Jacob fingered the pure gold business card, a knowing smile playing at his lips.
After all that effort, he'd finally made a connection.
Aaron was documented in the dossier as a capable assistant to the brothers Ronan and Winston—a well-known junket operator in the underground casino and black market. His job mainly involved attracting customers and lending money, profiting handsomely from others' misfortunes.
While his work wasn't exactly honorable, he made excellent money. His wife lived in Magic City where his son attended school, and he kept several mistresses in Black Dragon City. By all accounts, he lived quite comfortably.
Aaron was also the first core figure in the Duan Family's network that Jacob had managed to contact—a promising start.
Seeing the hour growing late, Jacob turned to his two companions. "Pack up. We'll head over shortly."
The silver moon hung high in the night sky.
Following the address on the business card, Jacob arrived at Black Dragon City's most famous entertainment district—also the most complex area in terms of security throughout the entire city.
The district had a reputation that cut both ways.
On one hand, it was remarkably safe. Not a single murder had occurred in the entire complex all year, and even violent altercations were extremely rare. The district's behind-the-scenes boss worked closely with the Pokémon Association to combat violence, making it the safest place in the city. Customer safety was guaranteed with absolute credibility.
On the other hand, it was equally notorious. No matter how many reports or exposés emerged about illegal gambling dens or contraband sales, the Pokémon Association turned a blind eye to all of it.
Colorful neon lights glittered along the streets, where women in revealing clothes and striking figures stood by the roadside, calling out to potential customers. These streets formed the most famous entertainment area in all of Black Dragon City. Rumor had it that the Duan Family owned every property here.
For most people, night meant rest. But for the entertainment district, night was when the day truly began.
Caleb wore a black suit with brand-new leather shoes, and having grown accustomed to loose clothing, he felt slightly uncomfortable as he walked.
"Caleb, you'll need to get used to formal attire," Jacob said with a smile, patting him on the shoulder.
"Yeah. It's my first time wearing something like this, so it feels a bit strange," Caleb replied softly.
"Don't worry. You'll adapt soon enough."
Jacob also wore a crisp suit, his muscular frame filling out the shirt and making him look robust and powerful. His hair was slicked back.
Even though his face looked like that of a forty-something uncle, he exuded a mature masculine charm.
As for Sylvia walking beside him, she wore a spaghetti-strap dress. Her eyebrows were delicate, her skin fair as snow. Standing over 1.8 meters tall with golden hair cascading like a waterfall, she had long slender legs accentuated by high heels.
Her distinctive Western features drew everyone's attention the moment she appeared.
Previously, Sylvia had been in hiding, always trying to conceal her identity and not caring much about her appearance. Now that her safety was assured, she no longer needed such caution. When she dressed carefully, she was truly stunning.
Following the business card's address, Jacob and his companions finally reached a lavishly decorated, extraordinarily luxurious entertainment venue.
Long white jade steps rose before them like a palace entrance.
The three walked up the steps and were about to enter the hall when men in black suits wearing sunglasses stopped them at the entrance.
"Gentlemen, do you have an appointment?"
Jacob didn't answer, silently lighting a cigarette.
At that moment, Caleb stepped forward and produced the business card Aaron had given them.
The security guards glanced at the card and whispered into their earpieces.
"Welcome, Mr. Ian. Please come in," the guards said, bowing.
The moment the three entered the hall, a fragrant breeze wafted over them. A mature woman in a split cheongsam with heavy makeup walked gracefully toward them.
"Mr. Ian." The young woman wore a sweet smile as she approached Jacob, glancing at Caleb and the stunning Sylvia. "Welcome, welcome. We're honored to have you here. Your presence brings us great distinction."
"You know me?" Jacob held his cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled a cloud of smoke before looking at the woman.
"Of course. Aaron specifically told us to take good care of you," the woman replied with a smile. "Though from what I can see, Mr. Ian doesn't need my care. Please, come in."
"However, Mr. Ian, according to our rules, we must conduct a security check before entry, and no electronic devices are allowed inside," the woman said apologetically. "I hope you understand."
"What kind of nonsense rules are these?" Jacob frowned but didn't stop the security personnel from conducting their search.
It didn't matter anyway—they wouldn't find anything.
"Please, enter," the woman's voice rang out. "Mr. Ian, I should mention that it's best to wear a mask so you won't be recognized."
"While we can guarantee your safety in Black Dragon City and even the entire Southwest Region, the same can't necessarily be said outside these boundaries."
Jacob frowned slightly at the woman's words but still chose to wear a mask. Sylvia and Caleb also put on theirs.
The heavy iron door creaked open, revealing the scene inside.
Just one door separated two completely different worlds.
Inside, the lights blazed as bright as day. Desperate gamblers crowded the floor alongside young street toughs with dyed yellow hair, bare chests covered in various strange tattoos, and mysterious masked individuals who wished to conceal their identities.
They all shouted hoarsely, their cries followed by sounds of anguish or celebration.
One thought separated heaven from hell.
The room reeked of sweat, making Jacob's brow furrow. After experiencing the luxurious casino aboard the ship, this underground establishment seemed rather low-class.
The three elegantly dressed individuals entering the casino seemed somewhat out of place.
Jacob carefully observed the entire casino and noticed it was divided into two sections.
Underground Black Market and Underground Casino.
The two areas mentioned in the dossier—Jacob had found them, making him feel the mission was progressing surprisingly smoothly.
Jacob first toured the Underground Black Market and discovered it did indeed illegally sell rare Pokémon and items. However, it was completely different from the underground market he'd imagined—there was no organ trafficking or human smuggling mentioned in the dossier.
Of course, Jacob knew such transactions couldn't possibly be conducted openly. There had to be special contacts for communication.
Similarly, the casino was quite mixed, nothing like a high-end establishment. There were super-high-stakes bets in the millions alongside small wagers of a few thousand or tens of thousands of Pokédollars.
This was the Underground Black Market and Underground Casino?
Utterly disappointing.
"Enjoy yourselves." The woman in the cheongsam smiled, then prepared to leave. "Since Mr. Ian has such beautiful company, I won't intrude."
With that, she turned and departed from the casino.