Tensions Rise

"Captain Lucas, I want to ask you for a favor."

Lu Chen took out a stack of Chinese currency. He didn't know how much the bugging device cost, and he also had to pay Lucas, so he simply took out a stack of Chinese currency and stuffed it into Lucas's hand.

"Buy me a bugging device."

Lu Chen looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, whispered something in Lucas's ear.

"A listening device?"

Lucas repeated it softly, his surprised eyes scanning Lu Chen up and down before finally agreeing meaningfully.

"Don't worry, Brother Lu, you wait here, I'll get it for you right away."

Lucas took the French currency from Lu Chen and turned to enter the French Concession to help Lu Chen buy a bugging device.

"He'll make a lot of money again. This guy is incredibly stupid."

Lucas thought to himself that Lu Chen didn't know how much a bugging device cost, but gave Lucas a considerable sum at once.

Lu Chen stood there for a few minutes, and then Lucas came over with the bugging device.

"Brother Lu, this is the eavesdropping device, and this is the receiving device."

Lucas handed the two small trinkets in his hand to Lu Chen.

Lu Chen took it in his hand and looked at it. The device used for eavesdropping was a small, round piece of iron, about the thickness of five coins, and the receiver looked like a small radio.

"Thank you, Captain Lucas."

Lu Chen thanked him, but Lucas waved his hand, saying it was nothing and that Lu Chen could come to him if he needed anything in the future.

After saying goodbye to Lucas, Lu Chen returned home.

"I have to take over the power of the military police and Huang Dayong."

Lying in bed, Lu Chen pondered his next plan. He had previously thought that he needed to have his own power base so that he could protect the people important to him.

Now that Huang Dayong is dead, or rather half-dead, it's the perfect opportunity to take over his forces!

"After Liu Jie picks me up tomorrow, we'll go straight to the military police station."

Having made his plans, Lu Chen closed his eyes. Since arriving in Shanghai, he had been busy every day, keeping him constantly occupied. He could fall asleep almost immediately after getting into bed.

The next morning, Lu Chen got up, ate some breakfast made by his younger sister Lu Xiulian, and then went out.

As soon as the door opened, Lu Chen saw a Lincoln parked in front of his house.

"So early? Have you eaten yet?"

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow and got into the car. He hadn't expected Liu Jie to arrive so early.

"Eat Brother Chen."

After answering, Liu Jie started the car and drove towards the Chinese military police headquarters.

"Xiao Jie, now that Director Huang is in that state, I have no choice but to take over the military police force."

Lu Chen sat in the back seat of the car and stared at Liu Jie in the rearview mirror as he spoke. Liu Jie nodded, indicating that he had no objection to Lu Chen taking over the military police.

"Xiao Jie, I have a question for you, see if you agree."

Lu Chen sat up straight, his tone serious, and what he was about to say was the plan he had been developing for his own power in recent days.

"Brother Chen, didn't I tell you? My life is yours. You don't need to ask me what you want to do. I'll do anything you need, even go through fire and water."

Liu Jie patted his chest, his expression resolute.

Liu Jie had a number of petty thugs under his command, and Lu Chen felt that this was his start-up capital. He wanted to develop this force to be no weaker than the three giants of the Green Gang, so that he could ensure the safety of himself and his family in Shanghai.

"Okay, that's enough for me."

Lu Chen smiled knowingly. After so many things, he could see that Liu Jie had truly submitted to him.

Lu Chen now trusts Liu Jie somewhat, but not much.

"Brother Chen..."

Liu Jie glanced at Lu Chen in the rearview mirror, hesitated for a few seconds, and finally spoke.

"Brother Chen, can we please stop working for the Japanese? They've done all sorts of evil in our country. I really don't want to work for them. I'm only in the military police out of necessity. Most of the time I'm just coasting along."

Last night, Liu Jie felt a little uncomfortable seeing Lu Chen walking closely with that Japanese man.

Hearing Liu Jie's words, Lu Chen didn't speak, but stared into his eyes through the rearview mirror and slowly spoke.

"Xiao Jie, do you think I want to work for the Japanese? This is out of necessity. I have a large family, and so do you. You know how low the pay is for other jobs. Tell me, where else can you find such a high-paying job if you're not working for the Japanese in the military police?"

Liu Jie didn't speak, but shook his head after his expression changed.

The Japanese did indeed pay a considerable amount of money; Liu Jie, an ordinary member of the military police, earned enough in a month to support his entire family.

If I were to take any other job, I'd be lucky not to starve.

"Don't worry, I'm not a traitor like Huang Dayong. When I'm able to protect my family, I won't work for the Japanese."

Lu Chen spoke again. He knew that Liu Jie harbored deep hatred for traitors and Japanese, especially Huang Dayong. If it weren't for work, Liu Jie wouldn't bother with him.

"Let's go, Xiao Jie, come inside with me."

Upon arriving at the entrance of the military police headquarters, Lu Chen opened the car door and walked in with Liu Jie.

It's still early, but the military police have all arrived and are preparing to go out on patrol.

"Big guy."

As soon as he entered, Lu Chen gathered these people together. Among them were many of Huang Dayong's men, and it would probably not be easy to get them to work for him.

"Director Huang had an accident last night and is now paralyzed, so from now on I will be your new director."

Looking at the crowd, Lu Chen calmly spoke, with Liu Jie standing beside him.

Upon hearing Lu Chen's words, the group exchanged glances. Almost half of them were petty thugs who immediately expressed their willingness. They were just a bunch of opportunists; as long as they got paid, they didn't care who was above them.

"Director Huang is paralyzed?"

"You're just a translator, aren't you? You think you can get us to follow you? Dream on."

"Yes, where is Director Huang? I need to see him."

Just as Lu Chen had predicted, only a few of Director Huang's former subordinates accepted the offer; most were not very willing.

After all, if Huang Dayong were truly paralyzed, it should be them who take the position of bureau chief, not Lu Chen, the translator.

"All of you, shut the hell up!"

Seeing that the people were causing a commotion, and even stepping forward one by one, wanting Lu Chen to take them to Director Huang.

Lu Chen remained silent, watching coldly. Liu Jie, who was beside him, saw that the group still wanted to make a move, and with a shout, he drew a small knife from his waist.

"Starting today, I, Brother Shen, am the bureau chief. If you don't want to do it, then get the hell out of here."

Facing these people, Liu Jie was not afraid at all. He stood next to Lu Chen with a knife in his hand, and his henchmen also drew their knives and surrounded Huang Dayong's former men.

"Hmph, you bunch of brats? You think you can defy the heavens?!"

Lu Chen recognized the person who spoke this time; he remembered that Huang Dayong was someone Huang often brought along when they first met.

As soon as the man finished speaking, he drew his pistol and pointed it at Lu Chen. Other of Huang Dayong's former subordinates also raised their guns and pointed them at the thugs around them. The military police headquarters was immediately on edge.