Chapter 3 Eating Chinese

While sipping on his drink he scrutinizes the people around him. At his back, he notices an eye cast in his direction watching him. This guy sits three tables behind him. When noticing John saw him, he throws his head down to look at his empty plate.

What was apparent was the scrutiny he received. This definitely has something to do with the murder he is investigating. Now it is something he needs to check out. His first step will be the stairs and where they led to. Finishing his beer, he gets up, takes money from his pocket, and leaves it on the table. He casually sauntered over to the stairs and could feel eyes burning on his back. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw eyes duck away behind a column, supporting the upper floor. Smiling at himself he takes note of his follower. Not certain if it's a stalker or genuine admirer. But in the area, he is in, he would see it as stalking and it makes him vigilant. With one or at least two at his back, he becomes cautious of the danger he finds himself in. He left his service pistol in his car's cubby hole and is not armed. At least he is a big man, not unfit at all, and can look well after himself. His scores were high in hand-to-hand combat training in the training academy. With this much confidence, he starts climbing the stairs one at a time. The guests coming from the top floor flatten themselves against the wall to let him pass. As a big man, his whole frame fills up the space.

On top of the stairs, he came face to face with the one, he nicknamed, Snake eyes. Snake eyes block his way, glaring at him, spewing forth rapid syllables in Chinese. He looks mad and agitated and like a snake, he pulls his head back ready to strike. John read his body language and from his stance, he knew an attack would follow soon. A scurry of steps behind him, let him quickly shift his body towards the wall. In that same instance, Snake eyes launch an attack; with an angry scream, he lunges with a flying kick. Anticipating the attack, he was ready, the body shift, prevented the kick to land with full impact. Nevertheless, it stuns and Snake eyes landed two blows to his head before he could raise his arms. The two blows to his head, reel him back. He lifts his arms and retraces a step for a breather. The steps he heard behind him prevented him of his breather. Two punches driven into his kidney region let him curl with pain. At that moment he realizes he must fight back or go down. Ignoring the pain, he charges straight ahead at Snake eyes. He lands a hard punch to his head. Following it up with an uppercut, planted with his whole power behind it. He felt the shock on contact through his arm and turned around with a backhand swing, intended for the one behind, but swings into the wind. His adversary had ducked away the moment he swung. The momentum of the swing whirled him around, facing the back attack. Two punches in his gut nearly rob all the air from his body. He ignored it and struck out with all his might. With a straight, punch catching his adversary between his eyes. Then he follows it up with an uppercut, breaking his jaw. The guy went down like a sack of potatoes. He whirled around to face Snake eyes. What he saw when he turned was such a great relief. Snake eyes were trying to rise but could not get his footing. John ended his struggle with a hard punch behind the ear.

Wang Chi is ruthless, murderous, ambitious and an outright criminal. He rises, through his organization through sheer ruthlessness. In his long illustrious path, he killed, maimed, and robbed many. What makes him stay on top is the fear he invoked. Those who know his story from his rise as a lowly slum boy, never try differing with him. He started making his money through opium smuggling and money laundering. First killing a rival gang`s leader, and his second, too took over their business. He incorporated those rival gang members into his gang. This gang was into cocaine and heroin smuggling combined with prostitution. From there on, he just rises, as he took on jobs others refused to do. It was jobs such as assassination, kidnapping, bank robbery, and the worst kind the trafficking in humans. Kidnapping young daughters and selling them into prostitution rings in Russia, Korea, and Vietnam even in the sheikdoms. Wherever the money was good, he delivered. He kept discipline and order in his gang by not wasting time on any form of revolt or disobedience. He simply kills the instigator. This is what makes him so feared because of word of mouth doing the rounds. He got his break into the big leagues, doing a job for a big boss in the Chinese Triads. This job involves the kidnapping of a rival in the organization's family. The kids were a girl of fourteen and a boy of twelve. It was to allow his boss of the time, to turn the hand of his opposition and rival. This rival was opposing Wang`s boss allocation of certain territories in Beijing. Wang excels in his job and his boss got what he wanted. He sold mother and daughter off into prostitution while killing the son and father. The boss was impressed with Wang and he promptly incorporated him and his gang members into the newly won territory. Making him head of security, he and his members became this guy`s enforcers. After a few years of enforcing and collecting what was owed to the boss, Wang felt entitled to a better position in the organization. He started scheming and planning to eliminate the bosses` assistant, On Leong. Once he set his mind on it, he ruthlessly go for it, and it paid off big. A drive-by- shooting, while leaving the apartment of his lover, ends it for On Leong. Meanwhile, Wang worked on the boss before On Leong`s demise, ensuring this position. The boss was not reluctant at all because the service Wang give to the organization was extraordinary. He gets what he was after and things seem on the rise for him.

Wang brought in changes in positions around him so he may sleep easily. He removes all On Leong`s security and henchman, replacing them with his boys. Those fiercely loyal to On Leong, he killed and blamed them for On Leong`s demise. Alternatively, he demotes them to lower positions. Others, which don`t give a damn were put in positions just below his boys'. To act as a buffer between him and those seeking revenge. While restructuring, he made sure he snuggles up close to the boss. Through the years, he gathers sound business principles in his field of expertise. He wanted to use it in the position he acquired. Wang was highly intelligent but sometimes clouded by emotional issues such as his anger. He had low control over this anger. Once he let the yang lose, it took him hours or days before he can control it. A path of destruction and death followed. Not even his trusted lieutenants and subordinates wanted to be near him in such times. Times, he kept his anger in check, his intelligence shines through and he makes brilliant plans. He served the boss well and through him and his acts, they became much feared and respected. Two years after being appointed as an assistant, the ghost of On Leong comes haunting. It came to the boss`s knowledge Wang's scheming and planning lead to On Leong`s demise. The boss needed explanations and wanted to know if it was true. If the allegation is true, Wang will lose his position. Wang decided to act before being exposed; first, he started purging from the subordinates that he demoted. The hierarchy notices his purging methods and he became undesirable. He told himself, the only way for him to grab the power is to take over as boss of this crime family. It means, he should kill his boss and take over. Once it's done, he would own one of the richest trade zones in Beijing. The other bosses then must accept him as head of this organization. Otherwise, they stand to lose out considerably. He was ready to rumble with them over these territories if they decline. Besides, this zone would not have become so lucrative without work he and his gang put in, he convinces himself. He started planning and scheming on getting rid of the boss.