Chapter 16: The Safest Vault

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Xiong Kui’s movements were awkward and abrupt, as if he were tugging at something heavy, creating a stark contrast to Hou Yong’s nimbleness. Yang Chun was always just a step behind—either failing to smoothly pull out the wallet or, when he finally managed to grip it halfway, the wallet would “escape” and clatter to the ground, drawing curious glances from passersby. Fortunately, all of them wore police uniforms; otherwise, someone would have likely called the authorities by now.

Hou Yong watched their clumsy antics and couldn’t help but laugh smugly. Raising his voice, he boasted, “It’s not that easy! I, Master Hou, have been practicing since childhood—grabbing soap from a basin in summer and picking red-hot charcoal from a brazier in winter. How could you learn just by watching once?”

The others were skeptical and tried several more times, yet they always failed to get the hang of it.

Hou Yong grew even more arrogant: “I’m the number one pickpocket in Shanghai, and this requires talent. It’s not just about light hands; speed is key. With your skills, you’ll never master it in your lifetime!” His smug expression made him seem like the true kingpin of Shanghai’s pickpocket scene.

Nearby, Li Haibo watched quietly, indifferent to their horseplay. “Before my spatial powers, all these so-called master thieves are just amateurs!”

Li Haibo called Hou Yong over and teased, “Monkey! With your hand speed, you could easily make money setting up a street stall. No need to be a pickpocket. You know those street performers doing the ‘Three Immortals Returning to the Cave’ act? It’s all about hand speed!”

Hou Yong replied nonchalantly, “My ancestors were itinerant stall vendors, but stall business can’t make money as fast as snatching wallets!”

Yang Chun joked from the side, “Hah, with that logic, wouldn’t cheating at the casino make money even faster?”

Hou Yong immediately shook his head: “No way. Casinos usually have gang backers and plenty of experts inside. It’s easy to get spotted, and if caught, they’ll chop off your hand. Too risky!”

Xiong Kui didn’t hold back, throwing shade: “Yeah? Your dad was a pickpocket too, wasn’t he caught and had his fingers chopped off?”

Hou Yong sneered, “That was because he wasn’t skilled enough. If the young Master Hou took action, there’s no way he’d get caught!”

Li Haibo’s eyes flickered as he suggested, “Have you ever thought about replacing your pickpocketing hand with a hidden blade?”

Hou Yong hurriedly waved off the idea: “Killing people? No way, I’m not cut out for that!”

Li Haibo excelled in his ancestral skills of dagger fighting and throwing knives from a distance.

He could stab twelve times from different angles in under a second, or fling ten throwing knives at multiple targets with both hands.

Yet even so, his moves left afterimages, far from Hou Yong’s lightning-fast pickpocketing that left no trace.

Some things truly depended on talent; it was a shame for Hou Yong’s gift to go unused in knife fighting.

After some laughter and teasing, perhaps worn out, they all sat down on a park bench, chatting idly.

Li Haibo passed around a pack of cigarettes and took a deep drag: “Funds are tight lately! Guys, does anyone know where we can make big money?”

“I know! I know!” Xiong Kui suddenly jumped up, shouting, “The Beihai Ocean Textile Shop owned by the Japanese—there’s a huge safe in the main hall…”

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“Ha! Everyone in Zhabei knows that,” Yang Chun sneered, cutting off Xiong Kui.

“What’s the deal with the Beihai Ocean Textile Shop? I’ve never heard of it,” Li Haibo frowned, puzzled.

Xiong Kui hurried to explain, “Let me tell you! The Beihai Ocean Textile Shop was set up three years ago, back when you, Brother Bo, were still in the army, so you wouldn’t know.

They specialize in East Asian fabrics and are the largest fabric dealer in Shanghai, doing booming business on a massive scale.

Their warehouse is at the docks, but the office is in Zhabei, with only a small storage room for samples.

Those little devils put a gigantic safe in the main hall to flaunt their strength.

The safe is over a person’s height and is said to weigh around ten thousand jin.

After fabric merchants from all over the country finish deals in the hall, the Japanese open the safe in front of everyone and stuff it with money.

It’s packed full of gold bars, silver dollars, and foreign exchange.”

Li Haibo flicked ash from his cigarette, locking eyes with Hou Yong. “Monkey! Can you crack that safe?”

Hou Yong quickly waved his hands and smiled wryly, “Brother Bo, you flatter me too much.

Though it’s all stealing, there are many kinds.

I’m just a pickpocket, usually snatching wallets.

I don’t even know how to pick locks, let alone open a safe.

Besides, that’s the Beihai Ocean Textile Shop’s safe—no one dares to steal from it.”

“Why doesn’t anyone steal from it? Is the security too tight?” Li Haibo pressed.

“The security is tight, and they hired several Japanese veterans to guard it day and night.

But the key is that safe is American-made, said to be the safest safe in the world.”

“The safest in the world? Isn’t it said that no safe is unopenable?”

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“Yes, there’s no such thing as an unopenable safe!

But this one is different. I heard the American manufacturer once offered a reward.

The world’s six most skilled locksmiths teamed up and spent nineteen hours opening it.

Nineteen hours! That’s practically unopenable!”

“Ha, just a gimmick. Six locksmiths working together? How would they coordinate? Wouldn’t they get in each other’s way?”

Li Haibo scoffed, thinking to himself he had seen plenty of safe-cracking scenes on later television shows—just a stethoscope could handle it.

With my “Favorable Wind Ear” ability, my hearing is super sharp; cracking a safe is a piece of cake—consider it done!

After work, Li Haibo deliberately took a detour to the Beihai Ocean Textile Shop.

Just as the shop was about to close, they were putting the day’s earnings into the safe.

Standing across the street, Li Haibo’s eyes widened. Wow! The safe was stuffed to the brim with shining gold and silver—like a miniature treasure trove.

His gaze burned with desire, and a droplet of saliva escaped at the corner of his mouth.

That safe was truly massive—ten thousand jin, or five tons—like a heavy beast.

Ordinary people would be powerless to budge it without heavy machinery.

But who is Brother Bo? Wait until nightfall to see the big prize!

As for the four guards at the entrance carrying those old-fashioned rifles? Ha!

Under a moonless sky with a biting chill, Brother Bo moved alone, carefully avoiding Japanese patrols and quietly approaching the Beihai Ocean Textile Shop.

He activated his “Favorable Wind Ear” and detected only four heartbeats inside.