After the eventful autumn ended, a tumultuous winter arrived.

After consecutive days of drizzle, Cliff City rarely welcomed a sunny day. Below the crystal-clear sky of the afternoon, the streets shone bright with sunlight, reflecting the deep blue of the sky in the puddles beneath, exuding a hint of warmth.

Ji Jue sat on a folding chair, finding a comfortable position, and deeply exhaled in contentment.

He remembered his childhood in Shuzhou where, during winter, he would wear thick clothes; yet, the cold wind would still whistle through the gaps in his clothes to the bones. Waking up each day and reaching for his clothes from beneath the warmth of his quilt felt as difficult as Hell.

It was truly dreadful.

Compared to that, the winter in Hai Province seemed merely symbolic, with a slight drop in temperature that still allowed wearing a T-shirt under a light jacket. Even though locals would ceremoniously don a down vest over their clothes, no matter how cold, they obstinately refused to swap their flip-flops for anything else.

Despite many years passing and barely blending in as a half-local, Ji Jue could never learn the undying affection for flip-flops that endured through thick and thin.

In Northern Mountain District, an old man surnamed Zhang wandered through the city in a vest and large shorts, holding a big palm fan throughout all seasons. You might think he's audaciously artistic, but it's just the local style.

Simplicity is the ultimate truth.

At this moment, beneath the noon sunlight, a distant echo of the tide carried over.

The weather was clear, not a cloud in sight.

"It's good weather for killing and arson."

Ji Jue yawned, leaning back in the folding chair, squinting his eyes.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In the distance, on the opposite end of a warehouse, the sound of knocking arose.

Outside the rust-peeled iron door, a slender youth with facial features as delicate as a girl's, looked up, comparing the address on his phone, then raised his hand.

He knocked again.

Until, behind the door in the warehouse, an impatient voice sounded.

"Who is it? Didn't order any delivery!"

The observation window slid open and a rugged face emerged from behind, fierce and menacing. But upon seeing the delicate cheeks, he involuntarily paused and instinctively looked back, "Dammit, who called for a lady?"

Then, a chill on his neck.

His expression froze on his face.

Because a finger delicately lifted, passing through the observation window, resting on his carotid artery, so gentle. Yet the faint icy touch brought a chill of terror more dreadful than any nightmare.

"Li Yong?" An Ran asked.

Li Yong swallowed, his face twitching slightly, forcing a twisted smile, nodding and opening his mouth to speak when he heard the cold voice, "How many people are inside?"

"Three, no, four, five… only five." Li Yong blinked hard, "Big brother, is there a misunderstanding? We've paid, the Dragon Head…"

"You've paid the Dragon Head, so you think you don't have to pay the Security Bureau?" An Ran, puzzled, still mimicked Ji Jue's tone to retort, "Who gave you the reassurance? Xu Chaoxian?"

"I…"

Li Yong's face twitched again, his hands frantically signaling his comrades behind his back, struggling to say something, but no more chances came.

That delicate finger that rested on his neck was withdrawn.

Along with it, all his strength was taken.

"Heh… heh…"

Li Yong's face instantly contorted with veins bulging and eyes bloodshot, struggling, wanting to scream, but no sound came out. Like mud, he slid down the door towards the ground.

Lastly, only the voice of the young man was heard.

He said, "You're not being honest."

Brother Ji said, those who smuggle and deceive the Security Bureau are not good people.

If they're not good people, then anything goes.

But Brother Ji also said, casual killing is not good, bad people have families too and would feel sad and hurt. Dealing with a death requires writing reports, which is troublesome.

So, it's better to leave them in a vegetative state, not dead nor alive.

Send them to a friend enthusiastic about medical research, not only earning some money but also letting them contribute to the happiness and future of mankind.

Brother Ji thought it through thoroughly, and it made perfect sense to him.

Thus, from then on, deaths were avoided wherever possible, merely incapacitating resisters to brain death.

Yet, for some reason, Sister Wen and Sister Hua always seemed to have complex expressions as if they had something to say...

Snap!

A flash of silver from his sleeve, and the heavy locks and bars on the warehouse door were instantly split in two. The iron door creaked slowly open, followed by the crisp sound of steel friction echoing from inside the warehouse.

Inside, the desperate culprits, warned by their comrade, hesitated not a moment to grab the weapons at hand.

They opened fire boldly!

The sounds of footsteps, gunshots, and heartbeats, over sixteen people, definitely not just five!

The Security Bureau is here, not only did they not surrender, but they also dared to open fire and attack... Eh? Wait, did I mention I'm from the Security Bureau? I think I did... right?

No matter, since they've opened fire.

Might as well kill them all!

In a brief instant, the young man's dilemma dissolved under the inertia accumulated over years, replaced by the lethal gleam sliding from his sleeve.

Scarlet blades screamed, tearing through the air!

In the dim, vast warehouse, a trail of crimson suddenly appeared, launching from An Ran's hand. Against the blaze of gunfire, it shot straight ahead, through walls and barriers of crates, piercing into the heavily defended bodies and flying out with a mist of blood.

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