DING!
"Congratulations, Host, for killing your first Spiritual Body in your Demon Hunter career. You will receive the following rewards:
1. Storage Space doubled
2. Lifespan increased by 0.1 year
3. 3 points to Mental Attribute, 2 points to Spiritual Power Attributes
4. Passive Skills: Traceless Step on Snow, Firearms Mastery"
"Apply all!"
Without any hesitation, Chu Feng immediately opted to apply the system's rewards to himself.
Host: Chu Feng
Identity: Demon Hunter
Lifespan: 80.1
Strength: 10
Physique: 10
Spirit: 13
Spiritual Power: 12
Skills: Traceless Step on Snow (Passive), Firearms Mastery (Passive)
Items: Low-Level Spirit-Seeking Compass, M17 pistol and several magazines
Chu Feng casually tossed the now-empty salt container to one side. Firearms Mastery was self-explanatory, so he didn't bother checking it further. With a thought, he opened the details for the newly acquired Traceless Step on Snow.
Traceless Step on Snow (Passive):
1. Significantly increases the Host's movement speed.
2. The Host leaves no trace wherever they pass (intentional traces excluded).
Good skill!
Looking at the ground covered with fine white salt, Chu Feng stepped onto it. After taking a few steps, he looked back. Indeed, there were no footprints left behind!
After closing the system panel, a very pleased Chu Feng promptly left Bowman's house. Problem solved, time to collect my fee!
He pushed open the door of the house, but Bowman and James were nowhere to be seen.
Chu Feng's expression darkened. Did those two black guys try to skip out on the payment and run?
Just as Chu Feng was feeling annoyed about being scammed right after arriving in America, the corner of his eye caught sight of a black man sleeping soundly on the lawn not too far away. Upon closer inspection, wasn't that James?
He quickly walked over to where James was lying, only to find a noticeable lump on the back of James's head and his clothes disheveled. Thankfully, the rise and fall of his chest indicated he had merely passed out.
Chu Feng looked around at the messy ground. Looks like while I was inside brutally dealing with the Bound Spirit, these two blacks were outside getting beaten up!
He turned and went back inside Bowman's house, found a bottle of ice water in the fridge, returned to the lawn where James was, and poured the entire bottle of ice water over James's dark face.
"Oh~f**k..."
After the ice water was poured on him, James, who was lying on the ground, finally reacted. With painful curses, he struggled for a while and finally managed to sit up, clutching the bump on his head.
"James, what happened? Where is Bowman?" Chu Feng looked down, his gaze icy as he stared at the figure at his feet.
Just awakened and still somewhat groggy, James was jolted alert by Chu Feng's abrupt and chilly voice.
"Chu, did you solve the problem with the house?"
"Of course! So, may I inquire as to where my payment is?"
"Your payment? It's still with Bowman, but he was just abducted by the Black Wolf Gang. I'm guessing that five thousand US dollars went into the Black Wolf Gang's pockets too!" James propped himself up with his hands, struggling to his feet, and said bitterly.
"Black Wolf Gang? What do they do?"
"They're a black gang in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. They're not numerous, but there's nothing they don't do – robbery, murder, drug trafficking, you name it."
At the mention of the Black Wolf Gang, James was visibly scared, his slender frame shaking violently.
"A black gang? Aren't you also black? And how did Bowman offend them?" Chu Feng asked with some confusion, not very familiar with African Americans.
"Yeah, we are black, but what does that matter?" James looked at his own black skin with a complex expression and continued, "Bowman used to be a member of the Black Wolf Gang. He left a long time ago, but it seems they still haven't let him off the hook."
With that explanation, Chu Feng understood. It was nothing more than the usual petty squabbles within underworld gangs, which didn't have much to do with him. However, Bowman still had his five thousand US dollars, and he definitely needed to get that back!
"Do you know where the Black Wolf Gang took Bowman?"
"The Black Wolf Gang isn't large and has only one fixed stronghold in New York, which is in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen."
"What about calling the police?"
Faced with Chu Feng's sudden suggestion, James was a bit stunned. "What? Call the police?"
"That's right. We know who took Bowman and where they are. So why not call the police?"
Chu Feng had no interest in playing the hero. Since this was America, he actually wouldn't mind if things here became even more chaotic. He even wanted to see firsthand how the American police clashed with gangs.
Hearing Chu Feng's words, James shook his head. "Those bigwigs at the New York Police Department don't have time to care about us common folk at the bottom! Since the beginning of the year, tales of ghosts, Evil Spirits, and the like have been spreading widely online. Consequently, America has been thrown into complete chaos. There are protests and strikes every day, shooting incidents have become more frequent, and some bizarre cults have even emerged. All the New York cops are probably squatting by the walls in wealthy districts by now! I'm a black man, and even I haven't seen a New York cop in a long time."
Hearing James's scornful words, Chu Feng gained a general understanding of the current situation in America.
"In that case, James, get in your car and take me to the Black Wolf Gang's hideout!"
Although James initially refused, faced with the M17 handgun that Chu Feng had seemingly conjured from thin air, he decisively chose to comply.
The yellow taxi, after nearly two hours of driving, finally managed to evade the numerous "protest crowds" engaged in "0-dollar shopping" on the streets and entered the most chaotic community in New York City: Hell's Kitchen.
Hell's Kitchen was in utter chaos. As Chu Feng and James made their way through, they saw streets littered with staggering addicts and gang members openly selling drugs. Peppered among them, from time to time, were motionless bodies on the ground. Adding to the pandemonium, gunshots, like popping beans, echoed frequently from nearby streets.
Is New York really this free now? Chu Feng mused.
Faced with Chu Feng's teasing, James shrugged and said, "Welcome to America, the land of the free!"
Soon, the yellow taxi carrying the two of them stopped at a distance outside an abandoned small workshop.
"That small workshop is the Black Wolf Gang's stronghold."
Following James's gaze, Chu Feng's sharp eyes instantly spotted two young black men guarding the workshop entrance, each with a gun tucked into their waistband.
Aware that his own strength wasn't yet sufficient, Chu Feng stayed put in the taxi for another hour. It wasn't until darkness enveloped the land that he emerged from the vehicle.
After instructing James to drive away, Chu Feng opened the system store and purchased a bulletproof vest, which he put on. Then, covering his face with a hat and mask, he stealthily made his way toward the Black Wolf Gang's stronghold.