Chapter 86

After receiving the call, Fan Pian immediately came out of the laboratory and handed a stack of thirty cards to Zhao Zhu, saying, "I can't get in touch with my two employees either. It seems they were either kidnapped as well or are part of the kidnappers. In any case, it's my negligence and mistake. I apologize to you, and I will personally handle this matter to give you a satisfactory response."

Fan Pian first apologized to Zhao Zhu because the people he had arranged to accompany Zhu Wanqi now seemed to be problematic. At the same time, it was possible that the employees in Fan Pian's teahouse were unaware that their boss had previously been closely linked to a drug trafficking gang. Given his influence in that area, it wouldn't be difficult for him to gather a group of people to deal with the kidnappers.

Zhao Zhu didn't think this was a deliberate scheme by Fan Pian, as he believed Fan Pian could see that he wasn't particularly concerned about Zhu Wanqi. Zhao Zhu would definitely be angry if Zhu Wanqi were kidnapped, but if someone tried to use her to threaten him into doing something, Zhao Zhu would never comply. Therefore, Fan Pian had no reason to do this.

"Never mind, it's not necessary. I can handle it myself. You continue with your experiments. If I can't even deal with a few kidnappers and ordinary people, I don't need to enter the next mission world," Zhao Zhu said with great confidence. "Besides, I want to try the power of these enhanced cards. It's like someone is sending me a pillow just as I'm feeling drowsy."

"Alright, Zhao Zhu, if anything happens, remember to call me. I can take care of the aftermath," Fan Pian said, seeing Zhao Zhu's attitude. He knew there was no need to say more. All he could do now was mourn in advance for those kidnappers.

Following the information from the kidnappers, Zhao Zhu arrived at a bridge. This area was outside the West Lake Scenic Area and belonged to a development zone with many construction sites and recently demolished buildings.

Zhao Zhu waited on the bridge for about five minutes when a man in a gray coat approached him. The man wore a hat and had his collar pulled up high, almost covering his entire face. He walked up to Zhao Zhu and deliberately lowered his voice to ask, "Do you have the money?"

Zhao Zhu held a black plastic bag. Upon hearing the question, he reached into the bag, took out a stack of money, and threw it in front of the man.

"You..."

The man didn't expect Zhao Zhu to have this attitude, even though he had kidnapped someone, Zhao Zhu still acted like a spoiled rich kid.

The man coldly snorted in his heart, thinking Zhao Zhu was truly ignorant of the world. However, he still bent down to pick up the money from Zhao Zhu's feet, checked it to ensure it was real, and then reached for Zhao Zhu's bag.

Zhao Zhu swung the bag back, "I haven't seen the person yet, so I can't give you the money."

"Ha, follow me then," the man said, turning and walking down the bridge.

Zhao Zhu followed him. They first passed through a green belt and then entered a demolished area. Some houses were just piles of rubble, while others still retained their shape. Clearly, this was where the kidnappers' hideout was. Such places in a city were usually the most chaotic.

In one of the houses, a light was on. Before Zhao Zhu got close, he heard a voice inside: "Brother Hu, this girl is really fresh. Let the brothers have some fun to satisfy their cravings. There's no such high-quality girl in the brothels outside."

"Don't rush. Wait until the money comes. If you play with this girl, what if the rich kid changes his mind? Rich kids like him won't lack women. If you mess up his woman, he might just replace her and not care," Brother Hu's voice was full of authority, but this authority was only effective against these hooligans.

The man leading Zhao Zhu also spoke up, "Brother Hu, I've brought him here, and he has the money."

"Come in," Brother Hu ordered.

"Go in," the man pushed Zhao Zhu.

Zhao Zhu entered the house. Inside, there was almost no furniture, just some plastic chairs with some cooked food on them, and some empty wine bottles on the ground. A man in a green camouflage jacket with a beard sat in the middle, and three or four others stood around him. One of them, Zhao Zhu recognized, was an employee from Fan Pian's teahouse named Li Hai.

Sure enough, the employee must have thought his boss was respectful and mistaken Zhao Zhu for a rich kid. Since the boss had asked him to accompany Zhu Wanqi to a performance, he had the idea of kidnapping and extorting money.

"Hey, kid, not bad, you've got some guts," Brother Hu patted his chest and pointed at Zhao Zhu, laughing.

Zhao Zhu glanced at Brother Hu but didn't say anything. His disdainful expression and posture were very clear.

"Damn, kid, you're really cocky! Let me tell you, this isn't a teahouse; this is Brother Hu's territory!"

Li Hai walked up to Zhao Zhu, extending his middle finger in front of Zhao Zhu's face, his threatening tone was awkward, clearly he had been in the gang for a short time and was still unfamiliar with the ropes.

"Li Hai, step aside," Brother Hu stood up, pushed Li Hai aside, and then asked Zhao Zhu, "Do you want a cigarette?"

Brother Hu took out a soft Zhonghua cigarette and offered it to Zhao Zhu. Zhao Zhu took the cigarette and threw it on the ground in front of Brother Hu.

"Where is she?"

Zhao Zhu asked, his tone slightly impatient.

"The money first," Brother Hu wasn't angry.

Zhao Zhu loosened his grip, and the black bag fell, revealing ten stacks of money.

Seeing the money, Brother Hu's smile grew wider. He said to one of his men, "Go bring the girl out."

Shortly after, Zhu Wanqi was brought out. Her hands were tied behind her back, her eyes were blindfolded, and her mouth was gagged with a cloth. However, her clothes weren't too wrinkled, indicating she hadn't been violated.

"Brother Zhu, Brother Zhu, is that you? Brother Zhu..."

Zhu Wanqi called out, having been terrified for hours, she seemed to sense something and started shouting.

"It's okay, I'm here," Zhao Zhu comforted Zhu Wanqi and then turned to Brother Hu, "Here's the money. Can we go now?"

Brother Hu held the money, smelling the ink on the bills, and listening to Zhao Zhu's words, his smile slowly faded.

"You can't leave yet," Brother Hu said meaningfully.

Hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Zhao Zhu's eyes. Clearly, if Brother Hu had just taken the money and let them go, that would have been what Zhao Zhu disliked. Since they were really planning to die, Zhao Zhu could more easily send them to their deaths.

"Why? I've already given you the money."

"Kid, there's a saying, 'don't show off your wealth.' Do you understand?" Brother Hu asked.

"No," Zhao Zhu answered straightforwardly.

"Ha, you'll understand soon. Look, we're so poor, and you're so rich. Why don't you give us a little more?"

"Why should I give you more? My money didn't grow on trees," Zhao Zhu countered, "And just because you're poor, does that make it right?"

"Well, that's not up to you. Rich people care about their reputation, don't they? I'll have someone do you and your girlfriend here, and take videos with a phone. If you give me more money, I won't spread it. What do you think of this proposal?"

"Not good, I find it disgusting."

"Oh, tie him up, Li Hai. You like men, right? He's quite handsome, so it's a good deal for you."

"But I don't like public places..." Li Hai said reluctantly.

"Hmm?" Brother Hu glared.

"Okay, Brother Hu."

"Good, that's the right attitude. I'll give you a bigger share later," Brother Hu patted Li Hai's shoulder.

Two men came forward, took out ropes, and tied Zhao Zhu up. Zhao Zhu didn't resist at all, allowing them to bind him.

"Brother Zhu... Brother Zhu... Brother Zhu..." Zhu Wanqi, though blindfolded, clearly understood the fate that awaited Zhao Zhu and herself. She didn't say anything like, "Let him go, take me instead," as she was overwhelmed by fear.

"Hehe, smooth and tender, I like it. Big brother will take good care of you," Li Hai said to Zhao Zhu.

Then, he took off his pants.

Then, Brother Hu picked up his phone and turned on the camera.

Then, the others around them laughed lewdly, ready to watch the show.

Then, in Brother Hu's camera, Li Hai's testicles suddenly fell off and landed on the ground.

"Thud..."

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