Reborn in Hong Kong Island, I can see loyalty

Hong Kong Island's underground casinos were once a chaotic place, scattered throughout the narrow alleys of Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok, rife with cheating, loan sharking, and violent debt collection. After consolidating the underground order, Yip Ho-hin established rules to regulate casinos. Now that the villa complex has been successfully completed, this final step is finally on the agenda.

Wearing a well-fitting suit, Qian Wendi stood at the entrance of one of the most rampant underground casinos in Yau Ma Tei, accompanied by two Hung Hing core members.

This establishment had no signboard, only a half-open iron gate to welcome customers, from which the sounds of dice clashing and clamor could be faintly heard.

"Take action." Qian Wendi gestured to his men to push open the door. The iron door creaked open, and the noise in the casino instantly ceased.

The gamblers around the dozens of gambling tables turned around and looked over. When they saw Qian Wendi, dressed in a suit and exuding a powerful aura, their excitement instantly turned into panic.

The casino owner is a bald man with a fierce face, nicknamed "Bald Qiang". He used to run rampant in Yau Ma Tei for a long time by colluding with the remnants of the Tung Sing gang.

Seeing that the visitor was hostile, he grabbed the ashtray on the table and tried to resist, but was held down by one of Qian Wendi's key men and slammed onto the gambling table.

"Bald guy, how have you been?" Qian Wendi walked to the main table, his fingertips tracing the scratched surface. "Mr. Ye has ordered that all underground casinos on Hong Kong Island either rectify their practices according to the rules or close down on the spot. Your place has crossed every red line with cheating and loan sharking, so it has to be shut down today."

"Qian Wendi, stop trying to intimidate me with Mr. Ye!" Bald Qiang struggled and roared, "My place makes hundreds of thousands every day, why should I shut it down like this?"

"Given the current underground order on Hong Kong Island, I'm in charge." Qian Wendi's tone was icy as he gestured to his men, "Confiscate the gambling equipment, register and seal the gambling funds, persuade all gamblers to leave, and do not cause them any trouble."

The key members carried out the orders swiftly, and the gamblers, seeing this, all got up and fled, none daring to linger.

Qian Wendi went to the casino's backstage area, opened the safe, which was stuffed with cash and several loan shark ledgers. He picked up a ledger, flipped through it, and sneered:

“These debts will be settled at the bank’s benchmark interest rate. Any overcharged interest must be returned, or don’t blame me for being impolite.”

Meanwhile, in a large underground casino in Causeway Bay, Ko Chun was sitting in the main seat with a newly customized gambling set in front of him.

He wore his signature white suit, held a chip in his hand, and had a calm and steady gaze.

"Gentlemen," Gao Jin's voice wasn't loud, but it silenced the casino operators present, "Mr. Ye asked me to set the rules, not to cut off your livelihood, but to ensure that the casinos can continue to operate in the long term."

He gestured for his men to unfold a sheet of paper filled with rules. “First, cheating is strictly prohibited. All gambling equipment will be uniformly distributed by Hung Hing. Each game will have professional dealers and supervisors. Second, usury is prohibited. Small loans may be provided, but the interest rate must not exceed three times that of banks for the same period. Third, violent debt collection is strictly prohibited. Any debt disputes will be mediated by Hung Hing. Fourth, all scattered small casinos will be merged, and only three large, compliant casinos in Causeway Bay, Mong Kok, and Yau Ma Tei will be retained for unified management and unified commission.”

One casino owner protested, "Mr. Gao, your rules are too strict. How are we supposed to make money?"

"Make the money you should make." Gao Jin twirled the chips between his fingers. "Only when the rules are established will gamblers dare to come, and only then can the business last. Those previous chaotic practices, which seemed to make quick money, will eventually lead to trouble and implicate the entire underground industry. Mr. Ye said that if you are willing to abide by the rules, Hung Hing will guarantee your stable operation; if you are unwilling to abide by the rules, don't blame us for being ruthless."

Ko Chun's reputation as the God of Gamblers was known to everyone in Hong Kong's gambling circles, and with Ye Haoxuan's backing, none of the bosses present dared to object.

Gao Jin added, "I will send a professional team to train the dealers and managers. Three days later, the three compliant casinos will officially open. I will personally oversee the Causeway Bay casino. Anyone who dares to play tricks will be out of the gambling business."

The news quickly spread throughout Hong Kong Island's underground gambling scene. Most of the small casino owners, realizing the situation, either closed down voluntarily or applied to merge into compliant establishments under the Hung Hing Group.

A few stubborn individuals tried to continue operating clandestinely, but Qian Wendi and his men raided their operations one by one, destroying their gambling equipment and confiscating their ledgers, thus completely extinguishing their hopes.

Ye Haoxuan sat on the terrace of the seaside villa, listening to Tony's report, with a cup of tea in his hand.

Sunlight streamed onto the golf course lawn, and the distant sound of children's laughter filled the air—a scene of serene beauty.

"Brother Xuan, Qian Wendi has shut down seventeen scattered casinos, and preparations for three compliant venues are almost complete. Gao Jin's rules have been approved by all operators, and the usurious debts are being gradually settled and refunded," Tony reported.

“Well done.” Ye Haoxuan nodded. “The crackdown on casinos is a crucial part of maintaining order in the underground industry. Only by establishing rules can we prevent future troubles. Tell Qian Wendi and Gao Jin to keep a close eye on things after they open, and not let those old hands take advantage of any loopholes.”

“Understood,” Tony replied.

Ye Haoxuan looked out at the Hong Kong Island city center in the distance, knowing that the crackdown on casinos was only the first step, and there was still much more order to be regulated.

But looking at his peaceful home and the gradually clearing underground world, he knew that the peace he wanted was slowly becoming a reality.

Three days later, the Causeway Bay compliant casino officially opened.

There was no ostentatious sign at the entrance, only a wooden sign that read "Honest Entertainment". The interior was simply and elegantly decorated, with neatly arranged gambling tables and dealers in uniform, their movements standardized and efficient.

Gao Jin personally presided over the main table, while Qian Wendi toured the entire venue. Gone was the usual noise and chaos; in its place was an orderly atmosphere.

After the news spread, many gamblers came here, knowing that the rules were fair, there was no cheating or usury, and they could gamble with peace of mind.

The casino's business was not only unaffected, but it was even more prosperous than before. The other two venues also opened one after another, and their business was equally booming.

Ye Haoxuan would occasionally bring his family to the gambling dens in Causeway Bay, not for gambling, but just to see the results of the crackdown.

He Min and the children rested at a nearby tea table. Looking at the orderly scene, she smiled and said to Ye Haoxuan:

"It's great that it's like this now. It provides a place for everyone to have fun, and the chaos of the past is gone. We don't have to worry about getting into trouble."

Ye Haoxuan held her hand, his gaze gentle: "Only when the rules are established can people's hearts be at peace, and this underground world will eventually move towards clarity."

At a gambling table in the distance, Gao Jin threw the dice, and the numbers were revealed, prompting a peaceful cheer from the gamblers.

Qian Wendi stood in the corner, watching all this with a satisfied smile on his face.

The underground casinos on Hong Kong Island have finally gotten on the right track within the framework of regulations.