Episode Summary
Tensions escalate as the Chairman election approaches. Sawa Eisaku attempts to assassinate He Xian with a bomb hidden in a dessert delivery, injuring He Xian's father and Zai Zai. The intimidation fails, and He Xian makes it to the election venue with police protection. In a final strategic move, the Japanese try to back the current Chairman, Rodrigues, to block He Xian, but Rodrigues shocks everyone by voting for He Xian instead.
Spoiler Alert
Tensions Rise in Macau
Yazaki Kanji is losing his patience. He drags Sawa Eisaku into his office and tears him apart. The Japanese merchants are losing ground to the Chinese, and Yazaki demands a fix. Sawa needs to turn the tide immediately.
Over at the Ba Chong Tian nightclub, the vibe is different. Qiao Yinwan plays her violin for the crowd. Luobo finds a quiet moment with He Xian. He apologizes for his past behavior. He admits he was under pressure but promises to protect their cooperation from now on. Then he gets personal. He asks He Xian about his feelings for Qiao Yinwan. He Xian gives a straight answer. They are just friends. Luobo looks visibly relieved.
The Election Strategy
Money is tight for everyone. He Xian proposes a new joint reserve fund for the Macau Banking Association. The local businesses love the idea. But the Japanese side sees a threat. Sawa wants control. He plans to install a puppet as the next Chairman to strangle Macau's finances.
Ke Zhengping gathers the group to look at the numbers. The Chairman seat is the prize. The current Chairman, Rodrigues, wants to retire. The ballot comes down to three names. Suzuki Ichiro represents the Japanese interests. Rodrigues is on the list again. And He Xian stands for the Chinese merchants.
A Bomb in the Box
Sawa decides he cannot risk a fair fight. He tracks He Xian’s daily routine. He notices the family often orders sugar water for the kids. Sawa plants a homemade bomb inside a delivery box.
Qiao Yinwan spots the delivery man acting strange outside. She gets a bad feeling and tells Luobo. Meanwhile, He Xian meets the delivery guy at his door. He takes the box inside without a second thought. His father, He Chengxi, starts to open the package to share it with the children.
The phone rings. Qiao Yinwan screams a warning about the sugar water. He Xian realizes the danger. He turns to stop his father. He is a split second too late.
The box explodes in He Chengxi's hands. The old man hits the floor. Zai Zai gets cut by flying debris. It is a messy scene, but the bomb was weak. They survive the blast. The police show up, but they shrug their shoulders. They have no hard proof against the Japanese.
Election Day Chaos
Fukue is furious. He screams at Sawa for causing such a disaster. Sawa claims it was just a warning to keep He Xian away from the vote. But the intimidation fails. He Xian prepares for the worst. He asks Ke Lin, Yang Chang, and Ma Wanqi to look after his family if he doesn't make it home.
The next morning, Huang Gongjie sets an ambush near He Xian's front door. He waits for a target that never shows. Ke Lin arranged a different route. He Xian slips out the back door. The Dahao Gang and a few police officers escort him safely to the venue.
The Final Twist
Sawa sees his assassination plan failed. He pivots. He sends Fukue to Rodrigues with a deal. The Japanese side will dump all twenty of their votes on Rodrigues. They just want to stop He Xian.
He Xian hears about the deal. He doesn't flinch. He doesn't care about the title. He just wants to keep the Japanese out of power.
Rodrigues listens to the offer but stays silent. The voting begins. The Japanese representatives cast their ballots for Rodrigues. The Portuguese members prepare to follow suit. Rodrigues stands up to cast the first vote. He represents the Banco Nacional Ultramarino. He shocks the entire room. He casts his vote for He Xian.
