Night of Despair

Chapter 65: Journey of Route 63: The Alliance Hierarch’s Ascension

“Of course, a research talent like you, being able to tinker and come up with so many things by yourself, is a rare and scarcely-seen type. Large Pyroxene Stones, more advanced new runes, talisman array wooden boards, even improving Dr. Xu’s herbal medicine into more effective anti-inflammatory tablets. These aren’t things that just anyone can do. I’ve given it some good thought, and if given time, you might be able to develop even more effective items to counter the Black Disaster,” Li Rushan said with a smile, “So, do you think I should take action against you for merely the technology of a Large Pyroxene Stone?”

Yu Hong was at a loss for words.

He also felt that the other party’s reasoning was damn convincing. If he were in their shoes, he definitely would make the same choice.

“Now that I’m so valuable, doesn’t the organization behind you, the postal service, want to recruit me?” he asked another question.

“Of course they do, but the problem is, I didn’t report it,” Li Rushan said with a beaming smile, “After confirming that you didn’t want to leave here either, I didn’t report a thing about you. Otherwise, if you left, and I was left here alone, wouldn’t I lose out on all the benefits? Moreover… do you think I came to this place for nothing? And with a kid in tow too?”

“Offended someone?” Yu Hong suddenly understood. @@novelbin@@

“Mm, one of the big shots in the postal service. Luckily, I had the support of another big shot, my former superior. After both sides engaged in a power struggle, the outcome was me coming here for a relic investigation mission,” Li Rushan said casually.

He looked at Yu Hong. “So, do you want me to hire a squad for you? As a security escort? The price is negotiable.”

“….” Yu Hong thought that long-term employment was definitely not feasible for him; he couldn’t afford it, his secrets were too many, and the Black Mark’s enhancement would instantly change his appearance. If someone were close by, they would definitely notice the problem.

But a temporary hire wouldn’t be bad…

Just like this time, temporarily hired to help him investigate information, seek revenge. And in exchange, he would provide them with some form of remuneration or his own unique enhancement items, weapons, or something… this sort of one-of-a-kind stuff that others couldn’t give, which also matched his researcher label.

“I can accept temporary hiring to complete a task. How will the payment be calculated?” Yu Hong was indeed tempted.

“I’ll contact them first, this place is just too remote, the closest guy… I need to confirm their location first,” Li Rushan said, breaking into a smile, “As for the payment, there’s no set rate right now, as long as you can offer an irresistible price, then there’s no problem.”

“Then what price do you think I should offer?” Yu Hong asked.

He wasn’t unaware of the other party’s potential to take advantage of him, but sometimes talking about money can be more trustworthy. Especially since this was the other party’s exclusive business.

“It depends on what level of person you want to hire. Ordinary, a bit stronger, elite, or perhaps similar experts to the one who attacked you, even better ones. The prices vary for each here, and general stuff won’t impress the experts, you have to offer what they need,” Li Rushan said with a smile, “Also, because of the remote location, you’ll have to pay a travel fee upfront.”

“How much for a retired postal worker?” Yu Hong asked directly.

“Five silver coins for travel expenses, the fee for action depends on the opponent, we’ll discuss it after confirming the intelligence,” Li Rushan answered.

“Okay then. I’ll wait for your good news,” Yu Hong said without further ado, standing up to leave. “I’ll send the stuff to you in a while.”

Twenty ordinary talisman arrays weren’t a big deal for him, and the time required to enhance the anti-inflammatory medicine was short, so this investment was still worthwhile for him.

As for how much Li Rushan profited, he didn’t care. As long as he could achieve his goal, nothing else mattered.

*

*

*

Baihe City.

An abandoned factory underground, within the crisscrossing underground pipes.

In a widened underground cavern that had been modified, it was equipped with everything from televisions, fridges, to washing machines. A large fan at the ventilation mesh kept flashing with the bright white light from outside.

Zhao Zhenghong sat on the sofa, idly toying with a sharp dagger that could extend and retract.

Beside him sat a buxom woman wearing a purple low-cut dress with vibrant red waves in her hair.

In other corners of the empty cavern, squad members were each hugging and fondling pretty girls.

“Boss, we’ve been in Baihe City for quite a while now, what exactly does Director Xiao mean? We’ve already shown our allegiance, but why the delay without any reply?” Xu Yang complained, slowly puffing on a cigarette butt with a frown.

“The big shots above us are different from us; they’re in different situations and have different thoughts and goals,” Zhao Zhenghong said calmly, “We’re outsiders, suddenly thrown into Baihe City. Even looking for allegiance requires considering what position to give us, right?”

“That’s true, but how long has it been?” Xu Yang said helplessly.

“It’s only been a few months,” replied Zhao Zhenghong.

“The expenses are a bit high, our current revenue streams aren’t enough. If we got a reply from White Python, we could probably improve the situation quite a bit,” Xu Yang sighed.

“No rush, we still have time. Also, the Black Stone Research Institute has come out with a price list. You find someone to go take care of it,” Zhao Zhenghong said gravely.

“Black Stone… The prices aren’t very stable… That local enhancement technology… always sounds a bit iffy,” one of the squad members couldn’t help but interject.

“No worries, the situation as it is means that we are not valuable enough to Director Xiao. He’s got too many good men, and doesn’t care about us outsiders who’ve taken his side. So, we need to add chips for ourselves to increase the weight,” Zhao Zhenghong’s eyes flashed with severity. “Just relying on our small numbers, our funds aren’t sufficient, our manpower inadequate, our only bet is on Black Stone.”

“The experiments for enhancement at Black Stone, I’ve heard they’re modeled after luminous stone contamination; although it’s only local, it’s not just prohibitively expensive, it also leads to a reduction in lifespan…” Xu Yang frowned.

“Of course, I’m aware of the consequences, but in this world, you never know when you’ll face an Evil Shadow Blood Tide. What’s the loss of some lifespan compared to living comfortably and well?” Zhao Zhenghong was unbothered about these things.

Xu Yang was at a loss for words, as he recalled the altered dispositions of the strong individuals he had met who had undergone partial enhancements, sensing that his group might run into trouble in the future.

“But…” He wanted to say something more.

Suddenly, a teammate with glasses rushed in from outside.

“Captain, deputy, there’s news, we’ve got news from White Python!”

At these words, Zhao Zhenghong and Xu Yang both stood up immediately, their gazes falling upon this person.

The situation for their team in Baihe City was very awkward, their interests had long been divvied up and saturated, leaving no room for them to squeeze in; their income had drastically declined, and even turning to powerful figures for help led only to dragging responses.

Therefore, the Large Pyroxene Stone technology industry, which was originally of only moderate importance to them, now saw a sharp increase in significance.

“Did you catch the person?” Zhao Zhenghong quickly asked.

“…No… it’s the assistant who went to support White Python later, he was delivering supplies to a fixed location, but he didn’t wait for the person… And then, the chip in his body, there was no signal… It means… the person is gone,” the team member’s voice gradually lowered, as he looked at the increasingly grim expressions of Zhao Zhenghong and Xu Yang, he faintly felt a sense of foreboding.

“The person is gone!?” Zhao Zhenghong’s voice escalated several degrees, “That’s it? The person is gone!? After all the compensation I gave out! After all the supplies I sent!? Just one person gone!? With no results whatsoever?”

His expression was extremely troubled. He had heard of White Python’s abilities, a skilled hand already somewhat well-known in the black market, and yet such a skilled hand was now possibly gone, with nothing to show for it?

“That guy must have a problem!” Xu Yang said icily, “Big brother, how many people have we sent before and after? Can you count? White Python should be the third batch! We’ve lost so much, and yet we haven’t got a single reply; I suspect there’s either been serious danger there, or that person himself is the problem.”

Zhao Zhenghong stood still, the eyes beneath his glasses shifting expressions.

“This matter has already gone beyond what we can handle, we could offer this information to Director Xiao as a gift, in exchange for establishing a foothold in Baihe City.”

“Indeed, there’s always been a strong demand for Large Pyroxene Stones, and it seems that guy has even developed a new type of talisman array; the supply team made a trade with some of it earlier, and its effectiveness is stronger than that of a Large Pyroxene Stone alone, it’s very hot on the market,” Xu Yang nodded. “But this piece of intel is quite valuable, captain, how do you plan to present it?”

“Director Xiao has his birthday in a few days, we can offer our gift and speak in person,” Zhao Zhenghong answered, frowning as he recalled the young man he had met before.

He couldn’t for the life of him figure out how that man had managed to evade capture for the third time. But now, he was truly out of options.

“Captain, why don’t we all go again? Just giving this away to the higher-ups, after all our investment, isn’t that…” a chubby team member who was listening couldn’t help interjecting.

“If a skilled hand like White Python can disappear, it would be dangerous for us too,” Zhao Zhenghong shook his head.

“Maybe he just happened to run into the Evil Shadow Withered Woman from before,” Xu Yang suddenly said. “It’s said the Withered Woman’s activity had moved near Baiqiu Village, and if White Python ran into her, even he would be out of luck. But now, the Withered Woman has completely disappeared, probably because her active period ended. How about… we all go and take a look, just the outskirts, without going in deep…”

He was unwilling to simply give up on a potential goldmine, especially after such a substantial investment.

Zhao Zhenghong felt the same refusal to give in. He stood there silently for a long time.

It was a full ten minutes before he spoke slowly.

“We can try, go and take a look, test with Red Value, if it’s the Evil Shadow we retreat, if not, if it’s man-made…”

He turned around, looking at the others.

“Then bring the gear, the new portable bombs too, let’s try one last time.”

White Python might be formidable, but he was confident in defeating him in a one-on-one confrontation, otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to lead so many people on his own.

Which meant, if it was just people causing the trouble, this time he would personally take action.

“Is the whole team going?” Xu Yang perked up.

“Everyone, together, if it doesn’t work out this time, we’ll head to Black Stone,” Zhao Zhenghong said gravely.

—

Two days later.

In front of the stone building of the post office in Baiqiu Village.

Li Rushan handed over a piece of handwritten intelligence to Yu Hong.

“This is the detailed information about the people who attacked you and their backers.”

Yu Hong swiftly scanned through it.

‘White Python Guo Xudong, former postal worker, after retirement, he was frequently active in the black market of Baihe City, accepting mercenary tasks. The suspected employer behind this attack is likely Zhao Zhenghong, former captain of the 3rd Regiment of the United Army of Baishi Town.’

‘Zhao Zhenghong: 31 years old, former member of the People’s Army of the United Forces, unmarried, has a total of twenty-three members under his command with the deputy being Xu Yang. According to a thorough investigation, Zhao Zhenghong has sent people to the vicinity of Baiqiu Village multiple times in attempts to search for something.’

“How about it, isn’t the information quite solid?” Li Rushan said with a proud smile.