The night wind howl, neon lights reflect on the wet road, making the street look like some kind of old Hong Kong movie.
Li Chuan and Cheng Mo quickly slip into a narrow alley, breathing heavy. Behind them, the gunfire already stop, but both of them know—those people sure won't give up so fast.
Cheng Mo whisper: "Your old friend who?"
Li Chuan glance at his shoulder—the blood already soak through the fabric—but his face still cold and steady.
"Someone who don't really want to see me."
Cheng Mo frown but never ask more. He know Li Chuan punya style—if got need, sure will explain sendiri.
They turn a few more corners, finally stop in front of an old apartment building near Petaling Street.
——Knock. Knock. Knock.
Li Chuan pause, then add one extra knock.
Few seconds later, the sound of slow footsteps come from inside.
——The door open just a little bit.
A man with black-frame glasses stick his head out, eyes full of suspicion.
Then, he see Li Chuan.
His face straight away freeze.
"Li Chuan?"
"Long time no see, Shen Qiu."
Li Chuan's voice calm.
Shen Qiu stare at him, eyes scanning the bloodstain. His expression change a bit, then he sigh.
"Come in."
Inside The Apartment
Inside, the place super simple, got books everywhere, hard disk all open one side.
Shen Qiu pass a towel to Li Chuan: "First clean your wound."
Li Chuan take the towel, press on the bleeding, then he look at Shen Qiu.
"I need your help."
Shen Qiu snort: "Last time you say 'last time'. This time what problem again?"
Li Chuan pull out the files from his bag, put on the table.
Shen Qiu push his glasses up, flip through a few pages.
Then, his face suddenly change.
"This file—"
Cheng Mo, still standing near the window, alert like a cat.
"Got problem is it?"
Shen Qiu silent for a while. Then, his voice slow and heavy.
"This is government high-level encryption format. It got something to do with one project—'Phantom Plan'."
Li Chuan's eyes darken: "Phantom Plan?"
Shen Qiu nod.
"Few years ago, a secret international project involving finance, cybersecurity, and AI. Code name: Phantom. But suddenly, it stop. Everything about it kena deleted. Anyone try to investigate… disappear."
Cheng Mo click his tongue, arms crossed.
"So, what you mean is… we holding something that can make us 'disappear'?"
Shen Qiu close the file, push his glasses up again.
"Very possible."
The room suddenly become very quiet.
After a while, Li Chuan finally say: "Can decrypt?"
Shen Qiu chuckle, but no happy.
"If normal encryption, can try. But this kind? Want break open, same like hacking Malaysia government firewall."
Cheng Mo scoff: "So we just sit here and wait for them to kill us?"
Shen Qiu look at Li Chuan, sigh.
"You really kena big problem this time."
Li Chuan exhale, his gaze cold and sharp.
"No matter what, we need to know what this project really is."
Shen Qiu rub his temple, hesitate a bit.
Then, he finally say:
"Give me some time. I try."
Li Chuan nod.
"We don't have much time."
Outside the window—
A black car quietly stop at the street corner.
From inside, a pair of cold eyes stare at the apartment door.
——Danger, already coming closer.