The city was draped in darkness, neon lights casting an eerie glow on the damp streets. Beneath the surface of bustling traffic, an air of secrecy lingered.
Li Chuan, Su Man, and Cheng Mo moved through the shadows, their destination set—Li Feng.
Shen Qiu had already tracked Li Feng's movements through the darknet. That night, he was set to meet a significant figure at a hidden private club.
"Li Feng is not the kind of person who appears in public without a reason." Su Man spoke in a hushed tone. "If he's showing up, something important is happening."
"Or he's ensuring the security of a deal." Cheng Mo added, his fingers instinctively grazing the hilt of his knife.
Li Chuan nodded steadily. "Whatever his reason, we need to find out what he knows."
They arrived outside the private club, a lavish establishment hiding something far more secretive beneath its elegant exterior. The guards at the entrance were heavily armed—not mere bouncers but trained operatives.
"This place isn't just a club." Su Man observed the formation of the security team. "Their positioning resembles a military lockdown."
Shen Qiu's voice crackled through their earpieces. "You're right. I hacked into their security system—this surveillance setup is linked to an encrypted network. It's on a government-level defense."
"Who the hell is Li Feng meeting?" Cheng Mo muttered.
"We'll find out soon." Li Chuan's gaze was razor-sharp. "Stick to the plan."
To avoid alerting their target, they split up.
Cheng Mo used an alias from the black market to enter the club as a VIP guest, blending into the crowd while keeping his eyes on Li Feng.
Su Man disguised herself as a staff member, slipping through the side entrance. Her goal was to reach the security room and take control of the club's surveillance system.
Meanwhile, Li Chuan took the most dangerous route—sneaking in from the rear. Utilizing the cover of darkness and blind spots in the patrol routes, he scaled a high wall and entered through a secluded garden.
Once inside, he connected to Shen Qiu's live map.
"Li Feng is on the second floor, VIP area. Room A07."
"Got it."
Down in the main lounge, Cheng Mo had already spotted Li Feng.
Seated near a window, Li Feng was in deep conversation with a stranger—an imposing man in a dark grey suit, his gaze sharp and predatory, like a wolf lying in wait.
"I see him." Cheng Mo reported. "But his companion… he's dangerous."
"Can you eavesdrop?" Li Chuan asked.
Cheng Mo adjusted his earpiece, but a signal jammer blocked all audio feeds. The other man was being extremely cautious.
"I need to get closer." Cheng Mo whispered as he carefully maneuvered toward them.
Meanwhile, Li Chuan reached the second floor. He approached Room A07 and quickly bypassed the biometric lock with a miniature decoder.
The door clicked open.
The room was empty.
On the table lay a single document.
"Project Shadow—Top Secret."
Li Chuan's breath hitched.
Before he could analyze further, Shen Qiu's voice cut through urgently.
"Warning! Someone's heading your way!"
Without hesitation, Li Chuan snapped photos of the document, returned it to its exact position, and hid inside a concealed wall panel.
Seconds later, the door creaked open.
Li Feng stepped inside.
Li Feng's eyes swept the room, his expression unreadable.
"Come out."
Li Chuan knew he had been spotted. Emerging from the shadows, he locked eyes with his older brother.
"I knew you'd come." Li Feng smirked slightly. "Though, I must say… you've gotten bolder."
Li Chuan wasted no time. "What is Project Shadow?"
Li Feng's smirk faded, his eyes narrowing. "So, you've already touched things you shouldn't have."
"The man in black. The shadow behind him. What are they?"
Li Feng fell silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"You still think intelligence warfare is just data, weapons, and trade? You're wrong." His tone grew grave. "Some things… are far beyond human comprehension."
"Project Shadow is a forbidden experiment."
Li Chuan studied him closely, trying to discern the truth behind his words.
Then, Li Feng chuckled softly. "You want answers? Fine. But first, you need to survive tonight."
Before Li Chuan could react, Li Feng pressed a hidden button under the desk.
Suddenly, alarms blared throughout the entire club.