In dreams, time passed especially fast.
With a blink of an eye, Ning Zhuo, who had been eighteen, grew like bamboo and suddenly became twenty-three.
He was fortunate enough to still be alive, and he wasn’t doing too badly.
It was 11 PM on a certain night.
Ning Zhuo was driving a hover car with three members of the “Haina” group, heading to his destination—an old parking lot.
He had a job to complete.
The job was simple.
Two local gangs had been at odds for years over unevenly divided territory. They had been negotiating and fighting back and forth for years, finally reaching some sort of agreement.
But right between their territories was a red-light district, generating significant profits. Neither side was willing to give it up.
Their brains were much smaller than their muscles.
So, they didn’t want to think or bother with strategy. Instead, they decided to resolve the issue through a 5v5 bare-knuckle fight.
Whoever had the biggest fists and the toughest body would win control of the street.
In the lower districts, this kind of nonsense was all too common.
Ning Zhuo and the three “Haina” members were hired by the gang from East Street as outside help.
On that day, East Street’s gang would only send one of their own members.
Ning Zhuo and “Haina” would pose as his “underlings,” and their mission was to secure a resounding victory for East Street.
For the sake of long-term profits, they were willing to spend big and go all out.
Before accepting the job, Ning Zhuo did some preliminary investigation, and the situation was indeed as described.
The two gangs from East and West Street had been fighting over territory for so long that it was well-known to everyone. Even the mercenary groups in the neighboring district had heard a little about it.
Amusingly, the gang from West Street had the same idea as East Street and had quietly hired mercenaries as well. They went even further, hiring five of them in one go without leaving themselves any dignity.
A perfect match of fools.
Ning Zhuo even recognized the mercenary group hired by West Street—it was called “Heaven, Earth, and Man.”
Before Ning Zhuo had said anything, the boss of “Heaven, Earth, and Man” called him, asking who they were sending to the fight.
Ning Zhuo: “Me.”
The other party: “Damn it!”
The boss of “Heaven, Earth, and Man” didn’t even hang up the call. He immediately started yelling orders to his subordinates, “Tell them, the match format is 5v5, one-on-one fights, and make it clear—there’s no main fighter!”
Ning Zhuo: “Afraid of me?”
The other party spat at him, “Afraid of you, my ass. You should be the one afraid of me.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Don’t doubt it. In twenty seconds, you’ll be kneeling, begging me not to kill you.”
Whatever trash the other side was spewing—whether it was a bluff or flattery—Ning Zhuo didn’t care. It went in one ear and out the other.
This was a simple business deal. After all, they weren’t fighting under the names of “Haina” or “Heaven, Earth, and Man,” so the outcome wouldn’t affect anyone’s reputation.
If they lost, they’d just refund the money. The only ones losing face and profits would be the two gangs.
So for Ning Zhuo, it was just another routine job.
To avoid being exposed, Ning Zhuo wore gloves on both hands, concealing his mechanical hand.
…
Following the address provided by the East Street gang, Ning Zhuo drove west.
He passed a massive industrial zone, where factories stretched out for miles, resembling a dark, jagged-backed monster in the night.
The car was playing Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring.”
It wasn’t that Ning Zhuo liked classical music; he just hated noisy music.
His ears were sensitive, and ear pain often triggered headaches—a terrible chain reaction.
This piece had dense drumbeats, but it wasn’t too loud. It was like a disjointed montage, randomly pieced together, with a bit of a neurotic vibe—like a ritual from some distant, primitive era.
Min Min, who didn’t go on field missions often but loved excitement, was bored at the base and hijacked their communication channel for a chat.
“Hey, you still dare to go out?” Min Min said while painting her nails. “There’s been a weird vibe lately. I heard Hinata Ken is pulling strings everywhere, trying to come after you.”
Ning Zhuo reacted indifferently, “Let him try.”
Hinata Ken was a black market merchant. Ning Zhuo had recently had a falling out with him.
But this casual understanding was only Ning Zhuo’s.
“You ruined his entire ‘Dionysus World’ line in the black market. Word is he’s gone mad, polishing his katana every day. Aren’t you afraid he’ll come after you for revenge?”
Ning Zhuo didn’t care, “He runs dirty businesses. Does he have the nerve to come looking for me?”
The road became more and more deserted.
Dim lights cast intermittent shadows on Ning Zhuo’s face, creating alternating bars of light and dark.
Ning Zhuo may have been cocky, but he had reason to be, especially in front of someone like Hinata.
It wasn’t that Ning Zhuo deliberately targeted him—Hinata’s business had simply grown too large and, like a moth to a flame, had crashed into Ning Zhuo’s hands.
This issue was still related to the “Dionysus World.”
Starting ten years ago, Interest Corporation launched a new version of “Dionysus World,” which had a milder effect and also adjusted its original sales model.
According to Interest Corporation’s official statement, after a unified study by upper management, “Dionysus World” would be sold in limited quantities.
This was the explanation for the public.
But the real reason for the revision and adjustment of “Dionysus World” was that “White Shield” was not pleased.
This invisible electronic opiate caused the crime rate in the lower districts to skyrocket, which made White Shield’s KPI (Key Performance Indicators) look bad.
White Shield and the upper management of Interest Corporation had a meeting.
The final decision was that “Dionysus World” would adopt a “See You Friday” model, only sold during fixed time slots on Fridays. Officially, this was termed “limited sales,” but in reality, it created an invisible threshold:
Class B citizens had a much higher chance of getting their hands on it, while those in the lower districts had very few opportunities.
This not only created a hunger effect but also served as an explanation to White Shield.
However, Interest Corporation wasn’t foolish enough to abandon the lower-tier market altogether.
They had another production line dedicated to supplying the old version of “Dionysus World” to the black market.
As for the large number of lower-tier individuals who couldn’t afford the high prices on the black market and were forced to quit cold turkey, turning into the mentally ill—that wasn’t something within Interest Corporation’s plan.
They could only express deep regret over that.
As for Hinata Ken, he was a middleman.
With keen instincts, he had stockpiled a large batch of the old version of “Dionysus World” ahead of time. His foresight wasn’t bad, but his vision was quite limited.
Snatching food from Interest Corporation’s mouth was always risky, and it would have been better to quietly make a profit. But Hinata unexpectedly started investing big money into installing features that the original “Dionysus World” didn’t have, such as signals that directly stimulated desires even more intensely.
Thus, a certain mercenary group indirectly contacted Ning Zhuo, asking him to create an “accident” to make that batch of goods disappear from the world before it even left the factory.
Ning Zhuo knew full well that even though Interest Corporation wasn’t directly involved, this job had been passed through multiple channels and finally landed in his hands.
On the day he received the mission, he didn’t sleep.
This was the first time Ning Zhuo had brushed against the edges of a big corporation.
And it was Interest Corporation.
In his heart, Ning Zhuo would have preferred to burn down the headquarters of Interest Corporation, sending all its executives to their collective funeral.
But reason told him to behave, follow instructions, and earn their trust to gain more resources.
In the eyes of many, Ning Zhuo was a brute, a thug, a guard dog.
And a dog that had earned its place through good looks.
But he wasn’t someone who acted impulsively.
At its core, this was just a dog-eat-dog fight. Whoever ended up suffering, it was a good thing for Ning Zhuo.
He was more than happy to burn “Dionysus World.”
The fire was successfully started, and that batch of “Dionysus World” was reduced to a pile of ashes in the warehouse.
But Hinata Ken, who had been entrenched in the black market for years and had deep connections, somehow picked up on some clues that “Haina” was responsible.
And then he became furious, searching everywhere for a chance at revenge.
But Ning Zhuo considered himself a reasonable person.
In his world, if you offended a gentleman, you apologized; if you offended a villain, it was the villain’s bad luck.
Moreover, in all of Silver Hammer City, no gang or mercenary had the guts to target Ning Zhuo.
That reputation was something Ning Zhuo had built with blood over the years, a power he had painstakingly accumulated.
Ning Zhuo refocused his attention on the road conditions and promptly kicked Min Min out of the communication channel: “We’re almost there. Go chat with someone else.”
As soon as Min Min’s call disconnected, another incoming call flashed and hung in mid-air, blinking non-stop.
Ning Zhuo glanced at it.
Caller: Little Apple.
Ning Zhuo couldn’t be bothered to answer, letting the call disconnect on its own.
However, ten seconds later, the same person called again.
As expected.
Ning Zhuo quickly answered and said coldly, “Hello, the user you’re trying to reach is busy, please call back later.”
Lin Qin wasn’t swayed by this smokescreen and asked with a smile, “What are you doing?”
Ning Zhuo had already reached the vicinity of the designated parking lot. Driving with one hand, he searched for a suitable parking spot: “Helping an old lady cross the street.”
Lin Qin chuckled, “Just make sure you don’t run the red light while helping her.”
“You already know and still ask,” Ning Zhuo said, “Lin Qin, you’re a cop, I’m a thief. If you want to climb the ranks, I won’t stop you, but you’d better keep your distance from me.”
Lin Qin wasn’t fazed by his cold words, “But I came out of a den of thieves too, didn’t I?”
Ning Zhuo could practically imagine Lin Qin’s eyes slightly squinting into a smile behind the bandages.
Ning Zhuo pulled the handbrake, “Get to the point.”
Lin Qin: “You need to be careful lately.”
Ning Zhuo paused slightly.
It wasn’t because of Lin Qin’s straightforward warning.
…It was because he sensed that something wasn’t right around him.
Things were different from when he had come here to scout the area the day before.
Originally, a large batch of used cars parked here was gone, leaving only about ten scrapped compact cars scattered about.
This situation wasn’t unexplainable; one could say that the two gangs had cleared the area in advance for their fight.
However, this abnormality was enough to raise Ning Zhuo’s alertness.
Ning Zhuo’s voice tightened: “Why do you say that? Is there intelligence?”
“I recently wrote a simulation compiler. In simple terms, it can synthesize files, communication data, and surveillance records to predict criminal activities targeting certain individuals to a certain extent.”
“I tried running your name through it. The results indicated that you are in danger. There are many subtle clues pointing toward you.”
Lin Qin spoke in a very gentle and relaxed manner.
But Ning Zhuo knew that Lin Qin had just joined the “White Shield” data reconnaissance team in the Chang’an district.
As a team member, he had no real authority.
The system he mentioned required the highest level of cybersecurity clearance in Silver Hammer City, a computer with unlimited expansion capabilities, and the project documents had to be submitted through multiple layers of approval, ultimately initiated by some high-ranking official.
In short, a young police officer like Lin Qin had no right to touch this massive cake.
The only explanation was that Lin Qin had also heard about Ning Zhuo offending someone.
He was worried about his personal safety and, unable to convince himself otherwise, had written a simplified system for himself, sending a “danger” signal based on the highest level of access he had.
As meticulous as he was, he loved to engage in this sort of redundant behavior.
Ning Zhuo activated a thermal scanner with a range of 500 meters.
There was only his car nearby, but a few shadowy figures faintly appeared on top of several high-rise buildings surrounding the parking lot.
Ning Zhuo’s voice turned cold: “Thanks.”
He arrogantly hung up the phone while ordering the others in the car: “Hold on tight.”
He slammed on the gas, revving the tires to their limit in one second, and quickly reversed.
It was a trap!
They needed to leave here as soon as possible!
But it was already too late.
A shot rang out from behind, striking the engine with pinpoint accuracy!
The sound of shrapnel scattering indicated it was a modified shotgun using 23-caliber ammunition!
With just this one shot, the car’s engine was completely destroyed.
The vehicle, now without power, tilted and flipped uncontrollably due to inertia.
Ning Zhuo’s cockpit was pinned at the bottom.
The sudden turn of events caught them off guard, but fortunately, the others in the car were also seasoned operatives. They quickly regained their composure amid the weightlessness of the upside-down situation.
They had to get out.
The car was wrecked; they couldn’t be trapped inside.
Moreover, if the fuel leaked, it would inevitably cause an explosion!
The person closest to the passenger seat was Yu Shujian.
At this time, he had been with Ning Zhuo for a year and had just switched to a prosthetic blade arm six months ago.
He unbuckled his seatbelt, using both hands and feet to forcefully dismantle the door hinge, turning the car door into a makeshift shield and raising it high as he quickly searched for available cover.
A glance over the surroundings sent a chill through Yu Shujian’s heart.
Nothing!
The only options they had were those ten scrapped compact cars.
But even if they could run behind them for cover, the small size of the vehicles would severely obstruct their line of sight, minimizing their room to maneuver.
Moreover, those cars were arranged meticulously, and using one as cover wouldn’t conceal more than one person.
Once their strength was divided, they would still be dead!
As soon as Yu Shujian grasped the situation, he heard a piercing whistle slicing through the air, directly colliding with the door he was holding as a shield!
The impact was so intense that it sent pain shooting through Yu Shujian’s arm, knocking him back into the driver’s cabin.
Just as the car door was about to slip from his grip, Ning Zhuo pressed down on his seat, leaping like a leopard and grabbing the door handle. Braving the gunfire, he skillfully jumped out of the confined space.
He shouted briefly: “They’re coming for me! Keep your heads down! Look for a chance to get out!”
Ning Zhuo was gambling.
Their engine had been specially modified; the person who could blow it up with one shot was undoubtedly a top-notch sniper.
From the direction the bullet had come, he deduced that the shooter was likely on a building about two hundred meters away.
If that person’s marksmanship was indeed precise and aimed to kill, they would likely switch to explosive rounds, targeting the rapidly spinning tires.
The chance of an explosion in that case would be very high, and the vehicle would experience severe forward momentum and overturn, instead of simply flipping over like it was now.
This was a way to save their lives, not to take them.
So, Ning Zhuo was betting that they wanted to live.
He had no time to think. He tore off his gloves, popped open a storage compartment on his arm, and in one second, launched a smoke grenade, pulling the pin with his teeth.
The white smoke quickly enveloped the surrounding area within thirty meters like a dense fog.
With a fixed target lost, gunfire suddenly rained down like a storm.
Ning Zhuo created a barrier for himself.
He needed to buy some time to reach that building.
Ning Zhuo quickly realized that the sniper was the core of this team.
Although a competent sniper would rapidly adjust their position based on the evolving battlefield, Ning Zhuo knew that, for the time being, that person couldn’t leave the building.
Now, he also needed to seize the high ground to cover his teammates.
As for not having sniper equipment, that wasn’t something Ning Zhuo was considering.
As long as he could seize it, he would have it.
Unfortunately, the other side was well-prepared.
Just as Ning Zhuo desperately rushed toward a glimmer of hope, a faint sound of electrical feedback came from behind him.
Ning Zhuo turned to look.
Amidst the dissipating smoke, he saw a gun firmly pressed against Yu Shujian’s temple.
A figure stood silently there, tall and straight, white hair tousled by the night wind, purple eyes coldly staring at Ning Zhuo.
It was a… bioroid, one that thermal sensors couldn’t detect.
Holding a speaker, it calmly issued a command: “Ning Zhuo, if you don’t want them to die, don’t move.”
Yu Shujian gritted his teeth, trembling with anger, yet felt utterly helpless.
Ning Zhuo halted his steps.
In the next second, a bullet grazed Ning Zhuo’s waist, bringing a sharp pain that felt like fire.
It was as if they were toying with him.
—That side even had thermal sensors to counter smoke grenades!
It could be said that this person had set up a trap, waiting for him to arrive.
Ning Zhuo calmly dropped the car door, indicating his surrender.
Seven or eight blinding RF lights converged from all directions, intertwining into a dazzling glare that made Ning Zhuo squint.
Having lost his vision, Ning Zhuo could only rely on his hearing.
The hard soles of shoes thumped against the ground, thud-thud, thud-thud, as they approached.
Ning Zhuo instinctively knew that this was the leader of the ambush, the outstanding sniper.
He realized he had one last chance.
—As that person drew near, he could seize the opportunity to capture and escape.
The leader walked toward him, backlit, step by step. Ning Zhuo couldn’t make out his features but could see that he was tall, towering over him by more than half a head.
That long, slender shadow carried a sniper rifle, melting, struggling, and merging in the white light, appearing both real and illusionary.
Who?
Who was it?
Before he could see clearly, someone shouted from afar: “Turn around!”
Ning Zhuo understood that they feared he might suddenly attack the approaching figure.
He obediently turned around, mentally brewing some close-range techniques for countering his opponents, even while injured.
Then, he unexpectedly heard a cheerful, bright young voice:
“Hey, Ning-ge, how are you?”
Ning Zhuo’s heart felt like it had suddenly stepped off a cliff, and the killing intent and aggression he had just conjured froze for a moment.
Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, an elbow strike accurately and fiercely slammed into his back, hitting a nerve that sent a shiver through half his body.
The newcomer swiftly executed a hold, locking his shoulder joint.
Before the waves of humiliation and anger could surge within him, the first thought that popped into Ning Zhuo’s mind was:
Damn it, that little brat has been eating fertilizer these years; he’s grown so fast!
