The elderly white man introduced himself as Kevin. He ran a small shipping company, and business had been going fairly well. The contract he was putting out this time was for a vendetta.
"His name is Lee Austin, a mob boss in the Bronx. Six years ago, he came to me offering 'security services' for my company, demanding an annual fee of two million federal dollars.
"The so-called security service was nothing more than extortion. They never actually protect you—it's just an excuse for strong-arm robbery. At the time, my business was at a critical juncture and strapped for cash, so I turned him down.
"Because of that, my family faced Lee Austin's threats. He swore he'd kill my wife and sell my daughter into the Bronx as the lowest kind of whore to sleep with the scummiest bastards. I had some connections in New York and wasn't afraid of mob harassment, so I hired a private security team to protect my family around the clock while also going to the police. But the worst still happened..."
At this point, Kevin picked up his coffee and took a sip. As the bitter liquid lingered on his tongue, equally bitter memories surged uncontrollably in his heart.
"Three days after I went to the police, my daughter was abducted on her way home from school. The bodyguards were shot dead. A gang of thugs broke into my house, gang-raped my wife, and murdered her right there. The police department took over the case, but nothing came of it. They claimed there was no evidence linking Lee Austin to my wife's murder or my daughter's abduction.
"They also said Lee Austin had no fixed address, was ruthless and bloodthirsty, and was an extremely dangerous gangster, telling me to just wait at home for updates. Anyone could see those tax-dollar-wasting parasites simply didn't want to get involved. Not long after, I received a letter from Austin. It said that if I didn't want my daughter to die, I had to pay the two million a year in protection fees as originally demanded.
"I had no choice but to give in. Every year, Austin sent me a video of my daughter to prove she was still alive, reminding me that if I didn't want her dead, I had better pay up quietly. All these years, I never dared remarry, let alone have another child.
"I never gave up looking for her. I hired private investigators, sought help from the police, and even reached out to rival gangs, but nothing worked.
"Later on, a police captain on good terms with me dropped a hint that Lee Austin wasn't an ordinary human—that his kind was extraordinarily dangerous, and the only way to deal with someone like that was to find his own kind. He pointed me toward the Bounty Hunter Guild."
Kevin stared intently at Zhang Yuanqing. "Only after contacting the Bounty Hunter Guild did I understand why the police feared and dreaded Lee Austin. As it turns out, people with superpowers really exist in this world. Lee Austin is one, and so are you."
*Lee Austin is a Spirit Realm walker. No wonder he was so arrogant...* Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "Did that captain never mention Heaven's Punishment to you?"
"Heaven's Punishment?"
"Never mind. Go on." Zhang Yuanqing had initially thought to educate the businessman, but quickly realized that the police department and Heaven's Punishment operated hand in hand, just like the Public Security Bureau and the Five Elements Alliance back home.
There was no way Heaven's Punishment didn't know about a six-year-old case and Kevin's ongoing extortion. The most likely explanation was that the gang boss, Lee Austin, had significant backing rather than being a lone rogue. Heaven's Punishment either hesitated out of caution or simply couldn't be bothered to intervene.
In the Second District, quite a few evil classes and rogues remained at large despite carrying mountains of bloody crimes on their shoulders.
Not every law enforcer was willing to shed blood and lay down their lives just to bring criminals to justice.
Furthermore, Spirit Realm walkers were constrained by Morality Points and wouldn't commit crimes with high, non-stop frequency, making them relatively more controllable than ordinary serial psychotics.
Kevin nodded and continued, "I found out that Lee Austin is also registered as a bounty hunter, which is why I didn't dare post the mission publicly—he would see it. But even meeting hunters privately felt unsafe to me, because I might end up hiring one of Austin's associates.
"Someone told me your circle is quite small. Even if people aren't friends, they likely know each other."
A flash of realization crossed Zhang Yuanqing's mind. Looking at the old man's face, he said, "So you had the guild assign a superhuman from abroad?"
Kevin shook his head. "What truly gave me the opportunity to issue this bounty was hearing that Austin's backer was recently wiped out by a police special operations unit. Austin is on their must-kill list as well, but that cunning bastard went into hiding, and the incompetent police haven't been able to locate him."
*So this Lee Austin belongs to an evil class backed by an evil organization, and his support has collapsed. Tsk, looks like the clash between the Merchant Guild and the Dionysus Club has already begun...* Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Aside from killing Lee Austin, do you need me to find your daughter?"
With his star-gazing abilities, tracking down an ordinary human would be effortless.
A flicker of sorrow washed over Kevin's eyes. "My daughter is already dead. After Austin fled, the police raided several of his hideouts and rescued many women forced into prostitution. According to the testimony of one of the prostitutes, my daughter died two years ago. Forced to service countless clients every day in the slums, she caught an illness and succumbed to it. When she was snatched, she was only sixteen—still a child...
"Those videos Austin sent me were all prerecorded. That motherfucking son of a bitch."
*Looks like the First District needs a purge from Demonic Eye as well...* Zhang Yuanqing gathered the photograph from the table. "Mr. Kevin, I accept your mission. Under guild protocol for assassination commissions, you can choose between receiving his severed head or photographic proof."
Kevin's jaw muscles clenched, his expression turning slightly savage. After a few seconds, he reined in his emotions and spoke in a raspy voice, "I have no desire to see that filthy head."
Zhang Yuanqing gave a slight nod. "Then tomorrow, at this exact time, in this same restaurant, I'll meet you with the photo. Have the money ready."
He had originally intended to say that if the target had already fled New York, he would drop the commission. But on second thought, as long as the bastard was still within the Free Confederation, he would hunt him down at all costs.
*Demonic Eye is me, and I am Demonic Eye.*
Since it was now lunchtime, he led Annie out of the restaurant, caught a cab, and headed to another eatery a street over.
Sitting across the table, Annie took a sip of the lemon water brought over by the server and asked in confusion, "Mr. Yuanshi, why didn't we just eat at the restaurant we were already in?"
"It's the same reason action heroes in your Free Confederation movies never look back at explosions."
"To look cool?"
"Don't be so blunt. It's about elevating a hunter's style."
As they bantered casually while waiting for the food, Zhang Yuanqing heard rapid chimes ringing from his phone as messages poured in one after another.
He picked it up and saw Asano Ryo posting in the group chat:
[Asano Ryo: Aaaahhh?! Yuanshi-kun, you're alive? Are you really alive?]
[Asano Ryo: Wuuu... wuuu wuuu...]
[Asano Ryo: Did you guys find someone to cosplay as Yuanshi-kun? Everyone, I miss Yuanshi-kun too!]
[Asano Ryo: Did you change Yuanshi-kun's name to Tongtian Sect Master because facing his old ID was too painful? My heart is breaking!]
[Brother Red Chicken: What is she rambling about?]
[Xiahou Aotian: Sounds like a lunatic. I don't understand a single word.]
[Sun Miaomiao: Uh, did she not know Yuanshi was resurrected?!]
[Guan Ya: We didn't pull her in the day we entered the dungeon. Judging by her reaction, she probably hasn't checked the chat these past few days...]
The group chat fell dead silent.
The Japanese high school girl had such a faint presence that everyone had completely forgotten about her.
*Was that what happened?* Asano Ryo stopped crying, staring dumbfounded at her screen. After a dozen seconds, she sent a tentative message:
[Asano Ryo: Yuanshi-kun... really came back to life?]
[Tongtian Sect Master: Oh, sorry, I forgot about you. Ryo-chan, I'm alive. But keep it secret, don't leak it.]
A notification pinged as Asano Ryo sent a voice message. A stream of rapid, tearful Japanese tumbled out, choked with sobs.
[Tongtian Sect Master: Speak Chinese, drop the gibberish.]
[Asano Ryo: Everyone thought you were dead! The organization assigned me to Heaven's Punishment as an intern. I'm in Manhattan, New York, serving as a Rank 2 Bronze Inspector.]
*What a coincidence. Ryo-chan is in New York too? A Rank 2 Inspector...* Zhang Yuanqing's interest was piqued, and he switched to a direct message.
[Tongtian Sect Master: You're in Manhattan? Do you know Winnie Berent?]
[Asano Ryo: She's my direct superior! We met just this morning. Oh, by the way, she asked me about the members of Return of the Dead. She knows you were the Demon Lord's successor and seemed very interested in a portable speaker item.]
Once a member of Return of the Dead, always a member—Ryo-chan sold out Winnie Berent without hesitation.
*The Demon Lord left behind so many items, yet this woman is only interested in the Elvis speaker. Tsk, it's definitely not for the fluid-dispensing videos recorded inside—could it be for the information stored in it?*
*The Elvis speaker recorded the Demon Lord's every word and action, including conversations with outsiders. There might be intel inside of unimaginable value...*
*I was just worrying about keeping track of Winnie Berent's movements, and Ryo-chan has already infiltrated the enemy camp. Nicely done, Ryo-chan.* Zhang Yuanqing typed back:
[Give her information on Guan Ya, Sun Miaomiao, and Zhao Chenghuang. Also, tell her that all my relics were handed over to Fu Qingyang and Guan Ya.]
[Asano Ryo: Got it! Yuanshi-kun, can I report to you in person?]
She felt too shy to say she missed him.
[Tongtian Sect Master: Lay low for now. When the time comes, I'll find you.]
***
Late at night, on the rooftop of the red brick apartment building.
Zhang Yuanqing retrieved the Great Luo Astrolabe and placed it on his lap, then laid out Lee Austin's photo and dossier.
Lee Austin was a member of the Biological Alchemy Society, Level 3, belonging to the class "Toxic Chemist"—one of the three major evil classes of the First District.
A Toxic Chemist's core abilities revolved around lethal toxins and petrification, backed by formidable close-quarters combat prowess that far outstripped Orderly classes of the same level.
This dossier had been provided by Asano Ryo. Lee Austin was on Heaven's Punishment's wanted list, so they kept detailed records on him.
Zhang Yuanqing turned the Great Luo Astrolabe and opened his Star Eyes.
***
Kings County.
Inside a dingy dive bar in the slums.
Lee Austin had his arm wrapped around a scantily clad white prostitute as he spat a thick glob of phlegm onto the floor.
The bar reeked of stale cigarettes, cheap booze, body odor, and concentrated pheromones. Graffiti plastered every wall, and the women here were every bit as foul-mouthed and rough as the men.
The clientele consisted of hoodlums, gang members, and idle street riffraff, predominantly thick-lipped men of darker skin, while the women were cheap streetwalkers available for fifty dollars a pop.
This bar was one of the Biological Alchemy Society's footholds. The owner was Henry—"Demon Hound Henry."
A Saint-stage Aberrant.
Lee Austin hadn't fled New York; he had taken refuge right here.
It wasn't that he didn't want to run, but that he couldn't.
The war between the Dionysus Club and the Merchant Guild had erupted, dragging the Biological Alchemy Society into the fray. Every member was ordered to assemble and remain on standby, ready to receive assignments at any moment.
Amidst the strobe lights flashing in chaotic light pollution, Austin shoved the woman aside, walked up to the bar counter, and grumbled, "The broads here can't even get me hard. No fighting, no killing—this life is getting painfully boring. I feel like I'm serving prison time."
The bartender, dressed in a faded uniform, glanced at him and remarked calmly, "I know you're pissed off. Heaven's Punishment raided your den, your crew scattered, and the girls making you cash were rescued. But this is wartime.
"During a war, losses are unavoidable. As long as we win, the women, the cash, the power—it'll all come back."
Lee Austin shrugged, letting out a sleazy chuckle. "I'm going to bag a few of Heaven's Punishment's female enforcement officers. Those bitches must taste incredible."
Just then, a hand reached out from the side, sliding a photograph across the counter and placing it right in front of Lee Austin.
Then came a cool, detached voice:
"Are you Lee Austin? Turn your head so I can get a proper look. You foreigners all look the same to me; I'm a bit face-blind."
Chapter 657