Chapter 26: You Are a Dangerous Individual

"We have notified the Houston Police Department. Based on the video footage they sent over, after the actress was separated from the crowd, she was kidnapped by a group of black men in hoodies!"

"Damn it!!!"

"Contact the Houston Police Department immediately and tell them to find her at once!"

Consul He was anxious. Being kidnapped by such people—who knew what might happen? If this situation wasn't handled well and news of it reached back home, it would be a massive disaster.

The staff member hesitated, looking troubled. "The Houston Police Department says they have deployed all their officers to maintain order at the parade. They have no extra manpower and can only provide information support."

Just then, Consul He noticed a stack of documents in the staff member's hand and asked curiously, "Are these the documents for the film crew?"

The staff member shook his head, sighing helplessly. "Not them. It’s that guy Yang Jie again. He’s applying to return to our country, but this time, he’s not applying alone; he’s trying to bring a whole group back."

"But many people in this group have sensitive identities, and they aren't even citizens of our country!"

Consul He took the documents to inspect them. When he saw the background checks, his mouth twitched violently.

Yang Jie was someone he knew quite well; they had dealt with each other more than once in the early days.

However, the people on this list—including Yang Jie himself—were none of them easy to deal with. Honestly, if not for their formidable connections, everyone on that list, except for a woman named Chris, would have been on Interpol’s wanted list!

Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he found a potential solution. He took out his phone and made a call.

Inside the villa.

Yang Jie’s phone rang. When he saw the caller ID, he paused in surprise and immediately answered.

"Hello, Uncle He. My documents are in order this time, right?"

"Uncle He" was the consul at the Houston consulate. He had taken his post right around the time Yang Jie first arrived in the United States.

Back then, whenever Yang Jie got homesick, he would go outside the embassy and wail loudly, especially before he had struck it rich, when he was eating nothing but white-bread meals to the point of despair.

Every time after his dramatic display, the staff would bring him inside for a meal of dumplings.

Through these encounters, they had become familiar with each other. Yang Jie’s plan had been to work in the U.S. for a few years and then return home.

Who would have guessed that his business would grow so large? By the third year, he was ready to head back to set up an industry and retire once he had enough money.

But as fate would have it, the country introduced new policies that made it impossible for someone like Yang Jie, who lacked a passport and had no relatives left, to return.

Old He had wanted to help, but the policy was set in stone. Plus, with Yang Jie’s special status and the fact that he was constantly monitored by Interpol, wanting to go back? He might as well have been dreaming.

"You’re a dangerous individual!"

Uncle He’s hearty voice came through the phone. "I tell you, kid, you’re starting to use any means necessary just to get back home."

"Your documents and proof are all in order. These certifications must have cost you quite a bit."

Yang Jie chuckled but didn't confirm anything. "I dream of returning home every day. Besides, my business is on track now and doesn't require my constant presence. It’s fine to manage things remotely from home. Uncle He, could you help me approve it?"

"You know, back when I went to the 'Cotton Quilt' [a slang term for a dangerous region], I was tricked into going. I was innocent! If I hadn't been good at fighting, my kidneys would have been taken!"

"It’s been ten years since I left the country. I haven't even been able to visit my parents' graves. I really can't take it anymore!"

Hearing this, Uncle He’s tone turned serious.

"The country recently opened a visa-free policy. People like you who went abroad due to accidents and lack a passport are now eligible to return. However, there is a tricky matter right now that I need your help with!"

Yang Jie was overjoyed. "What is it? Don't say one thing—I’ll do a hundred!"

Uncle He explained the situation to Yang Jie, who asked for ten minutes to confirm.

After hanging up, Yang Jie had Li Siyao start reviewing the surveillance footage from the area where the actress was kidnapped.

He had to admit, the clarity of the surveillance cameras in the U.S. was essentially at the level of a blurry, low-resolution video. He couldn't see anything clearly, and because the perpetrators were black, the cameras just seemed to reflect light off their skin.

After having Zhao Baitong use his methods, they finally caught sight of the men on a dashcam from a BYD parked nearby.

Yang Jie narrowed his eyes. He recognized the tattoos on the men's necks.

It was a small-to-mid-sized gang from the Houston slums. Yang Jie had dealt with them before; they didn't just sell drugs; they were also long-term practitioners of "zero-dollar shopping."

He made the call.

"Hello, Uncle He. I’ve investigated the matter. I’ll take the job. Wait for my good news."

"Good. As long as you take care of this, everything else can be discussed!"

After a few more words, Yang Jie gave instructions to Li Siyao, grabbed a bulletproof Cadillac from the garage, and sped toward the suburbs of Houston.

Following Zhao Baitong’s tracking of vehicle cameras, Yang Jie pulled up in front of a large house.

Even though it was a villa, the walls were covered in graffiti and showed signs of decay, giving the place a dilapidated air. There was no helping it; the suburbs of every city in the U.S. looked exactly like this.

After knocking on the door, a fat black man opened it. The moment he saw Yang Jie, he exclaimed in surprise.

"Sir, why are you here?"

Before the fat man could finish, the sound of a woman’s screams echoed from inside.

Yang Jie charged in. His tower-like frame squeezed past the fat man, nearly knocking him over.

Seeing Yang Jie walk in, the fat man panicked and scrambled to grab him.

But Yang Jie was powerful and fast. He rounded a corner in two or three steps and entered the living room.

The room was littered with syringes, various amounts of powder, and marijuana. A pungent, acrid smell filled the entire house.

On the sofa sat over a dozen black men, and in the middle sat a typical Asian woman.

The woman’s hands were tied, and her face was filled with terror.

When they saw Yang Jie enter, all the men stood up in unison. The guy in the middle, however, remained calm, using hands that looked like greasy pig knuckles to roll a joint and smoke it.

Yang Jie looked around and spoke to the man in the center. "Harry, where is Old Dad?"

Harry leaned back on the sofa, chuckling. "Old Dad is a thing of the past. Besides, there are so many of you Chinese people; it’s just one woman."

Yang Jie’s heart turned cold. Old Dad of the Scissors Gang was a decent person—at least, within the Haji-Black community, he was considered normal and knew his limits. But the personality of the guy in front of him was typical of someone arrogant and insane.

It seemed that the Scissors Gang, which had been around for a decade, was about to meet its end.

Yang Jie said expressionlessly, "How much?"

Harry shook his head with a look of disdain. "I don't want money. I’ve never played with a Chinese celebrity before. Oh, and by the way, from now on, the price for your 'zero-dollar shopping' here will increase by 50%!"