"Yes, I have a video of the five of them here." Wang Damao pulled out a memory card.
Before returning, he had visited Black Rat, a notorious hacker in the lower district. After paying a steep price, he obtained footage from street cameras—images of Liu Miaomiao and her companions.
Huai Fei Axe tapped his wrist-mounted computer. A thin laser scanned the card, pulling the data instantly. Moments later, a holographic projection lit up the room.
The video showed Liu Miaomiao and the others entering the shelter, following the main group toward their quarters. Their eyes darted curiously, laughter and playful gestures betraying a confidence that stood out.
Huai Fei Axe's gaze sharpened. When Liu Miaomiao and Wang Yao appeared on the feed, his eyes lingered, calculating.
"What about that 'white pig'? Which mercenary group is he with, and how strong is he? You looked into this?"
"He's called Lin Xinghai," Wang Damao replied quickly. "Just joined the Sky Splitting Mercenary Group. His genetic optimization is around twenty-five percent." He went on to recount every detail of their earlier clash.
Huai Fei Axe tapped the chair arm in thought. After a long silence, he said, "Send word. The Four Kings will meet me tonight."
"Yes, Master." Wang Damao bowed, then hesitated. "Do we… notify the Wolf Mercenary Group?"
Huai Fei Axe's expression darkened. "Do I need you to teach me how to handle things?"
"No, I wouldn't dare." Wang Damao retreated quickly, bowing until he slipped out the door.
Left alone, Huai Fei Axe leaned back, eyes glinting. He had no intention of offering Liu Miaomiao to the Wolf Mercenary Group. It would earn him some favor, yes, but the benefits were meager. The Wolves were only a second-tier group—powerful in the lower city, but middling in the grand scheme of Star Shield Refuge.
He had spent years searching for a true way upward, working tirelessly to build fragile connections with the true elites of the sanctuary. And now, Liu Miaomiao's appearance was an opportunity. Handled well, she might become his stepping stone to leap the dragon gate.
Still, the Wolves couldn't be ignored. Lin Xinghai had disrupted their income. The Axe Gang suffered, but the Wolves lost more—after all, they demanded seventy percent of his gang's profits. Cutting off a man's wealth was like killing his parents. The Wolves would want blood.
Huai Fei Axe's plan crystallized: deliver five beauties to the upper echelons while letting the Wolves clash with the Sky Splitting Mercenary Group. He would gain everything while others bore the risk.
It was dangerous, yes. If the Wolves uncovered his maneuvering, his end would be swift. But wealth favored the bold. His eyes hardened. The gamble was worth it.
Meanwhile, Lin Xinghai wandered the lower district, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing.
Everything fascinated him: the towering structures, the drones humming above. At one point he purchased six high-grade nutritious meals, opting for on-site preparation. A logistics drone followed him like a servant, its storage compartment brimming with fresh ingredients and utensils.
The waiter had explained its functions—it cooked, served, and cleaned up afterward. The service was impeccable, though expensive.
Before the simulated "sunset" dimmed the shelter's lights, Lin Xinghai returned to Room 301 in high spirits.
Inside, Liu Miaomiao and the others were already back, though their expressions carried frustration.
"Hey, what's this? A cooking robot?" Liu Miaomiao asked with a spark of curiosity, masking her earlier gloom.
"Exactly. Dinner's on me tonight," Lin Xinghai grinned.
The drone shut down its rotors, unfolded mechanical limbs, and transformed into a humanoid form. It unpacked the box, laid out the ingredients, and began cooking with practiced precision.
While waiting, Lin Xinghai asked how their job search went. As expected, none had succeeded. Even lower-tier government jobs required connections—without them, entry was impossible.
He fell silent. There was little he could do for them yet. But the girls kept the mood light, shifting the conversation toward amusing sights in the shelter until laughter filled the room.
Twenty minutes later, the drone served six steaming meals. One bite was enough to make Lin Xinghai sigh—technology had changed everything. Even a random robot could cook meals rivaling five-star hotels.
Afterward, plans for tomorrow's job hunt filled the chatter, the air lively again.
By eight o'clock, their first guest arrived.
"Captain Roger! Is there a mission?" Lin Xinghai asked eagerly the moment he saw him. Nothing excited him more than the chance to earn blood energy and edge closer to awakening his ability.
Roger chuckled. "You guessed right. I've never seen a rookie so eager for danger."
Knowing missions required privacy, the two left for a self-service café. In a rented booth, Roger scanned the room with his wrist-computer to ensure no eavesdropping. Only then did he speak, his tone serious.
"This mission is critical—and dangerous. The reward is high, but to be honest, I'd rather you stayed out of it."
The weight of his words made Lin Xinghai's heart tighten.