Chapter 273: No Second Chances
Chapter 273: No Second Chances
The middle-aged man had guessed correctly.
After firing a few more shots, Jiang Cheng left.
But he didn't expect what was to come.
From start to finish, Jiang Cheng was holding back.
Strictly speaking, it was more difficult to graze Song Gang with the first shot than to shoot him in the head, yet most people would think that the latter was a matter of luck, narrowly escaping death. No one would have guessed that this was intentional on the sniper's part.
This was the most crucial part of Jiang Cheng's plan.
On one hand, it was a message to the organization that he didn't hold back, but the target had incredible luck, and he didn't want the mission to fail.
On the other hand, it was also a reminder to Song Gang that someone was targeting him, and he should be more careful from now on.
This was the most he could do.
Just like the last time in the slums when he encountered the Lingyun Gang, if he had known beforehand that the gang was backed by the Resistance Army, he wouldn't have gone there even if it meant his death.
Even now, he realized there was an element of luck in that encounter.
If the gang members had been radical members of the Resistance Army, he would have been in deep trouble.
Song Gang seemed to have no background, but he had already caught the attention of some people in the Inner City.
The waters in the Inner City were deep; even the Dawn Society was just a dog in front of those Inner City folks. It was better for him to stay out of their affairs for now.
The next day, the entire Southern District was visibly tense.
It was unrealistic for Jiang Cheng to find a sniping spot, let alone carry a sniper rifle.
Moreover, ever since that night, Song Gang had been staying in the Enforcement Bureau around the clock.
When the deadline arrived, the mission inevitably failed.
Headquarters.
Office.
Jiang Cheng looked at Bing Li with a guilty expression.
To avoid suspicion, he reported the matter.
After he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room became quiet. Bing Li kept tapping on the table, then looked at Jiang Cheng.
"With your skills, this situation shouldn't have occurred. Even a Tier 4 Force Warrior would have been taken out instantly, let alone a Tier 3. How did he manage to escape unscathed?"
"Brother Bing Li, it was a guaranteed hit, but at the crucial moment, he suddenly hesitated, causing the bullet to graze past him. Then, the person next to him pulled him away, and he escaped. It was my first time encountering such a situation, and I panicked a bit, causing the subsequent shots to miss."
"I was also looking for opportunities in the following days, but he kept hiding inside the Enforcement Bureau, and there were constant patrols on the streets. I couldn't find a chance."
Jiang Cheng's face fell.
"Really?"
Bing Li was half-believing and half-doubting Jiang Cheng's explanation.
After all, Jiang Cheng's impressive track record was there for all to see, and such an accident shouldn't have happened.
But accidents were unpredictable by nature; otherwise, they wouldn't be called accidents.
Bing Li then asked, "Before you took action, two Enforcement Bureau officers died in the Southern District, their necks broken. Was that your doing?"
"Yes."
Jiang Cheng nodded.
"I was scouting the area and was spotted by them. They came to question me, and to prevent the plan from being exposed, I had to find a place to deal with them."
Bing Li wouldn't have believed him if he denied it.
After all, those officers were bound to have issues sooner or later, and it just so happened that they ran into trouble when he received the task.
So, it was better to be straightforward and provide a somewhat reasonable explanation.
"Is that so?"
Bing Li frowned.
At first glance, Jiang Cheng's explanation seemed reasonable, but his intuition told him that something was amiss.
After a while, a smile reappeared on his face as he comforted, "Cang Hai, your failure in this mission is partly my fault. I arranged an opponent beyond your capabilities, thinking you could handle it with your marksmanship, but an unexpected situation occurred. Don't worry; according to the rules, every new member of the Dawn Society gets one chance to fail a mission without any punishment."
"Really?"
Jiang Cheng's eyes lit up with delight.
"Yes, but this is a one-time offer."
Bing Li's smile faded.
"Big Brother Bing Li, what if I fail again, what will happen?"
Jiang Cheng asked cautiously.
"There won't be such a situation."
Bing Li stared at Jiang Cheng, his tone calm and unperturbed.
"If it happens, then it will be your last mission."
"I understand, Big Brother Bing Li. I assure you, this won't happen again." Jiang Cheng hastily replied.
"It's fine, I trust you."
Bing Li smiled slightly.
"I still have high hopes for your potential. This time it was probably just an accident. Go back and practice hard. Next time, I'll assign a mission suitable for you."
"Okay, thank you, Big Brother Bing Li."
Jiang Cheng repeatedly thanked him and left the office.
Inside the office.
Bing Li's eyes narrowed into a thin slit.
Could this Cang Hai be deliberately letting him off easy?
Although he didn't know why he would do that.
But no one who dared to defy orders had a good outcome.
"It seems necessary to arrange a loyalty test mission for him."
Bing Li muttered to himself.
If this mission also failed.
Then he would ensure that it would be the last mission this person ever did.
Time passed day by day.
The matter of mission failure seemed to have completely blown over.
On several occasions when he saw Bing Li, the latter still had a friendly smile on his face.
But Jiang Cheng didn't dare to relax.
He knew that his performance had made Bing Li unhappy.
Perhaps the next mission would be very tricky, not just in terms of difficulty but also in testing his character.
So, if possible, he didn't want to accept the next mission.
In a couple of days, it would be time for the Black Market gathering. He would go there to buy the remaining spirit recovery pills and secret potions before the next mission arrived. Breaking through to the seventh rank shouldn't be a problem.
Once he reached the seventh rank, he planned to return to Pingxi Street and deal with Xiao Yuanqing, including wiping out the Iron Fist Gang.
Informants were indeed despicable, but the masterminds behind them were even more detestable.
As for whether Bing Li would notice.
It was almost impossible.
Because by then, his Shadowless Blade Technique would have reached a new level, and he would appear as a nameless blade master.
Even if they killed everyone in the Dawn Society, they wouldn't guess that he had already become a seventh-rank Primordial Energy Warrior.
After settling this grudge, he planned to contact the Resistance Army, and with his seventh-rank strength, passing the fifth rank shouldn't be difficult.
In any case, he would first get his family out, so that even if he really fell out with the Dawn Society in the future, he wouldn't be held back.
Of course, if possible, Jiang Cheng still hoped to leave the Dawn Society peacefully, even though this possibility was slim.
(End of Chapter)
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