Chapter 136: Addicted to Thievery

Someone who can effortlessly earn a million a month will never be interested in a job with an annual salary of half a million. This was why Seventh Master was so keen to know the source of Xiao Cheng's million—whether it was legal and whether it was stable. This was crucial for deciding how to extend an olive branch and what kind of offer to make.

Yun Shisan contacted Seventh Master immediately. Instead of stating his own hypothesis, he forwarded a news report he had found online along with Xiao Cheng’s movements from that day.

"Police break up large-scale underground casino, arresting over 30 individuals involved in gambling, seizing 30,000 in cash, and confiscating hundreds of thousands in gambling equipment..."

The seized cash was so meager that the newspaper had to use the value of the gambling equipment to pad the story.

Seventh Master and Yun Shisan were old hands in the game; they knew immediately that the figures didn't add up. Either the police had skimmed off some of the cash, or—half an hour before the raid, Xiao Cheng had already won that money and walked away.

"Seventh Master, you see that? This kid is ruthless. He cleans out the casino, and then, fearing retaliation, he turns around and reports the place!"

"He wasn't afraid of retaliation. He went there specifically for revenge," Seventh Master said from the other end of the line.

"Revenge?"

Xiao Cheng’s background had been mostly cleared up. His so-called enemies were likely the plaintiffs responsible for his father’s imprisonment.

"Don't forget, the casino was raided while they were apprehending a criminal suspect. And who was that suspect? Didn't we look into that knife-assault case earlier?"

Wen Xiao Cheng often visited patients at the county hospital. Following that trail, they had long since uncovered the business with Lu Qi, including the feud between the older generations of the Wen and Lu families. "Jiang Xiaotao was the suspect in that case!"

"Seventh Master, are you saying he went to the casino just for revenge, and the winning of money was just a side benefit—killing two birds with one stone?"

"That should be right—wait!" Seventh Master stopped mid-sentence. "How precise is your tracking device?"

"How precise? You've used our equipment before; it can guide a missile! Saying it can target a hair is a bit of an exaggeration, but hitting the tip of a nose is no problem at all. It’s almost a waste to use it on him—oh, wait!"

As he said this, Yun Shisan noticed the issue: after zooming in on the satellite map and closely examining Wen Xiao Cheng’s movements, he saw that the boy had stayed outside the casino courtyard; he never went inside!

"How did he get the money if he was outside?"

Even a God of Gamblers would have to sit at the table to play. How did this guy pull it off?

Their shock lasted only a moment before they realized it wasn't hard to guess. Wen Xiao Cheng must have had accomplices. He only needed to orchestrate the plan from behind the scenes without ever showing his face. And his accomplices...

Street thugs, a night watchman at a factory, a handyman at a repair shop, the guy guarding a pool hall...

At this, Shisan suddenly recalled that on the night of the incident, when he left his hotel to buy cigarettes, he had overheard a voice at the front desk asking for a room with a safe. The voice was very familiar. Shisan hadn't paid much attention at the time, but now that he thought back, it sounded exactly like that limping watchman from the factory!

It seemed this kid had earned far more than a million! He even had his underlings storing money in safes.

"But Seventh Master, if his underlings could win the money, why did he go to the casino at all? And what method did he use? Was it stolen? Could he cooperate with a cripple to steal money?"

Even Young Master Tang Qi couldn't figure this out. Casino money was ill-gotten gains; stealing from them could be seen as meting out justice. But this was a society governed by law, and the target was a child under sixteen whose worldview was not yet mature. If he started down a dark path—high-intelligence crime—it would be even more terrifying than the average criminal.

He must not let this become an addiction!

As they spoke, Yun Shisan stared at his screen and gasped, "Damn! Seventh Master, I have to follow him. The kid is moving!"

"What happened?"

"What do you think? He’s out of the house! Why would he be going out at this hour?"

On the computer screen was Xiao Cheng’s location, monitored by both satellite and a tracking device. It was 1:00 AM. Usually, Xiao Cheng would be asleep at home; he had no nightlife to speak of. But now, the target was moving, walking out of his house, as confirmed by both the satellite signal and the tracker! Switching to the surveillance camera they had secretly installed on a streetlamp near Xiao Cheng’s house, it was indeed Xiao Cheng—wearing a baseball cap and walking out alone.

"Living like a nocturnal creature. Does this kid think he’s Zorro?"

Zorro was Xiao Cheng’s online nickname, earned because of the mosaic bar over his eyes in photos.

"Damn it, being a thief is addictive! Seventh Master, my hotel isn't far from there. I’m going to see what this kid is up to!"

Seventh Master didn't object. After all, if a high-IQ genius like Wen Xiao Cheng really went down the wrong path, it would be a terrible waste. "Don't get discovered. If he really is going to commit a theft, go through the 14th Bureau and have the local police give him some trouble. We stay out of it!"

...

Summer nights are more pleasant than days because the air is cool.

Laojing Village was already fast asleep, but as Xiao Cheng walked along the dirt path, he still moved on tiptoe. If he made any noise now, every dog in the village would start barking.

A Santana was parked on the side of the road at the edge of the village. The "Foreign Thief" in the driver's seat yawned, looking resentful. When he saw Xiao Cheng open the door and get in, he began to grumble: "Kid, don't tell me you really think of me as your personal driver? It's the middle of the night, we're sneaking around—what exactly are you doing? It's hard to get a taxi at this hour, sure, but ride-sharing apps are everywhere. Add ten or twenty bucks, and a driver would definitely come!"

Xiao Cheng fastened his seatbelt and said casually, "Wouldn't that cost ten bucks?"

"So you're saying my services are free?"

"Yeah, if there’s a free option, who would waste money like that?"

Wang Yang felt deeply insulted. "Cut the crap! You’re reimbursing my gas money!"

A hundred-yuan bill was handed to the Foreign Thief, and his expression softened slightly. He snatched it, shoved it into his pocket, and then his face darkened. One hand gripped the steering wheel while the other patted his pockets. Finally, he looked at Xiao Cheng with tragic indignation: "You used my own money to pay for my gas?"

Xiao Cheng laughed. "When did you figure it out?"

"That was the only hundred bucks in my pocket! It looked familiar! I shouldn't have gotten mixed up with you. Now you’re even slicker at being a thief than I am. By the way, when are you giving me the hundred thousand you promised?"

Xiao Cheng gave a lecherous smile. "If I gave it to you now, would you still be here to help me tonight?"

"Damn! Are you planning to welch on the deal?" The Foreign Thief’s face was full of grief.

"Let me ask you, if I gave you a hundred thousand, what would you spend it on?"

"That's none of your business! Once you give it to me, it's my money!" Wang Yang glared.

"Let me answer for you: you’d definitely go for a 'full-service' massage, right?"

The Foreign Thief couldn't deny it. On the night they drank together, he had swore on his life that he would hire four girls...

"If I gave you the money now, I’d be doing a disservice to my future sister-in-law! So, don't be in such a hurry. The money is safe with me. If you don't trust me, you can give it to the boss. Once you get a girlfriend, I’ll hand it over. For now, you’ll just have to make do with your left hand."

The Foreign Thief looked utterly aggrieved, lifting his left hand from the steering wheel and gazing at it with soulful longing.

"Damn it, nothing good ever comes from hanging out with you! Stop messing with me! What are we doing today? Sometimes I’m afraid you’re going to sell me out! You’re nothing but trouble!"

"Today, we’re going to be thieves."