Chapter 148: The Buyers
Chapter 148: The Buyers
Chen Chuan walked over to the desk and picked up a booklet, while Hu Xian took out a cigarette and gestured to him, "Do you mind?"
Chen Chuan shook his head.
Hu Xian lit the cigarette with a click of her lighter and took a satisfied puff. "These are a group of fugitives from Central City. Don't ask about their backgrounds or how much injustice they've suffered in the past. The point is, they're now robbing and killing without any regard for morality, not even sparing children. They're a bunch of scumbags."
Chen Chuan flipped through the booklet. On the first page was a man with numerous small braids and a bushy beard. He had a rugged appearance, a fierce look, thick lips, a very sturdy build, and dark skin.
"This guy's nickname is 'Fist Lion,' but his real name is unknown. He's a mixed-race man from Central City and Taryana, and he's the leader of this group of fugitives. He's fought in underground arenas, worked as a mercenary, and done dirty jobs for big shots, but he's always been a backstabber who doesn't play by the rules. That's why, after this crime, none of his connections came to his aid."
Chen Chuan looked at the man's muscular arms and the unusual bulges on his body and asked, "Does this man have biological implants?"
"What a fresh question," Hu Xian said with a smile. "Coming from Central City, it would be strange if he didn't have implants. I know what you're thinking, but how do they maintain the implants without medicine?"
She held the cigarette between her fingers and pointed out the window with her slender hand, "Look, just twenty steps outside, there's a shop selling illegal drugs. I'm telling you, you can buy anything in this place."
Chen Chuan nodded, "I understand."
Hu Xian raised her eyebrows, "Impressive. I thought you'd ask me why no one is stopping them, just like the other students."
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Whether good or evil, as long as it exists, there's a reason for it."
Hu Xian was a little surprised and looked at him for a moment, "That's quite a mature statement for your age."
Chen Chuan asked, "Do you know what kind of implants Fist Lion has?"
"The usual—biological armor, enhanced bones, modified heart and lungs. He's had a complete transplant of the prostate gland, which allows him to spit out highly corrosive liquid. If he catches you off guard during a fight, he can melt your face, the kind of damage that even plastic surgery can't fix. Unless you get a head transplant."
Chen Chuan nodded and flipped to the second page, which featured a skinny man with the nickname 'Painter.'
"This man's real name is Song Zhi, and he's from Taryana. His skin has been modified to regulate pigmentation, and he can apply body paint himself, making him a skilled assassin who can blend into any environment."
After glancing at the second page, Chen Chuan turned to the third, which featured a well-built young woman with a rebellious air and dangerous eyes.
"This is Ran Xiaoli, nicknamed Bee Woman. She underwent sensory enhancement at Porlen Corporation, significantly improving her sense of smell, taste, hearing, and sight. She's the most challenging opponent, able to detect you from a hundred meters away, or even further if she's paying close attention. With someone like her on the team, assassinations are almost impossible."
As Chen Chuan flipped to the fourth page, Hu Xian said, "This person is called Tuo Qi."
Chen Chuan looked at the picture—a tall foreigner with deep-set eyes and a high nose, his skin pale, and his body seemingly hairless. His arms, chest, and legs were adorned with strange tattoo patterns, and Chen Chuan noticed subtle differences between the front and back views.
He looked up and asked, "Are these two different people?"
A hint of surprise flashed across Hu Xian's face. "You're quite observant, little brother. They are twin brothers who underwent conjoined surgery. They share the same thoughts and ideas, making them highly coordinated. They're also skilled in using firearms and knives in tandem."
"Aside from these four main members, there are a few others who joined their team along the way. Anyone who makes it to the Chaotic Region has some skills, even if they're not the best fighters, they can at least handle a gun."
After reviewing the information on these individuals, Chen Chuan commented, "They're a tough bunch."
Hu Xian tapped her cigarette ash into the ashtray and said, "Indeed. Each one is a challenge. I agree with you. It's quite a task to send a student like you to deal with them, especially at your young age, seventeen or eighteen? If you don't feel confident, it's better to back out now. At least you'll be alive."
Chen Chuan replied, "Thank you, Ms. Hu, but I'm not considering that option."
"You've got guts, I'll give you that," Hu Xian said, taking another drag of her cigarette and crossing her legs. "Chen, I'll give you a free piece of advice. The real challenge isn't just these individuals. It seems they've acquired the 'Taryana Battle Spider,' a bio-weaponized spider. In narrow terrain, it can wipe out a small squad within a minute.
Fist Lion's trip to the Chaotic Region is to find a buyer for this weapon, but he's cautious about being double-crossed. So, he's been contacting his fellow countrymen.
This group has been waiting here for over a month, and if you had arrived later, the weapon might have already been sold. At that point, they would have tried to infiltrate the Chaotic Region's stronghold instead of lingering here.
Entering the Chaotic Region is no joke. Anyone who goes in risks becoming a ghost, and even a complete corpse is considered a dignified death."
Last time, I retrieved a student who was a little late, and all I managed to bring back was a skull. And that was only because a sick pervert liked to use young people's heads as drinking vessels."
Before Chen Chuan arrived, he had already prepared himself mentally for the chaos of the Chaotic Region. This place was a gathering of the worst human nature, and nothing that happened here would be surprising. He said, "Thank you for the reminder, Ms. Hu. I'd also like to ask, where are these people now?"
Hu Xian looked at him, got up, and went to a cabinet on the side. She took out a map, spread it on the table, and circled a spot with a red pen, "Right here," she said, pointing to a specific location. "We're here."
Chen Chuan looked at the map and compared it to the scale. He realized that the group was only a few hundred meters away in a straight line from his current location.
"It's quite close, isn't it? Don't even think about going to check. Ran Xiaoli will remember your scent, and if she smells it again in the short term, she'll find you immediately. And don't even think about using some kind of perfume to cover it up. Ran Xiaoli isn't a dog; she has a brain. That kind of smell will only make her suspicious of you."
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and said, "In that case, I'd like to understand the situation with these people. It seems I can only rely on Ms. Hu for this." Hu Xian had been living here, and she arrived before that group. She also had established businesses and industries here, so her comings and goings wouldn't raise any suspicions.
"Smart, but why should I help you? I've already given you all the information I'm responsible for." Hu Xian spread her hands out.
Chen Chuan sincerely asked, "What conditions does Ms. Hu have?"
Hu Xian jumped off the desk and said, "I haven't thought about it yet. I'll let you know when I do. Oh, and if you need any weapons, let me know. I can't get high-end stuff, and don't even think about protective gear. Getting a couple of guns and some bullets shouldn't be a problem, but remember, you'll have to pay for them." As she spoke, she walked out.
She went downstairs and opened a door, entering a small room. A middle-aged man in a trench coat and a fedora was standing there. When he saw her, he said, "You said too much just now. Considering he's just a young student, he might not be able to handle it all at once."
Hu Xian was unconcerned, "Did he run away? Besides, isn't what I said true? It's better to know in advance than to find out after it's too late."
The middle-aged man spoke in a deep voice, "Even so, we need to take it slow."
Hu Xian scoffed, "Outside is the Chaotic Region. This isn't some cozy office where you sit by the fireplace, read the newspaper, drink tea, and chat. This is a place where you have to sleep with one eye open, and you might get your kidneys stolen if you go to the bathroom. It's a lawless land!"
The middle-aged man remained silent for a moment before asking, "What do you think he'll do?"
"How would I know?" Hu Xian was getting agitated. She ran her hands through her hair. "Every time they send these promising young people here, they also tell me to look after them. I'm not their nanny!"
She sighed helplessly, "But this young man seems reliable. He probably won't make a move for a few days. After a while, I'll give him a hint and see if he takes it."
In the room upstairs, Chen Chuan washed up and then returned to the desk, studying the map.
He felt that time was of the essence because once this group found a buyer, they were likely to leave.
There was also the presence of Ran Xiaoli, which prevented him from infiltrating. As a stranger, he would be detected immediately if he entered their range.
No wonder the recommended students were reluctant to come for the Class B Certificate exam. It was indeed challenging.
However, after some thought, Chen Chuan realized that besides the Fist Lion, who might have reached the second limit, it was hard to say how much the others could maintain their abilities after the biological implants. As for the implants themselves, they weren't combat-oriented, so their upper limits were fixed.
The more complex the plan, the harder it was to execute. The simplest and most suitable approach for him was not to overthink it but to go straight to them and quickly eliminate these people.
To achieve this, he first needed to confirm if they were still there. If even one of them escaped, it would affect his score, so he needed Hu Xian's help to find out. And indeed, he needed to carry some extra weapons to make things easier.
In the afternoon, Hu Xian returned and said to him, "I checked while restocking, and this group is eating the same food as before. Most of the key members are still here, but a few lackeys are missing, probably sent out to find a buyer. What are you planning to do?"
Chen Chuan looked at her and said, "Ms. Hu, since they're looking for a buyer, what if I become that buyer?"
Hu Xian raised an eyebrow and said, "You want to get close to them? That's a bold idea, but do you have the money?"
Chen Chuan reached into his pocket and took out a gold certificate from the Wansheng Corporation that he hadn't had time to cash in. He placed it on the desk and said, "This is a deposit to show my sincerity. Should be enough, right?"
"Wow, a Wansheng gold certificate? You seem to have some wealth, young man." Hu Xian took the certificate, slapped it twice, and said, "But aren't you worried about losing your investment? The Fist Lion doesn't play by the rules."
Chen Chuan calmly replied, "Then tell them that I have more of these gold certificates, and it's up to them if they want to take the offer."
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(End of Chapter)
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