Deals in the Dark
Gerard and Jian step into the underworld, where information is currency, and trust is a lie. Lin Bao holds the first key to dismantling Madam Wei's empire, but his price won't be cheap. Meanwhile, Madam Wei's first counterattack is already in motion. A hunter is coming for Gerard, and this time, he won't be trapped in a mental institution—he'll be put in the ground.
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The Smell of Power and Secrets
Inside the club, the air was thick with perfume, cigarette smoke, and the scent of money changing hands.
Men in tailored suits leaned in close to whisper secrets into the ears of their associates. Women, adorned in silk and diamonds, watched their surroundings like predators, assessing their next targets.
Gerard didn't care about the luxury or indulgence.
His focus was on one man—Lin Bao.
The information broker sat at a corner booth in the VIP section, a heavy glass of whiskey in one hand, a half-smoked cigar resting in the other.
He was well-dressed but not ostentatious. His tailored charcoal suit fit him like a second skin, but it wasn't the clothes that made him stand out.
It was the way people moved around him.
They spoke quietly in his presence. Some avoided his gaze altogether. Others stole nervous glances in his direction, as if measuring their own worth against the weight of his influence.
Jian nudged Gerard. "Ready to play nice?"
Gerard didn't break stride. "I don't play. I negotiate."
Jian smirked. "Same thing."
They approached the booth, stepping into Lin Bao's domain.
The moment Gerard locked eyes with the broker, he could see it—recognition.
Lin Bao had done his homework.
He knew who Gerard was. Or at least, who he used to be.
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A Price for Information
Lin Bao took a slow sip of whiskey before setting the glass down. His voice was smooth, calm but weighted.
"Li Xian… I had a feeling you'd turn up somewhere interesting."
Jian tilted his head in amusement. "Fast work. You barely had an hour to figure that out."
Lin Bao exhaled a stream of cigar smoke, his eyes never leaving Gerard's.
"I make it my business to know things. The question is, what do you want?"
Gerard took a seat across from him. "I want everything on Madam Wei."
Lin Bao let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.
"You're asking for a death wish, my friend. That woman doesn't just kill her enemies. She erases them."
Gerard leaned forward. "She tried. She failed."
Lin Bao studied him for a long moment. Then, slowly, he smiled.
"That explains the message you left her."
Jian grinned. "You should've seen her face. Priceless."
Lin Bao's fingers drummed lightly against the table.
"You want dirt on her? Fine. But information costs."
Gerard's gaze remained steady. "Name your price."
Lin Bao swirled his whiskey, considering.
"There's a man in the city who's causing me problems. A former associate. He has something that belongs to me."**
He leaned in, his voice dropping slightly.
"Bring it back, and I'll give you the first piece of what you need."
Jian raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly are we retrieving?"
Lin Bao's smirk was slow, deliberate.
"A list."
Gerard's instincts sharpened. "A list of what?"
Lin Bao's smile widened.
"Of names. People Madam Wei doesn't want exposed."
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Meanwhile – The Hunter Arrives
A black SUV rolled to a silent stop outside a dimly lit warehouse district.
The driver, a low-level enforcer from Madam Wei's network, stepped out and hurried toward the passenger side door.
He barely had time to knock before the door swung open.
A man stepped out.
Tall. Dressed in a dark combat jacket, gloves, and a black turtleneck. His face was sharp—chiselled features, a scar cutting across his left cheek.
But it wasn't his face that sent a chill through the driver's spine.
It was his eyes.
Cold. Devoid of hesitation. The eyes of a killer.
The driver swallowed hard. "Madam Wei sends her regards."
The man cracked his knuckles. "Where is he?"
The driver fumbled for a tablet, pulling up a map of the city, red circles marking various locations.
He pointed. "Last confirmed sighting was at The Red Lantern club. He's meeting someone there."
The man studied the map for a moment. Then he turned, walking toward a nearby weapons case.
With practiced ease, he pulled out a silenced pistol, checked the chamber, then holstered it.
Then, he reached for a long, serrated knife.
The driver felt his stomach tighten.
"Do you need backup?"
The man didn't look at him.
"If I did, I wouldn't be here."
Then, without another word, he vanished into the night.
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The Deal is Set – But So Is the Trap
Back in the club, Gerard weighed Lin Bao's offer.
A list of people Madam Wei wanted hidden.
That wasn't just useful—it was the kind of weapon that could bury her.
He exchanged a glance with Jian, then nodded once. "We'll get it."
Lin Bao smirked. "Smart man."
Jian leaned back. "And where exactly is this ex-associate of yours?"
Lin Bao slid a small piece of paper across the table.
Gerard picked it up, scanning the details.
Then, for the first time that night, he smiled.
Jian glanced over. "What? Who's the target?"
Gerard set the paper down.
"An old friend of mine."
Lin Bao's grin widened. "Then I suppose this job just became personal."
But as they sealed the deal, none of them realized—
A predator was already moving through the city.
And he had Gerard's name at the top of his kill list.
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