Chapter 7: Fairness

At this moment, on Lanta Island, Old Pu and Tan Wei, having obtained the account credentials, eagerly took Zhong Da’s phone and began attempting to log into his bank account. However, as Zhong Da had said, successful login required facial recognition.

After several failed attempts using Zhong Da’s photo, Old Pu looked at Tan Wei and said, “Wei, do you think this guy might be tricking us?”

Tan Wei squinted at Zhong Da’s photo for a while before replying, “Whether he’s tricking us or not, the only way to find out is to try.”

“So should I go check it out?” Old Pu asked.

Tan Wei thought for a moment and shook his head. “You stay here and keep an eye on Zhong Yuan. This guy’s not simple.”

Old Pu nodded in agreement, then asked, “Is Xiao Hua still moving?”

Tan Wei smiled faintly. “Wait a bit longer.”

Xiao Hua’s parts were basically intact. After receiving orders, Brother Xiao Ka no longer troubled the two, had Zhong Da’s hands tied back, left someone to watch over them, and then left.

Time passed slowly, marked only by the sound of a video playing on the other party’s phone.

Xiao Hua dozed off, then dozed off again.

When he woke up groggily, he had no idea how much time had passed, only that there seemed to be voices outside the basement entrance.

He turned his head to look at Zhong Da, who was also tied to a chair nearby, unable to move. Their eyes met, and Zhong Da gave him a slight blink.

At that moment, the voices at the entrance grew louder, followed by footsteps descending the stairs. Soon, a roughly made golden Buddha mask appeared before them.

The Buddha’s face was serene, eyes lowered, full of compassion.

Yet behind the mask, the greed surged fiercely—no mask painted with compassion could conceal that.

The masked man came straight to Zhong Da and stood before him. After staring at him through the mask for a long moment, he spoke: “I brought the phone. Are you sure you have five hundred thousand US dollars?”

Zhong Da nodded. “Yes, I’m sure! I’m in your hands now, how would I dare lie to you?”

The masked man chuckled. “Alright then. But let me warn you: if when we open the account and find you don’t have five hundred thousand dollars, your little buddy next to you won’t make it through tonight.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hua’s face suddenly turned pale.

Zhong Da gave an awkward laugh. “Big brother, don’t scare me! I really have the money! Trust me, I’m not lying!”

“That’s what matters!” The masked man took out a phone and expertly opened the only banking app on it. After entering the account information, the screen switched to facial recognition, which he then pointed toward Zhong Da.

Yet, after Zhong Da opened his eyes and mouth, the recognition failed.

A fierce light flashed in the masked man’s eyes.

Zhong Da hurriedly said, “Could it be because I’m tied up and the camera detects me as abnormal? That’s why it can’t verify.”

The masked man said nothing.

Fear showed clearly on Zhong Da’s face, his eyes flickering slightly as he awkwardly laughed again, pledging, “Big brother, don’t worry, our lives are in your hands—I wouldn’t dare play tricks!”

The masked man snorted. “Fine, I’ll trust you this once.” He gestured for someone to come and untie Zhong Da.

Just as Zhong Da’s hands were freed, the masked man suddenly pulled out a black object from behind his waist, shining brightly in his hand.

Zhong Da’s eyes twitched ever so slightly; he recognized that object well.

Then the masked man handed over the phone.

Zhong Da lowered his eyes to take it and quickly logged into the account successfully. After tapping around the screen, he handed the phone back and said, “There are nearly four million yuan in this account. At the current exchange rate, that’s more than five hundred thousand US dollars. I can transfer it all to you if you agree to release us.”

Though Zhong Da displayed the amount in yuan, nearly four million was indeed a substantial sum.

The masked man held the phone silently for a moment.

Worried the sum might be insufficient, Zhong Da hurriedly added, “How about this: you release my friend first. I have several friends in Nantai who can lend me more money—I can borrow another million yuan or so. Does that work?”

The masked man smiled wryly. “No need for that.”

“Does that mean you agree?” Zhong Da asked, surprised.

“Did I say I agreed?” The masked man responded. Seeing Zhong Da’s face suddenly go pale, he narrowed his eyes and observed him for a while before suddenly asking, “Does your brother have even more money?”

Zhong Da’s face grew increasingly grim.

“If you get your brother to give you another four million yuan or five hundred thousand dollars, I’ll release both of you!” The masked man said casually, as if asking for four million yuan were no big deal.

Zhong Da’s expression darkened, and after a moment, he lowered his head and murmured, “My brother won’t give me any money. Not four million—he might not even agree to forty thousand.”

The masked man was somewhat surprised. Zhong Da seemed to know his brother Zhong Yuan quite well. It seemed that Zhong Yuan’s maximum offer of one hundred thousand dollars was not just bluster.

Thinking this over, the masked man calculated: Zhong Da had nearly four million yuan; Zhong Yuan had another one hundred thousand dollars. If he could get both, it would be decent.

Still, he intended to keep pressing Zhong Da, wondering if he had other bank accounts.

He turned to his men to fetch some food.

Then he smiled and asked Zhong Da, “You haven’t eaten all day, right? Hungry?”

Zhong Da nodded quickly.

“How about this—one hundred thousand yuan for a meal. Two of you, that’s two hundred thousand. Pay now, and you’ll eat soon. Fair, right?” The masked man said with a smile.

Zhong Da smiled along, “Fair! Fair!” But in his heart, he cursed the fairness.

“Brother Da, just get one portion. I’m not hungry,” Xiao Hua suddenly interjected.

Zhong Da was momentarily stunned but quickly nodded, awkwardly laughing, “Right! Right! One portion is enough for both of us! Too much food is hard to digest!”

The masked man laughed heartily. He loved seeing these people tremble with fear and grovel before him. It gave him immense satisfaction—he felt like an emperor, with life and death resting on his whim.

“Since you’re so sensible, I’ll buy one portion and give you one free! Here, I’ll tell you the account number; pay first!” The masked man began reciting the account details.

Zhong Da, grateful, quickly took out his phone to record the number and prepare the transfer. Moments later, he transferred one hundred thousand yuan and showed the masked man the screen.

The masked man glanced at the string of zeros displayed and was extremely pleased.

Unbeknownst to them, before that one hundred thousand yuan was transferred, another sum had already quietly been sent out!