story_lin_1_1

Commissioner, we have people watching all paths in and out of the slums, as you ordered.

Good. Keep watch in shifts around the clock. Not a single musbeast gets in or get out today.

Yes, ma'am.

Are you sure a massive operation like this is a good idea? It might do the exact opposite of what you want.

It's been two weeks since the Rat King stepped aside and put Miss Lin in charge. The slums have been pretty quiet in the meanwhile.

But then again, it's been two weeks since we saw anything of the stinking rat.

Do you think it's possible for leadership of the slums to change hands without so much as a peep?

Skinny Cheung, Savant Lee, Ghost Eye... do you think the kingpins would just sit on their hands after the Rat King kept them in check for so many years?

Skinny Cheung abducted one of the stinking rat's people today. She's bound to make a move.

...I bet Miss Lin can handle it.

I don't need her to handle it. The slums are part of Lungmen.

That's true. I'm with you on that.

Keep your eyes open for the people on your end. There's bound to be movement there.

On it.

You just wait, you stupid rat.

Most people go to the bar to drink and dance. I go to the bar to have hotpot, uncultured man that I am.

Mr. Lin, the Dai Lo, used to frequent this place, eating and drinking with our gang.

Too bad it's getting demolished next week. I wanted to have one last dinner here, my way of saying goodbye.

Come, eat up!

Come now, Wong, why are your chopsticks so still?

You had the guts to build a hospital on my turf, but not to have hotpot with me?

Building the hospital was Miss Lin's idea.

You see? People these days just don't know how things are done.

Miss Lin is the Rat King's heir, she's got her hands full every single day! A legend like her is bound to forget a thing or two.

Underlings like us, our job is to make our boss's job easier, isn't it?

Am I right, Wong? Now tell me again: was it my dear Yühsia who forgot, or was it you who forgot?

I-It was me who forgot.

That's more like it. Even your Miss Lin has to call me uncle when she sees me. She would never do such a thing without running it by me first, would she?

It's all a misunderstanding.

You're shivering, Wong. Are you cold? Seems like your memory isn't so good either.

You should have some soup from the pot. Eat it while it's hot. It'll do you some good. And then you can deliver my message to dear Yühsia.

I... I... please, Mr. Cheung... have mercy...

The merchant tries to get out of his chair to kowtow, but a hand presses on his shoulder.

Well, well. Look who it is. If it isn't my dear Yühsia.

A little advice from your Uncle Cheung, kiddo. You won't achieve anything with such wimpy underlings.

Back in my day, I had to bite a plate to pieces and swallow it in front of a bunch of dai los, just so your dad wouldn't lose face.

Times have changed, Uncle Cheung. Business these days is about win-win.

Wong's wife is in labor. Let him go.

It's me you're looking for. I'll have some hotpot with you.

Perfect.

You can go, Wong.

Sorry, Miss Lin.

It's not your fault.

Come, Yühsia, let's eat. Chop chop!

You're my elder, Uncle Cheung. If you had something to say to me, you could have told me directly. There's no need for this.

We've seen what you're capable of these past few years. I supported your dad passing his mantle to you.

Rules are everything in the underworld. Now that you're the one calling the shots, I can't very well treat you like a kid.

If I may say so, you seem to be treating me like an enemy, rather than like a leader.

You're exaggerating. Without rules, there is only chaos, but we must treat others with courtesy to find our own place.

You're building on my turf without a single word. You clearly want to undermine me.

I just had to remind you to not push things too far, lest someone be forced to push back.

What if I told you I didn't tell you on purpose?

And they say Yühsia has no sense of humor!

I'm not joking, Uncle Cheung.

Do you think you can do anything you want, now that you're a leader?

I became the leader to stop certain people from doing anything they want.

Does your dad know about this?

As you said, Uncle Cheung, I'm the one calling the shots now.

Looks like I have to help Old Lin teach his daughter a lesson, on his behalf.

Come on, Fat Kwan. We'll have hotpot with my dear Yühsia here.

Grab the guys. Tell them to grab their weapons.

Are we really gonna do this? I thought Miss Lin was the new boss.

A boss is only a boss with the support of the underlings.

She's barely been on the job a few days, and she's already going over Cheung's head. Does she think the slums belong to the Lins?

B-But she's the Rat King's daughter. What if the Rat King is backing this...?

You think the Rat King would've needed to go through his daughter if he wanted to do something to Cheung?

So... is the Rat King just letting his daughter run amok?

We all know Miss Lin does things differently from the Rat King.

And we all know about her dealings with certain people out in the mainstream.

But no one imagined she would go so far as to flout the rules of the slums, the way we've been living for decades.

I doubt even the Rat King could have predicted that his daughter would forget where she came from like this.

All we're doing is helping the Rat King teach his daughter a lesson. Understand?

Got it! I'll get the boys together.

Looks like you came prepared.

Just sharing the hotpot with the boys. Sharing is caring, as they say.

It won't be so bad, I promise. I've still gotta answer to your dad, after all.

You still don't understand, do you, Uncle Cheung? My father isn't involved anymore. How do you expect to answer to him?

You really think he's uninvolved? Just because he says so? How many slum dwellers only listen to him?

Did you really think you could be the boss without their support?

I have my own connections, my own businesses. None of these have anything to do with my father.

Now, now, young lady, a word of advice from your Uncle Cheung.

Young people like you think the old folks like me are behind the times. You want to leave us in the dust. I get it.

Just because you want to leave certain things behind, though, doesn't mean you can.

If your dad wants to get together for lunch tomorrow, how are we supposed to do that when you step on my toes like this? If Auntie Wong wants to go shopping with your mom, do they have to call it off?

You're usually so thoughtful and careful. What's got into you?

You put too much stock in favors and relationships, that's all, Uncle Cheung.

You brat...

I didn't want to go so far, Yühsia, but it looks like this is going to hurt.

Hey, Lee, it's me.

Make sure about the hospital.

Commissioner Wong? It's me, Lee Man-Heng from Excelsior Construction.

Of course I remember. I wouldn't have known something so delicious existed on Terra, if not for you.

I had heard that you were something of a gourmet. Glad to hear it was worth the effort getting those delicacies imported all the way from Rim Billiton.

Well, I'm glad to have a friend like you. Anything you need help with, just let me know.

Well, then, if you wouldn't mind... you know about the new hospital in the slums, don't you?

Of course. The whole city has eyes on it.

But the bidding is already over, right? A company from the slums won the project, if I recall correctly.

You understand how tough things are for small businesses like us.

We had our eyes on this project, but we got cut off by the slum folk.

I sympathize, Mr. Lee, but I understand the bidding was won legitimately.

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.

The one who cajoled him into taking this path...

Was you, Uncle Cheung.

He was the one who approached me first. He said there was immense potential here.

Does it matter who was first?

Together, the two of you stole from the many thousands of families who live in the slums, in order to fund your comforts and excesses.

It's true there are certain things I've kept hidden from your dad over the years.

Some of them I had no choice. The others, though, I must admit I had a choice.

I do feel guilty towards your dad for those.

And it makes me feel better now that you've pointed them out, and I can finally admit them to myself.

But that's all the more reason why I can't let you leave.

I'm sorry, Yühsia, but you're going to have to come with me.

Once I'm safe—

Lee? What is it?

Help me, Cheung!

The L.G.D. just arrested me!

What did you say?!

Cheung? Cheung! Don't hang—

...Ugh.

Fat Kwan's at the station too. You can go see both of them together.

The communicator has hardly beeped twice before Swire walks in, throwing Fat Kwan's communicator in front of Skinny Cheung.

Is there another call you would like to make, Uncle Cheung?

I can do it for you. Savant Lee, Ghost Eye, Mr. Wong, Mr. Chan...

Lin Yühsia takes out a communicator from her pouch, keeping her eye firmly on Skinny Cheung.

Skinny Cheung does not answer. He leans back in his chair, his hand clutching the communicator tightly. A thousand expressions flash across his face.

It is over.

Finally, he closes his eyes and exhales deeply.

It is as though he has aged ten years.

We all reap what we sow, Uncle Cheung.

What about your Auntie Wong?

I'll tell her personally.

Your son's schooling will not be affected.

I used to think I could stick to my principles, just like you.

But take one step down the wrong path, and you go astray forever.

Tell your dad... Cheung Man-Ho is sorry.

I will.

Take me to Fat Kwan and Lee, Commissioner Swire.

The police car's outside. You need an escort?

Uncle Cheung was good to me when I was little.

When I was eight, he threw his new, expensive watch into a well, just so I would smile.

You sure were one mean, stupid rat.

I still am.

Don't you dare think you did me a favor. The L.G.D. was already on Skinny Cheung's tail.

Just cleaning house.

Well, well. Look at you, Lin the heroine, eliminating a thorn in the L.G.D.'s side so soon after coming back from Yumen.

You could bring people into the slums without anybody noticing, and even influence the government's treasury department.

How about I tell Chief Wei to name you the next Commissioner?

Right now, there are certain things that have to be dealt with this way.

The walls between the slums and Lungmen must be taken down slowly, piece by piece.

I know.

You think we'd be standing here talking if I didn't?

What do you think I surrounded the slums for? Was it to catch you, or to protect you?

You're not dumb enough to think that you have to catch me today. And you're not so nice that you would let me leave if I slipped up.

Good. Don't you forget it.

Lungmen needed the slums in your father's time. That doesn't mean Lungmen always will.

Don't tell me you forgot what we said when we were in school.

'Nobody is born to spend their life in the slums. The day will come when those in the slums will see the sun.'

I've never forgotten. I wonder if a certain someone has, though. She couldn't even keep a promise, after all.

You're one petty woman.

How long do you intend to keep nagging me about that?

I'm a mean, stupid rat, after all. Why wouldn't I make the most of this one weakness of yours?

Talking to you raises my blood pressure to dangerous levels. I should ask Hoshiguma to get me some medicine.

Anyway, as long as you remember what we said and never forget whom you're fighting for...

The L.G.D. won't stop you.

Is the Commissioner of the L.G.D. offering immunity to this humble citizen?

Think of it as the Commissioner of the L.G.D. putting restraints on this humble citizen.

Swire takes out a pair of handcuffs.

She puts one cuff around Lin Yühsia's wrist, and the other around her own.

Lin Yühsia does not resist.

Anyway, you've got to come to the station to make a statement.

Pick up your own mess.

Sure.

I'm hungry after running around the slums all day.

Let's have some hotpot!

Put the vegetables in, you stinking rat.

Why me?

I put the handcuffs on my dominant hand.

*sigh*...

You're old and you're injured. You shouldn't be climbing high places like this.

Wanted to say goodbye to an old friend. My leg's bad, but the least I could do is pour out some liquor for him.

Is it your leg that failed you, or your shame?

Do you remember that headstrong kid who said he wouldn't let anyone touch a single hair on your head or mine, so long as he still breathed?

I do.

He worked under me for thirty years. I gave him a good life for thirty years.

I could never imagine he was keeping so much hidden from me.

I owe him nothing.

But you couldn't bring yourself to do it.

And you didn't expect your daughter to be so decisive.

The Rat King of the slums, hiding because he's afraid to see his own daughter. What will people think?

I must object.

I'm not the Rat King anymore, just an old man with too much time on his hands.

I'm happier than anyone else that my daughter is growing up faster than I ever expected.

You've let it go.

Of course I have. Even if I didn't want to see her now, we still have to eat at the same table later.

That niece of yours, though? You couldn't see her, even if you wanted.

You had to bring it up, didn't you?

Nothing has changed. If she decides to come back, Lungmen will be the best backing she could possibly have.

Heh.

We've all grown old, old friend.

But I'm not too worried about the young ones we've entrusted Lungmen's future to.

You'll grow old even quicker if you say things like that.

Hah hah hah.