In the elevator, there were four thugs.

Though not very tall, each one was robust.

One of them had a bushy beard, a fierce expression, probably the kind that could scare a child to tears with just a stare.

Apart from these four thugs, there was a young girl, about twenty-something, petite and slender, huddled timidly in the corner, probably scared upon seeing these men were up to no good.

"Hey, boss, is that you?"

Dirk Carter exclaimed with feigned surprise.

The leader was the same guy who had been sitting in the passenger seat earlier.

Bald, with a face full of muscles, constantly chewing something, likely betel nut.

He gave Dirk a surprised look, then asked with a sudden realization, "Aren't you..."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm the one who just gave you directions... didn't you hand me a pack of Hua Zi cigarettes? Hehe..."

Dirk interrupted quickly.

The bald guy frowned and asked, "Do you work here?"

As this question was asked, the other three thugs seemed to grow tense.

"Work here? Hahaha, no, to tell you the truth, boss, I'm here to chase stars."

"Chase stars? Which star?"

The bald guy asked.

Dirk leaned closer to the bald guy, deliberately lowering his voice, "Boss, have you heard of the name Corrine Quance?"

"Corrine Quance?"

This name made the bald guy exchange a wary glance with his companions.

He paused and said, "Sounds familiar, she's a female celebrity, right?"

"Yes, a popular female star, extremely beautiful. I've heard she's staying in this hotel right now. I've waited all day just to have the nerve to come in."

As he spoke.

The elevator stopped.

The young girl in the corner hurriedly ran out.

Then, the bald guy signaled to the bushy-bearded thug.

The bald guy put his arm around Dirk's shoulder and, after walking out of the elevator, went straight to the emergency exit, took out a cigarette, and asked, "Hey, little brother, I'm very interested in your star-chasing. What do you usually do when you chase stars? Do you just want autographs?"

"Boss, what's an autograph worth?"

At this point.

Dirk deliberately glanced around suspiciously.

He said, "To speak honestly, boss, people like us are called professional star-chasers. Wherever a celebrity goes, we go. Then, we find ways to steal things like a female star's stockings, underwear, anything like that, even a lollipop she's had in her mouth can fetch a good price."

"How much can you sell it for?"

The bald guy asked with great interest.

Dirk deliberately put on a boastful look, saying, "Put it this way, for someone at Corrine's level, a pair of worn stockings can easily sell for ten thousand; as for underwear, it's at least fifty or sixty thousand at the minimum..."

"That much?"

The bald guy couldn't help but exclaim out loud.

He immediately looked around quickly to make sure no one else heard.

"Hey, little brother, how about we work together on this?"

Knowing the bald guy took the bait.

Dirk frowned and asked, "How do we work together?"

The bald guy said, "As for Corrine's stockings and underwear, I'll get them for you, and you help me sell them, then we'll split the profits fifty-fifty."

"Hehe, boss, are you joking? Do you think a celebrity would easily give you her underwear and stockings?"

"Of course she wouldn't; we just kidnap her, that's all."

The bald guy said.

Dirk deliberately covered the bald guy's mouth nervously.

He said, "Boss, you can't say such things recklessly. She's a major star, and if we kidnap her, we're done for. We wouldn't even live to spend the money."

The bald guy handed over another cigarette.

He patted his own chest and said, "Hey little brother, meeting is destiny. My surname is Newhart, Elijah Newhart. I'm called Mr. Newhart. Those on lookout outside are all my brothers. We came to Stillwater County for Corrine Quance. We were originally hired to kidnap her and take her away, but since you have a way to make money, we can work something out. The kidnapping has nothing to do with you; we'll do it, but you can take all her personal items. As for the money, just give me what you think it's worth. How's that for a deal?"

Dirk didn't immediately agree.

Otherwise, it would be easy to be seen through.

Seeing Dirk still frown, the bald guy hurriedly said, "Little brother, to make money, you have to be bold. We do the illegal stuff; you're just selling some items, what's there to be afraid of? Besides, even if you try to steal, you might not get anything, wouldn't that be a wasted trip?"

"But..."

"There's no but, it's settled then."

The bald guy said anxiously.

Dirk deliberately gritted his teeth, saying, "Alright, boss, since you think so highly of me, if I refuse, I wouldn't be on the right track with you. So, good times, bad times, we'll share our fate. I'll join you in the kidnapping, so I can determine what items can be sold and what cannot, to maximize profits."

"That..."

This time, it was the bald guy's turn to hesitate.

He thought for a moment and said, "Okay, but there's a condition. Once we get the items, you have to pay me first, and as for how much you sell them for later, it's none of my business. If you agree, we can leave now."

"Deal,"

Dirk said.

The bald guy beamed with joy.

He immediately called in the three people from outside.

They whispered for a while.

The few of them were also money-hungry, and upon hearing that they could get a bigger share, they eagerly went along with it.

Their purpose was now confirmed.

Dirk had already made up his mind.

Find an appropriate opportunity to call the police.

However, throughout their discussion,

The bald guy's gaze stayed fixed on Dirk, clearly showing they were still wary about him despite their eagerness for money.

A few minutes later.

The four took out their backpacks.

From inside, they retrieved machetes and other items.

Then.

One by one, they casually approached a door.

The others stayed hidden around.

The bald guy stepped forward and knocked on the door.

A woman's voice from inside asked, "Who is it?"

"Hello, we're from the hotel's maintenance team, there's an issue with your pipes, and we need to check on it."

As these words were being spoken, Dirk kept praying internally.

Hoping the person inside wasn't foolish enough to just open the door.

Yet the outcome was disappointing.

No sooner had the words been shouted,

the door clicked open.

The bald guy wedged his foot in the doorway, then pushed hard to enter, with the others quickly following suit, entering the room one after another.

A woman's scream was just about to erupt.

But it swiftly disappeared, as someone had already covered her mouth.

As Dirk stepped into the room, the door was closed behind him.

Seeing the woman on the floor, Dirk shivered.

Wasn't this young girl the same one from the elevator earlier?

Could she be Corrine's manager?

No time to think about it further.

Because from inside came the bald guy's bellow, "Shut your mouth or I'll kill you."

Dirk looked up.

He saw a suite.

The outside was a living room, luxuriously decorated.

On the sofa, a woman in a bathrobe was pale with fright, nodding repeatedly in front of Elijah Newhart's blade.

Corrine Quance, it really was Corrine Quance.

A woman with a truly gentle and pure appearance.

In the recent popular historical drama, Corrine Quance played the leading role; her face was consideed bewitchingly enchanting by many.

Fans had even given her a rather unflattering nickname, "The Celestial Widow's Physique," highlighting how captivating her face was.

"Hey, little brother, come over here."

After subduing the two women in the room.

Elijah Newhart's shout interrupted Dirk's thoughts.

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