Upon hearing the amount, Roselle’s breath caught, but he knew he couldn''t give himself away. Quickly adjusting, he coughed heavily and nodded decisively, "Deal!"


    "Haha, Brother Luo, you''re straightforward. Here''s my card. If you need anything in the future, feel free to contact me. Even if it''s not for business, you can still reach out. I, Wang Nan, may not be the ultimate authority in Xuan Yang District, but I do carry some weight here."


    The scar-faced man, Wang Nan, rarely disclosed his name during dealings. This showed that he regarded Roselle quite seriously this time.


    "Thank you, Brother Wang Nan. I may indeed need to trouble you in the future," Roselle replied with a glint in his eye. Having been in the business market for a while, he could discern the goodwill and sincerity in Wang Nan''s gesture.


    For typical clients, Wang Nan would have simply left a phone number for future contact, without those additional words.


    However, Roselle knew he needed to demonstrate his strength to ensure mutual respect in dealings with such ruthless individuals. Merely bluffing could only work temporarily and was not a long-term strategy.


    Thus, as Roselle turned to leave, Caesar, with a stern expression, casually pressed his hand on the table before following his master. This light press made Scarface Wang Nan’s eyebrows jump and left one of his sharp-eyed subordinates open-mouthed in shock.


    The solid table now sported a half-centimeter deep handprint, impressively embedded into its surface.


    "How strong is that? This polar bear is terrifying. I didn’t think such a person existed in this world," exclaimed one of Scarface''s subordinates in astonishment.


    "That man isn''t a polar bear, he''s a polar tiger…" Scarface corrected, watching Roselle''s retreating back. Polar bears are strong, but they don''t compare to the ferocity of a tiger.


    Fortunately, he hadn’t let greed take over earlier. Even as the top figure in Xuan Yang District''s underground, confronting that formidable tiger in this room—he wouldn’t have stood a chance.


    While Roselle and Wang Nan completed their transaction, in a high-end hospital room, another scene unfolded.


    "Director He, have you found the culprit? The villa is covered with cameras; it''s impossible for the perpetrator to have slipped in unnoticed," groaned Chen Jincheng, lying in his hospital bed, gritting his teeth.


    Anyone would be aggrieved—having five rice grain-sized wounds bitten into such a sensitive area.


    "We have accessed the video footage," said Director He, nodding to a subordinate who brought up footage on the room''s equipment, focusing on a man in a repairman''s uniform.


    "Do you recognize this person? I suspect the perpetrator disguised himself as a repairman to slip in. The beard and eyebrows are likely fake, and the hard hat covers much of his face. The uniform is loose, making it hard to gauge his physique," Director He explained, pointing at the screen.


    "I don''t recognize him." Chen Jincheng''s face turned grim. Not recognizing was an understatement—it was more that he couldn''t identify anyone specific. The perpetrator had clearly prepared well. Chen had offended many people, and recalling all those with grudges was difficult. Just counting from three days ago, there were at least ten or eight incidents, and even more if he looked further back—so many that even he couldn’t keep track. Was that it then?


    Glaring at the screen with hatred, he finally spoke, "What means did they use to injure me?"


    "I suspect they used some vicious insects, likely ants. They probably scattered them while you slept..." Director He trailed off, knowing further explanation might provoke his ire.


    "Is there no way to catch the culprit?"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "There is, but it''s tricky. If they''re local, they might try to sell the stolen goods, but those who handle black market goods are also powerful, making this difficult," Director He pondered aloud.


    "Three million. I''ll offer three million as a personal reward and another five million as a special investigation fund, privately, for your department," Chen Jincheng nearly roared, eyes reddened with fury.


    His offer left Director He''s subordinates swaying with surprise.


    "That''s not what I meant, Old Chen. This is truly a tough case, and those handling the black market goods are formidable."


    The eight million offered, be it the formal reward or the under-the-table incentive, was tempting. But Wang Nan was not someone to cross lightly. Unless using force, Wang Nan wouldn''t risk his reputation. In this field, losing credibility means losing the business of others willing to risk the law for profit. Those in this line of work live on a knife’s edge, and Director He was reluctant to provoke Wang Nan extensively. Such a move could cost far more than eight million.


    "I heard your department''s director is near retirement? Zhuo Nan has mentioned it several times," Chen Jincheng suddenly remarked.


    This statement, more than the eight million offer, got through to Director He. His body tensed as he promised, "I’ll do my best."


    "Very well. Whatever means you use, find the culprit, and I promise you won’t regret it," Chen Jincheng vowed. In Xuan Yang District, no one wronged Chen Jincheng without facing consequences. To ferret out the assailant, he would even leverage his brother''s influence.


    "Don''t let me find you, or I''ll make you wish you were dead!" When the room was empty again, the old man muttered vengefully.


    …


    Leaving the parking lot, Roselle patted his pocket holding the bank card, his heart pounding. A million, a million... to have such an amount was exhilarating.


    "This is just the beginning, Roselle, you can’t get carried away over a mere million," Roselle told himself, taking a deep breath, trying to stay calm. Yet, the excitement was beyond words.


    No matter how rational he tried to stay, Roselle had been an ordinary person until now. A million was enough not only to cover his siblings’ education but also to ease his mother''s burdens and afford better health care for his ailing father.


    This money could change the fate of his family of five. How could he remain composed?


    First, Roselle hurried to an ATM and transferred ten thousand each to the accounts of his siblings, Luo Yu and Xin’er.


    As the eldest, Roselle was followed by his brother Luo Yu, who was a junior in university in Beijing, and his youngest sister Luo Xin''er, who was in her second year of high school.


    After sending money to his siblings, he thought for a moment and sent five thousand to his parents.


    He didn''t send more because he couldn''t justify a larger sum without arousing suspicion.


    Roselle crafted a message, explaining that his boss had taken a keen interest in him, rewarded him with a promotion for clinching a major deal, and gave a ten thousand bonus.


    "This should cover it," Roselle thought. Yet soon after sending the message, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, he smiled. It could only be his quick-witted sister, Luo Xin''er.


    "Brother, where did you get so much money? You even sent me ten thousand. I bet you sent more to Dad and Mom and Second Brother," came Xin’er''s sweet, lively voice, like a refreshing brook running through his heart. His little sister was growing more graceful by the day.


    Smiling unconsciously, Roselle replied, "You don’t trust your big brother now? You know I’d never resort to anything illegal, even if a gun was pointed at my head."


    "Oh, right, if Brother ever did anything bad, we wouldn''t be living so hard. You really got promoted? Brother, you should take care of yourself and not overwork. Soon, Xin''er will be able to help you."


    Excited, Xin''er reassured him, knowing her brother’s principles well. She truly believed him, as he was someone who stuck to his bottom line.


    "Of course. Don''t overthink it, okay? Focus on your studies. Since I got promoted and am earning more bonuses, I can take good care of the family."


    Roselle spoke with newfound confidence and determination. His tone was firm, unlike before. He understood Xin’er''s intentions; she had planned to finish high school and start working to ease the family’s burdens.


    The well-being of their parents was evident to all three siblings. In poor families, children grow up early. If she were a city girl, she''d still be under her parents'' protection, going through a rebellious phase.


    In the past, Roselle couldn''t oppose Xin''er''s plan to forgo college, but now the situation had changed. As her big brother, he couldn''t let her face the harsh world prematurely.


    With his current capabilities, education wasn’t essential for living a good life. School was still a sanctuary for camaraderie, providing years of happiness and youthful memories.


    "Alright, Brother, I knew you could do it. I’m about to head to class, so that''s it for now. Visit when you can. I’ll make your favorite sweet and sour ribs."


    Xin''er ended the call abruptly, not directly agreeing.


    Shaking his head, Roselle let it go. Given time until graduation, even if she quit school, he was confident the Pet Beast System would ensure she lived well.


    Perhaps, after the revenge and black market dealings, Roselle didn’t realize the extent of his confidence growth. In less than two days, he had become much more self-assured and broad-minded, leaving behind his previous cautious thinking.