Chan Ho Nam sat alone in his squalid safe house, the smoke from his cigarette shrouding his contemplative face. The death of Sa Bi, though a clear case of karma, still left a painful scar. Years of brotherhood, now just a bloody memory. He was drowning in that complex grief when his phone rang. It was Old Chiang.
"Ho Nam," Chiang Tin-Sang's voice came through, calm as ever but laced with authority. "I heard about Sa Bi. What's past is past. Don't let it haunt you."
"I understand, Big Brother," Ho Nam replied, his voice hoarse.
"Good," Chiang said. "But the clan's business doesn't stop. The Fireworks Festival is upon us. It's a tradition we can't ignore. This time, I want you to represent the Hung Hing."
Ho Nam was silent.
"You won't be going alone," Old Chiang continued. "Ah Hei is getting out of prison. I've already arranged it. You two are blood brothers. With him by your side, I can rest easier."
At the mention of Ah Hei's name, a rare spark of light appeared in Chan Ho Nam's eyes. Ah Hei, real name Wong Chiu-Hei, his brother since they were kids, the man who had fought beside him through thick and thin. After taking a fall for the gang, Ah Hei had been arrested and lost a hand in a prison fight. And now, he was coming back.
The day Ah Hei was released, Chan Ho Nam was the only one waiting at the gate. Ah Hei walked out, thinner, with a few new scars on his face, and one arm ending in a cold, steel hook.
"Holy shit, Brother Nam!" Ah Hei grinned, punching Ho Nam's shoulder. "You look like a goddamn ghost!"
"Shut up, you cripple," Ho Nam shot back, a genuine smile spreading across his face for the first time in days. "Welcome back."
News of the Fireworks Festival sent ripples through the underworld, and every triad began its own calculations.
In a Wo Kee warehouse, Tachibana Masato stood before his most trusted men. "Listen carefully," he said, his voice like ice. "At the festival, our target is the Hung Hing. Provoke them, bloody them. But that is only a pretext." He paused, his gaze lethal. "My true target is that Japanese hunting dog. I want Aoyama Minami's head."
Meanwhile, at the Sankō-gumi headquarters, Aoyama was reviewing his "assets": an American football team he had flown in. A squad of giants, each one built like a refrigerator. "Strategy?" he said to a subordinate. "I don't need strategy. Absolute power crushes all schemes."
In another corner of Hong Kong, Brother Ox was groveling before a powerful woman. This was Fan Keuk Lung Mei-Mei, an infamous "Big Sister" of the Fuk Hing. "Brother Ox," she said, painting her nails a blood-red. "Do not disappoint me. This time, I want to see that Chan Ho Nam crawling at your feet."
The air was already hot with anticipation.
The Tsim Sha Tsui pier was swarming with thugs. Dozens of boats were mobilized, each flying the flag of a different triad. The atmosphere was a volatile mix of festivity and menace, a powder keg waiting for a spark.
"Hey, what are you looking at? I'll gouge your fucking eyes out!" The Wo Kee and Hung Hing crews were already trading insults on the dock.
"Our Brother Tachibana will tear your Ho Nam to pieces!"
"Our Brother Nam is the one who'll rip that pretty boy of yours a new asshole!"
Ho Nam and Tachibana stood at a distance, their eyes locking in a silent, murderous promise. Ah Hei stood beside his brother, his steel hook clenched tight.
Other gangs arrived. The Diao Si, led by the arrogant Man Lung. The Big Four, who caused a wave of fear by arriving with a wanted fugitive, the notorious Yip Kai-Foon. Each gang boarded their boat, setting a course for Cheung Chau island, where the deadly games would begin.
No one on the island slept that night.
At a noisy bar, Chan Ho Nam and Brother Ox crossed paths. Not a single word was exchanged. Their eyes met, and pure animal hatred erupted.
"You son of a bitch!" Ho Nam lunged.
"Your time is up!" Brother Ox roared back.
They crashed into each other like two bulls, punching, kicking, using beer bottles, chairs, anything within reach as a weapon. The brawl only stopped when their respective crews jumped in to pull them apart.
Elsewhere, Yip Kai-Foon of the Big Four accepted an invitation for a "friendly drink" from a Sankō-gumi member. He walked right into a trap. In a dark alley, he was ambushed. As formidable as Yip Kai-Foon was, he was overwhelmed by the prepared Sankō-gumi force and beaten severely, taken out of the competition before it could even start. Aoyama had made his first move, eliminating a strong opponent.
Meanwhile, Ah Hei, looking for some air, accidentally bumped into Man Lung of the Diao Si gang.
"The hell you doing? Are you blind?" Man Lung snapped.
Before Ah Hei could apologize, Man Lung noticed his steel hand. "Oh, look at that, a cripple," he sneered. "Get the fuck out of my sight."
Ah Hei looked up, his eyes turning cold. His steel hook slowly curled into a fist, making a low, scraping sound. "What did you just say?"
The games hadn't even begun, but blood was about to be spilled.