Chapter 380 - 201: Bringing News

Their faces were indistinct in the darkness, but their eyes gleamed.

"Brother Jia, I'll make this quick." Wan Ze let go of Zhai Jia's arm and shoved his hands into his pockets. He turned slightly away from Zhai Jia, his gaze fixed on the building. "Someone dug up everything on Old Zhao—and I mean they've got him dead to rights. Also, Old Zhao told me to kill someone tonight."

Zhai Jia's eyebrows shot up. A thought seemed to strike him, and he leaned in closer. "You mean the one inside? Who is it? Do I know them?"

"Xiao Ya. The deputy director of the Secret Palace's eastern region operations," Wan Ze said in a low voice. "She has evidence that could get Zhao Henian killed, which is why Old Zhao wanted me to take her out. But she already has a mole on his team. She knows everything, crystal clear."

Zhai Jia's eyes widened slightly, but his lips only twitched. He didn't interrupt, waiting for Wan Ze to continue.

"Including the translation," Wan Ze said.

Zhai Jia froze.

His brow furrowed.

He suddenly lowered his voice, hissing in anger, "Zhao Henian, that bastard... He's so fucking incompetent! Can't even handle something this simple!"

"Ah Ze, so what's the plan now?" Zhai Jia asked, looking at Wan Ze.

Things had already reached this point; they had to find a way out.

Wan Ze, on the other hand, was perfectly calm.

He leaned against the trunk of a plane tree, musing, "Xiao Ya wants to work with us. She's willing to pay ten million in cash, in installments. And... she controls an auction house conglomerate. We could set up a new company as a joint venture, and we'd find a proxy to hold our shares."

Zhai Jia grew pensive.

"I'm interested in antiques, so I'm inclined to agree," Wan Ze said after a moment's thought, choosing his words carefully. "But there's a problem."

Zhai Jia looked up at him.

Wan Ze explained how he had posed as Old Tan. In front of Xiao Ya, he had naturally used the alias "Old Tan," and from start to finish, she never suspected he wasn't "one of Wan Ze's men" but Wan Ze himself.

After hearing the whole story, Zhai Jia was completely stunned.

"Holy shit!"

"Well, that's a new one."

He stared at Wan Ze for two seconds, then wiped a hand over his face in disbelief. "So she has no idea you're Wan Ze? Damn, Ah Ze, you and Brother Yu... you tactical thinkers are some real devious bastards."

Wan Ze rolled his eyes. "Why, thank you."

Zhai Jia couldn't help but laugh. "Damn. Alright, stop messing around. What's the plan?"

Wan Ze fell into thought. He straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest. His gaze drifted to the lit-up building for a couple of seconds before returning to Zhai Jia. "Here's what I'm thinking: someone needs to pose as me. I'll continue playing Old Tan. As for Zhao Henian... if he's still alive, he'll definitely contact me."

Hearing this, Zhai Jia gave him a surprised look, as if trying to tell whether he was joking.

But Wan Ze's expression told him it was no joke.

"That confident?" Zhai Jia asked.

Wan Ze calmly replied, "If Zhao Henian survives this, it means he's a smart man. He can be a bit stupid at times, but in a situation like this, he's bound to realize he has a traitor in his midst. He'll be asking himself, 'Who wants me dead? Who stands to gain everything I have?' So, if he makes it out alive, he's going to look for an ally. And who can he turn to? I'm his only ally in the Holy City."

Wan Ze looked down at the dark shadow cast by the plane tree's canopy and said with a sigh, "From the very beginning, I never had a reason to want him dead. Cooperating with him is the only way to guarantee a steady stream of income. He has to understand that, too."

Zhai Jia nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. But what about the woman upstairs?"

Wan Ze chuckled. "Our interests don't actually conflict. Xiao Ya's offer tonight isn't just to save her own skin; she sees potential in us. Likewise, I see potential in her. This woman is no ordinary person. Old Zhao has taken a massive fall this time. Even if he survives, it'll be a long time before he has any chance of a comeback."

At that thought, the anger Zhai Jia had just suppressed flared up again. "Zhao Henian, that bastard! Now the final payment is completely gone!"

Wan Ze looked at him and chuckled. "Xiao Ya said she'd cover the final payment Zhao Henian owes us. In fact, she'll double it."

The angry expression on Zhai Jia's face froze.

"Whoa! Now that's generous!" Zhai Jia's eyes lit up. "I really want to get a look at this badass who managed to tame Zhao Henian so thoroughly."

Wan Ze raised an eyebrow. "Then you'd be perfect for the role of me. Just remember to wear a mask."

"Er..." Zhai Jia stiffened.

Wan Ze let out a couple of gloating chuckles. "Is my dear Brother Jia chickening out already?"

"Bullshit, who's chickening out?" Zhai Jia's voice clearly lacked conviction. He mumbled sullenly, "I was just... uh... figuring out how we're going to handle this."

He couldn't stop his gaze from drifting toward the building.

He was genuinely afraid he'd break character. What if Xiao Ya said something unexpected and he couldn't hold back a laugh? The whole setup would be ruined.

But he was also dying to meet this formidable woman who'd put Zhao Henian in his place. What kind of person could go from "hunted target" to "negotiating partner" in a single night?

Now that took some serious skill.

And for her to earn praise from Wan Ze... she was definitely no ordinary person.

Wan Ze watched Zhai Jia's hesitation without rushing him.

He knew what Zhai Jia was thinking, and he knew what his final decision would be.

Brother Jia wasn't hesitating out of fear. He was hesitating because he needed to find a reason to go that wouldn't make him lose face.

Zhai Jia was silent for a few seconds before suddenly looking up. "Ah Ze, I've got an idea. Why don't we have Brother Yu play you? He's a block of wood, just like you. I can't do it. I'm afraid I'll get distracted by her charms and screw up the whole operation."

Wan Ze: "..."

Speechless.

He gave Zhai Jia a thumbs-up, holding it in front of him for two seconds.

Zhai Jia just grinned cheekily, not looking the least bit embarrassed.

"Alright, contact Brother Yu. Tell him to come save the day," Wan Ze said, lowering his hand and turning serious.