He dared not take a step further.
The sixth sense whispered to him, an intuitive feeling that if he mustered the audacity to enter as a duo and dismiss the cautionary words, he must possess something substantial to hold onto. Alone, he stood there, lost in thought, until Liu Yong entirely vanished from sight. Only then did he gather the courage to make the slightest movement.
At that moment, a tinge of anger swept through Liu Yong.
Despite his prior knowledge that it was doubtful to collect the money this time, the anger simmered within him, beyond his control. Returning to the hotel, as soon as he entered the room, Li Changle anxiously inquired, "Brother Yong, are you alright?"
Liu Yong replied, "I'm fine. As I suspected, Evan Joyce never had any intentions of honoring his debt. It seems he plans to renege on his obligations."
Concern etched across Li Changle's face as she said worriedly, "Brother Yong, what should we do?"
Liu Yong comforted her, "Don't worry. I have a solution."
After exchanging a few words with his girlfriend and escorting her to the inner room, Liu Yong picked up the phone and summoned He Qiang and Gilsnut.
Both of them were temporarily staying at the same hotel. They almost spoke in unison as they entered the room, "Boss, you called for us."
Liu Yong nodded and recounted his recent visit to the Amos Building, emphasizing, "As we expected, Evan Joyce had no intention of providing the money. Instead, he has a task for us."
Eagerly, He Qiang interjected, "Boss, please tell me."
Liu Yong explained, "Go and investigate. I want Evan Joyce's private phone number, and I also want to know his current whereabouts, his base of operations."
The two of them couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. Simultaneously, they realized that their Boss intended to deal with Evan Joyce. This was excellent news since they had been in Rio for over a week, bored without significant action. Individuals like them were not accustomed to mundane lives; they found joy in battles and confrontations.
He Qiang eagerly declared, "Boss, I will start the investigation immediately."
Once they departed, Liu Yong remained in the hotel, temporarily residing in the presidential suite. He spent his time sipping coffee, gazing at the captivating view from the spacious balcony, or watching television with Li Changle. The hours passed swiftly.
Three to four hours had swiftly elapsed, and it was now afternoon. Liu Yong glanced at his watch, realizing the 24 hours had expired. However, no text message reminder had arrived, indicating that the promised $3.52 billion had yet to materialize. Evan Joyce seemed resolute in his refusal to pay.
Shortly after, He Qiang returned with a report, saying, "Boss, we have thoroughly investigated Evan Joyce's situation. He has been residing in a manor located in the western suburbs of Rio City for the past few days, and he is still there."
The investigation itself proved to be relatively straightforward. However, obtaining Evan Joyce's personal phone number posed a minor challenge. As the self-proclaimed godfather of the Rio City underworld, Evan Joyce was fearless, unafraid of anyone, even some government officials. While he may have accumulated numerous adversaries, he had dealt with most of them, leaving only a few inconsequential ones. Consequently, he became increasingly high-profile, with his whereabouts no longer a closely guarded secret.
He Qiang continued his report, "The manor spans several hundred acres. Evan Joyce usually resides in the grand villa. Accordingto our findings, the manor is heavily guarded, with 70 to 80 individuals protecting Evan Joyce at all times."
He provided a detailed account of their investigation and handed over a blank piece of paper with Evan Joyce's private phone number written on it.
Liu Yong accepted the paper, nodding in satisfaction. He walked over to the phone and dialled the number.
The phone in the presidential suite connected quickly, allowing Liu Yong to pick up the microphone and speak in English, "Mr. Evan Joyce, I am Liu Yong, the man who once wagered 800 million dollars."
On the other end of the line, Evan Joyce was taken aback, not expecting Liu Yong's call. After a brief silence, Evan Joyce responded coldly, "What do you want?"
Liu Yong calmly continued, "I called for two reasons. Firstly, the 24-hour deadline has passed, and I have yet to receive the payment you promised."
He paused briefly before adding, "Secondly, since more than 24 hours have elapsed without any funds transferred, I can only come knocking at your door to collect the debt. However, I must impose a late fee and compensation for the trouble caused."
Before Liu Yong could finish his sentence, Evan Joyce abruptly ended the call, leaving only a beeping, busy tone in response.
At that moment, Evan Joyce was likely cursing Liu Yong's audacity. He still desired the money and found late payment fees preposterous. But Liu Yong remained unfazed, simply waving his hand and declaring, "Inform the others. We will pay him a visit."
He Qiang's spirits soared upon hearing the command. They were about to confront the Godfather of Rio City to settle the debt. It was an exhilarating prospect, especially after spending over a week in Rio with no significant action.
"Boss, we have made all necessary preparations and are ready to act whenever you give the order," He Qiang exclaimed.
Several hours earlier, He Qiang had anticipated this scenario and ensured his team was fully prepared.
Satisfied with He Qiang's response, Liu Yong gestured, "In that case, let's proceed."
Li Changle, however, harboured concerns for Liu Yong's safety.
Liu Yong reassured her, saying, "Lele, don't worry. Wait for me at the hotel. We'll have dinner together in the evening before heading to the airport to go home."
The private plane had arrived again at Rio International Airport, preparing to return to Huahai City that night. The Olympic Games were ongoing, but Chen Hu had completed all eight events, allowing Liu Yong to return home.
Li Changle nodded, saying, "Brother Yong, come back soon."
"Of course, we'll have dinner together," Liu Yong replied, gently kissing Li Changle's forehead.
At the hotel entrance, three off-road vehicles awaited, with seven fully armed team members, including Gilsnut. Meanwhile, Li Changle remained in the hotel, accompanied by four bodyguards Liu Yong had brought from China for her protection.
The three off-road vehicles embarked on their journey to the western suburbs of Rio City. Despite the imminent confrontation, the team members displayed no signs of nervousness. Instead, a palpable sense of excitement emanated from them.
These were individuals born for battle. The prospect of engaging in combat and unleashing their skills was invigorating.
The three vehicles maintained high speeds, gliding along smooth and picturesque asphalt roads. As they ventured deeper into the western suburbs, the city of Rio faded into the distance, and the population grew sparse. The landscape transitioned from urban buildings to dense forests and rolling hillsides.
After driving for around ten kilometres, they came across a vast lake ahead. Adjacent to the lake was the sprawling manor they had been seeking, with the grand villa standing prominently like a castle in the middle.
Liu Yong glanced at the impressive sight and couldn't help but think that Evan Joyce had chosen an idyllic location for his retreat. The man knew how to indulge himself.
As they approached the manor, Liu Yong and his team could see that it was heavily fortified, guarded by many armed personnel. The security detail comprised 70 to 80 individuals who always surrounded Evan Joyce.
Taking in the information provided by He Qiang, Liu Yong couldn't help but feel a surge of determination. This was their moment to confront the self-proclaimed Godfather of Rio City and reclaim what was rightfully theirs.
Gathering his resolve, Liu Yong gave his final instructions to the team, "Stay focused and be prepared for any situation. We're here to collect the debt owed to us."
He Qiang and the others nodded, their anticipation building. They were eager to face off against a figure as formidable as Evan Joyce. To them, a life without action was dull and unfulfilling. This was their chance to experience the thrill of combat once again.
With their preparations complete, Liu Yong and his team approached the heavily guarded entrance of Evan Joyce's manor, ready to demand what was owed to them.
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