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Yet if there were any other way out for him but to sign that paper he was not aware of it。 Either way he would lose the keiretsu； for he knew his pany could not long weather the set of pyramiding losses and future pledges in which the accursed Anthony Chin had enmeshed the All…Asia Bank。
For all this； Nangi was calm。 Life had taught him patience。 He had that rare ability known to the Japanese as nariyuki no matsu； to wait for the turn of events。 He believed in Christ and； He； surely was a miracle。 If he were to lose the keiretsu； that was karma； his penance for his sins in a previous life。 For there was nothing Tanzan Nangi held more dear than his pany。
And yet he was absolutely certain that he would not lose it。 As had Gotaro on their makeshift raft so long ago； Nangi had faith。 His agile mind and his faith would see him through this as they had all the other crises in his life。
Nariyuki no matsu。
A knock on the door。 Did he feel the tides turning？ Or would they continue to run against him until they pushed him far out to sea？
〃e in；〃 he said。 〃It's open。〃
Fortuitous Chiu appeared； closing the door behind him。 He wore an oyster gray raw silk suit。 In the light of day he appeared trim and hard muscled。 He had a handsome； rather narrow face with keen； intelligent eyes。 All in all； Nangi thought； Sato had chosen well。
〃It's seven o'clock on the button；〃 Fortuitous Chiu said。 He stood by the door。 〃I am anxious to make a good impression 。。。 after last night。〃
〃Did you finish the translation？〃
Fortuitous Chiu nodded。 〃Yes； sir。 It was only difficult in parts because； as you no doubt already know； inflection is infinitely more important than the word itself in Chinese。〃
〃You needn't be so formal；〃 Nangi said。
Fortuitous Chiu nodded； came across the room； grinning。 〃There was a great deal on the tape that was wordless。 Someday； if the gods permit； I would meet this woman。 She must have been born under a lucky star if her manipulation of this foul…smelling munist son of a diseased dog is any indication。〃
〃I've taken the liberty of ordering breakfast for us both；〃 Nangi said； swinging his legs off the bed with the aid of one hand。 〃Sit down and join me； will you。〃 He began pulling small plates out of the food warmer； piling them on the table。
〃Dim sum；〃 Fortuitous Chiu murmured。 Nangi saw that he was impressed； being served a traditional Chinese breakfast by a Japanese。 The young man sat down in one of the satin…covered chairs next to the table and took up his chopsticks。
While they ate； Fortuitous Chiu spoke of what the tape had revealed to him。 〃First； I don't know how much information you have on our rade Liu。〃
Nangi shrugged。 〃The basics； I suppose。 I'm no newer to Hong Kong but I have been unable to call upon the knowledge of my bank president； Allan Su。 He is not privy to what we do here。 I don't want him involved until the very last instant。〃 Nangi paused for a moment； marshaling his thoughts。 〃Liu's a member in good standing of the Crown Colony。 His varied businesses on the Island and in Kowloon have brought a great deal of money into Hong Kong： shipping； banking； printing。。。 I believe one of his panies owns a majority of the go…downs in Kwun Tong。〃
Shoveling a shrimp ball into his mouth； Fortuitous Chiu nodded。 He munched with the quick； short bites of the Chinese。 〃Indeed； yes。 But did you also know that he is the head of the syndicate that owns the Frantan？〃
〃The gambling casino in Macao？〃
〃The same；〃 Fortuitous Chiu said； consuming a dough…wrapped quail egg。 〃The munists find it most convenient to wash money in and out through the Frantan because it allows them to convert bullion into any currency they choose without embarrassing questions being asked。 Some of the ta…pans here do the same thing； though not at the Frantan。〃
Nangi's mind was working furiously； considering the possibilities。 He had begun to get an inkling of the tides turning。
〃rade Liu and this woman…Succulent Pien…are longtime lovers； that much is clear。〃 Fortuitous Chiu stuffed a pork roll into his cheek； chewing contentedly while he continued to talk。 〃The slime…ridden sea slug has thought up so many ornate endearments for her it made my head swim。 He is quite ardent。〃
〃And she？〃 Nangi inquired。
〃Ah； women；〃 Fortuitous Chiu said as if that covered it all。 He stacked the empty plates to one side； brought other laden ones before him。 Grabbing the soy sauce； he shook the bottle vigorously over the dumplings before him。 Then he reached for the fiery chili paste； red as blood。 〃It has been my experience that one can never tell about women。 They are born with deceit as a deer is with a cloven hoof。 They cultivate it like they do a current hairstyle。 Is this not your experience as well？〃
Nangi said nothing； wondering what the young man was getting at。
〃Well； it has been mine；〃 Fortuitous Chiu said； just as if Nangi had interjected a ment。 〃And this one is no exception。〃
〃Does she love the munist？〃
〃Oh； yes。 I think she does。 Though what she could find of sufficient promise in that lice…ridden motherless goat I cannot imagine。 But what she feels for him is； I believe； irrelevant。〃 He cleared another plate； pulled another toward him。 On went the soy sauce and the chili paste。 〃That is because it is clear to me that she loves money much more。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Nangi。 He sensed the tides rolling back。 〃And where does she assuage this burning desire？ From friend Liu？〃
〃Yes； indeed。〃 Fortuitous Chiu nodded。 He had worked up quite a sweat eating。 'The pox…infested dog enjoys giving her presents。 But I fear that he is not as generous as our Succulent Pien would wish。〃
〃Thus she wanders afield。〃
〃So I have been told。〃
Nangi was quick to anger； he was walking a fine line here。 〃Who knows what you do？〃
〃No one but you。〃 At last Fortuitous Chiu was finished。 He pushed the last plate away from him。 His face was shiny with grease and sweat。 〃But something she said to Liu caused me to make enquiries。 Succulent Pien lives in the Mid…Levels； on Po Shan Road。 That territory belongs to the Green Pang Triad。〃 He produced a white silk handkerchief and carefully wiped his face。 He grinned。 〃It just so happens that my Number Three Cousin is 438 of the Green Pang。〃
〃I don't want to owe anyone in a Triad a favor；〃 Nangi said。
〃No sweat。〃 Fortuitous Chiu washed away his words。 〃Number Three Cousin owes his rise in the Green Pang to my father。 He's delighted to help。 No strings attached。〃
Nangi thought he could go into culture shock talking to this one。 〃Go on；〃 he said。
〃It seems that someone else is plowing the same fragrant harbor that rade Liu is。〃
〃And who might that be？〃
〃I'm not a miracle worker。 I need some time to find out。 They've been very careful to cover their tracks。〃 He leered at Nangi。 〃Number Three Cousin and I may have to do some on…site inspection during the night。〃
〃Does the Green Pang have to be involved？〃
〃I've got no choice。 It's their turf。 I can't make a bowel movement over at the Mid…Levels without letting them in on it。〃
Nangi nodded。 He knew well the power of the Triads in Hong Kong。 〃What did Succulent Pien say to get you started on this？〃
〃Red