Chapter 172: Consequences

"A-Mo, I need your driver's license here—"

Karl turned around, then followed Li Mochen's gaze without understanding, and saw a burly man with a figure nearly triangular walking out from the depths of the lobby. This man was actually followed by several attendants, his presence imposing.

Who was this?

A hint of doubt appeared in Karl's eyes, but he soon knew who this person was.

"What a coincidence, isn't this classmate Andre?"

The burly man seemed to recognize Li Mochen as he passed by. He suddenly stopped, looked over with a forced smile: "Just now, Mr. Dwight Payton of Nathan Sports Group greeted me about your matter, Andre. It's about a little girl named Hazel, your cousin, I believe?"

Li Mochen frowned slightly. Just from the other's attitude, he knew that this matter would likely have twists and turns.

This Antonio of the Blood Hand Gang seemed completely unimpressed by the pressure from Dwight Payton.

But within his mind, various emotions had already arisen, countless violent thoughts filling his head. He wanted to kill this guy outright, just to stop the annoyance.

Fortunately, he could still maintain some rationality, knowing that if he really did that, he would only gain nothing and lose much.

Killing Antonio in public was possible, even if this was Red Finch Club territory, Li Mochen didn't care much. But it meant that from then on, he could never stand in the light.

This guy wasn't worth it.

So Li Mochen took a deep breath, once again calming the violent urges in his mind that wanted to be put into action.

"Her name is Hazel Wiltonstein. I heard your men kidnapped her?"

"Hey, kid! Don't talk nonsense without evidence, or I'll have my lawyer sue you for defamation and slander."

Antonio poked Li Mochen's shoulder heavily: "You should know that in America, kidnapping is a very serious crime. You can't affect a gentleman's reputation."

Before Antonio finished speaking, Li Mochen slapped his hand away.

"I think there's no need for us to waste words, Mr. Antonio. I myself am not patient with this. Let me give you a suggestion: release the person as soon as possible, and I will personally act as if nothing happened."

"Wow, you've got quite a temper."

Antonio sneered: "Let alone whether my men kidnapped that poor little girl, even if I did, why should I release her? Just a month ago, you cost me nearly two million gold shields, and you had the Schlow Group pressure me. Buddy, this old man in front of you has never been a magnanimous person."

Li Mochen's gaze had turned cold enough to freeze anyone: "You are digging your own grave, Mr. Antonio."

"Digging my own grave? I don't see it that way."

Antonio shook his head: "What makes you say that? Because of Dwight Payton behind you? I know that in Atlanta, many people respect Mr. Payton, but there are also those who don't care about him. So don't be too naive, Mr. Andre."

"Then let it be!"

Li Mochen decided not to speak with this guy anymore; it damaged his celestial king demeanor. In the Primordial Dome, Wen Jian Taoran always did more than he said.

"I'll give you at most twelve hours. If I don't see Hazel after twelve hours, you'll bear the consequences!"

He had already walked to the front desk and placed his driver's license in front of the front desk manager.

"Bear the consequences?"

Antonio shook his head, feeling the conversation couldn't continue.

This kid, not even seventeen, with little to his name, had an outrageously big mouth.

A fifth-level magic swordsman, a kid who had just made a bit of a name in the magic combat world, dared to talk to him about digging his own grave? Bearing consequences?

Even Dwight Payton wouldn't say that in front of him.

He thought this must be the funniest thing he'd seen in the past two days, truly laughable.

When Antonio swaggered away, Karl also withdrew his gaze from the triangular back.

"That's Antonio, right? Looks like trouble; he seems emboldened."

"I noticed."

Li Mochen, now relieved of worry, took the membership certificate from the lobby manager with a calm expression, then turned to ask Karl: "Is there a phone booth nearby? I need to make a call."

"As for phones, our Red Finch Club has them, no need to go outside, sir."

While Karl hesitated, the lobby manager behind the counter smiled: "All phones in our club's lounges are encrypted via military satellite relay, with no risk of wiretapping, tracking, or recording. As an A-level member introduced by Mr. Payton, you are eligible to stay. However, the price here is three thousand gold shields per day. For a suite, it's five thousand gold shields. You can check the room price list over there."

Li Mochen raised an eyebrow, thinking that the Red Finch Club's service was quite thoughtful, knowing what he wanted. And as rumored, they were resourceful enough to borrow military satellites.

But the price was a bit steep; three thousand gold shields could book two presidential suites at the best five-star hotel.

"Then please give me a room? A regular one will do."

"Of course!"

The front desk manager signaled, and a front desk clerk immediately walked up to him with a smile: "Sir, please follow me. Our lounges for members are all on the twelfth floor."

About three minutes later, Li Mochen stood alone in a lounge that resembled a hotel room.

Although it was underground, there was a window here from which he could see a huge magic materials market below.

This market had far less foot traffic than the underground garage on Laurel Street, but Li Mochen knew that the transaction volume here on just Friday was ten times that of Laurel Street.

High-level magic materials above level eleven, even a single piece, could be worth hundreds of low-level magic materials.

But at this moment, Li Mochen had no interest in sightseeing. He directly dialed a certain phone number.

The person who answered was not Li Tailai, nor the Colinson brothers, but a unfamiliar voice.

"May I ask who you are—"

Li Mochen replied with a question: "Where are A-Tai and the Colinson brothers now?"

"Are you Boss?"

The voice now carried obvious respect: "Brother Tai is investigating the matter concerning Miss Hazel. Due to the urgency, he sent Kermit and Lawrence to support. He also instructed me to tell you, if you call impatiently, that the ones who kidnapped Miss Hazel are the Bayonet, one of the Blood Hand Gang's affiliated gangs. Brother Tai is confirming Miss Hazel's whereabouts; he believes the Bayonet may have taken her to a dock downstream on the Savannah River. Brother Tai found that the Bayonet usually uses this route to bring girls they kidnap abroad into America. The reverse is also true; they also run drug smuggling."

"Tell him to continue."

Li Mochen's tone was icy: "You help me tell A-Tai, ask him if he remembers what I told him a few days ago? If he does, then complete it as soon as possible, preferably today. I allow him to use more funds. Also, have all personnel ready. I'm sorry, you've only been in America for a short time, but I think I can't avoid starting a war now."