CHAPTER 365: CHAPTER 362 [THE ADVANCING XICHENG XUN]

Chapter 362: The Assault of Xicheng Xun

Neon Country, Tokyo.

A Yamaha motorcycle sped through the streets of Shinjuku at night.

This was not a spacious main road, but a street filled with various nightclubs and the dim, reddish light of izakayas.

When the motorcycle stopped at the entrance of a nightclub, the rider dismounted, casually tossed the keys to a parking attendant, and threw his helmet over as well.

His multicolored hair was a mess, but his pale face had delicate, handsome, angular features. He had the typical aura of a Japanese pretty boy, but his utterly messy hair ruined his overall vibe.

The parking attendant snuck a peek and couldn’t help but sigh. What a waste. This face could easily attract rich older women.

The edgy pretty boy walked into the nightclub. He passed through the corridor, glancing at the doors of the private rooms on either side. The deafening throb of music and the sound of men and women laughing and flirting spilled from the gaps.

The young man casually chewed gum. Dressed in a leather jacket and pants, he walked, his hips swaying to the rhythm of the music.

He lifted the hem of his jacket, pulled a gun from the belt at his lower back, flicked off the safety, and held it behind him. Standing at the entrance to a private room, he took a deep breath.

Then he suddenly shoved the door open forcefully!

"Hello everyone, this is a complimentary surprise for tonight!"

BANG!

BANG! BANG! BANG...

A series of gunshots erupted in the nightclub, followed by women’s screams.

Shortly after, a swarm of panicked customers rushed out.

Mingling with the crowd, the edgy pretty boy flowed outside with them. He ripped off the jacket he’d been using as a disguise and threw it to the ground. At the same time, he rapidly tore off the messy, multicolored wig from his head—it was, of course, a wig.

His natural short hair transformed him from an "edgy pretty boy" into a genuine Japanese pretty boy.

Well, his eyeshadow was still a bit heavy.

He casually approached the stunned parking attendant, glanced at the counter, then picked up his motorcycle keys and helmet from the rack before turning to leave.

The motorcycle roared twice and sped away from the street...

「 」

The streets were narrow, flanked by low courtyard walls and houses.

The motorcycle had already been parked outside in a shed, covered with a tarp.

The Japanese pretty boy quickly traversed the narrow path and then ascended the steps of a sloping ramp.

It was late at night, and this remote area was already devoid of pedestrians.

After quickly bounding up seven or eight flights of steps, he suddenly stopped, narrowing his eyes as he stared intently at the empty path ahead.

One hand had already reached behind him, taking the gun from his belt. He held it ready behind his back...

Suddenly, a glint of cold light appeared before him. The young man leaped into the air. When he landed, he looked at his hand with a pained expression.

A section of the barrel of the gun in his hand had been sliced off!

"Who’s there, sneaking around and attacking the great me!"

A figure appeared on the steps.

Long, straight black hair cascaded silently over her graceful back. She faced him sideways, one hand on her sword’s scabbard, the other on its hilt, clearly poised to draw.

"Who are you?" the young man slowly retreated.

The girl suddenly turned her head, a sharp glint in her eyes!

She moved.

Taking quick, mincing steps, she closed the distance rapidly!

The young man’s gaze hardened. A dagger slipped from his sleeve, and he prepared to strike.

Suddenly, the girl in front of him vanished once more!

??? The young man’s eyes widened in surprise.

The next instant, the girl’s figure reappeared to the young man’s left. Her sword was unsheathed, its cold light tracing a beautiful arc in the night!

THUD!

The young man’s legs gave out, and he crumpled to his knees, his dagger clattering to the ground. A red line swiftly appeared on his wrist...

"AHH!!!"

The young man screamed, his face contorting in agony as he clutched his wrist, desperately trying to staunch the bleeding.

A thin line of blood also trickled down his forehead, smearing across his eyelids.

The girl had already gently returned her sword to its scabbard and slowly walked to stand before him.

"Name?"

"Ahh! AHH! AHH! Who are you?"

The girl raised her eyebrows and swiftly lifted her left leg. The sole of her shoe made intimate contact with the young man’s face, sending his body flying. He skimmed the ground and smashed heavily against the edge of a flower bed.

Just as the young man lifted his head, he saw the girl had once again silently appeared before him, staring intently.

"Name?"

"You attack me without even knowing my name?" the young man asked, his tone incredulous.

The girl took a deep breath and looked as if she was about to lift her foot again. The young man quickly covered his head with both hands. "Sasaki! My name is Sasaki!"

"Level?"

"What level?" Sasaki’s eyes widened.

The girl glanced at him quietly, then her sword flashed out again. This time, the blade plunged into the soil of the flower bed right beside his face!

"Listen carefully. From now on, I will only ask each question once. Understand?" Her voice was cold, a strange contrast to her gentle features, which suggested a well-behaved girl.

Sasaki gulped and nodded.

"Good. Then... Level?"

"Black Iron."

"The U-disk?"

"It’s at home..." Sasaki began, but upon meeting the girl’s gaze, his heart trembled, and he lowered his voice. "It’s on me."

"Give it to me."

Sasaki’s face twitched. "Please... that U-disk account has all my savings... It took me three years to accumulate that."

"How much?"

"One point eight million M-yen."

"For an Ability User to save only one point eight million in three years, you’re practically useless," the girl stated mercilessly.

"...Well, living expenses in Tokyo are really high. Rent, commuting, even drinking costs money. And tips for girls at nightclubs aren’t cheap either..." Sasaki, his face morose, mumbled but still obediently fished out a U-disk with the Octopus Monster logo from his pocket. He held it out with both hands, clinging to a sliver of hope. "Could you leave me just a little bit? For the sake of us both being Ability Users, leave me half...

"No, no, would a third be okay? I like a girl, and I want to buy her a car. I’ve already promised her... Please!"

The girl pondered for a moment, looked at Sasaki once more, and actually nodded. "I need money too, so... I’ll return five hundred thousand to you."

Five hundred thousand? Sasaki thought. Although it’s slightly less than a third...

That a robber would leave him anything at all was a stroke of incredible luck in his misfortune!

"Really? Is it really okay? Then thank you so much!" Sasaki maintained his sorrowful expression. Damn her! he cursed inwardly, while struggling to force a pleasing smile.

The girl nodded, her tone serious. "Really... You like to wear a leather racer suit... I have a friend who looks very handsome in one too, so I can make an exception for you.

"However, you have to agree to one condition."

A condition? Sasaki was somewhat puzzled. Could it be... she wants me to spend a night with her? When I hung out at nightclubs, many wealthy older women fancied me and offered deals to sleep with them. But, well... this young Ability User girl is quite attractive. If that’s the condition, it wouldn’t be too unpleasant a task...

Sasaki prattled in a low voice, "That... my place is just ahead, I..."

"You promise me, from today onwards, you will not wear leather racer clothing," the woman said, a hint of iciness in her gaze.

"...Huh?"

"Yes, I forbid you from wearing those clothes again. The way you walk in that suit, swaying your hips, is just too effeminate! Utterly hideous!"

"..." Sasaki swallowed.

Alright, I’m outmatched. This girl is stronger than me. I have to concede.

The girl took the U-disk and slipped it into her pocket, then fumbled around inside.

Then, something happened that made Sasaki’s eyes bulge!

This girl actually pulled out a fistful of U-disks!

All of them bore the Octopus Monster logo!

There were as many as five or six in her hand!

The girl picked one from the bunch and tossed it to Sasaki. "This one’s from a few days ago when I robbed someone; it should still have over five hundred thousand M-yen in it. Consider it the third I’m leaving for you."

Sasaki accepted the U-disk, utterly astonished. He was speechless, a frustrated lump in his throat, but couldn’t utter a single word.

This woman... what kind of crazy stunt is this? Just how many Ability Users has she robbed?!

"Remember, you are forbidden from wearing that leather racer suit ever again! If I see you in it again, I’ll shave your head bald! Then I’ll strip you naked and tie you to a lamppost on the street!"

After saying this, the girl jumped down the steps without looking back, her figure flickered twice and then vanished.

"...DAMN IT!! What a NUTCASE!!!"

Sasaki’s face turned pale with rage.

「 」

In front of a small and narrow single-family home, the door was locked tight.

Xicheng Xun leaped effortlessly, hooked one hand onto the second-floor windowsill, and vaulted up. She smoothly pushed open the window and slipped into the room.

Soon, the window was closed, and the blackout curtains were drawn.

Xicheng Xun gently hung her sword on the wall, then turned and put on slippers.

The room wasn’t large; a single bed was situated in a corner near the window.

One wall, however, was covered by a large whiteboard. It was plastered with notes of various sizes; some had pictures, others bore written annotations. Lines drawn with different colored markers connected various notes.

There was also a delicate and small laptop placed on the bedside table.

On the whiteboard, one note had a hand-drawn portrait. It was a Caucasian man, quite handsome, with a high nose bridge, strong facial contours, and a beard.

Beside this portrait, a name was marked in red pen:

Captain, leader of The Abyss Organization.

Beneath the Captain’s portrait, there were a few more notes with several names:

Wizard, leader of the Cultivator Association — missing for eight months.

Lillian, also known as Diamond, the Controller — missing for eight months.

Black Swan, the Destroyer, Lillian’s assistant — missing for eight months.

...

Each note on the wall represented an Ability User from the Underground World. Different symbols were marked behind each of these twenty-odd names.

These individuals all had one thing in common: according to intelligence gathered from the Underground World over the past eight months, they were, or had been, missing Ability Users!

Of course, some had been marked differently. Xicheng Xun had categorized them based on the information she had investigated.

She categorized them by the period of their disappearance.

She also categorized them by the reasons for their disappearance. For some, the cause could be determined: vendettas, or confirmed deaths with specific times and locations, and so on.

Others who had disappeared for a time but later reappeared were marked by Xicheng Xun with a different symbol, indicating they were no longer under suspicion.

After various rounds of filtering, those marked in red pen remained Xicheng Xun’s key targets for ongoing investigation.

These individuals all shared one characteristic: they had all disappeared approximately eight months ago. Furthermore, none of them had reappeared in the Underground World to date.

Having studied the whiteboard for a while longer, Xicheng Xun turned, sat on the bed, and opened her laptop.

She took the U-disks from her pocket and, after a moment, transferred all the money from the Octopus Monster accounts on each U-disk to a single ID.

The name of this ID was "Ah Xiu of Zichuan."

Without a doubt, this U-disk had also been stolen by Xicheng Xun. Its original owner was already dead. He was a man who had become twisted after awakening his abilities. He found pleasure in killing, particularly enjoying nighttime attacks on ordinary people’s homes. He would seal the doors and windows before cruelly tormenting the inhabitants—regardless of age or gender—and then kill them all.

Xicheng Xun felt no guilt in killing such a person.

Soon, using the "Ah Xiu of Zichuan" account, she sent a private message.

The recipient was an organization in the Underground World known for its credibility and fame, specializing in the trade, resale, and investigation of various underground oddities, secret Bagua, and confidential messages—essentially, an underground intelligence trafficking organization.

Xicheng Xun’s private message was blunt: "I’m still waiting for your information!"

The response came quickly: "Pay this month’s fee first."

Without hesitation, Xicheng Xun transferred the money from the account to them.

Having transferred the money, Xicheng Xun continued typing another message: "Confirm receipt of payment. Also, your fees are getting more expensive! Last month you only charged me 1.3 million; this month it’s doubled!"

The other party replied: "Because the matter you’re inquiring about involves highly confidential content, as our investigation revealed. Difficult-to-obtain intelligence is often expensive."

"Alright, the money has been transferred. Now, tell me what you’ve found out this time."

Although the other party was clearly demanding an exorbitant price, Xicheng Xun still chose to trust them.

Firstly, the organization’s reputation and credibility within the Underground World had always been excellent. Secondly, they genuinely possessed some skill.

They were the ones who had previously identified the Captain.

Xicheng Xun had seen the Captain in Jinling. Back then, the Captain was trying to curry favor with Chen Nuo, and Xicheng Xun, who often liked to stick close to Chen Nuo, had encountered the Captain once or twice, though they had never directly interacted.

"The money has been received," the other party sent in a private message.

"Then tell me quickly."

"It’s not secure to discuss this on the website. I’ll send the relevant intelligence to your email."

"Good!"

After exiting the website, Xicheng Xun put away the U-disk. She then retrieved another laptop from under her bed, turned it on, and logged into a standard email account on a certain website.

An email received a minute ago lay quietly in the inbox, marked as unread.

Xicheng Xun opened it, clicked on the attached document, and then began to read, her eyes narrowed.

"Based on the several targets you listed, we conducted a series of investigations.

"We started by investigating the targets’ last known appearances before they disappeared and the exact times they went missing.

"We also approached friends and agents of the targets, obtaining more in-depth information.

"The agents and friends of two targets provided clues: before disappearing, the targets had apparently accepted a very important, high-level, and high-ranking commissioned task.

"Considering the number of missing individuals, such a commissioned task would undoubtedly be of a high level. We pursued our investigation along this line.

"We focused our inquiries on the month preceding the targets’ disappearances.

"During this period, we examined the commissioned task sections of the Octopus Monster website, as well as several other of the largest and most active information exchange platforms in the Underground World.

"The conclusion was that around that month, no individual or organization in the Underground World had offered a bounty to recruit or organize a mission of such a high level involving several powerful Ability Users!

"So, after analyzing the intelligence, we speculated that in this world, probably only the Octopus Monster Organization could lead such a large-scale, high-ranking commissioned operation.

"In our subsequent investigation, we discovered that the Octopus Monster Organization had managed another commissioned task of a similarly high rank and level within the past year.

"Although the Octopus Monster did not publicize the content of that task or the list of Ability Users who accepted the commission, a group of Ability Users also suddenly disappeared and lost contact afterwards.

"After comparing these two instances, we concluded that the disappearance of the current group of targets is highly likely connected to the Octopus Monster Organization.

"According to our investigation, two private military companies (mercenary companies) provided extensive material escort and transportation services to the Octopus Monster Organization last year.

"Our covert investigation revealed that these materials and large quantities of equipment were all transported to the same destination.

"After covertly investigating the procurement lists of these companies over a three-month period, we found they likely purchased a batch of cold-weather gear, intended for operations in extremely cold climates.

"This included a batch of Lotus Company’s latest concept ice-terrain vehicles, along with numerous modular transport units for vehicle modification...

"Based on this, we deduced that the mission which led to multiple disappearances likely took place in an extremely cold region.

"By analyzing Earth’s latitudes and longitudes based on this clue, we’ve largely determined the location to be one of the Earth’s poles.

"However, based on the procurement orders for the ice-terrain vehicles, we have ruled out the Arctic.

"This is because ice-terrain vehicles are land-based transport and lack nautical capabilities.

"Having ruled out the Arctic Ocean, we can infer that the mission site is in Antarctica."

After carefully reading all of this, Xicheng Xun pursed her lips.

"There’s too little information!" she typed and sent via email.

A reply came back quickly:

"Tasks involving the Octopus Monster Organization carry risks disproportionate to the rewards.

"We have more information, but acquiring it was extremely difficult, and we incurred significant costs.

"Therefore, we need to raise the price again and hope for your understanding.

"For the next phase of intelligence, after a thorough assessment, we now quote: 8 million M-yen."

8 million M-yen.

For Xicheng Xun, this was an astronomical figure. But I understand, she thought. Continuing to investigate matters concerning the Octopus Monster means risking complete annihilation by their organization, or even making enemies with them. Looking at it that way, 8 million really isn’t much.

「 」

[Tomorrow I’m going to attend a friend’s wedding ceremony, out of town.

So... you know, I can only take a day off.]