Translator: AnubisTL
"Mr. Cigar?"
Hu Biao gazed at the man before him with a complex expression. The man seemed utterly out of place among them, and Hu Biao struggled to find the right words. This man was supposedly sent by the Jiang Cheng Company, a fact Hu Biao had confirmed with the company itself.
The man spoke with considerable arrogance, and his attire exuded an air of extravagance. Hu Biao couldn't think of any other way to describe the man's clothes except that they looked incredibly expensive—the kind he wouldn't dare buy even if he had tens of millions of star coins.
In truth, Hu Biao couldn't understand why the Jiang Cheng Company valued them so highly. Not only had they provided financial sponsorship in star coins, but they had also supplied firepower to help them break through the encirclement.
Though the firepower assistance had been a bit excessive.
And now, they had sent someone like this to assist them.
They were well aware of their own limitations, knowing there was nothing particularly special about them. Logically, they shouldn't warrant such attention from the Jiang Cheng Company. Yet the treatment they were receiving left them feeling both flattered and overwhelmed.
"Yes," Wang Jili replied, a smile playing on his lips. He turned to lean against the window, facing the men before him, and spread his arms wide, the cigar pinched between his fingers. "You can call me that, just like your Hu Biao. A code name is just a code name, isn't it?"
"I just came up with that code name. You're the first to know it. Consider it an honor."
"Hu Biao isn't a code name. It's my real name."
"Hmm, not bad. A decent name."
"Alright, enough."
Wang Jili clapped his hands, casually clamped the cigar between his teeth, and tapped his wrist. A holographic map materialized in the air. "Now, let's get down to business. About this operation."
"After all the chaos, you've ended up in a rather precarious situation. The federal government on Orange Red Star has placed you on their highest blacklist and officially issued warrants for your arrest."
"The bounty? Eight million star coins."
"Hmm."
He paused, then sighed dramatically. "To be honest, I think that bounty is a bit excessive for you. You clearly don't deserve such a high reward."
"Of course, that's not important. Let's get back to the main issue."
"Your current predicament stems from being stripped of your federal citizenship, making it nearly impossible to move freely on Orange Red Star. Additionally, Hu Biao, your mother is now in federal custody."
"The federation is likely still trying to persuade your mother to urge you to surrender. After all, they believe you still have filial piety, so this plan isn't entirely without merit."
"However, the number of federal citizens who died because of you is substantial. Given public outrage and pressure from higher-ups, the federation's patience won't last long—at most three days. After that, they'll use your mother's life to force your surrender."
"Yes, don't look at me like that. This is inevitable."
Wang Jili shrugged casually. "You're too low-level to understand how the federation operates. I've dealt with them extensively, so I know exactly what they'll do."
"Of course, this might create some negative consequences for the federation."
"Let me tell you what's going to happen next."
"In three days, or even sooner, the federation will release a news report claiming that a Chaotic Faction paid a heavy price to kidnap your mother. This faction will then openly use her life as leverage, demanding that you come to them willingly."
"After that, the federation will condemn this act and issue arrest warrants for both your group and the Chaotic Faction."
"The rest is self-explanatory. You should already have a good idea of how this story will end. I trust you're not naive enough to believe that because federal law states public officials cannot harm civilians without cause, your mother will actually be safe and well-cared for in federal custody, perhaps even allowed to live out her days there?"
"The cosmos is teeming with Chaotic Factions."
Wang Jili clamped a cigar between his teeth, his voice drifting casually from behind a haze of pale blue smoke as he leaned against the wall, elbows propped on the windowsill. "In truth, many of the more notorious Chaotic Factions actually serve the federation."
"They don't serve the federation full-time. They only act when the federation approaches them."
"And they charge exorbitant star coin fees."
"After all, there are some matters the federation can't handle directly. But most Chaotic Factions aren't exactly thrilled when the federation finds them. You know how it is—some truths need to be buried forever in the currents of history, all traces erased."
"In such cases, the federation's bandit suppression operations become both righteous and inevitable, don't you think?"
"Why wouldn't they be happy?" Hu Biao frowned, genuinely puzzled. "Didn't you say the federation pays handsomely in star coins? Birds die for food, men for wealth. If the price is high enough, why would any Chaotic Faction refuse?"
"Well said," Wang Jili chuckled, turning to Hu Biao. "But why do you assume only desperate men would die for money?"
"The federation promises a fortune, but what actually ends up in their hands is often less than a tenth of the stated amount."
"The Chaotic Faction sounds intimidating, but they're really just a pack of dogs. They can't even bark twice when they're bullied—if they do, a new round of bandit suppression campaigns will erupt with great fanfare."
"And this time, if I'm not mistaken, the federation is already secretly searching for a Chaotic Faction to carry out this mission."
"Fortunately, I have some connections. There's an eighty percent chance I can ensure the federation chooses a faction I can manipulate."
Hu Biao paused, a flicker of shock in his eyes, and murmured, "So our plan is to wait for the federation to approach us, then openly extract the target?"
"Roughly, yes."
Wang Jili nodded with satisfaction. "Of course, this is just a general outline. You don't need to know the specifics—there are too many variables, and everything will need to adapt in real-time."
"Just confirm the mission objectives for me. It's just your bedridden mother, right?"
"No, there's one more."
Hu Biao shook his head, his expression darkening slightly. "There's also my sister, Hu Yue. If possible, I want her alive. But if the cost is too high, eliminate her on the spot."
"No problem," Wang Jili replied with a relaxed smile. "Actually, I'm a businessman. While my business practices might be a bit extreme at times, this is the first time I've planned an operation like this."
"But I'm confident the results will be satisfactory."
(End of the Chapter)
Translator's Corner
🎁Read anywhere from 30-80 Chapters Ahead on the site for FREE!
🔓 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦 — 13 Series (7 Ongoing) | 14+ New Chapters Daily | 7,200+ FREE