·
·
Late at night.
11:48 PM.
The night breeze was pleasant.
Zhou Chen left the supermarket, grocery bag in hand, and strolled leisurely down the deserted street, awaiting Birdman’s instructions.
His targets were Iron Python’s n, a group of vile smugglers. Birdman had the latest intel on their movents, which would allow Zhou Chen to stage an "accidental encounter."
—An off-duty Star Association Operator happens upon criminals, cleverly tails them, and strikes decisively, cracking a major smuggling case.
Barring any surprises, that should be tomorrow’s headline.
A dozen or so minutes later, the phone in Zhou Chen’s pocket vibrated. He ignored it, walking straight to the next intersection and turning right. He continued for a few hundred ters until he reached the entrance of a small, late-night bar tucked deep in an alley.
He pushed the door open and went inside.
The bar was dimly lit with a warm, yellow glow. The decor was high-end and elegant, and a vinyl record player was playing slow-paced, graceful classical music.
It had a rather high-class feel.
But the bar didn’t have many custors, likely due to its remote location. There were only a few scattered groups inside, making the place feel deserted—strange, considering this should have been peak ti for bars and nightclubs.
Moreover, the patrons’ clothes, appearance, and deanor didn’t seem to fit the "high-class" label at all. They didn’t look like the type of people who would frequent such a place.
Zhou Chen’s expression remained impassive, but his eyes shifted slightly, showing just the right amount of surprise. He then walked over to the bar, sat down, ordered a mojito, and started playing on his phone.
Four n in a booth across the room sized him up for a few monts. Once they determined he was harmless, they looked away and went back to drinking and chatting.
From a quick scan when he first entered, Zhou Chen had already confird that they were Iron Python’s n. According to Birdman, this bar was their eting spot.
"The n Birdman sent you to kill are Iron Python’s trusted confidants. Getting rid of them is like cutting off Iron Python’s right and left hands."
In a brightly lit secret command room, Jiang Che sipped her coffee and said calmly, "It allows him to get revenge and establish his authority, and it also lets us test your abilities. If we’re lucky, we might even be able to take out Iron Python, or perhaps the person behind him. It kills several birds with one stone."
Zhou Chen made a sound of agreent.
More than just a few birds with one stone. It was a whole flock.
—Birdman gets his revenge and establishes his authority, plus a chance to eliminate his competitor, Iron Python, with the help of the Star Association.
—The Star Association gets to arrest mbers of Iron Python’s smuggling ring and dismantle their operation, boosting their performance stats.
—And he himself would naturally receive the two pieces of equipnt Birdman had offered. He would also get a promotion and a raise at the Star Association for this achievent, while earning even more of Birdman’s trust.
Everyone wins big. Everyone has a bright future.
About half an hour later, the group of n got up to leave. Zhou Chen waited two or three minutes, finished the last of his drink, and left the bar feigning drunkenness, trailing Iron Python’s n from a distance.
With his trained surveillance skills, coupled with the physical prowess of an Ascender, tailing a group of ordinary people without being noticed was a piece of cake.
Eventually, Zhou Chen followed them to a food processing plant.
Over the wall, and in.
He skillfully avoided the countless visible security caras.
As for the hidden ones—he noticed them and could have avoided them, too, but there was no need.
’As a Star Association Operator, you need a reason to kill soone.’
·
In an office at the food processing plant, one of Iron Python’s managers frowned, looking at the four drunken, burly n sitting on the sofa with obvious displeasure.
"This is a critical ti. You still dare to go out drinking? Do you have a death wish?"
"What’s there to be afraid of? Birdman and Snow White wouldn’t dare make a move in the city center," one of the bald n said dismissively, waving his hand.
"Yes, they wouldn’t dare make a move. But it seems you’ve forgotten about the Star Association." The manager’s face was grim, and his words made the four n shudder, sobering them up instantly. Panicked, one asked, "The Star Association is on to us?"
"It’s so reckless kid who’s already snuck into the plant. We have a deal tonight... Luckily, he hasn’t seen anything important. I’m having Xiao Wang and the others get rid of him," the manager said coldly. "Don’t make this kind of stupid mistake again. Otherwise, don’t bla for being rciless."
The four n nodded frantically in agreent, promising it would never happen again. The manager walked over to his desk, intending to check if Zhou Chen had been dealt with. But when he saw the security footage on the screen, his pupils contracted sharply.
Without hesitation, he slamd the alarm button.
"Fuck! That kid’s a fucking Ascender! He’s already found us out!"
"Tell the Boss to move! Jinzhu can’t stay here any longer!"
The manager practically scread these words, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at the four bewildered n. He wanted nothing more than to blow all of these bastards’ brains out.
’For fuck’s sake, they go out for a drink and bring back an Ascender from the Star Association. What a bunch of dumbasses!’
·
「A few minutes earlier」
Zhou Chen had snuck into the food processing plant and was furtively observing his surroundings, searching for evidence of criminal activity.
Unfortunately, he found nothing.
’Even if these smugglers were idiots, they wouldn’t leave everything out in the open.’
Just as he was about to venture deeper, he was, unsurprisingly, spotted by a patrolling security guard.
The capable-looking guard shouted sternly, "How did you get in here? Get out, now! Trespassing in this factory is illegal!"
"Illegal?"
Zhou Chen grinned. "You smugglers are studying the law now? Planning to get your own sentences reduced when the ti cos?"
Hearing his confident tone, the guard’s expression changed drastically. He decisively pulled the stun baton from his belt and lunged at Zhou Chen.
Zhou Chen raised an eyebrow. He threw a punch so fast it was a blur. THUD! The guard was sent flying into a wall with the sickening crack of breaking bones, his ribs completely shattered.
The guard coughed up blood, staring in horror at the young man before him. He saw his own terrified face reflected in the other’s cold eyes.
The heavy shadow of death enveloped him.
"Murder, rape, smuggling, assaulting a Star Association Operator..."
Zhou Chen reached out, grabbed the man’s neck, and with a sudden, forceful twist—SNAP!—broke it.
"Justifies imdiate execution on the spot."
Letting the corpse slide to the floor, Zhou Chen rolled his shoulders and listened to the chaotic sound of footsteps approaching from all over the building.
’They’re finally making their move.’
BANG! BANG! BANG!
At the end of the hallway, two smugglers appeared, holding rifles. The mont they saw Zhou Chen, they opened fire without hesitation.
A hail of bullets scread toward him. Zhou Chen abruptly slamd open a nearby door and dove inside to take cover. Amid the roar of gunfire, the hallway filled with dust as plaster and debris flew everywhere. Countless bullets left deep holes in the walls and floor.
Then, in the brief mont the two n were reloading, Zhou Chen charged out of the room with a dagger in his hand.
’A Star Association Operator cos to arrest criminals, but who would have thought? Not only do the enemies refuse to surrender, they even dare to fire back at .’
’Guess I have no choice but to execute them on the spot.’
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