide?” Jin asked the System as Jin now faced the other gangs who upped their game.
“Where the fuck are the police?! This should be the Tiger’s and Grandma Yuan’s territory, can they seriously delay them this long?” Jin thought to himself as he was wondering if he should call his bellators to assist him.
“The Central Police Headquarters in Shenzhen have already issued a code for the Tiangong Police to not interfere with the triad gang fight. But to assist any casualties and prevent it from spreading out of the shopping district.” The System had managed to pick up the police chatter via its access to the police database.
“With regards to User’s question, the answer is negative. You have made a presence within the Goblin and Orc kingdoms. You can emigrate there or open even a store in the Dungeon City Fortress. There are avenues to move away from Earth and be a dungeon supplier.”
“Additionally, User can use it as an opportunity to claim his Dungeon is so exclusive that it is hidden and only accessible through the Sea Mesh Portals. This should prevent future problems such as these.” The System stated, but Jin was not satisfied.
“Logically, what you said is true! But, I did say I want to be the Number One Dungeon Supplier! If I cannot survive this trial by fire and run away at the face of rivalry, there will be no way to become Number One!” Jin roared at the Ruby Rats and as he held at his Panda Head staff horizontally as if he was holding a cannon and shot a beam of Maqi energy similar to Panda Yawning from the staff.
Ong saw the incoming beam and quickly jumped up high to dodge the attack, but he did not know that Jin was waiting for exactly that. “ONGGGGG!” By moving his staff, the beam followed through and hit onto Ong. He could feel his skin burning from the beam of energy attack as he tried to use his chi as impromptu armour.
When the beam attack was over, Ong fell to the ground, burnt with second degree burns. A number of the Ruby Rat Triad gang members who were within the area of attack perished almost immediately. The rest saw how dangerous Jin could be had decided to be a little more cautious while some went to aid their leader.
“This is exactly why I said I cannot leave it to you.” A black BMW car drove in, and the window was opened with a towering figure smoking his cigarette.
“Boss…? How? I thought I asked for more reinforcements.” Ong wondered as De Tian opened the door and cut the lackey he resurrected at his neck.
“Because I told them to inform me if you ever ask for more reinforcements. If you can be defeated twice by a mere dungeon supplier, you are of no use to me. Not even you deserve a third chance.” De Tian finished him off with a single stomp and walked away from Ong’s body to face Jin. The rest of the other Ruby Rat Triad gang members stopped their fighting and made way for him.
“But…all I wanted was to serve you. I did not wish to trou-” The last thoughts of Ong was for his master even though De Tian did not appreciate it a single bit. The Ruby Rat Triad Boss showed that as much as he can provide life, he could take it away too.
“Heh, to think this little brat proves to be more than just a nuisance. You better give us a good show for making us come with you.” Chen Xun, the Deranged Dog Triad Boss, demanded as he came out from the driver’s seat while the other two Triad Bosses who tagged along decided to stay within the safety of the car.
“For the Triad Boss to come in unhindered. No wonder the Central Police does not wish to interfere. I bet Yang Ling has no choice but to protect her own policemen too.” Jin deduced while Ku Wai walked towards Jin to stand beside him as a show of strength.
“Ku Wai! Boss says not to interfere.” A Three Eye Tiger lackey shouted which made De Tian curled his lips from afar.
“But it’s the princess order to protect Jin!” Ku Wai said, and the Three Eye Tiger lackey passed the phone to Ku Wai. It was a short phone call with Ku Wai’s face trembling with rage and regret.
“Sorry, Jin. Our Boss told us to withdraw from the fight. Any more and this turns into an Inter Triad War in the various provinces and states.” Ku Wai clenched his fist as he said regretfully.
“Don’t worry. I should be able to handle it somehow. All of you. Go to the shop instance if you need, there will be medical aid for all of you.” Jin offered, and Ku Wai tapped on his shoulder.
“Don’t die. The princess forbids you to.” Ku Wai mumbled.
“Heh. Since when did I serve your princess? … still I don’t plan to disappoint her.” Jin thought as he walked towards De Tian with his Panda Head Staff in his hands.
