The city’s night sky was ablaze with lights, the air tracks continuously bustling, while levitating cars moved orderly within their designated lanes.
A puddle rippled as a figure landed, something indistinct retracting behind him.
This was the back door of the Glowing Mansion, surrounded by several trash recycling bins, under dim lighting and scarcely any human presence.
Li Ming surveyed his surroundings as if searching for something, then suddenly stepped to the right, quickly followed by a step into the shadows on the left, marveling to himself,
"The Black Hole Network is terrifying, having figured out most of the surveillance blind spots in Jingnan Star, all the while providing real-time updates."
Such intelligence could be bought from the Black Hole Network if one was willing to spend money. He had bought data for only a part of the region, but the price had reached a staggering 100,000 Star Coins.
Moreover, the Black Hole Network only guaranteed the accuracy of this information for twelve hours. Beyond that time, they bore no responsibility.
His movements were like a flickering shadow, blending into the night, making him difficult to spot. One moment he was here, in the next, he appeared far away.
The boost from four D-class shoes made his speed incredible, merging him into the night.
Soon, he saw a black cubic building nestled among the tall buildings, its surface adorned with flowing, radiant lights.
Getting closer, the nearly ground-shaking music could be felt.
The Surge Bar, a place Bian Li frequently haunted.
Li Ming stood in a blind spot of surveillance, his gaze narrowing then widening as he compared his location with the information purchased from the Black Hole Network, eventually spotting a narrow, but accessible path.
Bian Li... He recalled the man’s photo, making sure not to kill the wrong person later.
He had only encountered this person on the day of the school’s assessment; his memory of what he looked like had long faded.
Although he had no idea why this person would inexplicably target him, ignoring such trouble would only make it grow, not disappear.
"Don’t rush... it has to be foolproof." Li Ming’s eyes glittered as he scanned the surveillance cameras, lying in wait within the shadows.
Soon, he found his chance. The back door opened, and a person dressed in a black suit looked around skillfully before stepping into a surveillance blind spot. He then pulled out some cigarettes from his pocket, the sparks mingling with the rising smoke.
Minutes later, he dropped his cigarette butts, grinding them onto the ground with his shoe, just as he was turning to head back.
From the shadows, a cold gleam flashed, and the whole person was suddenly pulled into the darkness, his eyes filled with terror, his mouth quickly covered by a mechanical hand.
Before long, he emerged again, seemingly unchanged but with a completely different look in his eyes. He lowered his head, opened the door, and walked inside.
The booming music hit him as he entered, mixed with the scent of alcohol and hormones, with dazzling lights flickering ceaselessly.
Li Ming frowned, sticking to the old rules; he first headed for the surveillance room.
"Old Zhang, why did you take so long? It’s my turn now," someone shouted as they walked by.
"Okay." Li Ming remained expressionless, watching the person leave through the back door.
Upon reaching the second floor, Li Ming saw a corridor guarded by men in black suits, with signs reading "Employee Area, No Entry."
"I got it, heading to the surveillance room now," he muttered, frowning and clutching his right collar, moving quickly forward.
The bouncers at the door exchanged looks, shrugged, and did not stop him.
Plaques on the doors along the corridor read "Lighting Room," "Sound Room."
"Surveillance room..." Li Ming paused in front of a room and knocked, "Who is it?"
An impatient voice came from inside.
No response, he knocked again, and the door finally opened. The person who opened it furrowed their brow and hadn’t spoken when their expression suddenly changed drastically.
In the only private room on the third floor, Bian Li impatiently fondled the breasts of the pretty woman next to him, the area quiet enough to barely hear the music from below.
The woman’s wine glass slipped from her hand, shattering on the floor, splashing the liquor. Bian Li’s face clouded over, and he slapped the woman’s face harshly, "Are you blind!"
Her eyes immediately reddened, yet she dared not retort, simply covering her cheek.
"You may leave now." The figure standing in front of the tank that covered half the wall turned around, his eyes narrow, his voice soft and sinister.
The woman carefully stood up, head bowed, and walked out. In the glass tank, a black fish that looked like a crocodile, menacing and covered in fine scales, swam.
"Why so angry?" the sinister man chuckled lightly, "Things not going your way?"
"Not going my way?" Bian Li said gravely, "I have been setting him up for over ten days, and that guy shows no reaction whatsoever."
"Hehe..." The sinister man gave a faint laugh, again turning to watch the fish in the tank, which seemed to infuriate Bian Li, who spoke coldly, "Huo Ming, what are you laughing at?"
"Are you afraid?" Huo Ming said nonchalantly.
Bian Li suddenly stood up, his eyes blazing intensely, "Say that again!"
"Don’t be angry." Huo Ming placed his hands behind his back, "Am I wrong? What are those methods called, beating people, stealing their nutrient fluid?"
"What do you expect Li Ming to react with? He probably doesn’t even know."
Bian Li clenched his fists.
"These past ten days, you haven’t dared to confront him directly, you’re unconsciously buying time."
"What do you know, I’m setting the stage, if there’s not enough conflict between us..." Bian Li explained.
"What’s the point of enough conflict?" Huo Ming interrupted, "With enough conflict, would Wu Yanqing not make a move against you? Does he need evidence?"
Bian Li was momentarily lost for words.
"I advise you, don’t overthink it, just act, and you might find a way out," Huo Ming said lightly.
"A way out?" Bian Li scoffed instantly, "Where’s that coming from?"