"So, what's the plan, boss?"
Revy and the Blue Gold girl walked through the streets of East Capital after leaving the Sunset Bar. Her face looked slightly flushed—odd, considering members of the Headless Alliance were supposed to avoid alcohol entirely.
"Our cargo has been split into three parts, now located in three different places."
Revy brought up the map of East Capital on his terminal and zoomed in:
"Panlong Society, which controls the western district; Liu Gang, the boss of the slum districts; and the East Capital Guard Bureau, the city's law enforcement."
"Still got cops involved, huh…"
The Blue Gold frowned.
"That complicates things. No way we can storm a government agency—that'd be war."
"Actually, the Guard Bureau's the easiest to deal with."
Revy interrupted her.
"Rhodes Island used formal channels, so at worst it's just 'lost property.' Our local branch will handle that. We don't need to worry about it. The other two are where things get risky."
"Panlong Society's supposedly under the Magic City Qing Gang. Small in numbers, but they're all elite fighters. Connected both in the underworld and politically. If we move on them, it has to be clean and precise."
"Liu Gang's different. They're just a ragtag group from the slums. Lots of people, but mediocre combat strength."
"Liu Gang probably just wants money. If it can be bought, it's not a real problem."
"So the problem is..."
"Panlong Society."
Revy pointed to a red-marked area on the map.
"Even if we don't know who's backing them, they're well-established here. Rhodes Island won't go after them unless absolutely necessary."
"So what is the cargo, exactly?"
"Level-One Classified. And trust me—the less you know, the better you'll sleep afterward."
"Classified, huh? Sounds familiar."
The Blue Gold girl let out a sarcastic laugh.
"The higher you climb in the Headless Alliance, the more you learn—and the more they want you dead if you leave."
"Because you know too much?" Revy said, quoting an old Yan movie line.
"...Let's change the subject." She sighed."So, the plan is: negotiate with the cops, pay off Liu Gang, and then... 'retrieve' the goods from Panlong Society?"
"Yeah. The last two have real risk—could turn violent. That's why I need a sniper. Someone who won't drag me down."
"Got it. Just give me the time and place."
"Liu Gang first. Let's save the real trouble for last."
Same Day – Outskirts of East Capital's Slums
A motorcycle slowed to a crawl as it entered the slum district.
Revy's eyes swept over the area. Though crude, the surveillance methods were obvious enough. From the moment he entered the district, at least three pairs of eyes had locked onto him.
Liu Gang's intelligence web spanned the slums. These self-organized militias controlled nearly half the district. Even the Guard Bureau quietly accepted their rule.
In the slums, provoking Liu Gang was provoking the entire population. Anyone would be drowned in a sea of "people's war."
Revy found it almost laughable.
Panlong Society or the Guard Bureau could wipe Liu Gang out if they wanted to. The reason they didn't was simple—there was no point. Besides, the slums needed a puppet to rule them.
That was Liu Gang's reality—barely tolerated and replaceable.
Revy was confident Liu Gang had no direct connection to the cargo's theft. They just seized an opportunity when Panlong Society's convoy passed through. To them, it was merely an unexpected windfall.
So Revy entered the slums openly. The Blue Gold girl had already gone ahead and was now stationed at a sniper point.
There was no need to play games. Revy let his bike idle, riding slowly and deliberately toward the tallest building—the gang's headquarters.
He knew that from the moment he entered, someone had been waiting for him at the top.
Whether this would be a polite "meeting" or an all-out fight... depended on how things went.
As expected, a welcoming group was waiting outside the building when he arrived.
"You must be Mr. Regulus Harvey from Rhodes Island."
A well-dressed Zalak man stepped forward, bowing in the traditional Yan style."Our boss is expecting you upstairs. This way, please—"
"Alright."
Revy didn't say another word. Following the man's lead, he walked into the building in long, steady strides.
As he entered, the door creaked shut behind him, casting a long shadow in the afternoon sun——and finally slammed closed.