Start with push-ups to gain experience

In the old town, the afternoon sunlight carried a touch of languor.

Looking east from the rooftop terrace of the old seafood freezing plant, one can see houses scattered along the long coastline, almost touching the waves.

The salty sea breeze swept over the low rooftops, carrying the distant sounds of cargo ships' horns from the harbor, drifting slowly in.

Beside the concrete railing at the edge of the terrace stood two figures, a man and a woman. The man was handsome and tall, while the woman was charming and beautiful.

From the lobby and floors downstairs, the dull sounds of electric drills drilling holes and hammers striking the walls could be heard from time to time.

The two continued their conversation, seemingly oblivious to the noise below, appearing relaxed and at ease.

"Whoa—"

Lin Chuqiao let out a sigh of relief and casually placed her hands on the rough cement railing.

The sea breeze tousled her long, beautiful black hair, with a few strands clinging to her fair cheeks.

Her face showed a slight weariness, yet it exuded a charming and touching allure.

She has been busy with various preparatory work at the base for a long time.

Fortunately, the construction team has successfully entered the site and is now demolishing the old plasterboard partitions according to the blueprints, and redividing the space and laying pipelines.

Once you get through this most grueling two weeks, everything else will fall into place.

Thinking of this, she turned her head slightly, stretched out her slender fingers painted with nail polish, and tucked a few strands of messy hair behind her ear.

Her alluring eyes darted around, sizing up the man beside her.

"Brother Cheng, it's been so long since I've seen you."

A faint smile played at the corners of her lips, her tone tinged with a hint of teasing:

"I heard from Xiao Sa that you went to take the Special Investigation Team's spring recruitment exam a few days ago?"

"Ah."

Fang Cheng, with his hands in his pockets and his gaze fixed on the shimmering sea in the distance, nodded slightly upon hearing this.

"This is too surreal!"

Lin Chuqiao covered her red lips and chuckled softly, her full breasts rising and falling slightly.

“We, the Illuminati, are supposed to be an organization that is preparing to establish a new order in the underworld. And you, as the leader, actually went to take the civil service exam and became an official.”

"If this gets out in the future, the bigwigs of other forces will probably laugh their heads off."

Fang Cheng turned his head to meet her gaze, and said calmly:

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. The special investigation team has access to the most secure intelligence network in Dongdu. If we don't infiltrate it, how can we find out the government's true intentions and pave the way for our organization's development?"

After offering a casual explanation, he didn't elaborate on the matter and smoothly changed the subject:

"How is the base construction progressing?"

"With money, things become much easier."

Lin Chuqiao raised her eyebrows slightly and replied in a light tone:
“We started construction at both bases at the same time, with the construction team working in three shifts. The basic renovation will be completed in another half month, and then the security equipment and servers will be installed.”

"As for the Jiangbei Industrial Park, it's a bit more complicated. Due to the large scale of the project, it will take at least another month for people to move in."

After reporting the progress, Lin Chuqiao suddenly frowned slightly, sighed softly, and leaned her slender waist against the railing.

"Hardware is easy to acquire, but software is hard to find. Our Illuminati is currently facing a severe shortage of talent in all aspects. For example, on my side, we lack an expert who can manage the accounts."

As she spoke, her eyes flickered, and her gaze fell on Fang Cheng's profile.

"Brother Cheng, the accountant candidate you asked me to keep an eye on is in big trouble now, which is why I called you here today."

Fang Cheng withdrew his gaze from the distance and asked:

"Wang Li?"

"Yes, didn't you previously instruct me to handle this personally?"

Lin Chuqiao straightened up, her expression becoming slightly more serious:
"His situation is even worse now than when Xiao Sa first reported it. His wife's uremia has worsened. She was barely able to survive with hemodialysis three times a week, but the doctor gave her an ultimatum the day before yesterday: she must have a kidney transplant as soon as possible."

She paused for a moment, a hint of sympathy flashing in her eyes:
“He has managed to find a kidney donor, but the initial surgery costs and the subsequent anti-rejection medication costs are astronomical. He has already borrowed a lot of money from loan sharks to raise the funds.”

"Not only that."

Lin Chuqiao's tone was slightly somber as she continued:

He also has a seventeen-year-old daughter named Wang Yao, who is still in high school.

“The young girl felt sorry for her family’s financial situation and secretly worked as a drink promoter at a bar called ‘Blue Ice’ without telling her father.”

"As a result, she was set up by the gangsters in that area. They deliberately broke several bottles of expensive foreign liquor and forced the girl to sign a contract of servitude. Now she has been held by those scoundrels and we haven't been able to contact her for almost a day."

Fang Cheng listened quietly, then asked:
"How did Xiaosa first approach him?"

"Xiao Sa followed my instructions and approached him in the name of the trading company, offering him a salary far exceeding the market rate."

Lin Chuqiao recalled the details of that time and slowly said:

"However, this person is indeed shrewd. He knows very well that he is a useless person with a revoked license and a scapegoat, and no legitimate company would dare to hire him."

“If a company offers him a high salary and specifically asks for him, it must have a dirty past and might ask him to do illegal things. So, although he is extremely short of money, he is very cautious and has not given in.”

"Being vigilant is a good thing."

Fang Cheng nodded slightly, his tone revealing a hint of appreciation:
"To work in finance, you need to be discreet and meticulous. Being able to hold onto your principles even when things are tough is more valuable than just having good business skills. Once someone like that is loyal to you, you can trust them with confidence."

Lin Chuqiao spread her hands and smiled self-deprecatingly:
"That's the tricky part. You have to find an honest person with principles, persuade him to join our underground organization, and you can't use underhanded methods to force him. I've been racking my brains trying to figure out what to do these past few days."

Seeing her troubled expression, Fang Cheng's lips curled into a smile:
"Isn't this the opportunity that came today? He came to us of his own accord."

Lin Chuqiao smiled upon hearing this:
"Then let's see how you, the big boss of the Illuminati, will make him truly convinced and willingly join the group."

As he spoke, his gaze casually swept around, his eyes passing through the gaps in the scaffolding and landing on the bustling street.

Suddenly, her eyes narrowed slightly, and she spoke up to remind him:
"They're here, Brother Cheng."

Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng followed her gaze and looked down.

At the entrance of the alley downstairs, Xiao Sa was leading a hunched middle-aged man, walking briskly toward the gate of the old building.

“I told him before,”

Lin Chuqiao explained softly from the side:
"Our company's chairman will be coming this morning to inspect the renovation progress. If you have any huge grievances, you can take this opportunity to ask for help in person. I also told him that as long as you agree, there is no problem that Dongdu Underground World cannot solve."

"hehe."

Fang Cheng chuckled and flexed his wrists:

"I've been practicing martial arts these past few days, and my hands are itching to stretch my muscles and bones."

He cracked his neck and said in a relaxed tone:

"Let him see how the Illuminati operates."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuqiao covered her lips and chuckled, her eyes sparkling with allure.
"Brother Cheng, why do I feel like this situation is a bit like an ancient bandit leader trying to recruit people into his gang, but he insists on getting them to 'pledge their allegiance' first?" The two chatted and laughed on the terrace as they waited.

A moment later, the rusty iron door leading to the rooftop was pushed open.

Xiao Sa led Wang Li in.

He first bowed respectfully to Fang Cheng and greeted him as "Chairman".

He then wisely withdrew from the terrace and closed the iron gate behind him.

Only three people remained on the empty terrace.

Fang Cheng carefully examined the man in front of him.

Wang Li looks to be in his forties, but his temples are already gray, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes are as deep as if they were carved by a knife.

He was wearing a cheap, faded jacket with frayed cuffs, and his whole body reeked of the fishy smell and sweaty odor of someone who had spent years in the fish market.

Thick dark circles hung under his eyes, his lips were dry and cracked, and he looked like a piece of rotten wood about to be crushed.

But the repaired gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, and his posture—even with his hands trembling from nervousness, yet still striving to stand straight—still hinted at a degree of intellectual self-respect.

Wang Li also saw Fang Cheng's face clearly and was visibly stunned for a moment.

He originally thought that the gangster boss who could make that dashing gentleman boast about "solving everything" must be a ruthless character with a fierce and menacing appearance.

To my complete surprise, the young man in front of me, who was respectfully addressed as "Chairman", was handsome, tall, and had a refined demeanor. He looked more like a college student from a wealthy family.

"thump."

After a brief moment of shock, his desperate desire to save his daughter ultimately overwhelmed his last shred of pride.

Wang Li's legs buckled, and his knees slammed heavily onto the rough cement ground.

"Boss, please have mercy and save my daughter! If you can save her, my life is yours. I'll do any dirty work for you!"

His voice was terribly hoarse, thick with sobs.

Fang Cheng frowned slightly and said:

"Speak up if you have something to say."

However, Wang Li remained kneeling on the spot, his knees seemingly rooted to the ground, as if he wouldn't get up until Fang Cheng agreed.

Upon seeing this, Lin Chuqiao immediately stepped forward in her high heels and reached out to support him.

"Mr. Wang."

She gently persuaded him:
“Our president hates it most when people use moral blackmail to negotiate with him. If you really want to save your daughter, stand up straight and explain things clearly.”

"You know, the longer this drags on, the more dangerous it will be for your daughter over there."

These words struck at Wang Li's weak point, instantly sending a shiver down his spine.

He quickly braced himself with his hands on the ground and managed to stand up.

He then wiped away the tears from his eyes, his lips trembling as he began to recount the events:
"It's Blue Ice Bar, that's the territory guarded by the 'Viper Gang'."

“They suddenly called me last night, saying that Yao Yao broke their store's signature liquor and owed them 300,000 yuan. I couldn't come up with the money, so they said they would detain Yao Yao at the store and force her to entertain customers to pay off the debt…”

As Wang Li spoke, he stamped his feet anxiously, his hands clenching into fists helplessly in front of him.
"Those guys are all ruthless outlaws who carry knives and live a life of crime. They're vicious and I've heard they've already killed people. They run rampant in this area, and nobody dares to mess with them."

"Even if I call the police now, by the time they file a case and come to complete the procedures, Yao Yao... will probably have already been violated by them..."

At this point, he choked up and dared not continue, fearing that the terrible thoughts in his mind would become reality.

Fang Cheng listened quietly, then asked in a calm tone:
"Are you sure she's being held captive in that bar?"

"Sure!"

Wang Li nodded repeatedly:

“I spent the whole night in the back alley of the bar yesterday, and I didn’t see them take anyone out. I even secretly asked Yao Yao’s colleagues, and they said the person is definitely still locked up inside.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng walked straight over and patted Wang Li's dusty shoulder:

"Lead the way."

Wang Li suddenly raised his head, looking at Fang Cheng with disbelief in his eyes.

"Lead...lead the way?"

He stammered, "Shall we go now?"

Fang Cheng countered, "What, you're not in a hurry anymore?"

Wang Li was so frightened that he hurriedly waved his hand:

"That's not what I meant. I meant that those people are very fierce, and we need to be prepared before we go over."

He looked around, seemingly searching for bodyguards and thugs who could accompany him to rescue the people.

In his mind, such a wealthy and powerful tycoon would at most make a phone call and arrange for a dozen or so men to bring weapons and snatch the person back.

But this seemingly refined young man in front of me looks like he's about to take the risk himself?
That's the headquarters of the Viper Gang, with dozens of gang members guarding it!

Fang Cheng didn't explain, but simply walked past him and headed towards the iron gate.

"Brother Cheng, let me go with you."

Lin Chuqiao took two steps to catch up and made a suggestion in a soft voice.

Fang Cheng stopped, turned to look at her, and instructed:

"You stay here; someone needs to keep an eye on the construction site. It's just dealing with a bunch of thugs; I'll be back soon. We'll have dinner together tonight."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuqiao's eyes lit up with joy, and she nodded obediently, no longer insisting.

Fang Cheng, who was walking in front, pushed open the iron gate and led the apprehensive Wang Li downstairs.

In fact, neither Lin Chuqiao nor Wang Li knew Fang Cheng's true intentions.

Dealing with a third-rate gang only requires a single word from him.

Whether you send Xiaosai with a few Red Tiger Gang brothers, or send Da Chui, Pang Hu, and others to sweep the area, they can easily get the person out.

But Fang Cheng chose to make this trip in person for only one purpose.

That is to establish authority and win people's hearts.

For an intellectual like Wang Li, who values ​​principles highly and is meticulous in his thinking, verbal favors are unlikely to completely dispel his concerns.

Only when he was at his most desperate moment did he act as a savior and use swift and decisive means to rescue his daughter from the abyss.

Only such extreme violence and redemption could have the strongest impact on his psyche.

At that point, by combining it with the ability of "spiritual resonance," one can directly establish an unbreakable spiritual bond at the moment when the other party is most vulnerable.

This is the most effective way to ensure the absolute loyalty of a core CFO. (End of Chapter)