You Want to Jump Off My Car?

When Huai Shi finally came to from his daze, it was already evening.

"Speaking of which, last night's events made the headlines in the East Asian news," Crow said, scrolling through his phone screen with a click of his tongue. "After all, it was an emergency mobilization, and even the White Emperor Child was deployed. They definitely couldn't hide it from those flies."

"Tomorrow's News?" Huai Shi tried to lean over and get a look. He was stunned when he saw the app. "Isn't this that trash newspaper that only tells the truth and nothing else?" This rag published unreliable, bizarre news and weird health tips every other day. It was a miracle it was still in business.

"Ummm, as long as you pay, they occasionally tell the truth... I guess?" Crow sighed. "They're the biggest, most expensive, and most corrupt intelligence and brokerage group in the entire border region. As for industries in the current realm, as long as they can serve as transportation channels, it's enough. However, they're generally quite reliable when it comes to news about Ascendants."

Crow handed the phone over for him to see. "The identity of the mastermind behind it all has been dug up. A third-tier Ascendant, originally a Roman guard, who mysteriously disappeared for several years. When he reappeared in Baghdad, he was already a member of the notorious terrorist organization Green Day. After joining Green Day, as per regulations, he erased his real name, leaving only a codename – Red Glove. I have to say, it's quite a fitting name."

"There's a front-facing photo too?" Huai Shi leaned closer, examining the face in the picture, narrowing his eyes. "He actually looks quite approachable."

"Yeah, it's said that he's been working for Green Day in the current realm all these years, secretly connecting with quite a few forces."

"His Soul Ability is Laughing Fish Tank. You've already experienced it, so you should have a deep understanding. He splits his origin essence into goldfish and implants them into other people's bodies, secretly issuing commands. Before the goldfish are fully hatched, their presence is extremely stealthy, but they can only issue subtle hints. Once hatched, they can completely turn the host into their puppet. There are only seven goldfish, and losing them requires a considerable amount of time to replenish. The Holy Mark implanted on his body is a branch of the Tombstone School, Taksin, which has entered its third stage. It's said to be a legendary living dead, with incredibly tenacious vitality. As long as the brain is intact, there's no life-threatening danger. Its characteristic is the ability to dissolve one's presence, achieving invisibility. Once the Holy Mark is activated, no one will notice him, even in a crowded street... This skill is quite suitable for a certain green forum. The flaw is that the invisibility effect comes from distorting people's subjective consciousness, so it doesn't work on cameras, photos, or reflections."

"They dug up this much detail?" Huai Shi was astonished.

"Of course, otherwise how would they sell it?" Crow sighed. "With the funds I have on hand, I could only afford this public version. Fortunately, this guy was quite active, otherwise I would have had to pay much more..."

"Wait—" Huai Shi realized. "Where did you get the money?"

Crow smiled mysteriously.

Huai Shi quickly pulled out his own phone and saw a string of deduction notifications. His eyes immediately widened in fury: the more than twenty thousand he had earned working as a gigolo, risking his life, was all gone! And his Huabei credit was even deducted over three thousand!

"You scoundrel! Couldn't you have bought a cheaper one!"

"You get what you pay for," Crow retorted. "Besides, since you were going to die anyway, there was no point in keeping the money, right?"

"Who said I was going to die!" Huai Shi's eyes widened, and he picked up his phone. "Can't I just call for help?"

Crow froze.

He looked at Huai Shi with disbelief, shock... and the questioning look of "Are you kidding me?"

"Weren't you shouting that you wanted to kill him just two hours ago?" Crow's eyes widened. "Besides, who taught you that bad habit of calling for help whenever something happens? You're supposed to be the recorded one in the Book of Destiny, don't you have any protagonist awareness?"

Huai Shi was furious. He grabbed Crow's phone and pointed at the message on the screen. "He's already third-tier, and I'm just a level zero newbie. Am I going to my death challenging a powerful figure? Even a protagonist wouldn't be this reckless!"

"He's crippled, my friend. Can't you even finish him off? When in doubt, charge in! Killing monsters above your level gives double experience!" Crow gave him a look of disappointment. "And who were you planning to call? Liu Dongli is still in the ICU!"

"Uh, Ai Qing?"

"She said she was leaving right away before she left. She's probably on a plane by now. By the time she gets back, everything will be cold!

"Special Affairs Department?"

"Do you have their contact information?"

"Then..." Huai Shi hesitated. "Will 110 work?"

Crow looked at him silently for a long time, then sighed helplessly. "...What are you going to tell them? A modern fantasy story that would be considered pretentious even if posted on Qidian? Besides, even if you found the Special Affairs Department, how would you explain how you know all this? You'd probably be mistaken for a Green Day mole! Believe me, after you explain my situation, they'll immediately give you a VIP membership card for prison!"

"Damn it, this won't work, and that won't work..." Huai Shi slammed the table in frustration, then suddenly deflated. "How about... we just let it go?"

"That's fine too," Crow glanced at him. "From now on, you go your own way, and I'll go mine. Brother Red Glove will get away with it and continue to cause trouble. And you'll embark on the pinnacle of life through hard work and your cheat abilities... If you can accept that, I don't mind either."

Huai Shi wilted.

Crow shook its head, raised a wing, and patted Huai Shi's shoulder. "Young man, would I, your big sister, ever harm you?"

"Yes, you would!"

Huai Shi glared at it. "You've been harming me from start to finish, haven't you!"

"Ahem, let's put aside the fugitive matter for now..."

Crow coughed awkwardly and said earnestly, "Besides, think about it, this is revenge! Sacred revenge! A classic drama! A spectacle the masses love to see! If you only get one chance like this in your life, aren't you satisfied?

As the master of the Book of Destiny, now that you've become an Ascendant, you can't be bound by those weak doctrines anymore.

Before the Ten-Member Committee of the Unified Bureau enacted the Twelve Tables, there was only one law applicable between Ascendants: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!"

It gazed at its contractor, its crimson eyes filled with cold solemnity, devoid of any trace of teasing or laughter, as if proclaiming a truth.

"If there's anything I can teach you in this process, then this is the first lesson—this world holds no warmth or kindness for the weak, nor does it offer any room for the cowardly to escape.

Just like everything you've experienced—if you don't control your destiny, then destiny will control you!"

"..."

Huai Shi was stunned, staring blankly at Crow as if he were seeing it for the first time. Seeing his bewildered look, Crow immediately puffed up with pride. "How is it? Don't you feel like you've gotten to know your big sister all over again? I spent a whole night thinking up such cool lines! Hurry up and say something nice to praise me!"

"..."

The sliver of admiration that Huai Shi rarely felt was instantly extinguished. He sincerely suspected that with all the awesome things this big sister was saying, she was probably just a keyboard warrior, specifically tricking rookies like him.

Although... what she said seemed to have some logic.

He thought for a long time, carefully observing Crow before him, and suddenly had a bold guess.

"Ummm... by any chance, do you have some hidden combat power? Do you transform at critical moments? We'll merge, you become armor, and I'll become a Saint Seiya..."

Crow rolled its eyes, looking at him as if he were an idiot. "Leave your big sister alone, I'm just a bird right now."

"Then why are you saying all that?" Huai Shi glared. "Are you expecting me to go alone and hack that guy to death with an axe?"

"Don't worry, no guns, no cannons..."

Crow looked out at the courtyard, at the car parked there. "You can freeload off allies."

Seeing Liu Dongli's car.

Huai Shi's eyes lit up. "Right, Old Liu has lots of good stuff!"

Soon, he grabbed a pickaxe and went out. After circling Liu Dongli's car left at his place a few times, he found the position of the rear car window, swung the pickaxe, and made a gesture.

"Old Liu, I'm going to get revenge for you, so... don't hold a grudge over such a small matter."

Bang!

The obviously expensive, flashy red sports car jolted abruptly. The car window was smashed cleanly, triggering a burst of alarms.

When Huai Shi fished out a metal box with the Astronomical Society's Earth logo from behind the glass, he couldn't help but laugh. "Aha, it was here after all!"

He had seen clearly these past two days that Liu Dongli's "long guns and short cannons" were all taken from this box. He hoped Liu Dongli had left some spark of hope for his unfortunate brother.

And upon opening the box, he was not disappointed.

Besides a short-barreled shotgun and two handguns that had already been taken, there was a combat knife, a black bulletproof vest, and a handgun that looked incredibly powerful...

He didn't know the model or the place of origin, but it just looked very impressive.

Casually tucking the Mateba auto-revolver into his back waistband and stuffing a handful of bullets into his pocket, Huai Shi felt his confidence surge.

"I have a question..."

Behind him, Crow sighed helplessly, shaking the items in its hand. "His car keys are on the table, why did you smash the window?"

"...Forgot."

Huai Shi awkwardly took the keys, realizing he had even saved the money for a taxi. It was good, it was good, otherwise, he probably couldn't even afford a taxi.

As he got into the car, Crow, who had landed on his shoulder, asked one last question: "By the way, can you drive?"

"Well, does driving Penguin Racer on my phone count? My rank is pretty high, you know."

Huai Shi thought about it and retorted, then grabbed Crow, who was about to get out of the car, and buckled her in with the seatbelt in the passenger seat. "Where are you running off to? You want to jump out of my car? Weren't you the one who egged me on to get revenge? Buckle up, here we go!"

"No! I'm not ready to die on your revenge journey!"

Crow panicked, struggling with all its might. "Huai Shi, I get carsick, really! I'll lend you money, can you please just call a car? You can call a luxury extended Lincoln, that's classy too! Or, you can call someone! I have the Special Affairs Department's contact number..."

"Where is there time for such Roman leisurely waiting?"

Huai Shi gave Crow one last look, quickly searched online for how to drive, then inserted the key into the ignition and twisted it sharply, starting the engine.

"Time is of the essence, let's go!"

Vroom!

Like a mad dog breaking free from its cage, the car engine and Crow simultaneously let out a tormented scream. The flashy red sports car shot out of Stone Marrow Hall, scraping past half of the iron gate, and hurtled onto the bumpy road of no return.

The moonlight, obscured by dark clouds at some unknown time, was replaced by the rumble of distant thunder.

A wind blew from afar.

It was going to rain.

.

Still suffering from a bad cold. The flu is truly terrifying, absolutely terrifying, everyone. Please take good care of yourselves. As for me, this salted fish is about to face the tragic end of having no saved manuscripts