lin

I know, but perhaps you overlooked a few errors in the documents they submitted.

Oh?

Are you sure about this? A couple of minor problems won't change the outcome.

But there's a possibility that it may affect the outcome, isn't there?

I just wanted to give you a heads-up. All you need to do is nod when we submit our complaint.

We won't bother you at all with the other stuff.

I got some more goodies in from Bolívar. They'll arrive next month. I hope you can join me in the tasting.

...Hah. Sure. No problem.

Now, my dear Yühsia, we can enjoy our hotpot.

There's no rush.

I have something I wanted to ask, Uncle Cheung.

Sure. I'm happy to answer, as long as it's something I know.

Lungmen takes in vagrants from the barrenlands from time to time. Most of the time, they end up in the slums.

To prevent their numbers from growing out of control, Chief Wei has signed aid agreements with other countries, in order to allow people to return to their homes.

But some of them always go missing. Sometimes, they go missing after reaching their destination. Sometimes, the person's not on the list, but they go missing from the slums.

I thought it was a coincidence at first, but as the investigation continued, I realized that someone was engaging in human trafficking, under the guise of aid.

You were nothing if not careful, Uncle Cheung. You find a different buyer each time, and you always sell the people to a number of different places.

It took me years to finally identify a lead.

Do you recognize the people in these photos, Uncle Cheung?

Lin Yühsia takes out a few photos from her pouch. The people in the photos are thin and emaciated.

No.

That's what I thought.

Ready?

Yeah, the boys are here!

Who's there?!

Ugh...

This is Cheung's turf! Who the hell are you?!

Gah...

Wh-Who are you?

Come out.

Is it him?

Yes, that's the one. I'll never forget his voice... he was the one who killed my dad!

I remember him too! I spent a dozen years in the Ursine mines because of him!

Yes... yes... I'll remember his tattoo even if he were burned to ashes... he was the one who sold me to Rim Billiton!

He can't move. Miss Lin says you can do anything you want to him.

There is a mixture of surprise and anger on the faces of these people when they see Fat Kwan. At the words of Lin Yühsia's lieutenant, a few of them muster the courage to kick Fat Kwan a few times.

Most of them, however, cower behind.

On their faces is the fear that has followed them through all their years abroad.

Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Miss Lin, I promise you that your nightmares have come to an end.

That's because—

Everybody, freeze!

I hear fighting. What's going on?

Because the L.G.D. is here to help you.

You're the stinking rat's lackey?

Commissioner Swire, I hereby report on behalf of Miss Lin the crimes of human trafficking that Cheung Man-Ho, Fat Kwan, and those associated with them have engaged in over the years.

We have the witnesses here. As for the evidence...

We have that here too.

We have faith that you will deliver justice for these people.

Ding nei goh fai, the stupid rat had it all planned out, didn't she?

Miss Lin simply—

That's enough. Take Fat Kwan's gang into custody, and bring the witnesses into protection.

You're not going anywhere either, stinking rat gang. You're gonna need to come to the station and make a statement.

Where are you going, commissioner?

...I'm in the mood for some hot pot.

You see, Yühsia, there were multiple foreign syndicates trying to take root in the slums.

Your dad is strong, but not invincible. It was no sure bet that he could have established himself here, if I wasn't there to take some of the pressure off him.

I don't blame you for not understanding the complexities, Yühsia. You weren't born at the time, after all.

I know.

Dad said a lot of blood would have been shed in the slums, if you didn't stand up and step forward.

Little did he know that the one appreciated so much was dealing with those foreign syndicates, helping them with their human trafficking business.

I had no choice!

There is always a way, if not at the time, then certainly afterward.

How many of those deeds were done because you had no choice, how many were just you deceiving yourself, and how many were just because you couldn't bring yourself to stop?

You weren't there, Yühsia. Don't talk like you know.

True, I wasn't there.

And I prefer it that way.

Did you ever go looking for them, Uncle Cheung? Did you try to help them? Do anything for them?

Have you ever seen them standing despondent before their unrecognizable old homes? Have you ever seen them crying before the graves of their loved ones?

Spare me, Yühsia.

You think that kind of talk will rattle me?

Of course not. I'm not that naive.

I just wanted to remind you, in case you forgot.

But I'm sure you remember the people in this photo.

Lin Yühsia takes out another photo from her pouch.

It is one of Skinny Cheung, President Lee, and Commissioner Wong laughing and drinking together.

A shadow comes over Skinny Cheung's expression.

Lee has left Commissioner Wong's office, sir. What do we do?

Keep an eye on him. I'll go have a chat with Commissioner Wong.

Roger.

Phew...

...Come in.

Commissioner Wong, I am Inspector Hoshiguma, L.G.D. I would like to talk to you.

Good timing, Inspector. I have a report to make...

Correction. I'm surrendering myself.

What?

I am confessing that I covered up the illegal bidding activities of certain corporations.

I am also reporting that Lee Man-Heng of Excelsior Construction is attempting to illegally influence the bidding result of the new hospital project in the slums.

He was just here. I recorded our conversation.

The one behind him is Cheung Man-Ho of the slums, who has repeatedly influenced project bidding over the years with a mixture of bribery and violence.

I have the evidence.

Who put you up to this?

No one, Inspector. I'm doing it of my own accord.

Miss Lin.

Wow.

Lee Man-Heng... a familiar name to many inhabitants of the slums.

His company was responsible for much of the slums' infrastructure. One could even call him the great benefactor of the slums.

When I was little, Dad told me how Uncle Cheung's friend, Mr. Lee, built all these buildings in the slums. I was very grateful to him.

It's no exaggeration to say that he was the one who inspired me to build the slums' first public hospital.

But as I began to study these things and embarked on this path, I started to learn how much investment and aid he embezzled with those government officials whom he was in league with.

Those buildings that I admired so much were built using cheap, inferior materials, allowing him to embezzle millions of dollars through his construction projects.