Dressed uniformly in sharp black suits, Old White, Rice, Lin, Storm, and Thunder Eye strode down the bustling avenue with an imposing air. Behind them walked Alice, her eyes lingering on the varied figures—brawny or lean—of the five men. A sense of security wrapped around her like a warm cloak. If only Luo Jin were here now, she thought, that would complete my joy.
Old White turned to Lin as they walked. "There's still quite some time before nightfall. Why don't you take us somewhere decent to eat?"
Lin, chewing nonchalantly on a toothpick, sneered. "Didn't you call me useless just now? And now you remember me when you're hungry?"
Rice, walking beside them, chimed in mockingly, "You are useless. But we don't need you to treat us—we're not broke. You're just a disgrace." With that, he stepped ahead and called out, "Alice, what would you like to eat? Uncle will take you."
Alice beamed and skipped over. "Really? I want cake!"
Rice frowned slightly at her response. "Cake? Come on, don't make your uncle suffer—how about a steak instead?"
Old White, ever vigilant with the instincts of a seasoned hunter, cautioned, "Aren't we being a bit too conspicuous? Perhaps we should tone it down."
Glancing around at the sparse foot traffic, Rice nodded. "Yeah, we are being flashy. Let's just grab a quick bite somewhere quiet. Tonight is when we make our move."
"Agreed. That's the plan."
At that moment, Lin pointed to a towering building in the distance. "See that? That's the First Subdivision of the League's Ability Bureau. I've got a feeling that's where they're keeping Xiao Feng."
Both Old White and Rice followed Lin's gaze, and Old White said grimly, "Let's hope he's still there."
They turned down a narrow alley, entering a modest restaurant nestled quietly at the corner. Unbeknownst to them, a shadowy figure lingered at the mouth of the alley, speaking hurriedly into a communicator.
Meanwhile, Kelly and Kerry were driving toward the northern district of the city, their assigned mission being to search a handful of northern streets. Their orders were chillingly clear: if Xiao Feng was found, he was to be executed on sight.
Henry's hatred for Xiao Feng had clearly reached its peak. The electric shocks he had endured left more than just physical scars. In his fury, he issued a blanket kill order to all enforcer agents under the Bureau's command.
Every agent who received their briefing that day couldn't forget the twisted, contorted face of a wrathful Henry.
In truth, Henry's reaction was not unwarranted—Xiao Feng had slipped through his fingers in front of everyone, and it was a humiliation the Bureau Chief could not abide. No matter the cost, he had sworn to drag Xiao Feng back.
As Kelly drove, her heart was uneasy. Her home was in the southern district, and she feared Xiao Feng might have already left. With over fifty elite agents dispatched and equipped with top-grade detection gear, Xiao Feng's appearance on any street would surely trigger instant capture.
She turned to Kerry and said urgently, "Call home. Tell Xiao Feng to stay put. He must not set foot outside until we return!"
Kerry nodded and reached for the communicator, dialing the number to Kelly's house.
The line rang and rang, but there was no answer. Frustrated, Kerry turned to her. "No one's picking up."
"What? Try again! He must be there!"
Kerry redialed several times, but the silence remained unbroken.
Kelly pulled the car to the curb and said firmly, "No. I'm going back. I have to check. You continue the search without me."
With that, she opened the car door and stepped out.
Kerry could only shake his head as she stood resolutely by the roadside. "Ah, sister, how did you fall for that bastard Xiao Feng?" He sighed and drove off toward the northern zone.
Kelly hailed a taxi and gave the driver her address, anxiety gripping her heart.
Back at the small restaurant, Old White and the others sat gathered around a table, eating hot dogs and drinking beer. The contrast in demeanor was stark—Old White and Rice devoured their food like men long accustomed to the harshness of a mercenary's life, polishing off hot dogs in just a few ravenous bites.
Lin, Storm, and Thunder Eye, on the other hand, maintained a composed elegance, enjoying their meal with deliberate leisure.
Alice sat nearby, delicately nibbling at a slice of cake, careful with each motion.
As they ate, a group of soldiers clad in League military uniforms stormed into the restaurant, their eyes instantly locking on the five men.
Heavily armed with automatic rifles, they raised their weapons and closed in. One of them, a Second-Class Sergeant, barked, "Hands up! Now!"
The atmosphere chilled. Old White and his companions turned slowly, their expressions darkening.
Silently, they stood and raised their hands.
"You lot really have a death wish, huh? Daring to lay hands on League soldiers?"
"Drag them outside and bury them alive. Let's see who dares follow in their footsteps."
"Burying them is too kind!"
The armed soldiers snarled threats and insults as they pointed their weapons, brimming with arrogant fury.
Terrified, the restaurant owner cowered under a table, shaking uncontrollably.
Among all present, only Alice remained composed, still quietly spooning cake into her mouth.
The Second-Class Sergeant noticed her and pointed his weapon at her with a shout. "You too, girl! Stand up!"
Alice looked up, her smile calm and innocent. "Sir, are you speaking to me?"
Startled by her beauty and composure, the sergeant's tone softened slightly. "Yes, I am. Stand up and raise your hands."
Just then, another soldier burst through the door, face bruised and twisted with rage. He gripped his rifle tightly, pushing through the crowd. It was clear—he was one of the men Old White had beaten earlier, and he was seething with humiliation.
Without warning, he stormed up to Old White and slammed the butt of his rifle into his head. "You bastard! You dared to lay a hand on me!"
Thud! The blow struck Old White's forehead, sending his head reeling backward. Blood poured from the wound.
The soldier then delivered a savage kick to Old White's stomach, knocking him down. He chambered a round, pressed the muzzle to Old White's temple, and snarled, "I'm going to kill you right here and now."