Chapter 368 - 56: Reunion with an Old Friend

"Deep Sea, Blood Alliance, and Black Whistle are the three largest assassin organizations on the Dark Web. They’re rumored to have close, intricate ties with the black market."

"To become a member and accept commissions from the Dark Web, you need to register an account, then go to a hidden stronghold in the city circle’s black market to pass an assessment and gain membership."

"Each assassin organization has different member ranks. For example, Deep Sea has five levels, from lowest to highest..."

Inside the Superpower Bureau’s training grounds, Lu Chao walked out of the gravity chamber and down the corridor.

Members nearby greeted him, and he nodded lightly in response, taking the opportunity to look through some informational files on the Dark Web.

This was the Dark Web information that You Qiulin had specially collected for him that night at the villa district, worried he might be careless. He had only glanced at it briefly then, but now was the perfect time to read it in detail.

’Based on this, most of the Elite Level assassins I killed that day were only at the third rank, ’Tiger-Eater’.’

’And since that Raccoon Cat was Superpower Level, their position in Deep Sea must be quite high. At the very least, they’re at the fourth rank, the ’Raging Shark’ level.’

His gaze sharpened as Lu Chao thought of the Superpower Level assassin who had known better than to stay and had ultimately left.

The assassin had left a business card, which he still had at home. He hadn’t thrown it away.

Assassins at the ’Raging Shark’ level are often core members of the Deep Sea organization. At this stage, not only do they have extremely high-level access to commissions and autonomy over their missions, but they also enjoy many of the organization’s benefits, such as purchasing channels for firearms, alloy weapons, and nutritional supplies...

His eyes paused. Lu Chao had found the piece of information he was most interested in.

Wasn’t this the whole reason he’d impulsively decided to look through these files?

Besides, according to the Dark Web’s rules, the assassin organizations didn’t verify your real identity when you registered for membership. They only required a fixed, personal account for accepting commissions and collecting rewards.

In other words, these assassin organizations wouldn’t care about his public identity.

’In that case, if I use a fake identity to infiltrate the Dark Web and become a ’Raging Shark’-level assassin, I’d gain another channel for resources... That’s not a bad idea.’

Lu Chao nodded to himself, an idea taking shape.

He then continued reading, feeling that his horizons had been broadened. He was learning quite a bit about the Dark Web.

Hackers, assassins, mercenaries... it was a complete underworld, the other side of Earth Star.

The files contained records on the leading figures in various specialized fields, such as the Dark Web’s ten most famous assassins and some of the top-tier hackers and mercenaries.

Moreover, he paused, his gaze falling on the last piece of information in the file.

’Celestial Hunter?’

Celestial Hunter: Once universally acknowledged as the strongest person on the Dark Web, a legend in the world of assassins. He held a monopolistic grip on the number one spot in the points rankings. Having vanished for over thirty years, he has since been removed from the Dark Web’s leaderboard.

He skimmed the brief entry and didn’t pay it much mind.

Finally, after reading through all the files, Lu Chao left the Superpower Bureau building.

* * *

「The next day.」

Sunlight spilled down as layers of white clouds drifted by.

On the surface of the city circle, towering buildings stood in dense rows, crisscrossed by a network of skywalks.

Neon projections hovered around the square, continuously broadcasting advertisements for various mega-corporation products, the sounds echoing in the ears of every passerby.

["Want to get stronger? Then hurry up and get your injection! The third-generation muscle enhancer, you deserve it—Biotechnology Company!"]

["Primordial Oasis: Our company has developed the newest gene optimization fluid! Users can improve their facial features and enhance their metabolism. The first thousand buyers will receive a 10% discount..."]

["Is martial arts training too tiring? Does awakening superpowers require luck? Are enhancement drugs too expensive? No problem! Take a look at the fourth-generation dedicated-class combat prosthetics from our very own Lianwei Heavy Industry!"]

These announcements echoed throughout the districts, not only on the surface but also in the subterranean world below, where day and night were indistinguishable.

"Mom, I’m going to buy a muscle enhancer."

"Go on? Where are we going to get that kind of money?"

"I don’t care! My physical assessment is next week. I have to take the drug!"

"Hubby, I really want that gene optimization fluid from Primordial Oasis."

"Fuck, maybe I should just sell my kidney?"

Lights stretched down the nearly thousand-meter-high city pillars as glass elevators, each carrying hundreds of people, slowly descended.

Crowded concrete buildings rose and fell like a giant honeycomb, with thousands of windows crammed into a single structure.

Such arguments were just a microcosm of life in every household of the Hive District. Elsewhere, gang members with prosthetic implants lounged in alleys, cigarettes dangling from their lips, their faces full of longing as they watched an old hovercar zip by overhead.

A projection device on the hovercar’s chassis shot out a beam of light, forming an advertising image synchronized with the ones on the surface.

One of the mega-corporations, Lianwei Heavy Industry, and the local legacy family’s company, Steel-Fusion Mechanics, had both just released their latest prosthetic products.

If they could just mortgage an organ and get a loan for an implant, then maybe...

BOOM!!

A massive explosion shattered everyone’s daydreams.

Cigarettes dropped from startled mouths. The gang members near the concrete complex looked on in shock, and even the couple arguing in their apartment stopped to stare in bewildered alarm.

Across the street, at the base of a concrete building, the rolling shutter door of a Prosthetic Clinic was blown open.

Shrapnel flew, kicking up clouds of dust and smoke.

Figures in black combat suits, armed with live ammunition, riot helmets, and shields, stormed in with practiced efficiency, carrying automatic weapons.

RAT-A-TAT-TAT!

BOOM! BOOM!

The fierce firefight lasted for about a dozen seconds. Muzzle flashes lit the scene as explosives detonated, shaking the ground.

The city block had, at some point, been surrounded by over a dozen Superpower Members.

The once-arrogant gang members all dropped into a crouch with their hands on their heads. Regardless of whether they had prosthetic implants or had taken muscle enhancers, they were all completely docile, staring at the ground, not daring to make a sound.

Then, a loud shout came from inside the Prosthetic Clinic, followed by a rumbling crash.

"Someone’s trying to escape through the back door!"

An Elite Level figure smashed through an iron door, attempting to escape through a passage leading to the rear alley.

But his footsteps halted. He froze on the spot, his pupils contracting.

THUMP!

At the end of the alley stood a young man with a buzz cut, dressed in a leader-grade black combat suit. Behind him, seven or eight Superpower Members stood with their guns raised.

Cold, emotionless gazes fell upon him, and the dark muzzles of their guns were trained on him from head to toe.

Even for an Elite Level powerhouse, a chill ran down his spine.

"I surren—"

THUD!!

His head was smashed against the wall.

Lu Chao, who had been dozens of meters away at the other end of the alley, appeared at his side and dealt a heavy blow.

The word "surrender" was cut off before he could finish. Blood trickled down his forehead as he instantly fell unconscious to the ground.

"Clean up the scene," Lu Chao said calmly. None of the members behind him objected.

The entire operation took no more than a few minutes.

The blocks around the Prosthetic Clinic were cordoned off with yellow tape. Superpower Members filed out of the clinic, some escorting tattooed, cybernetically-enhanced militants, others simply carrying out the bodies of those who had resisted.

The raid ended quickly. Several black jeeps from the Superpower Bureau drove up and parked on the street.

Lu Chao’s expression was placid as he walked to the side of a vehicle. He watched as the now-recovered Chen Xiao and the others gathered before him with their prisoners.

"Reporting, Leader Lu."

"Rebel hidden nest number three has been eliminated. One team member sustained minor injuries. We killed a total of eleven hostiles and captured four core branch members!"

Chen Xiao reported proactively. Beside him, Gao Hu, Wang Dali, and the others wore grim expressions.

After half a month of rest and recuperation, most of them were recharged and spoiling for a fight. Their performance on this mission was much sharper and more decisive than before.

"Take them away."

Lu Chao nodded, then looked at the four core Reconqueror Branch members who were squatting on the ground with their hands on their heads.

Their half-month leave was over, and the Fifth Team was back on duty.

Except for a few who were still recovering from serious injuries, most had returned to the team.

The reason they were here today was also simple.

The Special Investigation Team sent from Yao Capital had been exceptionally effective, launching sweeping crackdowns on both the Rebels and the Wilderness Warlords, particularly targeting the Superpower Level individuals who had launched the last assassination attempt.

He had already reported the incident with Wu Yuntao, and Ink Green Rattan, Legos, and the others had new warrants issued for their arrest.

They had received a temporary intelligence mission: to wipe out a Rebel branch hideout in the Red Maple City Circle and try to find traces of those Law Enforcement Officers.

"Looks like the intel was solid."

A voice spoke from beside him. Lu Chao turned his head to look.

Yao Jin stood there holding a silver Alloy Longsword, her tight black combat suit accentuating her tall figure.

She was one of the other leaders on this mission.

It was all because of the previous ambush. The higher-ups had become more cautious and now required two Superpower Team leaders to operate together when on duty in the Hive District, just in case.

"These Rebels are so good at hiding. It’s amazing the higher-ups were able to find them."

"Seems like the Special Investigation Team has some real experts," Lu Chao asked softly, voicing the question on his mind.

The last ambush proved that the Rebels were hidden extremely deep here; otherwise, their presence wouldn’t have remained unknown for so long.

But now, several of their branch hideouts had been found and uprooted one after another.

"I heard the Special Investigation Team has several top-tier hackers who intercepted some of the Rebels’ intelligence files."

Yao Jin shook her head, adding uncertainly, "But I can’t be sure. This might just be the Reconqueror Branch sacrificing a limb to survive."

"After all, they’ve done this before to lower our guard."

Lu Chao nodded at her words. The reason the previous ambush had been so devastating was precisely that the preceding crackdowns had been too successful, lulling everyone into a false sense of security.

"By the way, did Sun Jiayuan and his team go to the wilderness?" Lu Chao asked, slightly curious.

He’d heard that some members of the Fourth Team had been requisitioned by the Special Investigation Team and dispatched to the wilderness with the City Guard Army to join the war against the warlords.

"That’s right."

Yao Jin nodded, not hiding anything.

"Four warlords, including ’Iron Sand’ and Blackthorn, have formed an alliance. The war is at a stalemate right now."

"It’s not just us. The other branches have had some of their personnel requisitioned as well."

’Is that so.’

Lu Chao nodded, thinking for a moment.

The situation was more tense than he had expected. He had planned to make time for a trip to the wilderness to explore Nanyun Mountain, but it looked like he would have to postpone it for a while longer.

VMMMM!!

As he was thinking, a rush of air approached, and he looked up.

Beneath the glowing grid of the surface rock layer, a Superpower Bureau hovercar was slowly descending toward them.

"The Special Investigation Team is here," Yao Jin reminded him softly.

Lu Chao wasn’t surprised.

The two high-value targets from this hideout were to be handed over to the Special Investigation Team for interrogation. Rumor had it that there was someone on their team with a special superpower who had a unique talent for questioning.

And soon, as the cabin door opened, both of them looked over, and the other Superpower Members also glanced in that direction.

A group of people from the Special Investigation Team emerged. Their attire was mostly similar to that of the Superpower Bureau—standard black combat suits—but their armbands bore the insignia of a sword and shield.

The woman in the lead looked to be in her late twenties. She wore a black trench coat over her uniform and combat boots. Beneath her neat short hair, her features were quite delicate, but her aura was as cold as frost.

"Special Commissioner Liu."

Lu Chao and Yao Jin greeted her in unison as a sign of acknowledgment.

His intuition told him that her Life Energy was already over two hundred points. She was clearly an Exploration Level powerhouse.

"Take them away."

Unexpectedly, the woman known as Special Commissioner Liu just gave a curt nod, her expression cold.

Without another word, she stopped, her gaze passing over Lu Chao and Yao Jin to the two targets squatting on the ground. She waved her hand.

Her unapproachable demeanor was enough to make one raise an eyebrow.

But Lu Chao and Yao Jin exchanged a look, unsurprised.

She was rumored to be difficult to get along with. Her specialty was escorting high-value targets back to the Special Investigation Team, and she treated everyone with the same cold, brusque indifference.

However, Lu Chao’s eyes shifted slightly as he looked behind her.

Another figure was stepping out of the Special Investigation Team’s hovercar, not dressed in the uniform of the Superpower Bureau or the Special Investigation Team.

Instead, he wore a loose-fitting suit. He had a powerful build, a crew cut, and a familiar face.

Lu Chao’s gaze locked, and he froze on the spot.

"Supervisor Wei?"

"Leader Lu."

The man approached with a smile. "Long time no see."