If the problem was with the hotel itself, then after opening the door for the prostitute earlier, the officials would have broken in before long.
But with no movement outside until now, it was enough to prove that the extra stalls outside were not the work of the officials.
If it wasn't the officials, then it could only be...
I dared not think further, and at the same time, I was unsure whether I should change locations and run, or obediently wait for them to find me.
It wasn't that I was a coward, but the other party was likely someone arranged by Mr. He to track and monitor me.
If possible, I would definitely not admit defeat. Even if I had to offend them, I would try my best to protect myself.
But I had just arrived at the hotel, and Mr. He's people had already appeared outside. This was very telling.
Mr. He was powerful, far beyond ordinary underworld bosses!
Whether to run or stay became a problem that I had to solve quickly.
Just as I was concentrating in thought, the prostitute beside me suddenly frowned and looked at me, asking in a somewhat uncertain tone, "Handsome, could it be that those extra stalls outside are looking for you? Have you been targeted?"
As expected of someone who lived under the watchful eyes of the officials, the prostitute hit the nail on the head.
Seeing my grim expression and silence, the prostitute curiously asked, "Handsome, are they targeting you just for your money, or for your life?"
Before I could speak, the prostitute added, "Don't misunderstand! I think you're a good person and quite generous, so I just want to be friends with you and help you solve your problems."
"Actually, you don't need to worry too much about being watched and followed like this!"
"Take our profession for example. We are extremely careful and cautious when we go out to work, for fear of being targeted!"
"Because we know very well that if the person watching us is an official, they'll basically just be fined and detained for a while before being released. But if it's a colleague or a former client..."
"It won't be a problem that can be solved by just losing some money! If you happen to encounter a perverted client who can't have you, they might even think of taking you down with them!"
"So, handsome, if you encounter someone watching you when you're out, as long as you don't alert them, just run!"
"After all, protecting your life is the most important thing! As long as you're alive, everything else follows."
"If you're not alive, thinking about anything else is useless!"
The prostitute's words were crude but not unreasonable. After listening, I nodded and said, "Thank you, beautiful. You can go out now."
Hearing this, the prostitute immediately put on a fawning expression and replied, "Handsome, I've taken the money, and if I leave without doing anything, I'll feel quite bad."
"You three... who wants to relax and do something you love?"
Gao Jing, who had been silent all along, suddenly chose to speak.
He looked the prostitute up and down, then smacked his lips and said, "Tsk tsk tsk... I spent 1,100 patacas. It shouldn't be less than the standard for an all-nighter, right?"
"Beautiful, if you really feel bad about taking the money without doing anything, let's go to the room opposite and talk privately, all night long!"
Hearing this, the prostitute couldn't help but smile bitterly and replied, "Brother, to be honest with you, if I were working on my own, 1,100 patacas would definitely be enough for an all-nighter. But I have people above me."
"For all the money I earn, half of it has to be handed over."
As soon as I heard the prostitute's words, I immediately realized: this is a typical prostitution team!
The operating model is the same as the most popular "honey trap" in later generations, except that the former is legitimate. They only send people to monitor the prostitute to prevent her from absconding with the money.
Such professional prostitution teams have complex and vast interpersonal networks and information webs.
If I could find them to subtly inquire about Mr. He's intentions, perhaps I wouldn't be so passive.
At least, by understanding Mr. He's attitude, whether it's a slight punishment to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys, or to kill without mercy and eliminate the possibility of letting anyone go, so that I can make up my mind whether to stay or run...
With this thought, I immediately looked at the prostitute and asked, "Beautiful, what's your name?"
"You can call me Lingling!" the prostitute replied crisply.
"So, Lingling..." I paused, organized my thoughts, and then took out another pataca and stuffed it into her hand, asking in a deep voice, "Could you trouble you to deliver a message to your people for me?"
Although she was greedy for money, upon hearing my words, Lingling's eyes immediately revealed a look of intense vigilance, and she asked coldly, "What do you want?"
Seeing this, I quickly waved my hands to explain, "Don't misunderstand! I'm neither an official nor from the underworld. I just want you to deliver a message for me!"
"Just tell them I want to find someone who can make decisions for you to do an intelligence deal!"
"As long as the intelligence is accurate, the remuneration for this deal will not be less than 100,000 patacas!"
"As for your personal commission for acting as a go-between, I guarantee it will start at five figures!"
I wasn't unaware of the principle of not showing off wealth, but at this critical juncture, apart from Lingling's team, I couldn't find anyone else suitable to do this.
Secondly, even if I could spend money to find someone who specializes in gathering and disseminating information in the underworld, they would likely recognize my identity as soon as I started talking about specific matters.
Therefore, it would be safer and more reliable to have Lingling act as an intermediary and find her team to do this.
As expected, there is nothing in this world that money cannot solve.
After hearing my words, Lingling's vigilance instantly disappeared, replaced by extreme excitement and eagerness. She asked, "Handsome, are you sure?"
"I'm sure, absolutely sure, and definitely sure!" I nodded heavily in response.
Having received the desired answer, Lingling immediately took out her phone and said, "Wait a moment! I'll arrange it for you right away!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Lingling quickly dialed a string of numbers and made the call.
The first sentence Lingling spoke immediately made Gao Jing, who looked like he was burning with desire, sober up by more than half.
"She's with Snakehead Ah Gui!"
Snakehead Ah Gui?
Seeing my confused look, Gao Jing whispered an explanation, "Snakehead Ah Gui is the most successful person among the three religions and nine schools. He monopolizes more than half of the market in Macau, from smuggling to pimping!"