Click.
The sound of the machine being idle was extremely subtle, but extremely clear in the silent carriage, like the whisper of the god of death, ringing softly in Nanako's ears.
There was no deafening roar as expected.
There was no terrifying impact that could tear flesh and blood apart.
There was only this slight "click".
Nanako felt that all the blood in her body had frozen at this moment.
Her heart, as if grasped tightly by an invisible hand, stopped beating instantly, and then began to pound against her chest at an even more violent frequency.
She just...
Shot one person.
The overwhelming sense of fear, like a flood bursting through a dam, completely devoured her already fragile heart in an instant.
She could no longer hold the gun in her hand, and it slipped from her hand...
He slumped in his seat, his face as pale as paper, as if all his strength had been drained away.
However, just as the Walther PPK was about to fall onto the carpet.
Ryuzaki really moved.
His index finger, at an extremely tricky angle, passed through the trigger guard with incredible precision and caught the falling pistol steadily.
The gun body turned a few circles gracefully on his index finger, and then he smoothly put it back on his waist.
He looked at the pale, trembling girl beside him, his mouth curled up in a mocking arc, and said lazily:
"Look how scared you are. There's no bullet in my gun."
"…"
Nanako looked at Ryuzaki Makoto's face with a provocative smile on it. The relief of surviving the disaster and the shame of being fooled were like two surging waves, colliding wildly in her heart!
In the end, the shame and anger of the little girl completely overwhelmed her fear!
Her eyes, which originally contained a hint of fear, instantly ignited with two balls of raging anger!
"you!"
She was so frightened that she even forgot how dangerous the man in front of her was. She stretched out her still weak little hand and twisted the soft flesh on Long Qi Zhen's waist hard!
"Ouch!"
Ryuzaki was really careless and didn't dodge.
Damn it, the iron body is designed to protect against swords, guns, sticks and clubs, but it doesn't say it can protect against this!
He didn't expect that the little girl was so cruel. The pain made the corners of his mouth twitch.
"Hiss...are you a crab?"
When Nanako saw his painful expression, the anger in her heart instantly disappeared.
Instead, there is endless shyness and...
A hint of pride that she herself hadn't even noticed.
But the next moment.
She also realized that her action just now was really...
Too intimate.
Her pretty face turned red in an instant. She quickly let go of his hand, hugged her backpack tightly to her chest, turned her head abruptly, looked at the rapidly receding night scene outside the window, and ignored him.
Long Qizhen looked at her and was speechless.
This woman is already in her twenties, but why is she still acting like a little girl who has not grown up?
Just then, the driver's emotionless reminder voice sounded through the radio.
"Next stop, Mitsui Real Estate. Passengers are getting off, please prepare in advance."
Ryuzaki Zhen stretched and knew that it was time for him to leave.
Nanako felt the man next to her stand up, and suddenly an indescribable feeling of emptiness and reluctance welled up in her heart.
She knew that this mysterious man was about to disappear from her life.
Perhaps, we will never have any intersection again in this life.
She looked at the man who was about to disappear from her life, and her heart, which had been calm, began to beat violently again.
In her mind, there were two little people fighting madly!
One person said: "Uehara Nanako! Are you crazy?! He's a criminal! He's dangerous! Stay as far away from him as possible!"
The other one said: But...but he just protected me...and he...he is so handsome...
Two completely different emotions were tearing apart in her heart!
In the end, the curiosity and impulse that came from women's most primitive nature completely overwhelmed reason!
She turned her head sharply and looked at Long Qizhen who had just stood up. She mustered up the greatest courage in her life and asked in a trembling but extremely firm voice:
"Can you...can you tell me your contact information?"
Ryuzaki Shin slowly turned around.
He looked at the girl who was looking at him nervously, and a hint of extremely playful light flashed in her deep eyes.
"how?"
He grinned and asked lazily in a teasing tone:
"You fell in love with me the first time we met?"
When Nanako heard the man's straightforward words, her heart suddenly panicked. She felt her cheeks were so hot that she could almost fry an egg on them!
But in order to cover up her inner panic, she forced herself to act arrogant, curled her lips and snorted.
"Stop being narcissistic!"
Then he said quietly.
"I...I just want you to teach me how to shoot properly next time!"
Ryuzaki really laughed.
He looked at Nanako's bright big eyes that were dodging around because of guilt, and the curve of her mouth became more ambiguous. He didn't say anything more, but just slowly leaned down.
Ryuzaki Shin's young and evil face kept getting bigger and bigger in Nanako's pupils...
Nanako's breathing completely stopped at this moment!
Her mind was blank!
What to do, what to do...
Is he going to kiss me?!
This is my first kiss!
He's also a bad guy wanted by the police!
But...
But he is so handsome...
He just protected me...
He smells... so good...
Just when Nanako was torn between her conscience and her desires and had completely given up resistance, her body was more honest than her brain.
She slowly closed her eyes.
Her long eyelashes, like butterfly wings, trembled slightly, revealing her inner tension and...
A hint of anticipation that she herself hadn't even noticed.
However, one second, two seconds, three seconds...
The warm touch that I imagined did not come.
She slowly opened her eyes.
All that was left around me was the cold air and the gentle music that was still flowing slowly.
That man is gone.
The bus stopped at some point.
The car door slowly closed.
Outside the window, it was pitch black and the man could no longer be seen.
It seemed as if everything that just happened was just a bizarre dream.
Nanako sat there blankly for a long, long time...
She slowly raised her hand and gently stroked her lips which were still a little hot.
She didn't know why, but her heart felt empty, as if...
I lost something extremely important...
Ryuzaki Shin got off the bus.
He watched Nanako's bus gradually disappear around the corner and shook his head.
Just kidding, I'm not a man who is seduced by beauty.
Although this woman is good-looking, she looks like a greenhouse flower and is very troublesome.
What if she's a scheming bitch who gets my information and calls the police?
He has no shortage of women around him now, the gentle and considerate Asuka, the professional and capable Natsumi, and the recent intern Tanaka Aoi, and of course Saeko...
Each one is of first-class quality.
Although some of them are not his women, there are plenty of ways to win them over.
There's no need to get familiar with a woman you just met.
While thinking about this, Ryuzaki Shin walked towards Matsukazedai.
Asuka's fighting ability has been getting stronger and stronger recently. You know what, women are indeed much more powerful than men in bed.
Although she had just started to learn this, Asuka had basically been able to keep up with herself recently.
If it weren't for his extraordinary talent, ordinary men would not be able to conquer this fairy Asuka.
System, when will you reward me with a pair of golden kidneys?
Long Qizhen was thinking in a mess, but his pace was getting faster and faster when he saw the familiar two-story villa.
A gentle curve unconsciously appeared on his face.
However, when he reached the door of the villa, his steps suddenly stopped.
His pupils shrank slightly at this moment.
In front of the villa's neatly trimmed lawn, there was a pitch-black Jaguar XJ6 parked quietly. It was something he had never seen before.
Ryuzaki really recognized this car.
The top luxury car in 1985 symbolizes absolute power and wealth.
Anyone who can afford this car is definitely considered rich.
But among the people I know who can drive this kind of car, the only one is Xiaoyou.
Could it be Xiaoyou coming?
Impossible, that kid's car is a Toyota Century, and if there is anything, there is no need to come in the middle of the night.
So...
Could there be other dangerous people?
He comes with bad intentions!
An extremely ominous premonition instantly wrapped around his heart.
The gentleness on Ryuzaki Makoto's face disappeared without a trace at this moment.
Instead, there was coldness.
He did not rush in directly, but walked quietly to the main entrance of the villa.
Ryuzaki Shin held his breath and stood in front of the door.
At this time.
The sound of conversation inside the house could be heard intermittently.
It was Asuka's voice.
There was a hint of embarrassment and evasion in her voice that was hard to conceal.
"Sir, this is too valuable. I really can't accept it..."
"If you really knew, you would... blame me."
Then, a gentle, yet oppressive male voice slowly sounded.
The voice was so gentle, as if he was chatting with an old friend.
"Ma'am, you don't have to do this."
"I think highly of this young man, Ryuzaki-kun."
"I came here this time to seek some cooperation. These are just small gifts from me for visiting you. Please accept them, Madam."
"Otherwise, outsiders will say that I, Akutsu, came empty-handed and was impolite."
Asuka thought about it and realized that as Ryuzaki Shin's woman, if she acted petty in front of outsiders, it would be easy for others to look down on Shin and think that her man was poor.
"...Then...thank you for your kindness, Mr. Akutsu."
"Please sit down first. I'll... I'll give Zhen another call. I don't know what's wrong with him today. He won't answer any of his calls..."
When Ryuzaki Shin heard these words, his already cold heart softened for no reason.
He knew that this silly woman was still worried about him.
But then, his eyes became dangerous again!
Akutsu?
Butcher?!
A heart-pounding murderous intent instantly burst out from Ryuzaki Makoto's deep eyes!
How dare this guy come here?!
What does he want to do? !
This guy Akutsu is definitely not a good person.
cooperate?
Small gift?
hehe...
This is clearly the most classic way of showing power in the underworld!
This is how he tells himself—
I know your background and your weaknesses.
Everything about you is under my control!
"Hold!"
Ryuzaki cursed fiercely in his heart.
He knew that he was being looked down upon.
Thinking of this, Ryuzaki Shin knew that cooperating with a ruthless person like Akutsu was inherently risky.
At the same time, Ryuzaki Shinye sentenced Akutsu to death. This man must die!
But not now...
Ryuzaki Shin adjusted his expression.
Slowly pushed the door open.
"Squeak—"
A soft sound.
The door opened.
The conversation in the room suddenly stopped.
When Ryuzaki Shin saw Akutsu, he pretended to be stunned for a moment.
Then he greeted her warmly.
"Brother Akutsu, welcome to my home..."
When Akutsu saw Ryuzaki Makoto come back, there was no surprise on his face. Instead, he stood up from the sofa with a gentle smile.
He came to Ryuzaki Makoto's house tonight, wearing a well-tailored Armani suit, and the Patek Philippe on his wrist reflected a dazzling light under the crystal chandelier in the living room.
Add to that the pair of gold-rimmed glasses, and he looks more like a successful, elegant and easy-going university professor, not like a "butcher" who is turning things upside down in the underworld.
He opened his arms, as if welcoming an old friend he hadn't seen for a long time, and walked towards Ryuzaki Shin enthusiastically.
Akutsu
Ryuzaki Shinya greeted him with a smile, and the two of them gave each other a hug full of "brotherhood" in the middle of the living room.
"Ryuzaki-kun, it's you after all."
Akutsu released his hand, looked up and down at Ryuzaki Shin with the eyes hidden behind the lenses, and then patted his arm heavily.
He thought to himself: This kid is not simple.
Being able to cause such a big commotion under the police's tight net and finally escape unscathed, with such skills and courage, I'm afraid that a remarkable figure will emerge in Toyaru City.
but...
I hope the waves you create don't wet my clothes.
The "worried" expression on Akutsu's face was just right. He said in a tone that was a little bit scared:
"I heard right after I arrived at Toaryu that something big happened in the city center. I was worried it was you..."
"Brother Akutsu, don't you understand me?"
Ryuzaki interrupted him with a smile before he could finish.
"Okay, let's stop talking about those unnecessary things and sit down first."
Just then, there was a sound of brisk footsteps on the stairs. Asuka Uehara heard the noise and also came down from upstairs.
The moment she saw Ryuzaki Shin coming back, her beautiful eyes, which had originally contained a hint of worry, immediately lit up.
She ran quickly to Ryuzaki Makoto, with a hint of womanly anger on her mature and charming face.
"Really, why didn't you answer the phone? You made me so worried."
Ryuzaki laughed heartily and said something nonsensical: "I received too many calls today, and then the battery ran out."
Uehara Asuka finally breathed a sigh of relief. She remembered that there were guests in the living room, and quickly sorted herself out. Then, she whispered to Ryuzaki Shin:
"Mr. Akutsu came and brought me a gift. Look."
As she spoke, she picked up a dark blue velvet box that looked very valuable from the coffee table and gently opened it.
In an instant, brilliant light burst out from the box!
Ryuzaki's gaze fell on the necklace in the box.
The platinum chain body sparkles with a cold and noble luster under the light. The pendant is a perfectly cut royal sapphire as big as a pigeon egg, surrounded by a circle of tiny and dazzling diamonds.
At first glance, you can tell it's worth a lot of money.
Akutsu looked at the two of them, a gentle smile on his face, and said in an extremely casual tone:
"I can't come to your house without bringing anything."
"I don't understand what a young person likes, so I can only buy some ordinary jewelry for your wife. It's not expensive, only about... ten million."
One thousand to ten thousand? !
When Asuka Uehara heard this number, she was so scared that her hands shook and she almost threw the box away!
Her already beautiful face was filled with shock and disbelief!
The millions of cash that Long Qizhen left for her before made her feel that she could never spend it all.
After all, Asuka was born in the countryside and was used to living a hard life.
I don't have any high-spending habits.
And now, the necklace that this man in front of me casually gave away was actually worth tens of millions?!
This...isn't this too exaggerated?!
Ryuzaki Shin seemed not to hear it. He just took out the necklace from the box, and then grinned at Asuka Uehara who was still in a daze.
"Asuka, since it's a gift from Akutsu-san, just accept it."
"Come, I'll put it on for you."
As he said that, he walked around behind Asuka Uehara and gently placed the cold chain on her snow-white, slender neck.
Asuka Uehara's pretty face turned slightly red, but her heart was filled with an indescribable sense of happiness.
She could clearly feel the tingling sensation brought by the man's slightly rough fingertips as they brushed across the back of her neck. Subconsciously, she slightly raised her snow-white swan neck, revealing her graceful curves to Long Qi Zhen without reservation.
Long Qizhen looked at the shy face in the mirror, and looked at the deep sapphire, which exuded a fatal temptation against the backdrop of her breathtaking snow-white ravines.
He nodded with satisfaction.
"Tsk tsk tsk, my sister-in-law's temperament is a perfect match with this necklace!"
Akutsu watched from the side and praised generously, "I think even a princess of the royal family is no better than this."
Asuka Uehara's pretty face turned even redder after hearing his compliments. She raised her head, her beautiful watery eyes looking at Ryuzaki Shin with a hint of anticipation, and asked softly:
"Is it really...beautiful?"
Ryuzaki didn't answer.
He lowered his head and kissed her hard on that delicate face.
Then, he laughed:
"My woman looks good in anything she wears."
"Oh, really, there are guests nearby!"
Asuka Uehara was made extremely embarrassed by his sudden intimate behavior. She stamped her feet lightly and gave him a reproachful look.
Then, like a frightened deer, he ran up to the second floor without looking back.
"I...I'll go upstairs first, you guys chat."
Akutsu looked at her panicked back and burst into laughter.
"Haha, Ryuzaki-kun and his wife are truly a match made in heaven. They have such a wonderful relationship."
Ryuzaki Shin just glanced at him indifferently, then raised his hand casually at him.
"Brother, sit down."
After the two of them sat down on the sofa again, Ryuzaki Shin cast his deep eyes towards the man opposite him who still had a gentle smile on his face, and a very playful arc appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Brother, you went through so much trouble to find my house, aren't you just here to say a few polite words?"
After Ryuzaki Shin finished speaking, Akutsu's professional smile remained unchanged and he spoke slowly.
"When I do business, honesty is the most important thing."
"I told you, Ryuzaki-kun, if you can escape the police unharmed, I will talk to you about cooperation."
There was a shrewd glint in his small eyes as he looked Ryuzaki Shin up and down as if he were evaluating a precious commodity.
"Although this is just our first meeting, I can tell that Ryuzaki-kun is brave, resourceful, and ambitious."
"I like dealing with people like you."
Long Qizhen raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and gently put down the teacup in his hand, making a crisp sound.
"So, in my opinion, Kunou Hideomi is also such a person?"
When these words were spoken, Akutsu was stunned at first, and then he burst into laughter as if he had heard a huge joke.
"Hahaha!"
He laughed and waved his hands, his body trembling.
Of course he understood that Ryuzaki Shin looked down on people like Kunou Hideomi and was trying to provoke him.
I guess he's still upset about protecting Jiu Neng in the clinic.
However, Akutsu was not angry at all.
He restrained his smile and put on that smooth-talking expression again.
"Ryuzaki-kun, you're joking."
"When we do business, we can't ignore money just because we like or dislike someone, right?"
"Speaking the truth to people and telling lies to ghosts, isn't that normal?"
Akutsu spread his hands, his tone full of matter-of-factness.
"Besides, I'm different from you. I don't have my own territory. You can think of me as a mobile cargo merchant."
"So whether it's the yakuza or the biker gang, I don't need to offend them."
"But..." He changed the subject, his tone becoming more sincere. "If something really goes wrong on my territory, it really wouldn't be good. I hope you can understand this, Ryuzaki-kun."
He pointed at his feet, then pointed at the beautifully wrapped gift box at the entrance.
"That's why I specially prepared a small gift for Madam this time, just to express my apology."
"Besides," Akutsu showed a playful smile on his face. He looked at Ryuzaki Shin and said meaningfully, "With a character like you, Ryuzaki-kun, wouldn't you be able to crush a character like Kunou with just a flick of your wrist?"
"I guess now that Ryuzaki-kun has finished off Black Crow Town, his next target should be Jinyi Ichibangai."
After hearing what Akutsu said, Ryuzaki really understood.
This guy is indeed a smiling tiger.
His positioning is very clear, he is an underground black businessman in the southern part of Huyaliu City.
He has no fixed territory of his own, offends no one, and moves between various forces, simply doing business to make money.
No wonder he has an air of being versatile and adaptable.
This kind of person is very smart and dangerous.
but...
Long Qizhen sneered in his heart, but laughed out loud on the surface.
"I was just saying that, brother."
"Jiuneng, I really don't take it to heart. You're overthinking it, brother."
He waved his hand, as if the temptation just now did not exist at all.
"It's getting late, why don't we... talk about business."
"Too."
Akutsu nodded, leaned forward slightly, and the greedy light unique to businessmen finally appeared in his small eyes.
"Let's talk about Ryuzaki-kun's shipment."
"Could you tell me the exact number?"
Ryuzaki Shin picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then spoke casually in a nonchalant tone.
"I counted the exact number."
"About 400 plates."
The moment the words fell.
"Bang!"
The teacup in Akutsu's hand slipped out in an instant, and the scalding hot tea spilled all over him, but he seemed to feel nothing at all.
His face, which always wore a calm smile, was now filled with unprecedented shock and horror!
"What?!"
He stood up suddenly from the sofa, and because of his big movement, he even knocked over the coffee table in front of him, making a tinkling sound.
He stared at Ryuzaki Shin intently, his voice becoming a little sharp due to excitement.
"400 plates?! Ryuzaki-kun, you... you're not kidding, are you?!"
Seeing Akutsu's out-of-control look, Ryuzaki was really a little surprised.
To him, isn't it just a bunch of blurry pornographic videotapes?
Although he had learned a little bit from Uncle Yuan, he still wondered how much a CD could sell for? Ten thousand? Twenty thousand?
Four hundred plates, at most a few million yen.
Is this little amount of money enough to make this old fox lose his composure like this?
After all, Ryuzaki Shin lived in an era when the Internet was extremely developed in his previous life.
What kind of teachers have you not met? What kind of courses have you not taken?
As for the contents of the videotape, in his opinion, they were child's play and not even worthy of causing him any disturbance.
Akutsu looked at Ryuzaki Mana, who was still calm and even had a bit of doubt on her face, and his businessman's heart instantly became active.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
He sat back on the sofa, straightened his clothes that were soaked in tea, and put a playful smile on his face again.
"Ryuzaki-kun, I see you..."
"I don't understand~"
Long Qizhen did not hide the fact that he really did not understand the profit of this business.
There's no need to pretend to be knowledgeable in front of an old hand like Akutsu; that will only make you look more ridiculous.
As for whether Akutsu would inflate the price and make a fortune?
Ryuzaki wasn't worried at all.
Because, in his heart, Akutsu was already on the kill list.
Just based on the fact that he took the initiative to come to my house tonight, it seemed that he was here to apologize and cooperate, but in fact it was just a warning.
The meaning is obvious: I know where you live and who is around you.
This kind of guy who hides a knife behind a smile will always be a nuisance if you keep him around.
Since Akutsu will die sooner or later, his money will be his in the end.
What difference does it make whether you give it early or late?
But for the time being, we are not considering taking down Akutsu.
I still need to use him now.
Use him to understand the underground rules of Huyalu City, such as the division of various forces, the transaction models of various businesses, and the interest chains hidden beneath the surface.
These are what I lack most at the moment.
Wait until you have learned everything you need to learn and utilized everything you need to utilize.
At that time...
That is the day when Akutsu will die.
Thinking of this, Ryuzaki Shin spread his hands calmly and a sincere smile appeared on his face.
"Brother, I really don't understand the twists and turns here."
"It all depends on whether you're willing to...open your heart to me."
After hearing what Ryuzaki Shin meant, Akutsu immediately understood.
This guy was worried that I would bully him because he didn't know the business, so he deliberately lowered the price.
But this was just Ryuzaki overthinking it.
The reason why Akutsu was able to thrive in this mixed area south of Toaru was not because he was ruthless.
But two words.
Integrity.
He will explain all the ways and profits to you clearly, so that you know exactly how much you can earn and how much risk you have to take.
Everyone who has traded with him feels the same way.
light and spacious.
Therefore, when facing the young man Ryuzaki Shin, Akutsu will not bully him because he is a greenhorn and will not hide his knowledge.
Instead, he lit a cigarette, leaned back on the sofa, and spoke slowly with the attitude of a senior instructing a junior.
"Ryuzaki-kun, it seems you don't understand how valuable this videotape business, which you consider unreputable, is."
He blew out a puff of smoke with a hint of a smile on his face.
"Would you like to hear me ramble for a bit?"
Ryuzaki Shin leaned forward slightly, crossed his hands on his knees, his expression calm, but there was a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
He pretended to be learning and said, "I'm all ears."
Akutsu was very satisfied with his attitude, cleared his throat, and officially started teaching.
"First, you have to understand why this business exists."
"The core reason is just one, and that's Article 175 of the Criminal Law - 'The crime of publishing obscene materials.'"
Ryuzaki Shin raised his eyebrows and motioned him to continue.
Uncle Yuan had told him some of these things, but they were all scattered. He just took this opportunity to listen to Akutsu's complete introduction.
Akutsu flicked the ash off his cigarette and continued, "This damn law stipulates that all adult videos legally distributed in Sakura Country must have their key parts mosaiced."
"Mosaic, I know."
Ryuzaki Shin was actually a little unfamiliar with this term. After all, when he was in his previous life, videotapes had almost become antiques.
"Yes, it's that blurry block that blocks out all the best parts."
Akutsu curled his lips with a look of disdain.
"You said, you took off your pants and showed me this? Who the hell could stand it?"
"So, where there is demand, there will naturally be a market."
Ryuzaki Shin nodded and said pointedly, "It is the law that gave rise to this black market."
"clever!"
Akutsu gave him an approving look and continued, "Especially now, what era is it? The economy is at its peak! Everyone has so much money in their pockets, they're burning it!"
"Culturally, we've been impacted by the Western culture, and everyone's just looking for excitement."
"Suppressed demand is like a volcano about to erupt. Just how much money is there?"
"Interesting," Long Qizhen commented calmly, "but where's the source? You can't just bring foreigners in to shoot these things, right?"
"Of course not."
Akutsu's expression grew more serious. He stubbed out his cigarette and said in a deep voice, "This is the riskiest part of this business—smuggling."
"Bring mosaic-free master tapes from Europe and America to Sakura."
"There are three main ways."
He held up a finger.
"The first, and most common, is called a 'porter.'
"The mafia organizations will send trusted henchmen, or directly bribe businessmen, international students, and even flight attendants who frequently travel between Sakura Country and Europe and the United States."
"They were asked to smuggle the master tapes into the country by hiding them in their luggage."
Ryuzaki Shin asked, "Can't customs find out?"
"Oh, do you think customs officials are just there to eat and do nothing?"
Akutsu sneered, "So, there are many tricks involved."
"The simplest method is disguised packaging. They replace the videotape's cover with something like a Hollywood blockbuster, a travel film, or even a classical concert, and also put fake labels on the tape itself."
"The more sophisticated ones will disassemble the videotape's casing and hide the core reel inside a book, a speaker, or even the lining of thick clothing. They'll reassemble it for you after you enter the country."
"Others will mix a few master tapes with a pile of legally imported movie videotapes in an attempt to pass them through customs."
After listening to this, Ryuzaki Shin just commented calmly.
"The risk is too high and the efficiency is too low."
"That's right!" Akutsu nodded again. "Once it's scanned by the customs X-ray machine, or the box is opened for inspection, you'll be caught red-handed, and you'll be put behind bars right there and then."
"So, the remuneration of 'porters' is quite high and is one of the biggest initial costs of this business."
He extended a second finger.
"The second option is international mail."
"Disguise the videotapes as 'business samples,' 'home videos,' or 'gifts,' and send them via international courier or parcel post."
Ryuzaki Shin immediately pointed out the key point: "Even if they can't catch the person, the goods can be easily intercepted and lost."
"That's exactly the truth."
The admiration in Akutsu's eyes grew even stronger. This kid was truly born to do this.
"So, the sender and recipient information is all fake, and the addresses are all temporary empty houses or rented mailboxes. Once they confirm that the package has arrived safely, they will send their men to pick it up."
"But customs inspections are like a lottery; no one knows if you'll be the next winner. Once you're caught, all your initial investment is wasted."
"The last one."
Akutsu stretched out his third finger, and for the first time, a trace of solemnity appeared on his face.
"This kind of game requires connections. Without any connections, it won't work at all."
"Freight entrainment."
"They usually have deep cooperation with trading companies, which will hide hundreds or thousands of master tapes in a whole container of legal goods."
"For example, the interior of large machinery, the interlayers of furniture, and even inside tons of clothing."
After hearing this, Ryuzaki Shin's eyes finally showed a slight fluctuation.
"There are so many containers that it's impossible for customs to open and inspect 100% of them. The success rate is high, and the amount of cargo that can be carried at one time is hundreds of times that of the previous two methods."
"Bingo!"
Akutsu snapped his fingers. "But the risk is also the highest. If they're caught, not only will the goods be lost, but the entire trading company will be uprooted. The implications are enormous."
"So, Ryuzaki-kun, the fact that these master tapes in your hands are here safe and sound is already worth a lot of money."
Akutsu took a sip of water to moisten his throat and continued, "However, these master tapes themselves cannot be sold directly. They are just... seeds."
"The real profit comes from subsequent replication and distribution."
"Oh?" Ryuzaki Shin finally showed some interest.
"After the master tapes are safely imported, they will be sent to an extremely secret 'underground factory'."
"It's called a factory, but it might just be an ordinary apartment with dozens, or even hundreds, of video recorders inside, duplicating videos 24 hours a day."
"One master machine plays the master tape, and more than a dozen slave machines can be connected to record at the same time."
"From one master tape, we can make hundreds or even thousands of copies for you in one night."
After listening to this, Long Qizhen just shook his head lightly: "Primitive, too primitive."
Akutsu was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said, "There's nothing I can do. My technique has only reached this point."
"After the copies are made, the next step is to rely on the distribution network."
"This is also the core advantage of those major underworld organizations."
"They have a nationwide, hierarchical distribution channel."
A hint of envy flashed in Akutsu's eyes.
"The first level is the big guys from all over the country. They buy directly from the headquarters, and the price may be between 3,000 and 5,000 yen per plate."
"The second level is the small-time bosses in each neighborhood. They control underground video stores, adult shops, and even some sex shops. They buy goods from the big guys, and the prices go up to 8,000 to 10,000."
"Finally, these copies will flow through various shady channels into the hands of frustrated customers."
"Underground shops only sell to acquaintances or those who have been introduced by others. The price is generally between 15,000 and 20,000 yen per plate."
"There are even darker methods. They advertise in those underground adult magazines and sell them through mail order. The price can be as high as 25,000 or even 30,000!"
Long Qizhen listened quietly, and a clear and huge underground industrial chain had already been constructed in his mind.
Akutsu looked at his calm expression and secretly admired him in his heart.
When ordinary people heard this, they would have been dazzled by the huge profits, but this guy still looked calm.
"I know, after all this talk, what you're most concerned about is how much money this thing can make."
Akutsu smiled and finally got to the core of the matter.
"Let's settle the accounts."
"The purchase cost of a master tape in Europe and the United States is about 80 US dollars, which is about 19,200 yen based on the exchange rate."
"The smuggling fee, or the money paid to the 'porter', carries the highest risk, so the reward is also the highest, around 100,000 yen."
"Then there's the cost of blank videotapes. Let's assume we copied a thousand tapes. At the time, a high-quality blank tape cost about 800 yen, so a thousand tapes would cost 800,000 yen."
"Add in the labor, venue, water and electricity and other miscellaneous expenses, and call it 50,000 yen."
He looked at Ryuzaki Shin and concluded, "In other words, the total cost of acquiring a master tape and making a thousand copies is about one million yen."
Ryuzaki Shin nodded without saying anything, waiting for his next words.
"Now, let's calculate the income."
Akutsu's eyes finally sparkled with excitement.
"We don't calculate based on the retail price, but rather the lowest first-class wholesale price, which is 4,000 yen per plate."
"One thousand plates, multiplied by four thousand yen, what is the total revenue?"
He looked at Ryuzaki Shin and spoke word by word.
"Yes, four million yen!"
"In other words..."
Akutsu's breathing became a little rapid.
"Total revenue is four million, minus total cost of one million. In the end, the net profit that the organization can get is..."
"Yes, three million yen!"
"One master tape can bring in a net profit of three million yen! The profit margin is a whopping 300 percent!"
"And this is just the profit from copying a thousand copies of a master tape!"
"The number of copies is actually much higher than that."
"For those large-scale smuggling gangs, it's common for them to handle dozens or even hundreds of master tapes a month!"
"Hundreds of millions in net profit a month. What do you think of this business?"
After Akutsu finished speaking, he leaned back on the sofa and breathed a long sigh of relief, as if he was also shocked by the number he had said.
The whole room fell into a brief silence.
After a long time, Akutsu spoke again. He looked at the man who still had a calm face and asked slowly:
"Ryuzaki-kun, do you understand?"
After listening to Akutsu's detailed analysis, Ryuzaki Shin was completely stunned.
He was not shocked by the huge profits from the smuggling business. In his previous life, he had seen much more black money than this number.
He was shocked that those uncensored videotapes that he thought were not up to standard and had blurry picture quality could actually create such a terrifying value in this era!
He instantly did a calculation in his mind.
The lowest wholesale price for a master tape is 3 million yen in net profit.
Those four hundred plates I had casually thrown into the empty classroom at Suzuran Gymnasium...
Hold!
1.2 billion?!
wrong!
Ryuzaki Shin realized instantly that what Akutsu had just said was calculated based on making a thousand copies.
How could a master tape be made into only a thousand copies?
As long as the master tape is still there, it will be a money-printing machine that never stops!
Calculated in this way, the total value of this batch of goods is probably far more than 1.2 billion, and may even reach 30 to 40 billion!
Good guy, I'm really good!
How could he just casually throw such a huge fortune into that shabby school of Linglan's that didn't even have a proper lock?!
Ryuzaki really felt his temples throbbing.
He suppressed the restlessness in his heart and smiled at Akutsu.
"Brother, I've learned a lot."
He paused, then changed the subject and asked, "So, what are the rules for our cooperation?"
Akutsu looked at Ryuzaki Shin's calm expression and secretly admired him in his heart.
Ordinary people would have been overwhelmed by this number, but this guy still looked calm.
"Ryuzaki-kun, a wise man should not speak in secret."
Akutsu gently put down the teacup in his hand, and his small eyes flashed with the shrewdness unique to a businessman.
"With others, I only do one-time deals, which saves me the trouble."
"But, for you, Ryuzaki-kun, I can give you another choice."
Ryuzaki Shin raised an eyebrow, motioning him to continue.
"Brother, why don't you tell me everything."
Akutsu smiled and held up a finger.
"The first, and simplest, is a buyout."
"The master tape in your hand, one copy, one price, 5 million yen."
"Four hundred plates, that's two billion."
"Cash transactions are settled on the spot. All subsequent risks and profits have nothing to do with you."
When Long Qizhen heard the offer, his brows instantly twisted into a knot.
Twenty billion in cash is definitely a huge sum of money for him now, enough to allow him to upgrade his weapons in an instant.
With this money, he could immediately expand the scale of True Dragon Credit tenfold, and even build a rather luxurious commercial district directly in Black Crow Town.
but...
Long Qizhen knew very well that this price, although tempting, was actually the way to minimize profit.
Akutsu looked at Ryuzaki Shin's pensive expression, and the smile on his face became more playful.
He knew that the young man in front of him was moved.
"Ryuzaki-kun, don't think this price is low."
Akutsu leaned back on the sofa and slowly began to count the money.
"First, if I want to turn these master tapes into money, I need a sufficiently safe and hidden 'underground factory'. The rent and equipment alone are a considerable expense."
"Secondly, I need enough trustworthy people to copy the system 24 hours a day. Do you think their salaries are a small amount?"
"Third, the copies have to be distributed through my distribution network, level by level. The personal connections and the fees involved are a bottomless pit."
"The fourth, and most troublesome, issue is piracy!"
A cold glint flashed in Akutsu's eyes.
"There are always some unruly guys who buy our genuine products, then copy them and use them at a lower price to impact our market!"
"To deal with these people, it's useless to just reason with them. We have to use our fists to make them know what the rules are! And this also costs money!"
"One last thing," Akutsu pointed at himself, "I, Akutsu, have done all the dirty work for you, and taken all the risks for you. I should at least earn some hard-earned money, right?"
"So, Ryuzaki-kun, five million per plate, this price is not low."
After listening to this, Ryuzaki Shin nodded.
He knew that what Akutsu said was true.
The risks and maintenance costs of shipping are indeed no less than those of purchasing. In fact, there are even more tricks and troubles involved.
If I work alone, it would take at least a year or two to build a mature and complete industrial chain from production to sales to market maintenance.
Moreover, what I lack most now is time.
"Brother, you misunderstood. I can certainly understand your difficulties."
Ryuzaki Shin showed a sincere smile on his face. He looked at Akutsu and said slowly:
"I mean, brother, why don't you tell me about... another cooperative mode."
The corners of Akutsu's mouth slowly rose.
"Another mode, very simple."
He looked at Ryuzaki Shin and spoke word by word.
"cooperate."
"Leave this batch of goods to me."
"I will do all the dirty work, including copying, distribution, and market maintenance."
"Finally, all the net profits we get will be..."
He held up five fingers.
"Fifty-fifty split."
After listening to this, Ryuzaki Shin began to think.
50-50 split?!
In my opinion, a one-time deal is definitely the approach with the least profit.
Although you can earn less money at once by taking it slow and steady,
But in the long run, the profits of this batch may reach 2 billion in two or three months at most, or even faster.
Ryuzaki Shin looked at Akutsu's face with a gentle smile and instantly understood what the other person meant.
This old fox is gambling!
Bet on yourself, do you have the courage?
Do you dare to hand over this batch of goods worth hundreds of millions to an outsider like him?
Do you dare to believe in Akutsu's credibility!
Dare you to play this heart-pounding game!
Ryuzaki Shin looked at Akutsu's inquiring eyes and smiled.
He didn't even hesitate.
He knew that the reason why a man like Akutsu could thrive in this mixed area south of Toaru was definitely not just because of his ruthlessness.
It is also the foundation of one's foothold in the world – credibility.
What's more, Akutsu could casually give away a necklace worth tens of millions, which shows that although these hundreds of millions are a lot of money in his eyes, it is not enough to make him completely lose face and offend such a "partner" with unlimited potential.
Even if he really dares to cheat on his fellow thieves...
Long Qizhen looked at his hands with distinct joints and full of strength, and the curve of his mouth became even colder.
hehe...
He, Akutsu, dared to steal my money.
I dare to take his life.
At this moment, Akutsu's playful, urging voice sounded again.
"So, Ryuzaki-kun..."
"Now, can you give me an answer?"