Chapter 36: Exchange

During the wait, agonized screams echoed incessantly. The moist tearing sounds and the dull thuds of flesh hitting the floor assaulted her ears and mind.

Several gang members eyed her with predatory intensity, their gazes sharp as blades, fixated on Xing Yu. The surveillance made her feel utterly uneasy.

Xing Yu had to admit that her earlier assessment of this gang had been far too naive.

According to her initial investigation, most gangs were a chaotic mix—having a dozen or two members already qualified as large gangs.

In the barren F Zone, devoid of water and electricity, she had naturally assumed the gangs would be even smaller.

But now, having delved deeper into the heartland, she realized how naive that thought had been.

The fact that Miao Yan had his members adopt the same surname alone revealed the man’s ambitions were anything but simple.

... Although in the “Information Reading” interface, those surnames were still just “names,” not true family names, merely imitations of genuine surnames.

What exactly was the significance of a surname in this world...

Snapping herself back from these untimely thoughts, Xing Yu’s gaze swept across the rifles and she exhaled slightly.

At least it seemed they had no special channels to obtain strictly controlled firearms. If these were just crude, shoddily-made rifles, even if Miao Yan suddenly turned hostile mid-conversation, she might still have a chance.

Though she had already taken her seat, waves of unease washed over her.

The Ashes Gang clearly wasn’t accustomed to receiving “guests.” They clumsily mimicked hospitality. A burly thug shoved a shaky chair toward her, while another handed over a bottle of cheap alcohol that reeked pungently.

From the adjacent room came a particularly harrowing scream, followed by eternal silence.

Miao Yan sat heavily opposite Xing Yu, his eyes burning with fury like a predator about to pounce. The mingled scent of sweat and blood created a nauseating atmosphere.

“Who the hell are you? One of the Kegu? The Jiao Tou? Or some cocky new gang?” he demanded.

Xing Yu shook her head.

“Are you looking to expand your turf? We can cooperate,” she offered carefully, not revealing her true intent but throwing out a bait to gauge Miao Yan’s reaction.

He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her. His rough fingers drummed on the table.

“Expand turf?” Miao Yan grabbed the cheap liquor, downed a large gulp, then slammed the bottle onto the table with a cold sneer.

The spilled liquid splattered, leaving a dark stain on the filthy surface.

“Little girl, you think this is some kind of game?”

Suddenly standing, his towering figure cast a shadow over Xing Yu, like the scythe of death.

She could feel the oppressive aura radiating from him but forced herself to remain calm, not even blinking.

“Listen up, kid. The turf here has long been divided. To the east are those bastards from the Jiao Tou; to the west, the sneaky dogs of the Kegu faction, all vying to snatch a piece. And to the north… those lunatics…”

He paused abruptly, a flicker of unease flashing in his eyes.

Xing Yu keenly caught the subtle expression, her heart stirring.

“…that damn ‘Mutual Aid Alliance’!”

The atmosphere suddenly thickened with tension.

“That place was originally ours!” he roared, eyes blazing fiercely. “Our brothers bled and died for that land, only to have it taken over by those damn cockroaches!”

The gang members around tensed involuntarily at the mention.

“That leader... the one calling himself the ‘Overseer’! He kills silently, without a trace. We don’t even know what he looks like, but anyone who crosses that damned wall is found dead on the streets the next day.”

He slammed the bottle to the ground, shattering the glass. The spilled alcohol spread across the floor, its pungent smell filling the room.

Miao Yan ground his teeth. “That bastard doesn’t play by the rules. He’s a madman!”

Leaning forward suddenly, he locked eyes with Xing Yu. “So, little girl, you say you can help us expand? What skills do you have to take on those lunatics?”

Xing Yu took a deep breath.

This was an opportunity.

“I can help you deal with the Border Mutual Aid Alliance. I have my methods,” she said slowly.

Miao Yan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her. “You better explain clearly, or I’ll chop you to bits and feed you to the dogs right now.”

“Simple,” Xing Yu met his gaze without hesitation. “I’m an Extraordinary.”

Miao Yan’s expression froze instantly.

His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at her. The surrounding gang members gasped sharply.

“You... you say you’re an Extraordinary?” Miao Yan’s voice trembled slightly before regaining its hardness.

There was obvious doubt in his tone but also a hint of excitement. “Prove it.”

Xing Yu did not answer immediately.

She slowly scanned the room, noting the reactions of the others.

Just hearing the word “Extraordinary” terrified one person as if she might erupt at any moment, while most others eyed her warily.

Her voice carried an unshakable authority as she looked each of them in the eyes. “I don’t need to prove anything. If I wanted to do something, this room would already be full of corpses.”

Her words lacked sufficient weight.

Thinking quickly, she spoke again. “Someone went missing last night, right?”

Upon hearing this, some snapped to attention, while two exchanged uneasy glances.

Her suspicions were mostly confirmed. She continued, “Did any of you see a black liquid in those places?”

A sharp intake of breath echoed —

Her words evidently confirmed some of their suspicions.

Miao Yan frowned, his gaze laden with complex emotions.

He seemed to weigh the pros and cons, unwilling to fully believe her but also hesitant to dismiss her outright.

“Even if you really are an Extraordinary,” Miao Yan finally spoke, still skeptical but noticeably softer, “so what? That damn Overseer probably isn’t ordinary either. Why do you think you can handle him?”

Though his tone was still firm, Xing Yu noticed his posture was less aggressive.

He sat straighter, choosing his words more cautiously.

“I know the Overseer, just as I can spot a traitor among you with a glance,” Xing Yu lied calmly. “I know their weaknesses and how to exploit them.”

Miao Yan studied her deeply, his eyes a storm of doubt, fear, and... greed.

Finally, he nodded slowly. “Alright, I’ll trust you for now. But if you try any tricks, even if you are an Extraordinary, I’ll make sure you suffer more than death.”

Xing Yu nodded lightly.

In this dangerous game, she had at least secured a foothold.

Her trump cards were scarce; in the end, she even had to invoke 020.

Last night, Ashes Gang should have been patrolling, yet on her way home, she had barely seen anyone but that vagrant.

She was gambling that 020 had already eliminated nearby Ashes Gang members before she arrived.

Given the gang’s nature, even someone like her — a seemingly insignificant “kid” — would be questioned; it was impossible they were unaware of this.

“Miao Yan,” her voice low and resolute, “we need to discuss these matters privately.”

Hearing his name uttered directly, Miao Yan showed no surprise, only narrowing his eyes to scrutinize her closely.

A silence stretched for several seconds, seeming like an eternity.

Finally, Miao Yan nodded slowly. “Fine.”

He turned to the others and barked, “Everyone out!”

The gang members hesitated, but under his fierce gaze, they left the room one by one.

The last to leave closed the door behind him, glancing back with a mixture of worry and curiosity.

Miao Yan pulled from a drawer a bottle of somewhat better-quality liquor and poured himself a glass. After a moment’s hesitation, he poured one for Xing Yu as well.

“Speak. What exactly are you planning?”

Xing Yu took the glass but did not drink.

Her fingers traced the rim as her eyes locked onto Miao Yan’s. “Before that, I want to hear about your past... about the Mutual Aid Alliance.”