Wearing Rag's ugly face, Zhou Yun stepped into the gang's new stronghold. This place had originally belonged to a local gang that, over ten years of accumulated wealth, had built it into a three-story building—a rare luxury in the underhive.
Now it was occupied by the Ark Gang.
"To your left, third man, that big guy with a face full of scars is watching you."
"And leaning against the wall behind you, another one is watching you."
"And the second one on your right too…"
From the corner of his eye, the white-winged figure whispered softly, faint streams of white light only Zhou Yun could see marking the three men covertly observing him.
Zhou Yun cast them a glance without a change in his expression, noting that they weren't only watching him but also scrutinizing everyone who came and went. Once they seemed satisfied he was fine, their eyes moved on.
"They're really cautious," Zhou Yun muttered under his breath.
What were they wary of? Or who?
Shaking his head, he slipped a sound-pattern candy from his pocket into his mouth.
The candy melted immediately, sweet and sticky as it slid down his throat.
"Cough, cough…"
His voice now perfectly matched Rag's low and greasy tone. He glanced at the door to the main building and strode over.
"Stop!"
Before he could get close, two Ark Gang members barred his way.
"It's me, Rag, brothers," Zhou Yun said, his voice exactly like Rag's thanks to the candy. "Don't you remember? I was the one who led you guys through last night."
The two guards gave him a long, suspicious look, as if searching for flaws.
Finding none, they nodded and gestured him inside.
But Zhou Yun didn't rush in. Instead, he pulled out two sticks of lho from his pocket and shoved them into the guards' hands.
"Brothers," he said with a crooked smile, wearing Rag's hideous face, "to be honest, the boss lady gave me a job this morning—she asked me to find someone."
The two exchanged a glance and looked at the lho sticks in their hands.
"Could you tell me what kind of mood the boss lady is in today?" Zhou Yun continued. "If she's in a bad mood, I better be ready to get chewed out."
"She's pissed about that hot-cut burglar," said the guard on the right, shaking his head.
"Yeah, that little thief's been slipping through districts for a while. Been on our wanted list for ages, and we still can't pin her down," added the left guard.
"Hot-cut burglar, huh…" Zhou Yun nodded slightly. "Thanks, brothers. Drinks are on me later."
He stepped through the door and into the stronghold.
After a few steps, he stopped as if remembering something and turned back: "Oh, where is the boss lady? Third floor?"
"Second floor meeting room," one replied. "She's discussing that thief with the others."
Zhou Yun smiled, nodded, and made his way to the second floor.
"Bastard…"
In the meeting room, the hooded woman slammed a report on the thefts, cursing under her breath.
That damn hot-cut burglar had even dared to show up in this district. Such bad luck.
Though she cursed him, Rena knew the thief wasn't truly malicious—only stealing from richer families or gang members, even leaving repair money and apology notes when she hit poor workers by mistake.
But she still hated that bastard. Every time she thought of it, she clenched her fists, face flushed red.
Years ago, just after she founded the Ark Gang, her own little stash had been hit by that bastard. Rena still remembered waking up to find her safe cut open and her savings gone.
And ever since, that bastard had hit Ark Gang members' homes now and then too. A few times she'd almost caught her, but the thief always slipped away as if she could see the future.
"This time, I swear I'll catch that bastard!"
Rena gritted her teeth, glaring at her lieutenants.
"Tonight, double patrols on every street. I swear to the Emperor, I'll get her!"
She punctuated her words with a few fierce punches into the air. Her underlings nodded furiously, swearing they'd catch the damn burglar.
Rena exhaled heavily, trying to dispel her frustration. Rubbing her temples, she opened the door—
—and found herself face-to-face with the ugliest old mug in the underhive.
"Emperor-sama's teeth!" she yelped, nearly blasting him with a psychic bolt.
But then she recognized him as Rag, the local gang member who'd surrendered last night.
"Rag? What are you doing here?"
She patted her chest, calming down a little, but eyed him warily—had he been eavesdropping?
She frowned, scanning him up and down. He was still hideous, but showed no signs of mutation. Still human.
"Well? Did you find the guy I asked you to?"
Zhou Yun grinned sheepishly and scratched his head. "Sorry, boss lady, looks like he skipped town."
"Skipped…? Why would he run?" Rena frowned, giving Rag a strange look.
Suddenly, a shiver of warning ran through her psychic senses. She stiffened.
"No. You're not Rag!!! Who are you?!"
Busted! Zhou Yun's mind screamed as his fingers yanked the stopper from the gourd at his waist.
(End of Chapter)
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