August 1, 2013. All of China welcomed a special day. On this day, the army that truly liberated the people was established. Due to recent circumstances, China was already the tacitly acknowledged premier military power. The people's enthusiasm surged even higher. Grand parades were held in all cities to bless and express gratitude towards the "most beloved people" in their hearts!
Within the former UK colony, Hong Kong, the festive atmosphere could similarly be perceived...
Yet, not every China citizen felt such elation, for instance, Black Dragon within the presidential suite of the Shangri-La.
Seated upon the plush carpet, leaning against the luminous glass window. Boredly gazing at the closed door, silently perceiving the ticking sound emanating from the clock. Black Dragon too experienced moments of bewilderment...
Excessive craving for passion rendered the mundane life suffocatingly unbearable...
Due to 13's disruption, the Dynasty plan aborted, also stripping Black Dragon of his final vestige of amusement. Upon suddenly finding oneself unoccupied, bewilderment inevitably ensues...
Truly unwilling to cease, yet compelled to halt...
A smile graced Black Dragon's face—a smile at his own sorrow, his own helplessness. Annie seemed to have already forgotten his existence. The last contact initiated by her was when 13 absconded with the notebook. Society is indeed this pragmatic; tools that have lost their utility value, even the act of retrieval constitutes waste...
Observing the streets outside the window, crowds gradually congregated. Lanterns adorned every streetlight, evoking the festive bustle of the New Year. Their expressions were all joyful smiles, dissimilar to Black Dragon's own. Originally, Black Dragon could have joined their ranks, but his chosen path diverged from theirs. Yet, Black Dragon harbored no regrets. In his own words, "Rather than becoming one among myriad thousands, better to solitary delineate boundaries. Only exceptional individuals can be remembering deeply. Unable to become a hero, then suffice as an exceptional villain..."
Presently, Black Dragon remained a villain, yet a forgotten character. The ferocity deep within his soul, no one could comprehend.
Staggering to his feet, he ambled aimlessly within the room. Casually shattering everything fragile. Gilded table lamps, ceramic vases, crystal glasses, oil paintings...
Each item met inevitable destruction, merely a matter of currency. Black Dragon never concerned himself with the quantity of zeros. It was merely a tool for living; when life itself could not continue, tools became as useless as oneself. Outside the door, the arriving room manager departed helplessly once more. The old man had no intention of restraining him. Black Dragon required catharsis...
Issuing a check to the manager for the same amount as the previous time, a pang of heartache subtly arose—not for the money, but for Black Dragon...
This marked the third instance within a week; Black Dragon's frequency of destroying objects increased. His face no longer bore the confident smile of yore; that gaze which scorned everything had been supplanted by bewildered helplessness. As if aged abruptly to the brink of demise...
As a bodyguard, the old man understood this child better than anyone. His troubles, no one could assist him with; only he himself could unravel them. Because his heart had long been sealed by a thick barrier...
Just as the old man sighed, preparing to return to his room, the commotion within the suite abruptly ceased.
"Let's depart! It's time for us to move!" Black Dragon, still clad in pajamas, opened the tightly shut door, not even bothering with slippers.
He strode rapidly towards the elevator. The old man spoke no word, merely following silently behind him. This sufficed, for the familiar wicked smile had returned to his face, an arrogant aura enveloping his body. He was Black Dragon! The Black Dragon of before! The villain capable of performing upon the national stage!
"Prepare a vehicle for me immediately; we shall first purchase formal attire!" Within the elevator, Black Dragon issued the command. "The impending 'banquet' requires a handsome suit!"
"Who is the host?" the old man inquired, somewhat perplexed. Whose banquet could possibly resurrect Black Dragon so suddenly?
"Naturally, it is *my* 'banquet'!" Black Dragon's signature cold smile echoed within the confined elevator space.
"Are any guests to be invited?" the old man continued asking.
"Ding!" Reaching the ground floor, the gleaming doors opened.
Black Dragon turned his head back, stating strangely, "I intend to invite a 'nation'!"
Although uncertain of his meaning, the old man knew the world was about to become restless once more...
Striding through the spacious lobby, Black Dragon's mood was exceptionally light. The surrounding gazes felt like acknowledgments of his resurgence, even if others merely focused on his attire...
Several attendants stepped forward, obstructing Black Dragon's path, solely due to his disheveled appearance.
"Improperly attired, am I?" Black Dragon retrieved a wad of dollars from the old man's pocket, laughing maniacally as he scattered them into the air. Banknotes fluttered down like snowflakes...
"Am I presentable now?" No one paid further attention to Black Dragon's attire; everyone frantically scrambled on the ground, vying for the money. Surrounding crowds surged forward as well. Observing the excited throng beneath his feet, Black Dragon truly recaptured the sensation of before...
"Do you see? These are ordinary people," Black Dragon stated contemptuously to the old man. "To expect me to live a life as joyful as theirs—better to kill me directly."
Bypassing the frenzied crowd, Black Dragon continued his stride. Each step resolute...
Boarding the Rolls-Royce already parked at the entrance, glancing back at the still-scrambling crowd, Black Dragon sighed helplessly, solely for these pitiable mortals.
"Where may I take you, sir?" the driver, a UK citizen, inquired in fluent Chinese.
Leaning against the soft leather seatback, supporting his chin with one hand, appearing perplexed.
"Do you know the most expensive menswear boutique in all of Xianggang?" Black Dragon inquired.
"Naturally..." the driver replied with a smile.
"That is our destination," Black Dragon lowered his supporting arm.
The car started smoothly...
En route, Black Dragon uttered no further words, closing his eyes to rest quietly. The old man in the front seat observed the reflection in the rearview mirror. Silently reciting in his heart, "The child has matured..."
"Old man, procure for me a list of all China bosses," Black Dragon opened his eyes. "Having received so many benefits from me, it is time for them to reciprocate."
"But hasn't the Dynasty plan already been canceled?" the old man reminded him, inquiring.
"That was *Annie's* 'Dynasty'. What commences now is my 'Dynasty'!" Black Dragon clenched his fist. "I shall prove to everyone that Black Dragon is not merely USA's tool. Without his assistance, I remain capable of astonishing the world!"
"However, those bosses haven't been contacted in a long time. I fear they may not be as obedient as before..." the old man voiced his concern.
"It matters not..." Black Dragon turned his head, gazing out the window. "Use money to show them assisting me is correct. If they refuse the money offered for bribery, inform them I shall use that sum to purchase their lives. Even the most formidable figures are merely human. Remember Xu Wenqiang from the Shanghai Bund? Such a powerful boss, yet killed by a bullet costing mere cents. Humans are indeed such fragile creatures..."
"Understood!" the old man replied resolutely.
Perhaps encountering a slope, the car vibrated slightly.
Finally arriving at the destination, the car parked in the underground lot of a large shopping mall.
"We have arrived... sir..." the driver's voice trembled.
And Black Dragon once again supported his chin with one hand, observing the driver's sweat-drenched face in the rearview mirror. Black Dragon grew perplexed again.
"Your Chinese seems quite proficient," Black Dragon offered a cordial smile.
"Actually, I haven't been in China long; many pronunciations remain difficult for me to comprehend..." The driver's hands never left the steering wheel, as if fused to it.
"Is that so? Yet I feel your pronunciation is even more standard than my own."
"Surely not? Right, sir, we have reached your destination..." The driver stared straight ahead.
"Actually, I dislike speaking when others do not look at me. Because then I cannot discern what thoughts occupy their minds." As he finished speaking, the old man seized the driver's head with one hand. Applying force, before a scream could escape, he rotated it entirely 180 degrees, the face now directly confronting Black Dragon.
"Excellent, much better this way," Black Dragon nodded. "Now I know you are afraid. Actually, I detest many things, for instance, overhearing my secrets..."
Exiting the car barefooted, Black Dragon politely closed the door. The old man then rotated the driver's head back to its original position, placing him upright in his own seat. The sole distinction between the driver and a living person was the inability to respire...
"Taken care of," the old man also closed his car door.
"Excellent. Premature leakage of secrets would cause me considerable trouble. The 'banquet' requires an element of surprise for everyone." Strolling towards the entrance.
"Do we need to notify the USA side?" the old man inquired.
Black Dragon's body stiffened momentarily...
"Unnecessary. We can handle this ourselves. After the 'banquet' concludes, they will realize Black Dragon is no ordinary tool. I want them to recognize the significance of my existence. Naturally, we must ultimately return to USA; considering the current global situation, they remain the most powerful." Black Dragon stated, turning back.
"Understood..."
"World, I have returned. Were you lonely during my absence?" Black Dragon silently mused in his heart...