Chapter 148: The Buyers
Chapter 148: The Buyers
Chen Chuan walked over to the desk, picked up a booklet, while Hu Xian took out a cigarette and gestured towards him, "Do you mind?"
Chen Chuan shook his head.
Hu Xian lit the cigarette with a click of her lighter, took a satisfied puff, and said, "These are a bunch of fugitives from Central City. Don't ask about their backgrounds or how much injustice they've suffered in the past. They're now wanted for robbery and murder, and they won't even spare 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, and a very tall, dark-skinned physique.
"This guy's nickname is 'Fist Lion,' but no one remembers his real name. You can call him whatever you like. He's a mixed-race from Tayana and Dachun, 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. He's the type who likes to double-cross people and doesn't follow rules. That's why, after this crime, no one has come forward to help him out."
Chen Chuan looked at the man's muscular arms and the unusual bulges on his body and asked, "Does this guy have implants?"
"How surprising," Hu Xian said, "It's strange if someone from Central City doesn't have implants. I know what you're thinking. You're wondering how they maintain them without drugs, right?"
She held the cigarette between her slender fingers and pointed out the window, "Look, just twenty steps outside, there's a place that sells 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's dealing with them, just like the other students. Then you'd go on a whole rant."
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Regardless of good or evil, as long as it exists, there's a reason for it."
Hu Xian was a bit surprised and glanced at him several times, "That's quite a mature statement for your age."
Chen Chuan asked, "Do you know what kind of implants Fist Lion has?"
"The usual stuff," Hu Xian said, "Bio Armor, Enhanced Skeleton, Modified Lungs, and Fungal Gland Transplant. All old military models. But be cautious; he's had a full set of fungal gland transplants, which allows him to spit out highly corrosive liquid. During a fight, he might accidentally, or intentionally, spit it at you, melting your face beyond recognition. Even plastic surgery couldn't fix that kind of damage, unless you get a head transplant."
Chen Chuan nodded and flipped to the second page, which showed a skinny man with the nickname 'Painter.'
"This guy's real name is Song Zhi. He's from Dachun, and his skin has been modified to control his surface pigmentation. He's also skilled in body painting, allowing him to blend into his surroundings, making him a formidable assassin."
Chen Chuan glanced at the next page, which featured a young woman with a great figure but an obvious rebellious streak. Her eyes also gave off a dangerous vibe.
"This is Ran Xiaoli, nicknamed 'Bee Girl.' She underwent sensory enhancement at Porlen Corporation, significantly improving her sense of smell, sight, hearing, and taste. She's the most challenging to deal with. Usually, she can be smelled from a distance of one or two li, and if she's paying attention, that distance is even greater. We have people on the team with such abilities, making assassination attempts nearly impossible."
As Chen Chuan turned to the fourth page, Hu Xian spoke again, "This one is called Tuo Qi."
Chen Chuan examined the photo, which showed a tall foreigner with a high nose and deep-set eyes. His skin was deathly pale, and his body hair seemed to have been completely shaved. His arms, chest, and legs were covered in strange tattoo patterns. There were two photos, front and back, and Chen Chuan immediately noticed the subtle differences between them.
He looked up and asked, "Are these two different people?"
A hint of surprise flashed across Hu Xian's face as she said, "You're quite observant, little brother. Indeed, they are twin brothers who underwent conjoined surgery. One photo shows his front, and the other shows his back. These two share a deep connection and have the same thoughts, so they work together seamlessly. They're also highly skilled in using firearms and knives in coordination."
"Apart from these four main members, there are a few others who joined their team along the way. I haven't gathered intelligence on them yet, but anyone who makes it to Chaos Region must have some skills. Even if they're not physically strong, they can at least handle weapons."
After reviewing the information on these individuals, Chen Chuan commented, "They're not simple at all."
Hu Xian tapped her cigarette ash into the ashtray and said, "Indeed. Each one is a tough opponent. I also think it's a bit much to send a student like you to deal with them, especially since you're so young, seventeen, right? If you feel uncertain, it's better to back out now. At least you'll save your life."
Chen Chuan replied, "Thank you, Ms. Hu. I haven't considered that yet."
"You've got guts. Consider it unsaid."
Hu Xian took another drag from her cigarette, crossed her legs, and looked at Chen Chuan with a thoughtful expression. "Chen, I like you. I'll give you some free information. The most challenging part isn't dealing with these individuals. It seems they've acquired a 'Tayana Battle Spider,' a bio-modified weapon. In narrow spaces, it can wipe out a small team within a minute.
Fist Lion came to Chaos Region to find a buyer for this weapon, but he's cautious about double-crosses, so he's been contacting his fellow countrymen.
This group has been waiting here for over a month. I'm not sure if it's good luck or bad luck for you that you arrived when you did. If you had come later, the weapon might have already been sold, and you wouldn't have to worry about it.
But at that point, they would have tried to enter the Chaos Region outpost instead of lingering here. If you want to find them, you'll have to venture into the Chaos Region, where even the living become ghosts, and a complete corpse is considered a dignified death."
Last time, I recovered a student, but I was a step too late. I only managed to retrieve a skull, and that was because some sick pervert enjoyed using young people's heads as drinking vessels."
Chen Chuan had already mentally prepared himself for the chaotic state of the Chaos Region. This place was another gathering point for the darker side of human nature, and no situation would surprise him. He said, "Thank you for the reminder, Miss Hu. I'd also like to seek your guidance. Do you know where these people are now?"
Hu Xian looked at him again, walked to a cabinet, 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, "and we're here."
Chen Chuan examined the map and compared it to the scale. He realized that this group was only three to four hundred meters away from his current location as the crow flies.
"It's pretty close, isn't it? Don't even think about going to check it out. Ran Xiaoli will remember your scent and if she smells it again soon, she'll find you immediately. And don't try to cover it up with any kind of perfume. Ran Xiaoli isn't a dog, she has a brain. That scent will just alert her that something's off with you."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment and said, "In that case, I'd like to learn more about these people. It seems I can only do that through you, Miss Hu. You've been living here, arrived before them, and have established businesses and industries. Your comings and goings won't raise any suspicions."
"Smart, but why should I help you? I've given you all the information I'm supposed to. The rest is not within my responsibilities." Hu Xian waved her hand dismissively.
Chen Chuan sincerely asked, "Do you have any requests, Miss Hu?"
Hu Xian jumped off the table, "I haven't figured it out yet. I'll let you know when I do. Oh, and if you need any weapons, let me know. I can't get you high-end stuff, and forget about protective gear. But getting a couple of guns and some bullets shouldn't be a problem. Just remember, you'll have to pay for them." With that, she walked out.
She went downstairs, opened a door, and entered a small room. A middle-aged man in a trench coat and a fedora was standing there. Upon seeing her, he said, "You might have given him too much information at once. He's just a student, and he might not be able to process it all at once."
Hu Xian scoffed, "Did he run away? Besides, what I said is the truth. It's better to know in advance than to find out when it's too late."
The middle-aged man spoke in a low voice, "Even so, we should take it slow."
In a 16-19 book, there's a mistake-free version!
Hu Xian snorted, "Outside is the Chaos Region. This isn't some cozy office where you sit by the fireplace, read newspapers, drink tea, and chat. Here, you have to sleep with one eye open, and even going to the bathroom can get you gutted. It's a place where you can get skinned and dismembered in the blink of an eye."
The middle-aged man fell silent for a moment before asking, "What do you think he'll do?"
"How would I know?" Hu Xian was getting impatient. She tugged at her hair, "Every time they send these promising young people here, they tell me to look after them. I'm not their nanny!"
She sighed in resignation, "But this young man seems reliable. He probably won't make a move in the next few days. I'll give him some hints in a few days, and it'll be up to him to take action or not."
Upstairs in the room, Chen Chuan washed up and then returned to the table, studying the map.
He felt that time was of the essence, as once this group found a buyer, they were likely to leave the area.
There was also the presence of Ran Xiaoli to consider. He couldn't infiltrate their group as a stranger; they would sense his presence the moment he entered their territory.
No wonder those recommended students were reluctant to come and take the Beta License examination. It was indeed a challenging task.
After further contemplation, Chen Chuan realized that aside from the Fist Lion, who seemed to have reached the Second Limit, it was hard to tell how much of their original state remained after the implantation. The others were mostly skilled in martial arts, but their implants were not combat-oriented, limiting their potential.
The more complex the plan, the harder it was to execute. The best and simplest approach for him was to stop overthinking and directly confront them, swiftly eliminating them.
To achieve this, he first needed to confirm if they were still in the same location. If even one of them escaped, it would affect his evaluation. So, he needed Hu Xian to help gather this information. And indeed, carrying extra weapons would be necessary, taking every opportunity to simplify the task.
When Hu Xian returned, she said, "I took a look while restocking supplies. This group is eating the same food as before, and most of their members are present, except for a few lackeys who might be out making contact and finding a buyer. What's your plan?"
Chen Chuan turned to her and said, "Miss Hu, since they're looking for a buyer, how about I become that buyer?"
Hu Xian raised an eyebrow, "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 ticket from the Wan Sheng Conglomerate, one he hadn't had time to cash in yet. He placed it on the table, "This should be enough to show my sincerity."
"Wow, a gold ticket from Wan Sheng? You're quite well-off, young man." Hu Xian picked up the ticket and slapped it twice, "But aren't you worried about losing your investment? The Fist Lion doesn't play by the rules."
Chen Chuan calmly replied, "Then I'll let them know that I have more of these tickets, and it's up to them if they have the appetite for it."
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(End of Chapter)
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