Beautiful Tour Guide

"You've finally arrived." Jerry was the first to open the door, while the others scattered instantly, transforming into a chaotic, furious group of tourists.

At the doorway stood two uniformed police officers, accompanied by two hotel security guards. Jerry shouted at the officer with a flower on his shoulder, "I demand to protest to the embassy! You Vietnamese are all swindlers! Our passports, our cash—everything's been stolen!"

While Jerry complained loudly, Lux quietly tucked the .38 into her waistband and moved to the entrance as well. She tried to calm the raging Jerry and apologized profusely to the officer, weaving a tale as she spoke: "We're tourists from California, all outstanding employees of Phil Cup Company. We entered through Hanoi International Airport yesterday. As soon as we disembarked, a Vietnamese man about this tall approached us, claiming to be a genuine English-speaking tour guide..."

The Vietnamese officer listened to Lux's story, his eyes sweeping over the others inside, his face cold and impassive throughout. He seemed to grow weary of Lux’s narrative and replied in stiff English, "Alright, alright. An officer will take your statements shortly, and we'll check your identities against the immigration records. As for replacing your passports, you'll have to negotiate with your embassy yourselves."

"What? This is covering up! You Vietnamese are all swindlers!" Jerry’s performance was wildly exaggerated, yelling as he advanced on the officer, and the group quickly shifted from the doorway to the hotel corridor.

To prevent any mishaps, Hou Rui and the bald man followed into the corridor. Now Hou Rui finally understood why Jerry was making such a scene: behind the officers and security guards were two plainclothes police, both carrying AK-47s.

"We’re all American citizens!" Jerry kept shouting, though his eyes darted nervously to the rifles, and he quickly gave Hou Rui a meaningful look.

Hou Rui glanced at the corridor ceiling and spotted two cameras. He swiftly concluded that, even if they abandoned the rifles, this was not the place to clash with the police—any official attention would spell disaster for the whole group.

"Calm down—for God’s sake, don’t get us into more trouble," Hou Rui said, shaking his head slightly as he stepped forward to restrain Jerry. He, the bald man, and Lux joined in the act, dragging Jerry back into the room.

Afterward, Hou Rui faced the officer, attempting to soothe the situation with a conciliatory smile, slipping a small stack of bills into the officer’s hand. At last, the turbulence was settled.

A few minutes later, the officer left a regular policeman to take statements and departed with his team. Lux and Jerry kept up their act for half an hour, spinning stories until the police finally left. Then Hou Rui led everyone out of the hotel.

Soon after, they gathered around a large table at a roadside seafood eatery near the hotel, savoring fresh seafood stir-fries.

"Once the Vietnamese check the immigration records, our story will fall apart," Lux said, wrestling with a giant prawn.

"We need to speed up our information gathering. I estimate we’ll become targets in twenty-four hours at most," Hou Rui said, tossing aside an empty clam shell.

Jerry, his mouth stuffed with fried rice, managed to squeeze out a single word.

Just as they were preparing to act after their meal, a Vietnamese girl in hot pants and a tank top suddenly appeared, dragging a chair over and settling herself next to Hou Rui with practiced familiarity. "Hi! Are you tourists? Americans? Brits? Or Russians?"

Lux grabbed a napkin, wiped her mouth, and casually placed it on her lap, discreetly covering the .38 in her hand.

"And you are?" The bald man squinted at her.

"My name is Jane. I’m an English-speaking tour guide, familiar with the entire city—and my fees are very reasonable." She looked about seventeen, heavily made up, not particularly beautiful but slim, with a pair of pale, shapely legs that deeply attracted Jerry’s gaze. When Jane noticed Jerry’s lecherous stare, she didn’t get angry; instead, she smiled and threw him a flirtatious wink.

"Perfect, we’re in need of a guide," Hou Rui said. He didn’t speak Vietnamese, so having a local would provide both cover and convenience in gathering information.

So, leaving the seafood shop, Hou Rui and his group split into three teams. Hou Rui, Lux, Jerry, and Jane moved together.

"Where shall we go first?" Jane was clearly delighted, boldly linking arms with Jerry, unfazed by his occasional wandering hands.

"Let’s go to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, then Hoan Kiem Lake, and finally Thirty-Six Streets," Hou Rui, having researched beforehand, named a few random spots, and the four began their sightseeing.

Hours passed swiftly, and by late afternoon, they had gained nothing substantial. Growing impatient, Hou Rui finally waved his hand and declared, "Jane, let’s visit the red-light district!"

"If you want girls, I have many friends I can introduce—most of them love American men," Jane clearly misunderstood Hou Rui’s intent. It was no wonder, after a day of Jerry’s wolfish behavior; Jane’s body probably hadn’t escaped his touch.

"No, we’re looking for gang members," Hou Rui said bluntly, losing patience.

"Gangsters? Did I hear you right?" Jane was confused.

"You heard correctly—gang members. We need them for some special tasks."

"I suddenly remembered I have something to do, so I’ll leave now. Let’s forget today’s tour fee," Jane sensed trouble and tried to slip away, but it was too late. Lux, still linked to Hou Rui, deftly moved to block Jane’s path, the .38 pressed firmly against her waist.

"I—I—I..." Jane was stunned.

"Relax, we won’t hurt you. You approached us, remember? Now, let’s go to the red-light district," Hou Rui said, taking the lead.

Bar after bar, club after club, even before nightfall the streets were lined with scantily clad girls—this was one of Hanoi’s many red-light districts, and Hou Rui’s group drifted slowly through the crowd.

"That Sailor Nightclub is the biggest on this street, run by the Huang Jing Gang—they’re the gangsters you’re looking for, the largest in town," Jane pointed to a nightclub entrance crowded with bikini-clad girls. "Can I go now? Please?"

"Wait a bit longer. We’ll go inside first," Hou Rui replied offhandedly, pushing aside a girl and stepping into the Sailor Nightclub.

Deafening rock music, a central dance floor packed with wild, gyrating bodies, steel-pole dancers atop platforms—such was the atmosphere. Most patrons were tourists from all over the world, many Westerners seeking thrills: girls, pills, anything money could buy.

Hou Rui fended off another persistent girl and finally managed to scan the scene, searching for a target. The chaos made visibility poor, so he ended up following the movements of the club’s enforcers—only then did he spot a corridor leading further back.

"Where does that corridor lead?" Hou Rui shouted into Jane’s ear, forced by the blaring music.

"It’s where guests and girls have private conversations," Jane’s eyes darted nervously, likely searching for an escape route.

"And beyond?"

"A fighting ring—also where people gamble. Most of the Huang Jing Gang hangs out there."

"Let’s head over, then."

After traversing a 560-meter corridor, hearing the primal cries of men and women, and passing through two doors, they entered another world. In the center of the hall, two wiry boxers slugged it out on a ring, surrounded by a crowd howling madly, growing more excited with each splash of blood.

Jane pointed to men among the crowd, collecting bets with slips and pencils. "Those are Huang Jing Gang members."

"Who’s their leader?" Jerry gazed at the similar Eastern faces, confused.

"The old man sitting on the platform," Jane pointed, visibly terrified of him.

Hou Rui weighed the situation, took a deep breath, and said, "Let’s go over."

"No, I can’t—I’ll be killed," Jane finally broke down, screaming. But Jerry was in no mood for chivalry; he hoisted the struggling Jane onto his shoulder and followed Hou Rui.

Before they got near the old man, seven or eight bodyguards with AK-47s surrounded them, their barrels nearly touching Hou Rui’s forehead.

"I have a deal—a big deal," Hou Rui managed to steady himself, raising his hands and speaking loudly.

"Let them through. No need for tension in our own house," the old man, hair white as snow, was calm and interested, turning to instruct his men.

A burly guard signaled Hou Rui to approach, preparing a chair seventy-eight meters from the old man.

The hall had just finished a match; the loser was dragged off, leaving a streak of blood, while the winner awaited his next challenger. The boxing ring enjoyed a rare lull, broken only by the curses of losing gamblers.

"Americans?" the old man began. "My name is Nguyen Ah Wen. I own this nightclub. What business do you have with me?"

Hou Rui signaled Jerry to set Jane down, since the old man spoke Vietnamese and he understood nothing. When the trembling Jane translated, Hou Rui replied, "We’re Americans. We need to buy weapons—handguns, submachine guns, bullets, and ideally explosives."

Nguyen Ah Wen was stunned by the translation, his face contorting before he burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Do you also need helicopters and armored vehicles? Are Americans planning to fight the Vietnam War again? Hahaha!"

The bodyguards laughed uproariously, while Hou Rui’s group remained stone-faced. When the laughter subsided, Hou Rui beckoned to a female server watching from the sidelines. Nguyen Ah Wen nodded, and the server brought over a tray of drinks.

"Thank you," Hou Rui said, picking up a glass and placing a hundred-dollar bill on the tray. "The rest is your tip."

Seeing Hou Rui’s generosity, Nguyen Ah Wen stopped laughing and stared at him. "I can get you what you want, but the price is high—very high." Jane hurriedly translated for Hou Rui.

At last, they had taken the bait. Hou Rui quietly relaxed, glancing at Jerry and Lux, who signaled agreement. He played the role of a lavish spender, answering loudly, "Money is not a problem—so long as you have the weapons."

"Then come, let me show you," Nguyen Ah Wen gestured to the burly guard, who nodded respectfully and led Hou Rui’s group toward the rear.

"This young lady will stay here and keep me company for the next match," Nguyen Ah Wen added. When Jane translated, several bodyguards separated Lux from Hou Rui and Jerry...