Chapter 204 Meeting Han Yili Again
What was really going through Hu Xuyong's mind when he said those words, Lin Haoran could not know for sure.
Offering to handle delicate matters for him, willing to be a scapegoat?
Such behavior was hardly typical for a gang boss!
Lin Haoran was somewhat surprised that they showed such great sincerity just to apologize.
Or perhaps, they also saw an opportunity to find a reliable "backer"?
Even if Lin Haoran wouldn't necessarily shield them in serious trouble, sometimes just a casual word from a powerful figure could be enough to save them from disaster.
Lin Haoran understood well that the relationships between Hong Kong's syndicates and elite families were deeply entangled.
In recent days, he had learned quite a bit about 13K: although it still existed as a syndicate, ever since Ge Zhixiong—the Dragon Head—had retired and stopped managing its affairs, each faction under 13K operated independently. It was no longer a unified organization.
They were more like a coalition of various gangs, united under the banner of 13K.
Hu Xuyong was one of the most powerful leaders within this coalition, heading the "Yi" faction. Across 13K, he ranked among the top two in influence, ruling over areas like Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Mong Kok.
Hu Xuyong couldn't represent all of 13K, but he was undeniably one of its most powerful figures.
As for Ge Zhixiong, it was clear he had come along today merely to prevent Lin Haoran from blaming the entire 13K organization.
Although Ge no longer cared about internal affairs, he didn't want to see the organization his father built fall into trouble because of a grudge with Lin Haoran.
"I already punished those six men. Let's consider the matter closed. But Mr. Pan, you must properly discipline your subordinates. This time it was me—and I'm quite lenient. Next time, if they offend someone less forgiving, the consequences might not be so easy to resolve.
As for your offer, fine. If I ever have something that needs doing, I'll call you," Lin Haoran said, accepting their gesture.
To him, having a fierce fighter like Hu Xuyong as a backup wasn't a bad thing.
Of course, Lin Haoran didn't expect to need them often—but accepting their goodwill neatly concluded the matter.
Hearing Lin Haoran's words, Ge Zhixiong and Hu Xuyong exchanged glances and breathed a deep sigh of relief.
This Mr. Lin was far more reasonable than they had feared.
Though seasoned veterans of the underworld, they dared not show even a trace of arrogance before Lin Haoran, a man unafraid to clash with even British conglomerates.
"Mr. Lin, this matter was entirely our fault. I've already ordered all the leaders of the different 13K factions to better manage their subordinates to prevent future incidents," Ge Zhixiong added respectfully.
"Good. That's your business, not mine. If there's nothing else, you may leave. I have a meeting shortly. And take your gift with you—I accept your apology, but I don't need presents," Lin Haoran said, pointing at the large gift bag they had brought.
He didn't even care to check what was inside.
Given his current wealth, he hardly needed gifts from gangsters.
"Please accept it, Mr. Lin. It's a token of our sincerity. If it's not enough, we can offer more!" Hu Xuyong said, opening the bag to reveal bundles of HK$100 bills.
By a quick estimate, there was at least HK$1 million.
No wonder they had brought such a big bag.
"Take it back. Do you think I'm short of money? The companies under my control—Hong Kong Electric Group, China Gas Company, Cheung Chau Cement—all have market values in the hundreds of millions.
If you really want to show sincerity, help me in the future if needed. That's the best way," Lin Haoran said, waving them off.
Black money was of no interest to him.
And frankly, HK$1 million was too small an amount for him to care about.
"Mr. Lin has spoken. Take it back, Zhiyong," Ge Zhixiong instructed.
"Rest assured, Mr. Lin. If you ever need us, we will do our utmost to help," Hu Xuyong promised solemnly.
"Alright, that's it for today. I'm busy," Lin Haoran said, checking his watch.
"Goodbye, Mr. Lin," both men said in unison, then left, taking their money with them.
Watching them go, Lin Haoran thought for a moment, then dismissed the matter from his mind.
He had no intention of dealing much with gangsters.
As a man who had traveled from another world, he preferred to do business openly, without resorting to shady methods.
"Guard, Weiguo, Weidong, come in," Lin Haoran called.
"Boss," they replied, entering immediately.
They had been standing guard outside the door the entire time, just in case something unexpected happened.
Although the risk was low, caution was necessary.
"Let's go to Police Headquarters later and get your gun licenses," Lin Haoran said with a smile.
Previously, he had arranged with Police Commissioner Han Yili to have permits issued for his two bodyguards.
This kind of thing, difficult for ordinary people, was a mere formality for the Police Commissioner.
"Boss, it's been years since I've held a gun. I'm really looking forward to it," Li Weidong said excitedly.
Li Weiguo was equally eager.
While they were skilled fighters, against bullets, even the best martial artists were vulnerable.
Having firearms would massively boost their effectiveness.
Though they wouldn't carry guns daily, just having them would make a huge difference.
Since retiring from the military, they hadn't touched firearms for years.
Now, they finally had the chance again—and legally, no less.
Lin Haoran then called Han Yili to confirm.
They had exchanged contact information at Governor MacLehose's banquet, so Lin Haoran had his number.
The call connected quickly.
Upon hearing it was Lin Haoran, Han Yili said he was in his office and waiting for them.
"Let's go. We shouldn't delay and keep them waiting," Lin Haoran said.
It was just after 4 PM, and government offices in Hong Kong typically closed around 6 PM.
Police Headquarters was located at Arsenal Street, Wan Chai, just a ten-minute drive from Hong Kong Electric's headquarters.
They had plenty of time.
Arriving at Police Headquarters, they parked and entered the Murray Building.
Thanks to Han Yili's prior instructions, they were immediately escorted upstairs.
Soon, they reached Han Yili's office on the 19th floor.
"Mr. Lin, Happy New Year! Congratulations on acquiring another listed company!" Han Yili said warmly as he greeted them.
Although detailed reports hadn't yet appeared in the newspapers, the news was already widespread via TV and radio.
"It was purely by chance. If Mr. Li Mingze hadn't been willing to sell, I wouldn't have had the opportunity," Lin Haoran replied humbly.
After some small talk, Han Yili got to the point.
"Do you have their ID documents? If so, we can proceed immediately."
Lin Haoran turned to his two bodyguards. "Weiguo, Weidong, hand over your IDs."
They complied, handing over their Hong Kong ID cards.
Ten minutes later, three firearms licenses were issued, each bearing the official stamp of the Police Headquarters.
Yes—three.
Besides Li Weidong and Li Weiguo, Han Yili had also issued one for Lin Haoran himself.
Although it wasn't strictly necessary, it was still good to have a license, making his possession of a firearm fully legal.
From today onward, Li Weidong and Li Weiguo were officially licensed to carry guns in Hong Kong.
Han Yili even kindly offered to equip them with police-issue handguns, but Lin Haoran politely declined.
Hong Kong police had recently switched to the Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver.
While reliable, it had poor firepower, low capacity (only six rounds), and short range.
Against a knife-wielding thug it was sufficient; against armed robbers, not so much.
For Lin Haoran, it was far more sensible to equip his bodyguards with superior weapons.
"Thank you very much, Commissioner Han. If you ever need anything, I'm always happy to assist a good friend," Lin Haoran said with a smile.
"It's nothing, Mr. Lin. Don't give it a second thought," Han Yili replied, waving his hand dismissively.
Helping Lin Haoran was a no-brainer.
Even Governor MacLehose valued Lin Haoran highly—how could Han Yili afford to ignore him?
For him, issuing a few gun licenses was the simplest of favors.
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