Chapter 20: Authority and Persuasion!

“Have you ever used this ability on me?” Zhou Quan asked calmly.

Ni Hao hurriedly shook her head like a rattle.

She said fearfully, “I didn’t get the chance to use it. You killed the monkey before I could, and after that, I knelt before you, not daring to act rashly.”

The Gray Night Society consisted of three members in total, and she occupied the support role.

Discussing cooperation, seeking illicit gains, fighting for interests...

Tonight, she came with the monkey man to drug Zhou Quan, hoping to make him willingly hand over his assets.

But Zhou Quan killed so swiftly that she never got to act; it was all over before it began.

Zhou Quan nodded slightly.

He believed Ni Hao’s words because he held no goodwill toward her now.

“Keep moving,” he said indifferently.

Ni Hao dared not speak further. She gritted her teeth and carried the massive rocking chair out.

Her silhouette appeared strange, somewhat like Lin Daiyu lifting Lu Zhishen—an odd and discordant image.

After a while, Ni Hao returned to the villa.

She was drenched in sweat, and the exotic scent on her body grew stronger; even several meters away, Zhou Quan could clearly smell it.

Zhou Quan gazed intently at Ni Hao.

She felt his stare and trembled involuntarily.

Then her expression changed; she straightened her ample chest proudly and smiled with a mix of confidence and guilt.

Zhou Quan spoke slowly, “If one day I find out you’ve used your ability on me, I will tear you apart alive, just like your two teammates.”

Ni Hao’s smile froze.

At that moment, a few lines of small text appeared before Zhou Quan’s eyes.

[Maliciously threatening a female subordinate, immoral conduct, depraved character, unworthy of being human]

[Reward: “Authority” granted]

Zhou Quan immediately felt a weight at his waist.

Authority?

He subtly looked down and pinched something through the blanket at his waist. A hard texture met his fingertips.

This was...

Zhou Quan’s pupils contracted.

He had never touched such an item in reality, but its shape was easy to imagine.

A handgun!

It was definitely a handgun!

He drew “Authority” from his waist, and sure enough, it was a pure white pistol.

The gun’s body was pristine and delicate, as if carved from ivory.

Zhou Quan was instantly delighted.

Compared to the persistent Sky Piercer rocket aimed at the moon, the “Authority” pistol was undoubtedly much more practical.

If the gun is called Authority, what are the bullets called?

Persuasion?

He opened the magazine; there were seven bullets inside, looking to be made of the same material as the gun, exquisite like works of art.

He wondered about their power.

Next time in simulation, he could give it a try.

“Wait for me a moment,” Zhou Quan instructed.

He went upstairs to his room, changed into clean clothes, strapped the Authority pistol to his belt, and then returned to the hall.

“Let’s go. Take me to find Chen Angxi.”

He walked toward the villa’s exit, brushing past Ni Hao.

Li Muchi closely followed Zhou Quan.

His shadow was concealed within Zhou Quan’s, making it seem as if Li Muchi had no shadow of his own or was merely part of Zhou Quan’s shadow.

“Big Sister, keep up with us,” Li Muchi said as he passed Ni Hao, tugging at her pant leg and offering a friendly smile.

Ni Hao snapped back to reality.

She hurriedly lifted her legs and left the villa with Zhou Quan.

Zhou Quan drove, carrying the two down the highway. Without looking back, he asked, “Address?”

“Room 2106, Fengyu Grand Hotel, Binhe Road,” Ni Hao gave the exact location.

Zhou Quan nodded.

From his house to Binhe Road was about a twenty-minute drive. Taking into account the time just spent, it would just offset the thirty-minute cooldown of the White Wolf King identity card.

Chen Angxi should be understanding… right?

...

“She’s dead?” Father Charles sat on the bed, clutching his phone, eyes widening.

A reproachful voice came from the phone: “Idiot, don’t you even watch the news?”

Charles was speechless.

He glanced at the clock on his phone; it was three in the morning, a time for sleep.

Who watches the news at this hour?

He looked helpless.

“Sir, I don’t understand.”

He asked doubtfully, “Weng Lin is the most resilient among us. She survived even when torn into pieces. How could she suddenly die?”

Who killed Weng Lin?

He involuntarily pondered the question, and suddenly, Roanie’s voice echoed in his mind.

A lunatic!

I’m sure he’s a lunatic!

Charles frowned.

Could the killer be the lunatic who killed Annie?

Very likely.

An enemy targeting their organization and sending a powerful assassin to eliminate them was not unimaginable.

At this thought, Charles felt immense pressure.

The organization’s presence in this city was shallow, with only three people arranged.

There was me, the alias Father, gathering intelligence; Roanie, collecting sacrifices under the guise of charity; and Weng Lin, who usurped the position of the diva.

Now Roanie and Weng Lin were dead. Would the next be me?

Suddenly, all his sleepiness vanished.

Cold sweat broke out across Charles’s back.

His ability was to resurrect the dead and had no combat power, plus he worked in the church during the day.

If the enemy suddenly attacked him, he wouldn’t even be able to resist!

“Dead is dead. If you want to know how she died, go and ask her corpse,” the voice on the phone grew impatient.

“You three good-for-nothings!”

“The organization has trained you for so many years, but at the crucial moment, you’re useless!”

“Do you want to taste the organization’s punishment?”

The voice was filled with anger.

Charles shuddered at the thought of the organization’s terrifying methods.

Sweating profusely, he said, “Sorry, sir.”

The voice on the phone paused for two seconds, seemingly calming its anger.

After a moment, the other party asked, “Can you still continue the mission to take over the city?”

“Tell the truth,” the voice warned.

“If you exaggerate by even a word, you’re dead!”

Charles looked troubled.

He said anxiously, “Annie and Weng Lin, who knew how to perform sacrifices, are dead. I’m not good at that. I can’t continue the mission unless you provide support.”

“Support is already being prepared,” the voice on the phone hesitated, “Before support arrives, use all your connections in this city to investigate carefully. Find out who is opposing the organization.”

“If you find out, you may redeem yourself.”

“If you don’t…”

The voice sneered coldly.

Beep beep beep—

The call ended, followed by a long, irritating busy signal.

Charles clenched his phone, completely awake.

Annie died, then Weng Lin. The enemy was clearly targeting the three of them.

Even without the organization’s orders, he would investigate the enemy’s identity with all his might.

Otherwise, he would likely be the next to die.

Charles took a deep breath and took a contact book from the bedside table.

He flipped through it and found a number circled in red ink.

“Director Wang, sorry to disturb you so late. I heard the diva Weng Lin was murdered?”

For many, tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.