The night had fallen, and the old district's dock lay in eerie silence. The only sounds came from the distant waves crashing against rusted cargo ships, producing dull, rhythmic echoes. This place had long been abandoned—cranes stood motionless, their metal frames corroded with rust, while broken containers lay scattered around like remnants of a forgotten labyrinth. Dim yellow streetlights flickered weakly, barely illuminating the cracked concrete ground.
Li Chuan, Cheng Mo, and Su Man arrived at the designated meeting point, their figures shifting between patches of light and shadow. Meanwhile, Shen Qiu remained stationed inside a rusting freight truck some distance away, monitoring the area through a high-altitude drone feed.
"Target spotted," Shen Qiu's calm, low voice came through the earpiece. "Four armed men spread across both sides of the dock. The main contact stands by the railway tracks, flanked by two bodyguards. Their weapons are primed, ready to fire at any moment."
Cheng Mo adjusted his stance slightly, fingers brushing over the handle of his combat knife. He whispered, "Looks like they're more cautious than we expected."
Li Chuan didn't respond—he simply stepped forward, making his way toward the center of the dock. Their contact was already waiting. A man in a silver mask stood by the rusted railway tracks, his posture straight and composed. Behind him, his bodyguards remained still, their gazes sharp as hawks, watching every movement of the approaching trio.
"You're right on time," the masked man spoke, his voice carrying an unmistakable chill.
Li Chuan halted a few feet away, eyes calmly studying the enigmatic figure before him.
"So then," the masked man continued, "what exactly are you offering in exchange for the contract?"
Li Chuan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached into his coat pocket and retrieved a small USB drive, twirling it idly between his fingers. His voice was light, almost casual.
"A piece of intel far more valuable than your current assignment."
The masked man didn't take the drive right away. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, analyzing Li Chuan's words and demeanor.
"You know how 'Brand' operates," he said, his tone unreadable. "If your so-called valuable intel doesn't meet our standards… you and your friends will become our next targets."
A faint tension spread through the air.
Su Man's grip on her gun tightened ever so slightly, her expression darkening.
Li Chuan, however, remained unfazed. He smiled faintly. "What if I told you… this mission of yours was a setup from the very start?"
The masked man's gaze sharpened—just a fraction, but Li Chuan noticed.
"This contract," Li Chuan continued, his voice steady, "was never about eliminating a target. It was about exposing you. In other words, you weren't hired to kill—you were baited into a trap."
Silence.
For a brief moment, the only sound was the distant crashing of waves.
Then, without a word, the masked man extended a hand.
Li Chuan passed the USB drive to him. One of the bodyguards swiftly inserted it into a portable decryption device. Within minutes, he gave a curt nod. "Verified. The data checks out."
A chuckle—low and almost amused—escaped the masked man's lips. He looked back at Li Chuan, his tone still devoid of warmth.
"Contract terminated."
Cheng Mo raised an eyebrow. "Just like that?"
The masked man replied coolly, "We only honor contracts that hold real value. If your intel is true, there's no reason for us to proceed."
His gaze, sharp as a blade, lingered on Li Chuan for a beat longer. "But make no mistake… you interfered with our job. That debt will be settled. Eventually."
Li Chuan remained calm, smiling faintly. "Looking forward to it."
The masked man said nothing more. With a subtle nod, he turned and walked away, his guards following silently. Within moments, they had vanished into the shadows of the abandoned dock, as if they had never been there at all.
Only after confirming their departure did Li Chuan press a finger to his earpiece.
"Shen Qiu, we're clear."
Shen Qiu's voice crackled through the comms. "They've left the area. I can track their movements if you want, but… we should get out of here too. This place isn't safe."
Su Man holstered her weapon, rolling her wrists slightly as she exhaled. "You knew from the start this mission was a trap, didn't you?"
Li Chuan's smile was unreadable. "Of course. 'Brand' doesn't make mistakes. The only way for them to fail is if they were the real targets."
Cheng Mo scoffed. "So that's why you baited them here—to flip the board entirely."
Li Chuan gave a slight nod. "Their employer set them up as expendable pawns. We simply used their own network against them."
Su Man frowned. "That also means we've just made an enemy out of them."
"They'll come for us eventually," Cheng Mo murmured, gripping his knife tighter. A smirk crossed his lips. "But that's what makes it interesting, right?"
Li Chuan didn't answer. Instead, he gazed into the distance, where the black waters of the bay stretched endlessly beyond the ruined dock.
Tonight's deal was done.
But this game was far from over.