The Conman 1998

King’s story begins with a tense situation that leads to a personal tragedy. One night, when King (played by [Andy Lau]) stays overnight at his mistress Fanny’s place, his pregnant wife, Fanny, [Bonnie Law Ming-Chu], unexpectedly discovers them together. Heartbroken and overwhelmed by the betrayal, Fanny leaves King, marking a significant turning point in his life. This emotional incident sets him on a difficult road filled with regret and reflection.

Soon after, King and his assistant Chung find themselves gambling with Chimney when a confrontation erupts. Chimney, who learns that they have been secretly recording him, becomes enraged. The situation quickly escalates into a violent altercation, during which King is forced to defend himself. In self-defense, he kills Chimney with a knife, an act that results in him becoming colorblind. This injury drastically changes his ability to read the world around him and influences his future choices. Subsequently, King is imprisoned for manslaughter, a sentence that becomes a period of learning and transformation. While behind bars, he takes the opportunity to learn horse racing skills, which will be crucial later in his life.

After serving his time, King is released from prison into the world once more, now a seasoned man with new skills. He is greeted by a small-time gambler named [Nick Cheung Ka-Fai], known as Dragon, who has long admired King’s reputation. Their rekindling of a partnership marks the beginning of their way back to gambling success. Together, they start making money through horse racing, showcasing King’s newfound talents and strategic acumen. During this time, King also meets Dragon’s younger sister, Ching, played by [Athena Chu Yan], who soon becomes a central figure in his life.

King quickly uncovers that Raymond, the man Ching is engaged to, is a dishonest con artist. Raymond falsely claims he studied at a university in the United States and deceives women out of their money with lies. Recognizing Raymond’s true nature, King, with the help of Dragon and Rocky (later mentored by King after a billiards match), devises a clever plan to expose Raymond. They make Raymond believe that he has killed King, forcing him to flee to Cambodia in fear. This act not only thwarts Raymond’s schemes but also allows King to win the affection of Ching, whom he has fallen in love with through their shared struggles and his efforts to protect her.

Meanwhile, King’s personal quest to find Fanny and his son continues. Rocky informs King about a gathering on Macau Mon’s gambling cruise boat. Recognized on the boat by Handsome, Chimney’s younger brother, King’s past resurfaces. When King encounters Chung on the boat, he learns a painful truth: Chung lied about Fanny’s fate, claiming she committed suicide after King went to prison. Instead, Chung reveals that Fanny has been cared for by him, and their son, Little King, now lives with Chung.

The story takes a dramatic turn when Handsome, seeking revenge, injures Little King and kidnaps Fanny and Chung. He blackmails King into helping him eliminate Macau Mon, who has heavily invested in betting on the 1998 FIFA World Cup for France’s victory. Handsome’s plan involves causing chaos during a betting event by secretly tampering with the game simulation. They aim to make the election of a false winner—Brazil—appear true during the betting, which would trigger a heart attack in Macau Mon and allow Handsome to take control.

Devastated by these revelations, King falls into depression. Ching, showing loyalty and compassion, comforts him. To rescue Fanny and Chung, they enlist the help of Squirrel, an adult film director, to produce fake footage of the World Cup, further manipulating the betting scene. Meanwhile, King fulfills Ching’s wish to travel to Europe, and they meet at the bus station, sharing a quiet moment of hope and longing.

On the night of the World Cup final, gambling intensifies. King bets on Brazil, while Macau Mon wagers on France. The broadcast is manipulated through a montage created from the fake footage, which makes it appear as though Brazil is winning, when in fact, France triumphs with a 3-0 score. This deception causes Macau Mon’s heart to give out, and he dies during the chaos.

In a shocking twist, Macau Mon unexpectedly revives during a confrontation with Handsome. He stands behind Handsome, pointing a gun, revealing that during a card game, King had secretly given him a card and poisoned his water supply to help him. In a final act of vengeance, Macau Mon shoots and kills Handsome, ending his rampage.

The story concludes with a poignant and ironic turn of events. The next morning, as King waits at the bus station for Ching, who is about to join him for a new beginning, tragedy strikes unexpectedly. In a twist of fate, he is run over by Dragon, who is rushing to meet him, leaving his future uncertain and ending the narrative on a bittersweet note.