It was raining heavily.

Evelyn stood in the alley behind the back door of the "Dark Night Emperor" nightclub, rainwater trickling down her hairline into her collar. Drenched from head to toe, her thin dress clung to her body, accentuating her slightly trembling curves. This was her plan—a meticulously calculated "encounter."

According to intelligence, Lu Kun would leave through the back door at this time every night. He is one of the most feared underworld bosses in Southeast Asia, controlling an underground trade network spanning three countries.

Cruel and cold-blooded.

At thirty, he assumed this position, wielding iron-fisted authority with merciless ruthlessness.

Footsteps approached from the doorway. Evelyn huddled beside the trash can, her arms folded over her knees, her face pressed against the armrest, deliberately letting the tremors of her shoulders stand out in the rain.

The door swung open, and several black-clad bodyguards stepped out to survey the street. Then a towering figure appeared at the doorway. Even without looking back, Evelyn could sense the oppressive presence—it was Lu Kun.

"Boss, there's a woman," a bodyguard whispered.

Lu Kun stopped for a moment.

He looked over, and the woman's thin fabric was completely soaked by the cold rain, sharply outlining her frail frame.

Her face was timid, like a pitiful little creature by the roadside, yet her blue eyes were strikingly beautiful—full of tenderness and the resilience of someone who had weathered life's storms.

He strode forward, his expensive custom leather shoes stepping over the sewage without a speck of dust.

His interest piqued, he playfully pinched her grime-streaked chin, forcing her to lift it higher. Though the gesture was clearly a flirtatious one, his execution carried a cold, scrutinizing tone, devoid of any warmth.

"Where are you from?" Evelyn was forced to meet his bottomless eyes, his gaze leaving no room for evasion.

She opened her mouth, her hoarse voice like sandpaper, uttering lines rehearsed a thousand times: "...Britain." "Britain?" The man released her, his eyes still as sharp as ever. "What brings you here?" She knew his defenses were rock-solid—any lapse could spell disaster. She lowered her eyes just right, her thick, moist lashes casting a shadow that concealed the sharpness she had buried deep within.

"My passport, ID... and all my money were snatched," she murmured in a voice as thin as a thread. "Someone told me to come here... to make money." A bald-headed henchman nearby burst into a raucous laugh. "Ha! You must've been sold here, little girl. This isn't some legitimate place to earn money." This was the city's most sordid red-light district, a marketplace for flesh and souls.

The man's icy gaze swept over him, and the smile on his face froze instantly. He fell silent, his head bowed.

"I can pay you," the man said, his gaze fixed on the girl as if evaluating a commodity, "to return to your country clean and safe. But in return, you must do one thing for me." For a moment, a flicker of light suddenly appeared in the girl's dull blue eyes. "What is it?" she asked eagerly, leaning forward slightly. "Anything you can do to help me get back home!" "Anything... anything?" the man repeated her words with a playful tone, the last syllable lingering with a hint of meaning.

The flicker of light was instantly replaced by fear. The girl recoiled sharply, reverting to her timid and submissive demeanor, her hands frantically twisting at the hem of her dress. "I... I won't break the law. If I do, I'll never come back." The man's lips curled slightly, a faint, deep-seated chuckle escaping his throat. "How dare you come to this foreign land alone?" Evelyn shuddered, remaining silent.

"Rest assured," the man's smile lacked warmth. "I won't make you break the law. Just do as I say. Even if something happens, I'll ensure your safety." She hesitated for a long moment, then, torn between the lure of home and the fear of the unknown, chose the former. "Alright... I'll help you." Seeing her frail frame nearly swaying in the wind, the man suddenly bent down.

He pressed her lips, his motion anything but gentle, forcing her to part slightly. The towering figure descended instantly, casting her entirely into its shadow.

The rain on his expensive black coat just slipped down and fell on her cheek.

Evelyn shuddered.

"Don't shake your voice when speaking." The man wiped the water droplet away with his fingertips, brushing off a smudge from her face. A soft laugh escaped him as his breath brushed past her ear. "Otherwise, how could you deceive?" The words struck like a thunderclap in Ella's heart. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and the timidity and fear in her eyes were magnified to the extreme.

The pleasure in the man's eyes thus becomes clearly visible. He is such a demon who takes delight in plundering others' sense of security and admiring their fears.

"Say it again," he commanded, still maintaining that oppressive posture.

Evelyn drew a deep breath, straining every ounce of her strength to steady her voice: "I... I'll help you." Her voice still trembled uncontrollably.

The men standing by could no longer contain their laughter. The bald man had been the first to speak bluntly: "Boss, don't scare her. With her in this state, what can she do? I think it's better to sell her—she'll at least fetch a good price." "No!" Evelyn was utterly shattered by these words. She looked up at the man, her blue eyes brimming with tears, and pleaded desperately, "Please, don't... I'll work hard. I can learn anything, really!" The man stared at her for a few seconds, his deep eyes filled with unspoken emotions, leaving no one to fathom his thoughts. Finally, he let out a soft "hmm," straightened up, and the suffocating pressure suddenly eased.

He instructed the bodyguard beside him, "Take her in. Get her clean clothes and some food." "Yes, boss." Evelyn was immediately escorted away by a tall guard. She kept her head bowed, letting her wet hair fall over her face, concealing all her emotions.

The moment he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the building, all the timidity, panic and helplessness in his eyes were quietly washed away like a tide.

Instead, there is absolute calm.

She breathed a faint sigh of relief.

The first move in the chess game was flawless. Everything was planned.

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