Chapter 51

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Chapter 51: The Underground Team

“You’re quite convincing, making me almost believe there’s truly another world somewhere out there.” Old Gao couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, I’ll do my best to push for it. However, this requires following procedures and it will likely take at least half a month.”

“So, you didn’t fully trust me before?”

“In our line of work, one must always be cautious and reserved. It’s not surprising to withhold full commitment until certain about matters,” Gao Wei reverted to his usual steady tone. “Besides, as I’ve said, whether I believe it or not is irrelevant; obtaining evidence is paramount.”

“I agree. Therefore, I have a special request that I hope you’ll approve,” Zhang Zhiyuan seized the opportunity to say.

“What’s going on with such formal language?” Gao Wei paused briefly, then asked, “It’s not related to funding, is it?”

“You know me well. I would like to request seven million… dollars!” responded Zhang Zhiyuan.

Cough! cough!

A sudden burst of coughing erupted through the phone line. “Seven million? Do you think our department runs a bank?!”

“It’s like this…” Zhang Zhiyuan briefly summarized Zhou Zhi’s situation. “Before Wayne Jenkins becomes evidence, he is our only accessible lead to someone who has entered Paradise. Seven million may seem substantial, but considering the value of this lead, it’s actually quite reasonable. If Paradise invites new players later, attempting to establish connections then would certainly cost more than this amount.”

“Sounds simple enough, but have you considered under which budget category we should allocate these funds? Justifying seven million won’t be easy.”

“I have an idea.” Zhang Zhiyuan anticipated Old Gao’s concern beforehand. “There is a bounty placed on Wayne Jenkins within the International Criminal Police Department. So, once we apprehend him, we can apply for the international reward and distribute it as a bonus incentive. This way, it avoids financial complications and adheres completely to the established procedures.”

At this point, Gao Wei could only let out a long sigh. “Young people nowadays, truly becoming bolder by the day. Alright, proceed according to your plan.”

“Yes, thank you for your support!” Zhang Zhiyuan promptly responded.

Upon leaving the restroom, he found paper and pen, scribbled a farewell note for Zhou Zhi, and quietly exited the room.

Now, his immediate task was to swiftly return to the capital city’s Northern District to prepare for the next round of Paradise games.

***

On the outskirts of L City, within an abandoned warehouse.

As soon as Luo Di entered through the main gate, she could sense faint gazes upon her. Whenever she followed those glances, the individuals would instantly divert their eyes, feigning as if they weren’t sneaking peeks.

But every time she turned away, the feeling of being watched washed over her again.

“Alright!” Unable to bear it any longer, she loudly exclaimed, “If you want to look, just do so openly! Why bother with all the stealth!”

The crowd involuntarily shrank back.

Hill stepped forward with a smile, “Who can help it when our little Luo Di is like an angel? Alright, since the boss has spoken up, what exactly do you guys want to see?”

With those words, the atmosphere in the warehouse immediately livened up.

“I want to see the wings!”

“Can you take me flying?”

“Me too!”

Luo Di shot them a fierce glare. “Didn’t I already show you my abilities that day? Both using the wings and flying require energy; I can’t waste it casually here. So forget about it!”

“Uh…” Disappointed groans echoed throughout the warehouse.

Luo Di rubbed her forehead, feeling somewhat helpless. Ever since she took Bran soaring into the sky, the atmosphere within the entire base had drastically changed. People either frequently flashed goofy grins at her or stared at her from morning till night, as if expecting flowers to bloom on her face.

“They’re just excited,” Bran patted her shoulder. “Before, everyone thought you were merely joking around. But then they realized that angels actually exist and one of them is among us—such news would naturally stir up enthusiasm!”

“You have no idea! The internet has been buzzing lately, all talking about the massive explosion at Aiden Hotel!” another brown-haired girl with braided hair chimed in, joining the conversation. “No smoke, no visible flames, yet an entire wall blew apart. Some people even claimed it was due to a meteor strike!”

“Frey, I asked you to monitor the surveillance, not spend your time spectating forums online, right?”

“Heh heh.” Frey stuck out her tongue and retreated back to her station.

Bran and Yali from the action team, Hill the driver and logistics expert, Frey the hacker… along with Coalball the mechanic, Qing the manager, and Kaka the chef—these individuals, together with her, formed the current team. Their ages ranged between eighteen to twenty-five years old, some being wanderers and others hailing from gangs. Now, they followed her not for money, fame, or thrill-seeking, but simply because they believed this world needed change and were willing to fight for it.

Despite their various shortcomings, to Luo Di, they were all trustworthy companions.

“However, there is one thing I don’t understand,” Bran suddenly said. “You’re clearly an angel, so why did you name your team Skull’s Hand?”

“I agree,” Hill nodded in concurrence. “I initially thought the name sounded pretty cool, but it doesn’t quite match the boss’s identity.”

“Our actions are destined to remain hidden from public view,” Luo Di replied candidly. “This name serves as a reminder that we constantly operate on the edge of darkness, law… and even death.”

Having been part of numerous organizations in the past, she gradually realized that any group bound by self-interest has its limitations. The larger the organization, the stronger these constraints become, often turning well-intentioned individuals into slaves to profit, despite their initial good intentions.

And let’s not forget those deceitful groups who merely use acts of kindness as a facade from the start.

So, she embarked on a daring experiment—to create her own organization, a team dedicated to fighting for beliefs rather than material gain.

Skull’s Hand was the first fruit of this endeavor.

Their inaugural target was Wayne Jenkins, directly linked to local drug lords.

“Whew…” Bran whistled. “I didn’t realize you had such foresight back then… Impressive, boss.”

“Of course, did you doubt her?” Qing looked at Luo Di fondly. “I’ve watched every step of your journey firsthand, Luo Di.”

“By the way, have you found out who those black-suited intruders were when we raided the hotel, Frey?” Luo Di changed the subject.

“No, it’s quite strange. They’re neither police nor gang members.” Frey waved her hand dismissively. “I couldn’t even determine where they suddenly emerged from. Afterward, not a single one was detained. Frankly, L City’s police force is just a bunch of useless slackers!”

This revelation caused a subtle unease to stir within Luo Di.

Clearly, someone was searching the entire city for Jenkins, but for an international criminal to wield such influence seemed unlikely.

“By the way, what should we do with him? We’ve already held him captive for two days, and keeping him here poses a constant risk,” Hill referred to Wayne Jenkins.

“My suggestion would be to put a sack over his head, dump him in the woods north of town, then call the cops. Whether the police or those black-suited guys find him first doesn’t concern us,” Coalball proposed.

“But those black suits clearly work for Jenkins. If they find him, wouldn’t all our efforts be wasted?”

“Our safety comes first, above everything else!”

“All right, stop arguing. Let me think about this,” Luo Di waved her hands to halt their dispute. At that moment, her phone suddenly rang with an unfamiliar tune.

Frowning, she retrieved her phone and saw a black-and-red theatrical mask displayed on the screen.