When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
With the leader dead, the remaining Siracusan gangsters had no interest in avenging him. Anyone who could run, ran. Anyone who couldn't, lay on the ground waiting for an ambulance.
It was just a job. Who on earth, these days, would die for their boss?
You'd be laughed out of the room.
"Not bad, little brother." Anthony beamed. "Didn't see that coming. Say no more—tonight you're coming with me. Everything's on me! I'll even cover the cost of bringing a model to stay the night!"
James chimed in, "Get two if you want!"
So full of vigor and sentiment… honestly, they might as well just gift Longmen to these two.
Su Yi shook his head. "No need. Living like this—bullets flying by day, cannon fire by night—wrecks your body."
"Then at least add me," Anthony insisted. "If you've got time, I'm buying you dinner. Not just politeness—really buying." Then he waved. "Texas, you too."
"Forget it. She doesn't like socializing," Su Yi refused on Texas's behalf.
"By the way—sitting next to a corpse like that… doesn't it gross you out?"
"Feels… fine."
Texas stood with sword in hand. A light breeze lifted her long hair; behind her, the fluffy wolf tail swayed unconsciously side to side. Her eyes remained fixed on the male corpse on the ground, cooling by the second.
"How many people have to die before you can raise a monster like that?"
When he said it alive, Texas hadn't cared. Hearing it again after his death made her spine chill.
Su Yi's uncanny, near-supernatural marksmanship aside—
Back in the truck, none of them had any information. How had he known the enemy leader was in front?
When she charged out, Texas hadn't overthought it. Either way, they had to break out; direction didn't matter. Once free, they could circle back to find the leader.
Yet Su Yi's call had landed dead on.
Was he… really a monster?
Texas remembered the "instant alibi combo" Su Yi had pulled when he arrived—and the last three months they'd spent working side by side.
Whatever he had been before, as far as she could see now, he was unquestionably a trustworthy friend and a teammate she could entrust her back to.
Condemning him simply because he was extraordinarily capable was going too far.
"Texas. Texas…"
"Hm?"
"Someone's looking for you," Su Yi said, jerking his chin. "Looks like your countrymen."
Not far away stood several Siracusan gang members.
"Ms. Texas—Is it you? The last Texas!"
An older member spoke excitedly. "So it's true. After the Texas family was wiped out, the old boss's granddaughter vanished without a trace. They said you came to Longmen—so the rumors were real!"
"Don't call me 'Ms.' That title belongs to the head of the Texas family," Texas said. "The current me is just Texas—a Penguin Logistics courier."
"But your grandfather's old men—and Giovanna—they're all waiting for you to come back!"
"I will go back," she replied. "But not now."
The older gangster pressed on. "Fine. If you won't go back, then lead us—like your grandfather did in Columbia! In Longmen, build a new Texas family!"
Su Yi's eyelid twitched.
Old man, watch your mouth. The last guy who said he was going to build a 'new Wo Shing Wo' ended up dead because he went fishing without a helmet.
Texas had long since grown sick of her old life, and she refused again.
Vivo vivo
Police sirens were already faintly audible. The gang members who wanted to attach themselves to Texas could only withdraw for now.
"You don't have anything you want to ask?" Texas said.
"If you don't want to say it, why would I ask?" Su Yi replied. "I just need to know this: I'm someone you picked up. I can't repay the favor you did me."
Then Su Yi suddenly lifted both hands and sang, "You came from Chernobog, and gave me a city of snow-white—want some Longmen food~!"
So strange. No idea what Exusiai saw in you…
Texas's lips curved slightly. With Su Yi clowning around like that, a great deal of the gloom around her past dissipated.
A dozen seconds later, several patrol cars arrived.
The dashing Chen Hui-jie pushed her door open, swung a leg out, cut through the crowd, scanned left and right—then her face brightened when she spotted Su Yi. Her red eyes lit up as she walked straight toward him.
"What happened?" Chen asked.
"Lots of people here—don't ask me," Su Yi said, rubbing his right shoulder.
Anthony nearly leaked a few drops on the spot. Big shot, that's Superintendent Chen from the LGD! Rumor says she's Governor Wei Yenwu's niece! You talk like this and you're not scared—
"I'll go pull the surveillance first," Chen said, and turned to leave without bothering them further. "When I need your cooperation, you'd better cooperate."
Anthony: ???
That's it? She's leaving?
Wasn't Superintendent Chen supposed to be hot-tempered, hardline, and impossible to talk to? Maybe the rumors were—
"Char siu cat! If your eyes don't work, gouge them out and use them as footstools! The guy's running and you still don't know how to stop him?!"
"Cheung fun dragon! He ran toward you, not me—stop barking at me!"
"Longmen profanity!"
"Longmen profanity!"
In the distance, Chen Hui-jie and Swire were already screaming at each other over a gangster who had suddenly woken up and bolted.
Anthony understood immediately: the rumors weren't wrong. Chen was only this easygoing because of Su Yi.
…
…
"Another pair of star-crossed lovers?"
Chen initially thought this was the classic case of "a robbery crew bit off more than it could chew and got wiped out."
But the forensic team found a corpse tucked into a corner. The cause of death matched the Vulpo leader—and also matched that previous pair of "star-crossed lovers."
An Originium bomb had been implanted inside the body. Trigger one, and two people die.
If nothing unexpected had changed, then both criminal groups had been acting under instructions from the same person.
"Preliminarily, the cause of death is the same," said a forensic photographer holding a camera. "For a more detailed report, we need to take the body back for autopsy."
"Please hurry."
"I can hurry. Chemical reactions can't."
Strangely, as the clues piled up, Chen felt less certain about the case.
A human trafficker and a robbery crew—what did they have to do with each other?
What did the person behind it all want?
A transnational criminal organization, or someone hiding locally in Longmen? Should she go to the slums and ask Uncle Lin?
Her head hurt. She should talk to Su Yi…
Chen grabbed a nearby officer. "Where are the Penguin Logistics people?"
"Over there. They just finished statements and are about to leave."
"Su Yi—!"
Chen dashed after Su Yi's group, who had just gotten back into the vehicle, ready to continue the armed escort job.
"What is it, Hui-jie?" Su Yi asked.
"I want you to help me analyze this case," Chen said.
"I still have deliveries." Su Yi replied. "Tonight. After I'm off work, we'll talk."
"Fine."
-------
My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
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