Chapter Forty-Eight: Trapped in a Deadly Predicament!

After Mark's men had intimidated everyone on the second floor, they immediately proceeded upstairs to the third. In no time, even the distinguished guests and business tycoons originally on the third floor were unceremoniously driven downstairs.

“Who do you think you are?”
“Insolent fool! What gives you the courage to act like this?”

These men were the elite of River City; how could they accept being herded off like stray dogs?

“I hail from British nobility. Do you think you have the right to question me?” Mark sneered, cold and contemptuous. At his side, the burly John stepped forward, producing an ornate document that clearly attested to their aristocratic lineage.

Examining it closely, the men saw that each of these intruders bore titles of high standing, some even with tenuous connections to British royalty. Instantly, the guests fell silent. Even the most influential organizers bowed their heads: since Mark had already secured the entire cruise ship for himself, none dared offend him further.

One by one, they all shuffled downstairs in meek submission. Soon, only a group of exceptionally beautiful young women remained on the third floor. They clustered together, keeping close to Luoshui, casting wary glances at Mark, sensing ill intent.

“I thought the girl downstairs was stunning enough, but it seems there are even more breathtaking beauties up here,” Mark exclaimed.
“Those spineless mongrels from Huaguo—the only thing they're good for is bowing to us and handing over these gorgeous women. Ha!”
“Mark is right! These women are exquisite—every bit as fine as those in our own country,” John chimed in, rubbing his hands together eagerly, unable to hide his anticipation.

With a smile, Mark strode toward Luoshui, who was reassuring the other women. Adopting a gentlemanly air, he extended his hand in invitation.
“My beloved princess, I hear you’re a celebrated film star in Huaguo. Tonight is my birthday—be sure to sing for me.”
“Afterward, I’ll await you in the top suite for dinner. Wear your finest costume.”
“I’m in high spirits tonight, full of energy, and I wouldn’t mind if you bring your friends along. I promise to show you the true pleasure of being a woman—so much so that you’ll gladly become my personal slave.”

Mark’s greedy eyes lingered on Luoshui as he spoke, his tone mocking and suggestive. The longer he looked, the more entranced he became: her form-fitting trench coat accentuated her curves, her delicate and youthful face seemed to glow with freshness, and he felt a surge of heat rise within him. If he weren’t constrained by his status, he would have thrown her down on the dining table and stripped her then and there.

“With such arrogance, do you really think you hold absolute power here?” Luoshui replied coldly.

“Don’t I?” Mark retorted, feigning nonchalance.

A roar of laughter erupted from John and the others.

“Look at the weak, useless men of Huaguo—all cowering downstairs, not daring to utter a word!”
“I bet if I said a single word, they’d scramble to kneel before us!”
Their raucous mockery echoed down to the second floor, infuriating many, but none dared challenge John after witnessing his terrifying punch.

Mark glanced at his watch and turned to Luoshui. “Remember, if you defy even a single order of mine tonight, you can forget about ever leaving this ship.” As he left, he shot her a suggestive look, as if she were already his.

“Ugh!” Luoshui felt sick to her stomach.
And this, they called British nobility? He wasn’t even fit to be a street beggar!

“What are you going to do, Luoshui?” one of her companions asked anxiously. Mark’s aggressive behavior made it clear he wouldn’t have targeted Luoshui so openly unless he was confident he could get away with it. Especially after his threat about not letting her leave the ship—it hinted at something deeply sinister.

“I’m not afraid,” Luoshui snorted.

She had glanced downstairs earlier, suspecting that a certain fool was still napping and hadn’t shown up yet. But thinking it over, Luoshui grew a little uneasy. John’s punch had truly astounded everyone—it was hard to imagine how a single man could shatter a marble pillar with nothing but his fist. Could her own “idiot” handle someone like that?

…

On the second floor of the cruise ship, the big shots had already gathered to discuss how to deal with these uninvited troublemakers. Just because they were enduring the humiliation for now didn’t mean they would let it go unchallenged.

For example, one of the organizing families had secretly summoned the ship’s security, assembling them on the deck.

“They have money, and if they can book the ship, good for them. But that doesn’t give them the right to insult another nation’s dignity,” spoke Xiao Hong’an, the head of the Xiao family, one of the event’s hosts.

“They’re guarding the stairs—didn’t they say whoever beats them can go up? Li Dong!”
The security captain, Li Dong, stood up at Xiao Hong’an’s call.

“Go up and test him. If you can’t handle it, withdraw,” Xiao Hong’an instructed.

“Yes, sir.”

Li Dong removed his security jacket and stepped forward.

“Oh? At last, someone here isn’t a coward?” John jeered in broken Mandarin.

Even from ten meters away, the difference between the two men was stark. Li Dong, though fit, looked scrawny compared to John, who stood over six feet and was a mountain of muscle.

“Cut the chatter! Come on!” Li Dong entered the dance floor, instantly becoming the center of attention.

These foreigners were just too arrogant, too dismissive of everyone else! The crowd silently willed Li Dong to win back their dignity.

John let out a few derisive laughs, then lunged forward, leaping three or four meters into the air and stomping into the dance floor, the impact splintering the floorboards.

“What…?!” Li Dong broke out in a cold sweat. He’d heard the stories of John smashing marble with a punch, but had assumed there must have been some trick involved. Seeing this display, he realized John’s strength was on par with a professional boxer.

But now there was no turning back. Li Dong, who had practiced sanda for several years, took a defensive stance, ready to meet the challenge.

John burst out laughing at the awkward pose.

“If you can’t even keep your footing, you’d better go home and drink your milk. Stop putting on a brave face!”

“Enough talk. Take this!”