Chu Ge finished speaking, and the expressions of those present varied. However, since Chu Ge had brought up the matter, regardless of what they truly felt, they had to show some kind of response.

Lin Gaoze glanced at Chen Jue, worried that Chen Jue would speak first. He quickly said, "Brother Chu, I understand your good intentions in considering us all as friends. But as you know, I'm just a small-time police captain, with a lot of superiors above me. Here in Lidu, my words carry little weight, haha..."

Chu Ge smiled, "Right now, you're just a police captain. But with Brother Lin's capabilities, are you really content to remain just a police captain?"

Lin Gaoze's expression froze. Of course, he wasn't content. A soldier who doesn't aspire to be a general is not a good soldier. Naturally, he wanted to climb higher.

"Brother Lin, do you think there are more police or more hooligans in a city? In certain matters, which group is usually more likely to catch the wind and noise that would surely interest you? If every time there was any wind or noise, the information could reach your ears first, wouldn't that enhance your ability to solve cases quite a bit?"

Chu Ge said with a smile, picking up chopsticks and leisurely taking a bite of food. After chewing slowly, he muttered to himself, "In this world, there's profit and there are cons, but of course, where there are cons, there are also benefits."

Saying this, Chu Ge turned to look at Lin Gaoze, "Brother Lin, don't you think?"

Lin Gaoze forced an awkward smile. He certainly understood what Chu Ge meant, but there were just too many reasons for suspicion and hesitation.

Chu Ge didn't push further; some things are just meant to be hinted at. He didn't expect Lin Gaoze to agree immediately, as that wasn't realistic at all.

Moreover, it's not just that Lin Gaoze was likely filled with conflict. Even if he did agree, given his position and stance, he couldn't easily express it openly.

Chen Jue had been silent for a long time and now finally spoke up, though not to Chu Ge or Lin Gaoze but turning to casually smile at Bao Zhanhai.

"Zhanhai, I heard a new group called the 'Twelve Young Masters' is emerging in the old district? Do they have some unsavory things in their hands?"

This was Chen Jue's response. After everything Chu Ge had said to try to bridge the gap between him and Lin Gaoze, if he didn't respond, it would betray Chu Ge's good intentions in acting as a mediator.

As for how to respond, that wasn't difficult.

Lin Gaoze is a policeman. Policemen want cases, want achievements. So why not give Lin Gaoze a case that could turn into an achievement, and at the same time, eliminate potential threats? Why not?

Bao Zhanhai was taken aback, but he immediately understood what Chen Jue meant from his eyes and nodded, "That's true. Recently, those people seem to have gotten their hands on something..."

Lin Gaoze's eyes lit up, and he perked up immediately. Just at this moment, Chu Ge suddenly interrupted with a laugh.

"I've said a lot, and you all must be hungry by now. Shouldn't we eat first? It'd be a pity if such good food got cold later."

Lin Gaoze was frustrated. Chu Ge was deliberately preventing Bao Zhanhai from continuing!

That's exactly what Chu Ge intended. Rewards should be given, but interest should also be piqued. A frozen river doesn't form in a day, much less something as complex as human ambition—this couldn't be rushed. It was enough for Lin Gaoze to feel Chen Jue's sincerity for now.

Bao Zhanhai almost laughed out loud. This Chu Ge was truly a piece of work.

The dinner officially began, and although the four had their own agendas, on the surface, things seemed much more harmonious. They chatted and laughed while clinking glasses.

After several rounds of drinks and various dishes were sampled, when everyone had almost finished eating, Chu Ge picked up his handbag.

Despite being the youngest at the table, the other three didn't dare underestimate him in the slightest, constantly watching his reactions as they spoke. Seeing him pick up his bag, they immediately turned their attention to him.

Chen Jue thought Chu Ge was going to fight over paying the bill and asked helplessly, "Chu Ge, what are you doing..."

Chu Ge smiled, pulling a small pouch from the inner pocket of his bag and tossing it onto the table with a clinking sound.

Seeing this, all three were stunned. What's in there? From the sound of it, it seemed metallic. What on earth was he up to now?

Chu Ge didn't keep them in suspense for long. Leaning back in his chair, he said cheerfully, "Actually, I invited you brothers over today for another reason, though it's a bit of a downer. Seeing everyone so happy, I waited until now to bring it up."

"A downer?" The three were even more stunned. In Lidu, who would be so blind as to go and provoke Chu Ge? Anyone who crossed this Plague God was truly out of luck.

Chu Ge pushed the small bag towards Lin Gaoze, then took out a small pair of tweezers from the key pouch, and extracted a piece of steel scrap, putting it right in front of Lin Gaoze's eyes.

The three of them looked at the piece of steel, then at Chu Ge. Bao Zhanhai, having held back for a while, couldn't help but ask, "Lord Chu... Chu Ge, is this the bad omen you mentioned? Did someone throw this at you?"

After saying that, Bao Zhanhai blushed. Which nerve was crossed in his brain to ask such a stupid question?

Chu Ge burst into laughter, shook his head after laughing for a while.

"If someone had thrown this at me, that would have been better, at most it would just cut me, or leave a bump. Actually, I picked this off from my car's tire. Hehe... You guys might not know this, but don't underestimate this thing; it can cause a tire to blow out."

Chu Ge spoke in a carefree manner, but this sentence made the faces of the other three change abruptly, and they couldn't laugh anymore.

Bao Zhanhai, unable to contain anything in his heart, banged the table with a fist, causing the dishes and chopsticks to tremble.

"Damn it! Someone's trying to kill you! Lord Chu, who did it?"

Although Lin Gaoze and Chen Jue didn't speak, their faces were very solemn. They could quite well imagine the serious consequences if a tire blew out while driving at high speed.

"I don't know either, so I was hoping you guys could help me investigate." Chu Ge smiled and turned his gaze to Lin Gaoze, "Captain Lin, let's leave this with you, see if the fingerprints on it can be of any use."

Lin Gaoze nodded solemnly, put away the piece of steel, and asked, "When did this happen?"

"Just today. I parked my car in the parking lot in front of Xin Xin Niang, went out with my wife to take wedding photos, and when I came back, this thing was already on my car's tire."

Lin Gaoze asked Chu Ge a few more questions, which Chu Ge answered one by one. Having no more questions for the moment, Lin Gaoze proposed to take his leave to start the investigation immediately.

Before leaving, Lin Gaoze even smiled at Chen Jue and Bao Zhanhai. Although the smile was somewhat forced, his attitude was very different from before.

After seeing off Lin Gaoze, Chen Jue and Bao Zhanhai planned to leave as well to investigate through their own channels, but Chu Ge kept them back.

"Brother Chen, Brother Hai, I thank you for your intentions, but this isn't urgent. I have some other matters I want to discuss with you."

"No need for discussion." Chen Jue shook his head and smiled slightly, "Just for giving me, Mr. Chen, so much face, calling me brother so many times, whatever it is, just say the word."

"Alright, then I won't beat around the bush. You already know about what just happened. I can't guarantee if the target is me or my wife. I hope you can arrange for some people to protect my wife and sister-in-law. As for the expenses, I guarantee your brothers won't be shortchanged."

Chen Jue shook his head again, "Chu Ge, if you talk like that, it's really not sincere. Maybe in your eyes, I, Mr. Chen, am nothing, but to offer a few brothers and still talk money, that's not something I can do. Aren't you slapping my face, Mr. Chen?"

Today Chen Jue had drunk quite a bit, and with their closer relationship now, he spoke frankly and sincerely.

"Clearly defined finances between brothers, Brother Chen, it's not about being pretentious. No matter how much money you have, it's what you've earned with your mind and hands, and for how many brothers you've gathered, it's bit by bit. If I don't show some appreciation, what kind of person does that make me?"

Chen Jue still shook his head, the smile on his face gradually fading, "You have your principles, I have my bottom line. If you pay, then let's drop this matter, I won't even offer one brother."

Bao Zhanhai stood to the side, slightly dumbfounded. What was Third Master up to?

This was such a great opportunity to get closer to Chu Ge. Even he could see this, why couldn't Third Master? Just take the money as a gesture, why make it so stiff? He even rarely put on a stern face?

Seeing the two of them reluctant to budge, Bao Zhanhai hesitated a bit and then said, "Lord Chu, if I may say, talking money with our Third Master really doesn't treat us as friends."

Before Chu Ge could speak, Bao Zhanhai continued, "Here's what I suggest: when you're free, train our brothers a bit, teach them a few skills. If they can learn even ten or twenty percent from you, that would be better than any amount of money."

Chu Ge was slightly taken aback, pondering, then heard Chen Jue laugh heartily, "I think Zhanhai's idea is good, so let's settle it like this?"

"Alright then, but let me say something upfront: if someone ends up getting trained by me, I feel sorry for their bad luck."

Finally, Chu Ge smiled helplessly and nodded.