Chapter 361 - 53: Every Last One, Don’t Even Think of Leaving

Within the villa complex.

The asphalt roads were clean and flat, weaving through the community.

Lush green trees, their branches trimmed, stood tall on both sides of the roads. A man-made lake sat in the central open area, surrounded by luxurious villas, each with its own private courtyard.

At this very moment.

In the courtyard of a villa beside the man-made lake, over a dozen security guards in suits patrolled back and forth, guns at the ready and on high alert.

At the courtyard entrance, along the outdoor walkways, and across the lawn... figures kept watch from every corner. Upon closer inspection, several spots on the villa’s walls were scarred by bullet marks, and from a corner near the warehouse, a body was being dragged away.

Two security guards lay injured at the warehouse entrance. Blood streamed endlessly from their chests, abdomens, and shoulders, their flesh seemingly slashed open by some kind of sharp blade. Their breathing was shallow as they received medical aid.

An invisible pressure hung in the air. The atmosphere inside the villa was especially heavy.

"Manager You, the assassin from earlier has been eliminated."

"We’ve confirmed the area is secure for now. No suspicious individuals are approaching."

A security captain in black combat gear strode over to the sofa to report. He kept his ballistic helmet on and his weapon ready, even indoors. His eyes were streaked with red, a clear sign of his frayed nerves.

You Qiulin sat on the living room sofa, dressed in a black woolen overcoat with a business suit and pencil skirt underneath.

Though her long hair was pinned up, her normally sharp features were clouded with exhaustion. A shadow of worry she couldn’t shake off lingered in her eyes.

"Thank you, Captain Zhang."

Manager You gave a slight nod, then turned to her young assistant, who was hurrying over with a pale face.

"Xiaoxu, what’s the situation?"

"Manager, there’s a problem with the guild. Advisor Mo came forward and vetoed our request."

Her assistant, Xu Yao, was flustered. She knew exactly what this meant.

Her manager’s life was in danger. She was targeted for assassination by Deep Sea, one of the largest assassin organizations on Earth Star.

But the Superpower Level experts within the guild could only take action with an advisor’s approval. With that crucial vote now denied, the outcome was obvious.

You Qiulin’s expression darkened at the news. She knew her worst fears had been realized.

"What about Peng Jing and Wawel?"

One was a genius she had personally sponsored years ago; the other, a Wilderness Hunter whose acquaintance she had earned through numerous favors. Both were at the Superpower Level.

"Well..."

Xu Yao’s expression was conflicted. She lowered her voice and said, "Peng Jing says he needs more money. At least twenty million Alliance Coins, or he won’t get involved."

"As for Wawel, he said he’s still in the wilderness and can’t make it back in time."

As the words fell, You Qiulin’s heart sank.

Captain Zhang’s face fell, as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him.

Anyone could see their answers were just excuses. They clearly wanted no part of this mess.

All her past goodwill and favors had just gone up in smoke.

"Manager, should we try contacting the Storm Club?" Captain Zhang suggested.

He knew that his team alone stood no chance against Deep Sea’s insidious assassins.

However.

"Old Ge is seriously injured," You Qiulin sighed.

"Besides, we’re not close with the other two. And with the Rebels causing chaos lately, the city is a powder keg. They’ll want to stay at the club in case something happens. It’ll be difficult to persuade them."

"What about hiring the Golden Defense Group, then?" Captain Zhang asked, a sliver of hope in his voice.

As one of the Five Major Enterprises, the Golden Defense Group specializes in security. If you have the money, you can hire anyone, even those at the Superpower Level.

The only drawback.

"They’re too greedy."

You Qiulin shook her head, a bitter look on her face.

The mega-corps always size you up before they act, and they’re extremely calculating.

’If I hire them and they find out what a desperate situation I’m in, they’ll scheme to fleece me for everything I’m worth.’

A heavy silence fell over the room. Captain Zhang and Xu Yao exchanged a look, their own hearts heavy.

Finally.

"Let’s wait a little longer."

With a conflicted expression, You Qiulin glanced at the contact list on her watch.

"Let’s see if Xiaolu shows up."

At her words, both Xu Yao and Captain Zhang wore troubled expressions, a sense of unease creeping over them.

It wasn’t that they didn’t trust Mr. Lu.

It was that they were up against Deep Sea, not to mention countless assassins from the Dark Web.

With such a massive bounty on the line, there was no telling how many psychos would come out of the woodwork. Even someone at the Superpower Level would have to be wary.

After being rejected by Peng Jing, Wawel, and the others, their own nerves were shot. They couldn’t be sure if Mr. Lu’s earlier agreement was just empty pleasantries and that in reality, he was already keeping a wide berth.

THUD!!

Just then, a sudden, muffled thud came from the courtyard outside. Everyone inside jumped, their faces paling.

"Captain!"

A voice crackled through his earpiece. As Captain Zhang registered the message, his eyes narrowed.

"What is it?" You Qiulin asked, as Xu Yao also whipped her head around to look.

A moment later.

Captain Zhang’s face lit up with excitement. He pointed to the surveillance monitor, which displayed the feed from the villa’s main gate.

A black-clad assassin was sent flying backward, skidding to a halt at the gate. His head lolled to the side as he coughed up blood and died on the spot.

His black firearm had clattered to the ground nearby. Their eyes followed the line of sight down the asphalt road.

A light breeze rustled the leaves of the green trees lining the road.

A young man in a gray hoodie appeared at the far end of the road. He carried a brown leather case, his steps even and unhurried as he walked forward along the asphalt path.

...

"Deep Sea?"