Leo Pg had always been wary of government officials. Growing up, he understood one basic principle: the one with the bigger fists makes the rules.
In this territory, he could challenge anyone, but he wouldn't dare mess with a privileged heir from a family that "serves the people."
Despite his relatively successful ventures, the tightening grip of the authorities had forced many of his businesses to either transition into something more legitimate or move offshore.
This growing pressure made him feel increasingly constrained.
Now, his only way out was to build connections with powerful people. Otherwise, it was only a matter of time before he was swept away in a major crackdown.
Though he wasn't entirely certain of James's identity yet, Leo Pg knew that the King family was one of the most prominent families in the capital.
And when he looked at James's calm smile, it carried an air of confidenceâalmost as if James was ready to buy out all of Shanghai in one move.
It was an attitude that screamed "powerful and untouchable."
So, Leo Pg treated James with extraordinary courtesy.
"Mr. King, what would you like to do tonight? Whatever it is, I'll make sure it's arranged perfectly for you," Leo said eagerly before turning to one of his lackeys. "Go make a call. Bring in the Twelve Beauties of New York City to accompany Mr. King for drinks."
James immediately waved his hand. "No, no, no. I'm a proper gentleman. I can't handle that kind of company. Just like last night, having Amanda here to keep me company is more than enough."
A proper gentleman?
Leo Pg believed himâpartially.
But then a suspicion crossed his mind: was this guy here for Amanda?
Leo Pg had always been fond of Amanda.
She was smart, capable, and stunningly beautiful. Not only did she look amazing, but her work was equally impressive.
Since Amanda started managing his bar, revenues had doubled.
Who wouldn't want a competent and beautiful woman by their side?
However, Amanda had a fiery personality, and Leo was afraid that if he pushed her too far, she might retaliate without care for the consequences.
So he had been biding his time, waiting for her to hit rock bottom and come to him willingly.
But now, after waiting so long, a powerful figure seemed to have taken an interest in her.
Leo Pg felt reluctant to give up such an extraordinary woman.
But if a big shot like James really wanted her, what could he do?
After all, a small arm can't wrestle a big leg.
In Leo Pg's eyes, women were like clothesâthere were always more to choose from.
If you had enough power and money, women would climb into your lap on their own, no payment required.
Only a few stubborn ones, like Amanda, clung to their principles.
"Well then, Amanda, tonight you'd better take good care of Mr. Qin for me," Leo said with a sly grin, addressing Amanda.
"Yes, boss," Amanda replied.
She forced a weak smile at James, her eyes briefly flashing with a hint of apology.
She had already decided to resign later that evening and leave James in Leo's hands while she quietly went home.
The dim lighting in the parking lot hid Amanda's expression, and James, unfazed, casually walked with them toward the bar.
The three of them entered the bar, followed by five or six lackeys.
The lively group headed upstairs to the same boothâS03.
The bar was quiet, with soft music playing and only a few patrons present, creating a relaxed atmosphere perfect for conversations.
The three of them sat on the sofa while the others stood nearby, keeping their distance.
"What would you like to drink tonight, Mr. King?" Leo Pg asked, smiling eagerly. "We have a limited edition bottle of Louis XIII that we usually don't take out. Would you like to try it?"
The bottle he mentioned was Louis XIII Rare Cask 42.6, with only 786 bottles released worldwide. Each bottle had a numbered engraving, and it fetched around 80,000 USD at auctions.
A truly impressive offering.
Leo Pg had brought out such an expensive bottle not only to impress James but also to subtly signal that he was willing to spend money to build a relationship with him.
If James accepted, Leo would consider the connection established.
But James didn't care. He wasn't knowledgeable about alcohol and didn't enjoy drinking that much.
He shook his head and turned to Amanda.
"Amanda, what do you like to drink? It's my treat," James asked casually.
Amanda blinked, caught off guard that her opinion was even being considered. After a moment, she replied:
"I think Armand de Brignac is pretty good. Should I bring up the bottle you had last time?"
James frowned. He didn't dare touch Tailsa's bottle. Not only was it unclear if the system would allow it, but if Tailsa found out he had secretly visited the bar, she would definitely get angry.
"No need to use the one from last time. If you like Armand de Brignac, I'll buy a new one," James said.
"I don't mind either way," Amanda replied.
"Neither do I. You decide," James said, continuing to chat casually with Amanda as though Leo weren't even there.
Leo's smile froze. He hadn't expected James to brush him off so blatantly.
But this only convinced Leo further that James was someone powerful.
After all, in New York, very few people dared to ignore Leo Pg, let alone flirt openly with Amanda in front of him.
"Mr. King said to let you decide. Don't hesitateâjust bring out the best," Leo said, signaling Amanda to take action.
Understanding the hint, Amanda stood up, preparing to fetch the Louis XIII bottle.
"Amanda, while you're at it, order some snacks tooâbeef, pickled chicken feet, pork head, stuff like that," James added.
"..." Amanda froze for a moment before replying, "Alright, Mr. King."
"Mr. King, you truly know how to enjoy yourself," Leo said with a hearty laugh.
"I've always preferred simple snacks with my drinks," Leo added. "Duck intestines, beef tongue, pig tailsâthose are a hundred times better than foie gras or escargot."
James had only ordered those snacks because he was hungry. In truth, what he wanted most was fried rice.
But eating fried rice in a bar... didn't seem very appropriate.
Especially when there were serious matters to discuss.
"Looking at your build, Pg, you must've had plenty of those snacks," James said with a faint smile.
"Life is all about eating and drinking," Leo laughed, taking the opportunity to probe further. "Mr. King, you're so young and accomplished. May I ask where you work?"
"Unemployed," James replied with a wide grin, his tone carrying a hint of pride.
Of course, he was proud. If you didn't have to work and still had money to spend, wouldn't you be grinning ear to ear too?
Leo couldn't quite gauge James's background but subtly steered the conversation toward the capital.
James, unfamiliar with the capital's politics and families, chose to stay silent.
This silence only deepened Leo's belief that James was connected to the King family.
If Leo, a small-time local big shot, could catch the attention of someone from the King family, his position in New York would become untouchable.
Leo felt a surge of excitement and decided to strengthen his relationship with James.
He ordered seven or eight girls to dance near the booth.
Each girl was heavily made up, dressed provocatively, and had striking figures. In the dim, sultry lighting of the bar, they swayed their hips seductively, trying to draw the attention of the two men seated on the sofa.
James glanced at the girls with his metaphorical "demon-revealing mirror" and immediately turned his attention back to the snacks Amanda brought over.
He casually chatted with her about her daughter, showing no interest in the dancers.
Seeing this, Leo was impressed.
As expected of someone from a powerful familyâhis standards are incredibly high.
Leo had been considering calling in the Twelve Beauties of New York City, but seeing Amanda and James chatting happily, he decided it wasn't worth the expense.
After all, the Twelve Beauties weren't cheapâtheir appearance fees were higher than that of the Louis XIII bottle.
Leo personally opened the limited-edition Louis XIII, poured a glass for James, and raised his own glass to toast.
When their glasses clinked, Leo made sure the rim of his glass was an inch lower than James's, adopting an entirely deferential posture.
No one would have guessed that this man, who controlled hundreds of subordinates, owned three casinos, a bathhouse, and a bar, and ran a candy business abroad, would bow so low to a young man like James.