Hong Kong is not large, yet it is home to many powerful forces. These forces typically coexist without interference, maintaining a delicate balance.
Among them, the most dominant is the police force, representing the Hong Kong government. Following them are the underground gangsters, and then the local tycoons, wealthy families, knights, and companies with significant financial backing.
These groups represent the power of Hong Kong and are the local overlords.
While they appear to have no connection on the surface, there are intricate ties among them that create a formidable force, causing other powers to tread carefully.
When it comes to power, the tycoons have wealth; they can hire people, wield the law with their team of lawyers, and offer legal counsel.
They are formidable, and as major taxpayers, even the police treat them with deference, offering protection and respect.
As for the gangsters, they tend to avoid confrontation with the tycoons. When they are making money, they don't draw attention to them.
The local film media, which was involved in the promotion of the movie, controls the local cinema distribution and is one of the most significant forces here. They are one of the largest overlords of Hong Kong.
Nicole and her team were invited to cooperate with the promotional efforts, but as soon as they arrived, paparazzi caught wind of them, took photos, and quickly capitalized on the opportunity to promote the film. The person behind this scheme was quite adept.
"We were too careless. We underestimated the passion of Hong Kong's fans and overlooked the abilities of the paparazzi here!" Monica lamented, realizing that from now on, they'd need to be extra cautious whenever they went out.
"Yeah, I've had a close-up experience of the frenzy of fans," Zhao Lun remarked. He may not have been the one being chased, but he certainly felt the intensity of the fanfare. It was an unforgettable experience.
The wild enthusiasm of fans made him uneasy. Frenzy signified instability, and instability often led to accidents. He didn't like such reckless behavior.
"We need to minimize our presence in the future," Angela suggested.
They usually avoided star-studded events. When they felt inspired, they would casually shoot a film, staying in a relaxed, semi-working state, never engaging in advertisements or such ventures.
This time, their cooperation in the movie promotion was merely casual. If they hadn't been in the mood, they could have declined. However, after the entertainment news coverage, they no longer needed to participate.
Although they didn't have to continue, they were somewhat dissatisfied and wanted to figure out the reason.
"Athena, check the records of our journey."
"Understood, Ms. Monica."
Monica and her team had been granted certain permissions by Zhao Lun, enabling them to deploy Athena's resources within the entire county.
The video records were pulled up, showing their journey starting from the manor, their waiting time at the airport, and then their arrival in Hong Kong.
Nothing suspicious occurred along the way, but the most suspicious people were the ones they encountered at the airport. A few individuals with cameras were taking photos right when they stepped out.
"If I'm not mistaken, it was likely him who leaked the information."
The man with the camera appeared to be a Chinese tourist, snapping pictures of the airport as a souvenir. It was deceptive in its innocence.
"Athena, intercept the surveillance footage, identify and search for the airport details."
Normal travelers often leave behind information when boarding a flight, and anyone arriving from China would have their records.
London International Airport has implemented network-connected management. Athena infiltrated the system quietly and swiftly retrieved information about the man from the flight records.
He was from Hong Kong, working as a reporter for a local tabloid. If their guess was correct, he must have been the one who leaked the news.
"Careless!"
Nicole and her team realized their experience was lacking, or else this wouldn't have happened.
"Alright, this can't be shared with the rest of you. You're not real warriors. Problems are bound to happen. Just remember the lesson learned," Zhao Lun advised.
Athena wiped the traces and exited without alerting anyone.
It was time for dinner.
They calmed themselves and gathered around the table.
"Zhi, are you heading home?" Zhao Lun asked while adding celery to picky Maria's plate, but his gaze was on Angela.
"Yes, it's been a while since I've been home. I want to go back and visit."
"Do you want to come with me?"
Talking about going home, Angela wasn't anxious or uneasy like before. She was calm.
Her tone and gaze were serene. Hearing her words, Zhao Lun felt as if he was influenced by her, his mind calm and at peace.
Amidst this tranquility, there was a sense of warmth and longing that felt comforting.
Not having to face the pressure from her parents pushing her into arranged marriages made her feel at ease. Her longing for home was like aged wine—richer and more fragrant with time.
Sitting beside her, Zhao Lun could sense her current state.
"Going to your place... is it troublesome? You know how much I dislike trouble."
"Also, going to your place feels like being a son-in-law visiting. It's a bit nerve-wracking."
Zhao Lun said with a bashful smile, covering his face.
"Hmph! You brat! Taking advantage of your older sister!"
Angela gently tugged his ear, chiding him.
"Ah, ah, sister, let go! It hurts!" Zhao Lun grimaced, pretending to be in pain, looking quite comical.
"Let's see if you keep acting up!"
"I won't, I won't."
The brief exchange over, Angela went to visit her family. Zhao Lun didn't follow.
It was late, and the timing wasn't right. He would have disrupted their family gathering, and it could've backfired, making him seem ungrateful.
Zhao Lun wasn't foolish enough to make such a rookie mistake.
Everyone was in good spirits. They had napped in the afternoon, and now, feeling energetic, they weren't in a rush to rest. Instead, they took this chance to familiarize themselves with the mansion.
The spacious living room was bright. They stepped onto the balcony, where the night sky glittered with countless stars, twinkling as if winking.
The surrounding area was serene, far from the noise of the world.
Around the house, lush, precious plants flourished, and they could enjoy the fresh scent of the vegetation.
"This place really does have a great environment!"
"With this environment alone, it's worth the price!"
"It's secure here. No need to worry about safety or those troublesome paparazzi."
Both the environment and security were top-notch, with no concerns about petty thieves.
"This is a rich district, and the management is strict. It's very difficult for paparazzi to get in."
"Of course, these aren't the most valuable aspects of this house. The most valuable thing here... is the water!"
Monica turned on the faucet, and water flowed out with a gush.
The steam was noticeable even from a distance, and the water felt warm to the touch.
"Did you know? There's an underground hot spring here!"
Monica said proudly.
"A hot spring? Did you discover this?"
"Of course!"
"Well, if the previous owner knew about this, he'd definitely regret it! Nice work!"
Having a hot spring definitely increased the value of the house. If a generous buyer came along, its price could easily double, and they had certainly made a great profit.
"Want to go to the hot spring, boss?"
"Really?"
"Really."
"Alright!"