Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 429: Chapter 429. The Eight Major Clans

Instead of answering, Amon asked another question, ”The Street Dogs are the ones who initiated this sit-down?”

”That’s right,” Gao Lan answered. ”They are the ones who caused us the most trouble before we regained the thirteenth prince’s backing. Most probably, it is the Gao Clan who asks them to call this sit-down.”

”When will this sit-down take place?” Amon asked.

”Tomorrow night,” Gao Lan answered.

”The call was issued yesterday,” Lu Fei informed. ”They didn’t give others much time to consider.”

”The venue is at an inn located in a neutral district,” Gao Lan added. ”Each representative may bring a maximum group of ten, but only one may accompany the representative into the inn.”

”Not much time to find any information,” Amon muttered.

”So, should we go?” Gao Lan asked.

Amon grinned. ”Of course, I’m interested in learning what the Gao Clan is planning with this.”

*

The inn used for the underworld sit-down was called Spare Rib Inn. The entire inn had been booked by the Gao Clan, so they had the place for themselves.

”The Gao Clan used their name to book the place?” Amon asked. He was on his way to Spare Rib Inn with Gao Lan, Lu Fei, and several other Demon Gang members.

”Yes, they probably need to use their name to make the inn caved to their demand,” Gao Lan replied. ”Otherwise, they won’t have gotten the place for themselves.”

”Since they got the entire place, could they have planned a trap inside?” Lu Fei asked.

”Unlikely,” Amon said. ”If a fight between the underworld organizations breaks out in there, it is the same as the Gao Clan admitting their involvement with the underworld. On the other hand, I think this is their way of assuring everyone that their invitation is genuine. That said, you should not let your guard down.”

”I understand,” Lu Fei said. ”If I see or hear anything suspicious, I will ignite this flare signal before rushing in.”

”Our people are ready in the nearby district,” Gao Lan added. ”They will act when they see our flare signal.”

”Good,” Amon said. He didn’t think the Gao Clan would invite everyone just to have a big fight, but it was never wrong to be careful.

When they arrived near Spare Rib Inn, they saw many different groups loitering outside. Amon snickered at these groups. They might as well put up a glowing sign telling everyone something was going on inside. These people had no concept of blending in.

”Pay attention,” Amon told Lu Fei, who nodded.

Lu Fei and the rest of the Demon Gang broke away. They spread out individually or in two. Some sat at nearby stalls and ordered food or drinks. Some pretended to check the merchandise of nearby shops that were still open at night. A few, including Lu Fei, went into dark alleys, corners, or climbed atop the roofs when no one was looking. They watched the inn from those hidden spots.

Amon and Gao Lan continued toward the entrance of Spare Rib Inn. Both wore demon masks.

Two rough-looking men were guarding the entrance. They stopped Amon and Gao Lan when they arrived.

”Do you have an invitation?” One of the men asked.

Gao Lan produced a gold-colored letter with a unique seal that looked like a picture of a dog. After checking the letter, the man said, ”Okay, go in. There will be someone inside to show the way.”

”Welcome!” A man greeted them after they entered. From his apparel, the man was a legit employee of the inn. ”Follow me. The others have been waiting,” he said.

They went past the lobby to a room with stairs going down. Amon didn’t spot anyone else on the way. No guards were inside the inn. This showed the Street Dogs themselves followed the rules they imposed.

The usher brought them down to the basement, which seemed originally a storeroom. Some stacks of crates and barrels were by the sides of the room, but the center portion had been cleaned out except for a large table with twelve seats. Eight of these seats had already been seated. Each of the seated people had another person standing behind them.

Each of the pairs wore a mask like Amon and Gao Lan did.

”Ah! Our last guests have arrived,” the person at the end of the seat said. He appeared to be the host.

Out of the eight pairs, seven with masks stood behind the representatives who sat. The only masked person who sat was the host. Gao Lan whispered to Amon, informing him the maskless person who stood behind the host was Sui Kou. He was Street Dogs’ new leader after the previous one, Xi Wen, was assassinated by Amon.

”Sit,” the host uttered.

”Last? Didn’t you invite twelve organizations?” A fat man who sat beside the host asked.

”Three choose not to attend,” the host replied. ”No need to bother about them. It’s their loss.”

Gao Lan took one of the seats. Amon stood behind her.

”Do you need anything?” The usher asked Gao Lan. He placed a bottle of wine he had been holding on the table. The others at the table had the same bottle before them.

The host answered for Gao Lan. ”You are no longer needed. Get out and close the door that leads to this basement. No one is allowed to enter until we are done.”

”Ye–Yes, sir,” the usher stuttered. He didn’t know what was going on but knew for sure he didn’t want to mess with these people. He promptly walked out of there.

After the usher was gone, the host said, ”Before we begin, let us all put our cards on the table.”

His hand went to his mask and removed it. The face behind the mask was Gao Fongze.

”All of us here are respectable clans who use a shadow organization to do our dirty work. This is an open secret. It is a joke that we have to hide behind this secrecy. Don’t you say so, Xian Bifu?”

The person Gao Fongze was looking at removed his mask as well. ”You, mad dog, what is the game you are trying to play here?” He cursed.

”Brother Bifu, we have been at odds since hairs started growing in our private parts. Don’t you ever tire of it?” Gao Fongze asked.

”If you find our lives tiring, you can always retire and save us all the trouble,” Xian Bifu responded.

”Haha, you are always bad at joking,” Gao Fongze laughed. ”Now, everyone. Please stand up and let the real leaders behind you sit. Real leaders, take off your masks, please, or do you need me to spell out your names one by one?”

Those sitting became awkward by the request. Everyone except Gao Lan turned to the people behind them for approval. This reinforced Gao Fongze’s statement.

”Hmph!” Someone else removed his mask, revealing the face of a middle-aged man with a long, straight beard.

”Uncle Calao, I have always known you won’t miss this kind of get-together,” Gao Fongze said.

One by one, they removed their masks. Amon never met these people, but he knew all of them based on the intel Demon Gang had compiled. They were all people from the major clans in the capital and were known to have underworld organizations doing their bidding.

The middle-aged man was Fei Calao from the Fei Clan. The other five were Erl Kui, Zin Bao, Kung Liu, and the last two were women named Mai Ziling and Wirn Chin.

The leaders of the underworld organizations who worked under them stood up and let them take their seats, all except for Gao Lan. Amon kept his mask on. This caused everyone to turn to him.

”I’ve always wondered about the true leader of the Demon Gang,” Mai Ziling stated.

”Me too,” Kung Liu agreed. ”They came into our city and carved a place for themselves in such a short time. That is no small feat.”

Erl Kui chuckled. ”Remember when I told you about them, Brother Kung Liu? You said not to worry about them, that they are only brats who don’t know their limits. They don’t seem like brats anymore, do they?”

”Those are just words spoken during a drunken time,” Kung Liu replied.

Everyone made some statements, but Gao Lan and Amon remained silent.

”Hey! Say something, will you?” Fei Calao scolded. He didn’t like the two treating their words as if nothing.

”That’s right,” Wirn Chin joined in. ”And why do the two of you keep your masks on? Take them off! Or do you want us to remove those masks for you?”

”Sister Wirn Chin, you are as fierce as your reputation,” Gao Fongze chuckled. ”But please keep this meeting civilized. I didn’t invite all of you here to fight.”

”Then why did you invite us?” Zin Bao asked.

”Before that...,” Instead of answering Zin Bao, Gao Fongze turned in another direction. He said, ”Mister Amon, will you give me face and remove your mask?”