Amidst the rubble, Chai Lang's silent despair settled over Zhang Wei like a shadow. The system continued to analyze the world around him, while Zhang Wei's mind raced. He needed to devise a plan for escape, while also understanding Lang's state of mind.
"First, we need money to get out of here," Zhang Wei said, his voice resolute. "Intelligence brokers can offer well-paying jobs. We can earn enough to escape this place, and we can utilize this system in the process."
Chai Lang lifted his head. The despair in his eyes slowly began to give way to a glimmer of hope. "Where do we begin?"
Zhang Wei reviewed the information provided by the system. Nearby, there were several intelligence brokers who had proven to be reliable. However, revealing their identities and intentions to them would be risky.
"I know a few people here. We can gather information from them. But we must be careful not to expose our identities," Zhang Wei said. "The system can help us conceal our identities. However, we need to develop that ability."
[New Mission: Develop Identity Concealment Ability - Reward: 500 Shadow Points, Identity Concealment Level 1.]
Zhang Wei marked the first broker the system suggested: Karim Shah. A man operating in Herat, involved in shady dealings.
"Karim Shah… the name doesn't sound pleasant," Chai Lang said, frowning.
"Everyone has a past," Zhang Wei replied. "What matters is what they can do for us now."
Zhang Wei and Chai Lang moved through the rubble, heading towards Karim Shah's residence. Along the way, the system continued to mark potential dangers around them. Yellow dots indicated eyes watching them, while red dots signaled threats directly aimed at them.
Upon reaching the residence, Zhang Wei used the "Shadow Perception" ability provided by the system to scan the surroundings. Two armed guards stood at the door.
"We could neutralize them," Zhang Wei said. "But we must be careful. We don't want to draw unnecessary attention."
Zhang Wei used the "Stealth" ability provided by the system, disappearing from the guards' sight. Chai Lang followed suit. Zhang Wei silently slipped behind the guards, preparing to silence them.