Chapter 167: Bring Shen He Back, Miss Lin Yue - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

Chapter 167: Bring Shen He Back, Miss Lin Yue "Oh? Is that so?" Upon hearing Yu Xingchuan's report, Xu Shi nodded. He didn't seem overly surprised. Instead, he smiled at Gu Yi, as if to say, 'I told you so.' "Of course!" The response from the terminal was pleasantly cheerful, "Shall I snap a photo for you?" In just a few seconds, her selfie arrived—a young girl, clad in the Inspection Bureau's uniform, was perched atop a mound of bodies, her hair in disarray and her wounds hastily bandaged. Despite it all, she gleefully flashed a V-sign. "My goodness, what on earth is this?" Xu Shi was momentarily taken aback. It was mainly Zhao Yuan's beastly transformation that caught him off guard. Even in death, he hadn't reverted to his human form, and the monstrous appearance—bloodied and gruesome—was too much for young eyes. As for the rest of the "Forgotten Ones", the photo revealed a grim scene—numerous casualties, though Yu Xingchuan hadn't completely annihilated them. In fact, only a minority were utterly destroyed, while the majority were firmly subdued. "I didn't deceive you, did I? Director Xu?" The adjutant lady giggled. "Nicely done." Xu Shi's tone held a hint of praise. "It's what I should do, you're flattering me." Yu Xingchuan fawned servilely, "As long as you're satisfied, then my effort wasn't in vain." "It wasn't too exhausting, was it?" Xu Shi chuckled, "I suspect these people weren't all apprehended by the Inspection Bureau, right? It seems like they were never truly united internally." "How... do you know that?" The adjutant asked, surprised. "Indeed, some of the 'Forgotten Ones' switched sides, making our job much easier..." Of course, it's not to say she couldn't have managed without defectors, but the assistance certainly made things smoother. Could this have been another part of Xu Shi's grand design? Yu Xingchuan wondered, even though she had learned much about him from shadowing Tang Shuang, she still found herself occasionally astonished by his unexpected insights. "Well, fewer casualties mean saving some budget for your Director Tang." Xu Shi shifted the topic, "She's come to me, lamenting about her tight budget more than once." "Haha, indeed..." The adjutant laughed awkwardly, "So, about what you promised me earlier, after this is done..." "Oh? What did I promise you?" Xu Shi feigned ignorance, teasingly. "You said if I could control the situation outside the city, you'd support me in becoming the head of the Inspection Bureau?" Yu Xingchuan rolled her eyes in secret, but outwardly, her joy was uncontainable. "Did I say that? Oh, right, right, I did." Xu Shi smacked his forehead in mock realization, "I did say that, didn't I? Surely you weren't just working hard for that reason? Fighting crime seems like your primary duty." "Well..." The adjutant stammered, secretly thinking he's not about to go back on his word, is he? In truth, if not for his promise, she wouldn't have pushed herself to this extent... Rational thinking could have led to delaying the assault until the city defenses activated, wiping them out effortlessly. Taking charge was purely to leave a good impression on Xu Shi. Capability is one thing, intent to utilize it is another. "Now I feel assured by your words." While she was lost in thought, Xu Shi spoke slowly, "So don't worry, I'm quite the man of my word when it comes to business promises." "But since you found this task so easy, I feel like I'm short-changing you... How about adding something else?" As he spoke, he changed the topic, "Like... coming to my company afterward, spending a night with me? Let me enact a little 'unspoken rule'?" "Are you serious?" Hearing this, Yu Xingchuan's voice noticeably grew louder, but a moment later, her laugh sounded even more genuine. "Not impossible, I suppose... What type do you like? I can prepare accordingly." Both Xia Ke'an and Gu Yi were stunned. Was this truly the adjutant of the Inspection Bureau? She held a position akin to deputy director. But listening to this conversation, one might think Xu Shi had hired a high-class escort instead... Xu Shi's call was on speaker, so they heard every word. "Hahaha, just joking." Xu Shi laughed heartily, "How could I change the terms agreed upon? Not to mention assisting you now, Yu, in the future, I might need your help when you're a director." "...I knew it, Xu isn't that kind of person." After a moment's silence, her voice conveyed, "I always tell others you're sincere and polite... By the way, any instructions for the captives?" "Just hold them for now." Xu Shi waved his hand, "As for your team, remain on standby. Without my orders, no one is to return to the city. Understand?" "Okay." The adjutant acknowledged, exchanging pleasantries before ending the call. "Wow, you see how devious he is?" Xia Ke'an nudged Gu Yi's shoulder, speaking with a hint of admiration. "Yeah, I see it." Miss Black Rabbit, too, put aside her reservations momentarily and chimed in. It could be said that Xu Shi is a master in the subtle art of manipulation. Having spent time learning under Old Man Wen, Gu Yi had gained a keen ear for conversation undertones, full of coded messages. The position of Inspection Bureau Director promised to Yu Xingchuan was real, but Xu Shi's message was clear—you're a cog in my plan, an executor, but I remain the primary claimant to the rewards, and how they are distributed is up to me. There were undeniable undertones, like referencing Tang Shuang's complaints about budget constraints—it wasn't mere banter, but a veiled jab... hinting that Yu Xingchuan was partly to blame for the financial issues. The implication was clear: you can become a director, but there are boundaries you still must respect. As for the suggestion of spending the night, whether serious or jest, it was undoubtedly an attempt to gauge her. One thing was certain, though: Xu Shi had not used his unique abilities on Yu Xingchuan, but the result was still the same. Xia Ke'an nodded sagely. Well, look at that, you actually grasped it well. All the words were practically spoken by you, so what can I say...? Wait, how do I respond then? "Still, this adjutant isn’t simple." Luckily, there was more to add, saving her from being left without a word. Yu Xingchuan was certainly no ordinary character... As a public figure, her usual image was that of an impartial and stern officer. Yet, the questionable deeds she'd carried out were no secret, with plenty of private ridicule—for all intents and purposes, she and Tang Shuang represented two opposing extremes. The adjutant was slick, beyond her twenty-four years, even a photo concealed ulterior motives... Why a selfie? It was deliberate, to demonstrate to Xu Shi just how committed she was, even showcasing messy wounds for added authenticity. Moreover, she knew full well the importance of completing the task before the city defenses activated, ensuring Xu Shi wouldn't have an excuse to renege. To achieve something, mere promises were insufficient; one needs substantial leverage. As for offering to spend the night... Miss Black Rabbit certainly didn't think Yu Xingchuan made this gesture out of fondness for Xu Shi, but rather an effective approach to expedite her ambitions. It's evident, she’s not someone easily handled. "Hey, you weren't seriously considering her offer, were you?" With this thought, she turned to Xu Shi, snorting, "Do you not refuse any kind?" In truth, given Xu Shi's status and looks, he could easily attract an entourage of willing admirers... Yet, intriguingly, among the women around him, Yu Xingchuan is the first to adopt this mindset. "Did I accept? Just a normal transaction, Auntie, you shouldn't think so crudely." Xu Shi shrugged with both hands raised. In all honesty, he was more entertained by the idea than anything else. The main issue is that for Xu Shi, the adjutant doesn't hold much competitive value... There are plenty of others with similar skills, such as Tang Shuang, Su Lin, and Xia Wuyou, none of whom are inferior to her. As for looks, among the women around him, she'd be considered slightly below average. Not that she isn't attractive—truthfully, as a cold and aloof goddess, Yu Xingchuan has many admirers. But compared to prime roles and lead characters, if she's not the one to fall behind, who would be? Even in terms of cunning and strategy, his fiancée could easily outmatch her. Had it not been for these reasons, he wouldn't have contacted her now. This being their first collaboration, it's best to observe a bit more. Of course, Xu Shi wasn't ready to close that door entirely. If things go well, he's more than willing to fulfill his previous promise. When she eventually climbs to a higher rank, perhaps she can offer him a helping hand. "Tch, I knew your mind wasn't filled with decent thoughts." Xia Ke'an seemed to perceive his intentions, pretending to be disdainful as she waved her arms, "Keep your hands off me, sleazy man." "Is your behind itching for a beating?" "Are you going to hit me for the sake of such a woman?" The white-haired loli took a serious half-step back but didn't continue with the banter. Instead, she inquired seriously, "Setting aside jokes, you've promised her the position of the Inspection Bureau Director... What about your Director Tang?" Hearing this, Gu Yi too caught on. Right, she thought. If she remembered correctly, Xu Shi had a decent relationship with Tang Shuang. Would he really push her aside for something like this? That seemed impossible. But his words didn't sound like mere empty promises, so... it made her suddenly realize something even stranger. Why not let Tang Shuang handle this directly? And, where is she right now? "Well..." Xu Shi narrowed his eyes, his smile widening, "That depends on our Director Tang's choice." "Hmm?" The white-haired loli and Miss Black Rabbit—alright, let's just call them the Black and White Duo from now on—still hadn't quite wrapped their heads around it. But before they could ask further, Xu Shi switched topics, "Little Black Rabbit, have you tracked down Shen He's location?" Gu Yi curled her lip, thinking to herself how infuriatingly cryptic Xu Shi was, leaving people feeling uneasy. "...Yes." But she still obediently forwarded the results. If she couldn't do this, she'd have no place in the hacker community. "Here, it's in the Fifth District of Sin City. The approximate location is... wait?!" The sight of the coordinates had her involuntarily twitching at the corners of her mouth. Wasn't this near her old safehouse?! "Hah, that's quite something." Xu Shi couldn't help but raise a brow. What was this? A convergence of world lines or just a coincidental quirk? After all, he had no intention of holding back this time. Shen He, this little lamb's wool, had been nearly stripped bare. It was time to thoroughly resolve things... However, thinking about it, wasn't the beginning of his grand changes marked by an assault on the Fifth District? Well, it must be fate. "Alright then, let's send someone to seize him." He mused before sending out the coordinates once more. "...Oh, so you had Director Tang waiting here?" Xia Ke'an realized. "Wrong guess, old Auntie." Xu Shi shook his head, "Everyone has their role to play, and of course, there's someone better suited for this task." For example, Lin Yue. "You... what exactly are you planning?" Unfortunately, the young assassin sister wasn't keen to cooperate. She immediately refused upon receiving his request. Why this devil picked her, of all people, for this task was beyond her. Was he looking to satisfy that twisted sense of enjoyment again? "It's just a standard tactical arrangement." Xu Shi sighed with a chuckle, setting up Lin Xing's background in the same pose as Yu Xingchuan, then sending a selfie. Faced with his threat, Lin Yue shut her eyes in agony. "Think it over carefully, it's a simple choice between two options." Xu Shi whispered, "Surely you're not still so loyal to Shen He? Consider this: he didn't even trust you enough to reveal his hideout—treating you like a thief." "…" Lin Yue found herself unable to refute. Perhaps it wasn't exactly as Xu Shi described, but it wasn't far off—the fact remained she had no idea where Shen He was precisely hiding. The Fifth District was vast, and Shen He would only emerge occasionally when gatherings were necessary. Any inquiries were met with silence. If that wasn't mistrust, who would believe it? Of course, she didn't necessarily need to find an answer; her sister's matter takes precedence, and managing interactions with Shen He without slipping up had kept her busy enough. So it seemed more like pressure from being in the middle, and now that Xu Shi pointed it out, that burden felt significantly lighter, less cumbersome. Between her sister and Shen He, the choice was unmistakably clear now. Moreover, reflecting upon it, hadn't she already fed Xu Shi a substantial amount of intel? Contributing a bit more shouldn't affect much... "...I understand." She sighed heavily, "You... just remember your promise." "Rest assured, a fair trade without betrayal." Xu Shi clapped with a reassuring smile. Lin Yue was beyond wanting to converse further, cutting the communication with a blank expression and deftly securing a dagger to her thigh. The girl set off to meet the boy~ (End of the chapter)