[Ding. Daily intel refreshed.]
Han Jin, a clerk in the L.G.D. finance department, is buried in debt due to bad habits. His repayment date with Zhongyi Hall lenders is approaching. The 30,000 LMD bounty that should be yours will be pocketed by him.
In Slum Building 29, Room 302, the tenant died unexpectedly. Landlord Uncle Hua is desperate to rent the "haunted unit." This area falls within Grey Tail Hall's influence and is relatively safer, so rent is high. Room 302 previously rented for 1,000 LMD per month.
Officer Ch'en Hui-chieh, newly assigned to the L.G.D. and eager to make merit, received reports of young women vanishing in the slums. Her superior refuses to get involved, so she plans to investigate off-duty in a personal capacity.
Spicy intel: Texas hasn't changed clothes in a long time due to being on the run. If you buy her a new outfit while she's bathing, she likely won't ask where the old clothes went.
A sharp glint flashed in Chen Xiu's eyes. His fist clenched. His breathing grew heavy.
Damn it.
Some bastard wanted to steal the bounty he and Texas had fought for?
So because they were undocumented outsiders, they thought they were easy to bully?
That punk didn't realize you could have the money—then die with it.
If nothing else, Chen Xiu believed Texas could absolutely get the money back.
But the problem was the fallout.
If they used force, it could easily land them on the L.G.D.'s wanted list—and then they'd be fugitives, running for their lives across Terra.
As for "official channels," filing a complaint?
That was a right for Lungmen citizens. A black-status nobody wouldn't even get heard.
Chen Xiu exhaled slowly and crushed the anger down. Rage alone didn't solve anything.
"What is it?" Texas asked, watching him. Her senses were sharp—she'd felt that violent emotional spike, like he'd been wronged.
"It's nothing." Chen Xiu shook his head. "Just remembered something unpleasant from the past. It's over."
Texas could tell he wasn't being fully honest, but she had the sense not to pry. She changed the subject.
"Let's move. We should deliver him to the L.G.D. now, before something goes wrong."
"No."
Chen Xiu refused so hard Texas blinked.
Facing her confusion, he explained, "Princess, we're undocumented. Thirty thousand isn't huge, but it's enough to make someone greedy. If they decide to play games, tonight's work becomes nothing."
Texas frowned. She reached for a cigarette out of habit—then remembered she didn't have any—and instead rubbed her chin.
He wasn't wrong.
She'd heard of similar things back in Columbia.
People just never dared do it to the daughter of the Texas family.
Which meant she'd never even considered it—until a Sami tribal kid had to point it out.
Celle… Texas… where did your old sharpness go?
You can't leave the family and also throw away your instincts.
A trace of shame rose in her chest. By rights, she should be the one guiding him.
Seeing Texas silent, head lowered, Chen Xiu thought she might not believe him.
To her, it probably sounded like paranoia.
"Texas—you get it, right? That thirty thousand matters. We have to make sure it lands in our hands."
"Of course." Texas nodded.
She tried to offer a suggestion—then realized most of her old methods depended on family power.
Without that, the truth was ugly: if someone wanted to screw a black-status outsider, only violence forced respect.
Chen Xiu—newly arrived like her—couldn't possibly have an official "door" to knock on.
"So what's your plan?" she asked.
And then she almost laughed at herself.
Chen Xiu was just as green in Lungmen as she was. If he truly had a magic solution, he wouldn't be living like this.
So what—find someone with legal status to claim it for them?
But where do you find someone trustworthy, fast?
Texas pressed a finger to her chin, eyes narrowing in thought. Her tail flicked in jittery arcs, shaped like a floating question mark.
"I do have a way," Chen Xiu said with calm confidence. "If it works, we can get thirty thousand immediately—no waiting for the L.G.D.'s bounty approval process."
Texas's ears snapped up. Surprise and suspicion flashed across her face.
Chen Xiu didn't explain. He only smiled.
"It's too late tonight. Tomorrow morning, we take him in person."
Texas had no objection. She wanted to see what kind of "medicine" Chen Xiu was selling.
…
Dawn, barely light.
Chen Xiu dragged Huang Mingjie—tied up like a giant caterpillar—to Grey Tail Hall.
Before knocking, he glanced back into the alley and signaled with his hand.
In the shadows, Texas crouched low, eyes locked on Chen Xiu's back. Her muscles were taut like a hunting cat, ready to explode forward at any second.
Handing a wanted criminal to a gang so they'd cash the bounty for them?
Sigh. Sami tribal kids were too naïve. A few buns of charity and he thought the gang were "good people."
Texas sighed inside. So much for expecting a brilliant trick.
Still—if it came to fighting the gang, she didn't need to care about rules.
In that sense, it was a solution.
Just not in the way he imagined.
Bang bang bang—! The pounding echoed down the quiet morning alley.
The massive red door of Grey Tail Hall opened. A tall, broad Forte man leaned out, looking Chen Xiu up and down.
A ragged, skinny beggar—here to ask for food?
Knocking on Grey Tail Hall's door at dawn took nerve. Did yesterday's events make him think this place was a charity house?
He was about to shout Chen Xiu away—
then his eyes dropped to Huang Mingjie on the ground, and his gaze sharpened.
"Kid, who are you looking for? We don't sell 'piglets.' Not that filthy business."
"Please inform Miss Lin Yuxia," Chen Xiu said, hands clasped in a respectful salute. "Tell her Chen Xiu has business to discuss."
"You're looking for the young miss?" The Forte man hesitated, not daring to decide on his own.
"In that case—wait."
He shut the door, ran inside, and reported to Lin Yuxia, who was in the middle of morning training.
"Chen Xiu? That Sarkaz?" Lin Yuxia raised her brows, surprised. "What does he want?"
Curiosity stirred. She ordered, "Uncle Niu. Bring him in."
-------
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