Chapter 11: The Mission

“I have it. I have the video footage of the five of them right here,” Wang Damao said immediately, producing a storage card.

Before returning, he had made a stop at Black Rat’s place. Black Rat was a renowned hacker in the lower district.

After paying a certain price, Wang Damao had Black Rat retrieve the street camera footage, which led to obtaining images of Liu Miaomiao and the other four.

Huai Feifu tapped the wrist-mounted computer on his right arm. A beam of laser light landed on the storage card, quickly reading the data.

He activated the built-in holographic display on the wrist computer, and soon the footage was projected.

It showed Liu Miaomiao and the others just entering the refuge, following the main group toward their residence, captured as they passed along the main thoroughfare.

In the video, the women alternated between curious glances and playful banter, every expression and smile carrying an alluring charm.

Just a glance at the holographic projection made Huai Feifu’s eyes gleam, especially when he saw Liu Miaomiao and Wang Yao. His gaze lingered on them for a long while, his eyes flickering as if calculating something.

“What’s the name of that ‘White Pig’? Which mercenary group is he with? How strong is he? Have you investigated all of this?” After a long pause, Huai Feifu asked.

The question made it clear that he was already scheming.

“His name is Lin Xinghai. He was recruited by the Rift Sky Mercenary Group on his way back. His genetic optimization is probably around twenty-five percent,” Wang Damao replied hastily. He even described every detail of his fight with Lin Xinghai.

After listening, Huai Feifu tapped his fingers lightly on his chair for a full minute before speaking again. “Send me orders to have the Four Guardians come see me tonight.”

“Understood,” Wang Damao nodded quickly, but after a brief hesitation, he asked, “Boss, do we need to notify the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group?”

“Do you need to teach me how to handle things?” Huai Feifu said coldly.

“N-no, of course not. I’ll go notify them immediately.” Wang Damao bowed repeatedly and hurriedly left the room.

Once the door closed behind him, Huai Feifu sank back into thought. He had no intention of handing over Liu Miaomiao and the others to the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group.

Although doing so might please certain figures within the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group, the practical benefits were minimal.

After all, the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group was only a second-tier mercenary organization. They might wield influence in the lower district, but across the entire Star Shield refuge, they were average at best.

For years, Huai Feifu had sought alternative paths for himself, and after much effort, he finally found a way to contact the true bigwigs of the refuge.

But it was only contact, nothing more.

Gaining favor with those big shots, even aligning oneself closely with them, was no easy feat.

The arrival of Liu Miaomiao and her companions presented him with an opportunity. If he played it right, he might truly leapfrog his status.

Of course, the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group would be notified, but in a different manner.

Lin Xinghai had prevented them from collecting protection fees. While the Axe Gang suffered losses, the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group’s losses were even greater.

Every month, they had to hand over seventy percent of their total income to the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group.

As the saying goes, blocking someone’s income is like killing their parents.

This was reason enough for the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group to take action.

When the time came, he would present the five beautiful women to the refuge’s big shots and let the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group bear the wrath of the Rift Sky Mercenary Group.

Everything would be perfect!

Of course, this plan carried great risks. If the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group discovered the truth behind it, his fate would be sealed.

But fortune favors the bold, and Huai Feifu’s gaze grew ever more resolute.

...

Lin Xinghai, of course, was oblivious to the conspiracy brewing against him.

He had spent the entire afternoon wandering the lower district, feeling somewhat like a country bumpkin in the city, every sight novel and fascinating.

For instance, the logistics drone trailing above him as he moved along.

He had ordered six sets of high-end nutrition meals, opting for on-site preparation service, which followed him.

Yes, this device served as a cooking robot. Inside the iron box it carried were fresh ingredients and utensils.

According to the waiter’s introduction, after the meal, the robot would clean everything up before leaving.

The service was excellent, though such a meal was not inexpensive.

Before night fully fell, he returned to Room 301 in high spirits.

Of course, the so-called nightfall in the refuge was merely simulated by central control lighting.

Opening the door, he found Liu Miaomiao and the others already back, their faces heavy with worry.

“Hey! What’s this? Let me guess, a cooking robot?” Seeing Lin Xinghai enter with the logistics drone, Liu Miaomiao’s frown vanished, replaced by curiosity.

“Yes! Tonight, I’m treating you all to a feast!” Lin Xinghai said with a smile.

After the logistics drone flew into the dormitory, it retracted its rotors, extended limbs, and quickly transformed into a humanoid robot.

Then it opened the large iron box, took out the ingredients and tools, and swiftly began cooking.

During the free time before the meal, Lin Xinghai asked about their job hunting.

As he had expected, none of them were having any luck. Official agencies set up by the refuge were fiercely competitive, and even units cooperating with the official organizations were highly sought after.

Without connections or influence, getting in was impossible.

Lin Xinghai fell silent, but for the moment, he had no solution.

Fortunately, Liu Miaomiao and the others knew how to lighten the mood, quickly shifting the conversation from work to amusing anecdotes about life in the refuge. Everyone soon enjoyed the chat.

Twenty minutes later, six steaming meals were ready. Lin Xinghai took a bite and couldn’t help but marvel at how technology had transformed life.

The food prepared by a mere robot rivaled that of his former life’s star-rated hotels.

After dinner, the women regained their energy and began discussing where to look for work the next day. Lin Xinghai joined in half-heartedly.

Time flew until 8 p.m., when Room 301 received its first visitor.

“Captain Roger, is this about a mercenary mission?” Lin Xinghai’s eyes lit up upon seeing Roger enter.

Right now, the thing he looked forward to most was accumulating 100 points of vigor to awaken his abilities.

“Hah, you guessed right. It’s the first time I’ve seen a rookie so eager to take on a mission,” Roger laughed.

Many mercenary missions required confidentiality, so it was inappropriate to discuss them in the dormitory.

The two left the residence and went to a private room in a self-service café for their talk.

After the meal delivery robot brought two cups of coffee, Roger activated the wrist computer’s scanning function to ensure no eavesdropping devices were present before speaking.

“This mission is important and dangerous. Although the pay is high, personally, I’d prefer you not take part.”

Roger’s opening words surprised Lin Xinghai greatly.