Four o'clock in the morning, the most silent moment in the city.
Chen Mo, like a weightless shadow, walks through the intricate alleys of old neighborhoods. He changed into an ordinary dark jacket and cap (leaving the only cash on him) borrowed from a clothesline, trying to hide his features. The things in the backpack have been rearranged, and the association terminal has turned off the positioning and active signal transmission functions, leaving only the basic records and offline maps. The old communicator given by Su Yat-sen villa is turned off, and it will only be activated if it is sure to be safe.
His current destination is a mixed area on the edge of the city and near the entrance of the expressway. There are a large number of logistics warehouses, auto repair shops, and some large truck parking lots that are open during the day and serve as temporary hotels and small black markets at night. According to the information provided by Su Yat-sen villa, one of the foothold of "Old Cat" is there.
He has scanned the information in the memory. "The other side gallery" is located in a high-grade office building in the high-tech zone of the neighboring city. The registered legal person is a middle-aged man named "Zhou Wenyuan". His resume is as clean as a blank sheet of paper-he studied abroad in his early years, engaged in finance after returning to China, and then invested in art. The gallery was established for three years, which was tepid, but occasionally he could produce some good minority collections. On the surface, there is no problem.
The activity trajectory of "Old Ghost" shows that he frequented several antique markets and underground bars in this city before his disappearance, and his contact with "The Other Side Gallery" was completed through an intermediary art agent, and he only came into contact once. The content is unknown.
The information of "Old Cat" is simple and rude: a nickname, an abandoned container number (B-17) located deep in the parking lot of large trucks, a 12-digit dynamic digital code for identity verification (which changes every hour and needs to be interpreted with a specific algorithm, and the algorithm is also in the memory), and a warning: "This person only recognizes interests and strength, trades carefully and does not show his cards."
When the sky was a fish-belly grey, Chen Mo finally approached the area. The air is filled with the mixed smell of diesel oil, tire rubber and cheap food. Huge freight trucks, like sleeping steel behemoths, are neatly arranged in designated parking areas. Some drivers cook breakfast with simple stoves by the car, and more people are still sleeping soundly in the cab.
Chen Mo lowered his brim, avoided the occasional glance, and walked towards the depths of the parking lot according to the map in his memory. The farther inside, the older the vehicles are, the more potholes the ground is, and a lot of abandoned containers and construction waste are piled up.
Container B-17 is located in a remote corner, next to a dilapidated red brick wall. The container looks rusty, the door is left unlocked, and it's dark inside, so you can't see if anyone is there.
Chen Mo didn't immediately come forward to. He hid behind an abandoned oil drum nearby and observed it carefully. Studs remain silent, without warning. No obvious signs of ambush or surveillance were found around.
He calculated the time and worked out the first four digits of the verification code that should be used in the current period according to the algorithm. Then, he picked up a small stone and walked about five meters away from the container door, with only one flick.
"Hey." The stone hit the rusted iron gate accurately, making a modest noise.
There is no response in the container.
Chen Mo waited for a few seconds, then popped up a second stone, this time hitting the door frame.
Still silent.
Is there no one? Or has the "old cat" changed places?
Chen Mo frowned, considering whether to venture close to view, container suddenly came a hoarse, lazy, as if just wake up:
"It's rude to knock on the door in the early morning to disturb people's dreams, little friend."
The sound is not loud, but it is particularly clear in this silent morning.
Chen Mo a fiercely in the heart, the other party would have found him.
He didn't speak, just took two steps forward, stopped at the door where the light could shine, made sure that the other party could see him clearly (but couldn't see the whole picture), and then used sign language to draw the first four digits of the verification code.
There was a moment of silence in the container. Then, the hoarse voice rang again, with a hint of ponder: "Oh? Sue's maid introduced it? And sign language ... Interesting. Come in, the door is unlocked. However, first put those jingling' toys' on my body at the door, and I am annoyed. "
Chen Mo hesitated. Drop your weapon? In this strange place?
But thinking of Sue yat sen villa's exhortation and no better choice at present, he bit his teeth, put the alloy short stick and backpack (opened to show that there were no weapons in it) in a conspicuous place at the door, only hid the light dagger in his sleeve after shrinking, and then pushed open the container door left unlocked.
It's neater than expected. One side of the container was transformed into a simple living space, with a folding bed, a small table, a small alcohol stove boiling water, and some strange tools and electronic equipment wreckage hanging on the wall. On the other side, there are some boxes covered with tarpaulins, which smell a little musty and metallic.
A man in his fifties, with gray hair and messy hair and wrinkled overalls, was sitting on a folding bed, holding a steaming enamel jar in his hand and looking at him Gherardini. A man's face is vicissitudes of life, and his bags under his eyes are heavy, but his eyes are unusually bright and sharp, like cats in the night, which is an "old cat".
His eyes swept over Chen Mo, especially on his left ear stud and hand terminal (although closed, but with special style) for a moment.
"Chen Mo? That new kid Su Yatou talked about, who is hard of hearing but' listens' well? " The old cat took a sip of what was in the jar, probably inferior coffee or strong tea. "Sit down, the place is small, don't dislike it."
Chen Mo sat down on an empty box at the door, keeping alert.
"Su Yat sen villa asked you to come to me, what is it?" The old cat came straight to the point.
Chen Mo replied in sign language: "I need an identity, close to the' other side gallery' investigation. She said you might have a way. "
"The other side gallery?" Old cat eyebrows a pick, eyes flashed a subtle cleaners, "wow, Sue wench this time playing quite big, just targeted by JiZhaZu, dare to check this line in private? It seems that there is something in that place. " He touches the mouth, "identity ... to say. My old cat can't do anything else. There are still some ways to make some skins and build some bridges. However, the price is not cheap. Su Yatou's favor is only enough for a referral fee. "
Chen Mo was ready. He took out a small cloth bag from his personal pocket (not his backpack) and put it on the table. Inside is a small part of hard currency he exchanged with the initial 70 contribution points in the association-three ancient coins with high purity and weak "inert logic residue" (it is said that they are scraps of some low-level relics, which are better than cash in gray areas). This is what Su Yat-sen suggested him to prepare.
The old cat picked up the cloth bag, weighed it, poured out the coins and looked at it carefully. His mouth widened: "OK, I know the rules. I'll take this job. What identity do you want? "
"Being able to reasonably contact the' other shore gallery' for trading or consulting without causing suspicion." Chen Mo said in sign language.
"Um ... art investment ... young, unfamiliar, but not too shabby ..." The old cat touched the stubble of his chin and rolled his eyes. "Got it! Haigui' is an independent art consultant, specializing in the evaluation and collection of works with an unpopular minority and a sense of' historical precipitation' (he emphasized). What about this identity? I'll get you a complete set of information: a degree in art history from an overseas diploma mill (which can be found online and can stand the simple back tone), letters of recommendation from several small galleries or private collectors (electronic version, which can be verified), and a virtual overseas account with good flowing water. It is enough for you to go to the' other shore gallery' in the name of' looking for investment opportunities' or' looking for special collections for customers'. "
Chen Mo wanted to think and nodded his head. This identity sounds reasonable and gives him room to operate.
"How long will it take?"
"Information ready-made, just a little adjustment. I can give it to you in the afternoon. " The old cat is very frank. "However, identity alone is not enough. In a place like' the other side gallery', the threshold is not low, and strangers come directly to the door, which is easy to get suspicious. I have to help you build a bridge first. "
He went to the front of the pile of boxes, rummaged for a while, took out a small rosewood box that looked very old, and opened it. There was a slightly old but well-preserved business card and a dark red irregular stone the size of pigeon eggs in a velvet bag.
"Take this." The old cat handed Chen Mo the business card and the stone.
The business card reads: "Lin Wenyuan, antique connoisseur, private collection consultant", with a phone number and an address of a high-end residential area in this city below.
The dark red stone has warm tentacles, but on closer inspection, it seems that there are extremely subtle dark gold lines like blood vessels flowing slowly inside the stone, emitting an extremely weak and disturbing breath.
"Old man Lin is a real old fox in this business. He has a poisonous eye, a wide range of contacts and ... something unclean." The old cat said meaningfully, "He owes me one. You go to him with this' blood marrow stone' (a low-level relic derivative that is said to slightly affect people's mood and judgment, which is valuable), just say that I introduced it, and I want to ask about the reality of the' other shore gallery' and hope that he can help you introduce it. He will help you. But remember, old man Lin's words are believed three points and suspected seven points. If he helps you, he definitely wants to get something from you or the other side gallery. "
Chen Mo took the business card and the stone, and felt the faint but real "echo" of the blood marrow stone-a sticky feeling mixed with temptation, confusion and greed. He put it away carefully.
"This is the first step. When you get a referral from old man Lin and prepare your identity information, you can go to the' other shore gallery'. " The old cat sat back on the bed and looked at Chen Mo. "What can I do for you? Intelligence? Equipment? Or ... help you get rid of the tail? " His eyes glanced out of the container.
Chen Mo shook his head. The information is enough for the time being. He is equipped with an association (though he should use it carefully). As for the tail ... he will be careful.
"That's all. I'll get the information this afternoon. How much is it? " He asked in sign language.
The old cat quoted a figure, which was twice the value of those three coins. Chen Mo nodded his head without bargaining. He knows that in a place like this, clearly marked prices are more reliable than human feelings.
"Happy." The old cat smiled, showing her smoked yellow teeth. "See you in the afternoon. When you go out, follow the path with tires on the left, and you can go around the national road behind, which is not easy to be targeted. "
Chen Mo got up, picked up the backpack and short stick at the door, nodded to the old cat and turned to leave.
When I got to the door, the old cat suddenly spoke again, and her voice dropped a little: "Boy, I'll send you a message for free, for the sake of you who are generous in paying money and a girl named Su."
Chen Mo stopped.
"Recently, it is not only the internal unrest of the association. The' dirty things' (meaning strange things) around here are also moving a little abnormally frequently. I heard something about' shadow bite', but it may be just an appetizer. " The old cat's eyes became deep. "You go to the' other side gallery' and be careful. That place ... I vaguely feel that it is related to some' undercurrents' deeper. Some' concepts' are not for people like us to touch. Take care of yourself. "
Chen Mo a fiercely in the heart, nodded, no longer stay, quickly into the gradually bright morning light.
The old cat looked at the direction of his disappearance, slowly drank up the liquid in the jar and whispered to himself:
"Steal language ... blood pulp stone ... the other side gallery ... hey, this pool, it is more and more muddy. Sue wench Sue wench, this time, you are really looking for a terrible trouble boy ... "
Inside the container, there is only a slight beep of alcohol stove burning.