Fatty Wang was speechless, the facts were clear.

"Why aren't you speaking?" Xiao Mu sat where he was. At their current speed, it would take a few more hours to enter the inland sea. "Shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

"I have nothing to explain." There was a time when Wang Zhanting's words were not to be trusted, but the fact that he, known for his fear of death, hadn't revealed the truth had led Fatty Wang to believe that the staff was indeed fake. He was merely hoping to take a chance.

"Wang Zhanting said it was swapped years ago, don't you remember this?" Xiao Mu didn't press further on the authenticity, instead, he became intrigued about the swapping. It wasn't unreasonable for Wang Zhanting, as the leader of the Wang Family, to keep it hidden. What he was curious about was where the staff was and who swapped it?

Fatty Wang shook his head. The staff had always been kept in the old house, and only a few people ever went there, making swapping seem unlikely. "The staff is our heirloom, always kept in the old house, and those who associate with us don't go there."

"When did your Elder pass away?" Xiao Mu crossed his legs, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his knee, pondering a question.

"Passed away from illness six years ago." Fatty Wang's mind spun, and he immediately thought of a possibility. "Could it be that the staff was lost around that time?"

The subtle imitation of the staff was something even Xiao Mu couldn't discern when looking at the petals. Wang Zhanting preserved the fake just to create a false impression for the world.

"If that's the case, you still have to return to Yanjing and find out who visited the Wang Family six years ago and who was closest to your Elder."

"No, I can't go back!" As soon as he heard this, Fatty Wang fell off the couch, his round body bouncing like a ball. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at Xiao Mu, then at the captain steering the yacht. "We're about to enter the inland sea. You can't send me back now."

Facing his gun, Xiao Mu sighed helplessly. "Always resorting to pulling out a gun. How many bullets do you have left in there to use?"

"Enough to kill you both. One each and there's still more left."

"And after you kill us, then what? Are you going to steer the yacht into international waters by yourself?" Xiao Mu looked at Fatty Wang, amused. "I bet you'd be tracked by the police before you even left the inland sea. Even if not, do you think without my instructions they would let you onboard?" Xiao Mu uncrossed his legs and waved at Fatty Wang, who stood with a condescending attitude. "You can kill that captain and then force me to escape. That might be a good path."

Facing the indifferent Xiao Mu, Fatty Wang deflated instantly, his gun-holding hand dropping to his sides. "Young Master, I can't go back. If I do, I'm done for. Wang Zhanting won't let me off." Fatty Wang suddenly crawled towards Xiao Mu, hugging his legs, begging.

The once-proud leader now in such a pathetic state, Xiao Mu looked on coldly. "If I don't send you back, what can I gain from you? You used a fake staff to acquire so much from me; do you think I have any reason to trust you?"

"If you help me get to Italy, I can find out the whereabouts of the staff."

"Oh..." Seeing Xiao Mu unmoved, Fatty Wang scooted over to sit beside him on the floor.

"The Elder knew people outside the gangs, maybe we could get some information from them."

Tapping his fingers on his knee, Xiao Mu had heard about Wang Elder before. The old connections still existed, and Wang Family indeed started from Italy to Huaxia. Wang Elder was a formidable figure, but... He glanced at Fatty Wang, thinking the younger generation was too incompetent.

"Do you think you can just enter the Italian Mafia? Even if Wang Elder had his network, it was a long time ago. Do you still maintain those connections?"

"While the Wang Family's business is developed in Huaxia, I still have some shadow industries in Italy." Fatty Wang spoke vaguely, but anyone could discern the criminal nature of those industries.

"I see." Xiao Mu nodded. "I'll trust you once more. My boat will take you to the inland sea, then someone will meet you to take you to international waters."

"Not directly..."

"This boat doesn't have an exit permit yet. I don't want to be charged with smuggling or anything else because of you. Patrol boats are plenty along the sea border. We're not smuggling, just taking a yacht trip, understand?"

"Boss, we have an hour left to enter the inland sea." The captain, who had been silent, only reported the approximate time needed when they were approaching the destination. Otherwise, he remained silent.

"Will he speak out?" Fatty Wang uneasily stared at the captain.

"Were you deceived your whole life?" Xiao Mu raised his glass on the table, ignoring him, and proceeded to the deck to bask in the sun.

Mumbling to himself, Fatty Wang picked up the gun from the floor and tucked it into his waistband, also retrieving the appraisal report. This time, he seriously read every report line.

The content of the appraisal was extensive and detailed, comparing and explaining every detail from a diamond to the metalwork's dimensions and patterns. The conclusion of the report was a 90% similarity, with differences in the craftsmanship of the petals' folds. Gazing at this perfect appraisal, a person flashed in Fatty Wang's mind, perhaps this had something to do with him. He was just about to call out to Xiao Mu but immediately covered his mouth with his hand.

If he could get his hands on that staff, half of the Mafia's power would be his; by then, how could he fear the Xiao family? So he tossed the fax paper on the table, poured himself a drink, and downed several glasses in a row, soon feeling woozy.

His tolerance shouldn't be that poor, thinking of the wobbling figure in front of him, Fatty Wang rubbed his eyes.

"Fatty Wang, we've reached the inland sea, wake up." Someone seemed to be shaking him. His heavy eyelids struggled open. "Wake up, we need to switch boats."

"Hmm!" Blurrily woken up, Fatty Wang sat on the couch for a while before some awareness entered his empty mind. "Have we entered the inland sea?"

"In ten more minutes, the boat meeting us will arrive." Xiao Mu stood in front of him, arms crossed. "Can you go to the deck?" (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to qidian.com to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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