Act 5: The Light Bringer

Foreword:

Do not criticize, do not blame, do not complain.

Dale Carnegie | How to Win Friends and Influence People

[Part 1: Midnight Calamity]

An hour later, the gunsmith and Jason arrived at the Dali Hotel.

They stood at the reception area on one side of the revolving door, not going in immediately.

"Leave the rest to me." Jason Megan straightened her clothes, adjusted her collar, and said to the gunsmith, "Your masked, hooded, and face-covered appearance is really eye-catching."

Jiang Xueming: "Are you alone?"

Jason: "Give me the gun, I can handle it."

Jiang Xueming handed the fledgling eagle and two magazines to Jason, then rolled up his sleeves and turned on the timer function of his watch.

"If I don't receive your call within fifteen minutes, I'll come pick you up."

Jason nodded seriously, carefully put away his gun, and put on the safety.

His cool demeanor lasted only three seconds before he turned and emerged again through the revolving door.

The piercing sound of the metal alarm inside the door forced him to return the weapon to the gunsmith.

Jiang Xueming: "Ten minutes. If you can't handle it in ten minutes..."

"Shut up! Don't underestimate me!" Jason was furious, his beard bristling and eyes wide. "Fifteen minutes! Even taking an elevator takes time!"

Jiang Xueming shrugged indifferently, put away his weapon, and leaned against the hotel's fountain pool, closing his eyes to rest.

Jason stormed through the revolving door, passed through security, and headed straight for the front desk. He passed two sofas along the way, which were places for guests to rest temporarily, and just happened to brush past Haitang.

At that moment-

Jason Megan continued walking forward nonchalantly, though she did catch a whiff of the stench of the blood-supplied unit. But was there only one target?

The young Asian man was all alone, with no other companions in sight. He was lounging on the sofa with his legs crossed, looking like he had ordered afternoon tea and was preparing to enjoy a leisurely vacation in the hot summer, waiting for his takeout on the first floor.

Jason didn't want to disturb his target, so he pretended to be calm and went to the front desk to ask for directions.

Receptionist: "Hello, Dali Hotel is at your service! Do you have a reservation, sir?"

Jason smiled warmly and asked, "I brought a tour group. Are there any rooms available?"

The receptionist immediately nodded and replied, "Yes, we do. A group of guests are checking out today, and it's cleaning time now. If you..."

"Can I ask you a few questions? About the room type." Jason glanced sideways at his side and behind him. He could clearly sense a sharp malice lurking in the shadows, so he immediately changed the subject.

How many double rooms are there?

Receptionist: "There are three rooms left on the 24th floor."

Jason: "A suite? It's the kind where you can have activities, like everyone gathering around a table to play mahjong or cards."

Receptionist: "We just happen to have two rooms available. The cleaning hasn't been finished yet since the last tour group checked out. Sir, could you wait a moment?"

Jason: "Were there any couples in the last tour group?"

"Huh?" The receptionist was clearly taken aback. "Sir?"

Jason quickly explained, "Most of my guests are germaphobes, and some are even hybrids of monsters and monsters. Their senses are very acute, and they can't stand the smell in the house, you understand?"

The receptionist immediately understood and exclaimed, "Oh! Don't worry about that, we'll take care of it!"

"Fragrances, shower gel, and shampoo, these things." Following the clues he had gathered earlier, Jason pressed on, asking, "Is it the supplier of Wine Red Gold Medal? Or Poetry?"

"It's the burgundy gold medal! Sir, this isn't your first time staying here, is it? You must have a membership card, right?" The receptionist became very enthusiastic. "I'll call the manager over to serve you right away, please wait a moment."

During the time the receptionist was away, which was also around 2 PM, many people came to check out.

At the luggage storage counter, the receptionists were extremely busy when Haitang approached Jason Megan.

Haitang murmured softly, "You don't seem like a tour guide from Forty-One District."

Jason ignored him, glancing down at his watch and unconsciously gripping the straps of his backpack, seemingly unaware that someone was talking to him.

Haitang continued, "Hey, can't you hear me?"

Jason looked around in surprise, then asked, "Are you asking me? Are you asking me?"

Haitang placed her palm on the marble countertop at the front desk, her long nails tapping on the surface with a strange clicking sound, just like a school bully stopping a little girl, keeping Jason within arm's reach.

He was short, unlike Jason was over 180 centimeters tall and very strong. His movements and gestures looked both comical and earnest.

"I said, you don't seem like a tour guide from Forty-One District."

At that moment, Jason's heart nearly leaped into his throat.

--Have I been exposed? When?

This kid has already figured out my true identity? Because I've become Azure Gold? Is his observation skill so powerful? He only needed a few words to lock onto me?

Although that's what Jason was thinking, he didn't show any fear.

The very next second, Haitang started nagging and rambling like a complaining woman.

"When I first arrived here, I was ripped off by the local tour guide. They took me to eat river seafood. In the Forty District, you can buy two pairs of large shrimp for 16 yuan, but here they were selling them for 77 yuan. I was furious when I paid the bill."

"Tell me, what kind of nonsense is this? They could have just robbed me, but instead they gave me two pairs of rotten shrimp. Ha!"

Haitang gave an awkward laugh, but a murderous glint appeared in her eyes.

"You're different. You're a good person. I just heard you say that you want to make sure all the guests in the tour group are taken care of properly and completely. You need to discuss the shampoo and shower gel details, and you also need to clean up the stench left in the rooms by the previous group of guests."

The Asian guy's anger turned to joy, and he winked at Jason.

"I knew it, you couldn't be the tour guide from Forty-One District."

Jason replied calmly, "We came to see the Moon God Cup. I led the group, and my friends and I formed a small team on the spot."

Haitang laughed heartily, "Hahahaha, I knew it! I'm always very good at judging people."

Jason: "Hahaha, is there anything else?"

Haitang took out her phone and leaned closer to Jason.

"How about we exchange contact information? Take me with you next time?"

As he said this, he began to complain about the tourism industry in Forty-One District.

"I went to four different hostels, and they all had the same scumbag attitude as the guy who initially sold me the shrimp. There isn't a single good person in this place; they're just waiting for backpackers like us to hand over their money. They'll swindle as many as they can."

"But I think you're very reliable, big brother."

"Since we're traveling, why don't we become friends?"

Haitang spread her arms, freeing Jason Megan from her reach and opening the perimeter.

Which team do you like?

Jason hadn't even had a chance to answer --

-- Haitang immediately interrupted.

"Oh! It's okay! I'll just like whoever wins in the end! But there's something I really want to know."

This handsome young man with sharp features suddenly licked his lips and started fiddling with his earring, a gesture that was very ambiguous and almost a declaration of love.

"Oh! Oh oh oh oh! Wow!" Jason was about to refuse.

Haitang then said, "I have a small group here, all of us are very close friends. I think you're a really nice person, would you like to join and get to know each other?"

You really have a certain something about you.

Haitang took a deep breath--

"--It smells really good."

For blood-receiving units, the essence of lapis lazuli has only two scents.

One is the sense of crisis of encountering a natural enemy, and the other is the feeling of intense hunger.

Jason has completely transformed himself, going from a weathered man in his thirties back to someone in his early twenties. He doesn't like to show his face in public and is a very mysterious VIP. To this day, not many people know his true identity.

There seemed to be no reason to refuse; this blood-donating unit's group must have other accomplices, and perhaps they could follow this lead directly to the Immortals.

Upon opening the phone's shadow system, Jason Megan, who has several social media accounts for work, first issued a solemn statement—

"--We can be friends, and we can hang out together next time. I'll plan the itinerary."

But what about...?

"Haitang?"

[Part ② Children's Room]

Haitang grinned and said, "That's my name."

Mr. Jason continued, "I don't have time for fun today, I have serious business to attend to."

"It's okay, people always change." Haitang wasn't discouraged; she still showed that sunny and cheerful smile, though a hint of resentment flashed in her eyes.

Just then, the hotel manager rushed over and started talking to Jason about the room.

"I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting, sir! We've been incredibly busy today! The preliminary rounds in Daji Town have just finished, and many guests are checking out to go to the capital to watch the competition. How many nights are you planning to stay? Like the other guests? Can we arrange a shuttle bus for you tomorrow and the day after?"

Jason continued, "I'm just here to try out the room for one night. If the room is suitable, I'll stay here until the City Championship is over, and I'll need a bus to pick me up and drop me off every day."

"Alright! Please show me your membership card and identification." The manager was about to collect Jason's documents.

But Jason was starting to get anxious.

--Haitang showed no intention of leaving; instead, she opened her eyes wide, wanting to know more about this man.

However, if she were to produce her ID card and passenger card, everyone present would immediately recognize Jason Megan as a VIP.

He had a set of fake documents, but the moment he entered the Transportation Department's identity system, it would alert the local Police Department that an unnamed VIP had arrived in Morning Light County.

Haitang immediately said, "He shares a room with me."

The lobby manager was stunned. "Sir, would you like an extra bed?"

Haitang tilted her head meaningfully, staring up at Jason's thick chin.

"No need, right?"

Wendy, far away at the Kurbo Gold Mine, suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

She hoisted Katusha onto her shoulder and sprinted frantically towards the station.

--His legs moved with the speed of the wind, agile and nimble.

As the elevator doors slowly closed, the room card clicked on the magnetic plate of the card reader.

Haitang had completely forgotten her boss's instructions, and at this moment, the midnight culprit was itching to eat.

"Maybe in a week, we won't recognize each other, and we won't remember each other at all."

Jason swallowed hard, sensing that something was amiss.

But he couldn't say it; he was confused.

Initially, he wanted to use the front desk records to trace the Immortals. If he could find the name, code name, or identity used by the mastermind, he could follow these clues to find the culprit.

But why? Why was he standing in the elevator, watching the numbers slowly rise to the 24th floor, to Haitang's room, when his brain seemed to freeze at that moment?

Haitang winked and said, "You must have a criminal record and don't want to show your ID card to outsiders. I know your predicament; I'm in the same boat—luckily, my boss got me a fake ID. Speaking of your scent, you're from a blood donation center, right?"

Jason: "Listen, Haitang, I don't know how to explain this to you."

Haitang: "Oh! Don't talk, let me guess. I like men with an air of mystery."

Jason: "I'm here purely for work."

Haitang interrupted, "To be honest, I stayed at this hotel to deal with the local Police Department's lackeys. The boss wanted me to stay and assigned me dirty and tiring work, but I didn't care at all. Otherwise, how would I have had the chance to have such a sweet encounter with someone as sexy and alluring as you? Life can't be all about work, and you shouldn't always be thinking about work—ignore criticism, blame, and complaints, and leave all your troubles to those who are more capable. Life will become wonderful."

Jason was almost stunned, but he couldn't stay there forever.

Where are your companions?

Haitang's expression also turned to surprise.

"--Do you have a big appetite? Not only do you want the main course, but also pre-dinner drinks and snacks? How about I call over a few of my girlfriends?"

"Such a good thing?" Jason Megan's eyes turned green with envy; this was a perfect opportunity to wipe them all out.

Standing before the door to room 2415, Haitang opened it, her eyes narrowing like a venomous snake. "Of course! I'll contact them right away. They're all incredibly skilled, and now, thanks to the miraculous fortune bestowed upon them by the boss, they've even mastered the Soul Might Technique. They'll give you a pleasant surprise!"

At this moment, the sudden arrival of a housekeeping staff member disrupted this peaceful harmony.

"Sir! Mr. Jason Megan!"

The head of the housekeeping department, waving a handkerchief and carrying a large tray, followed after them, panting.

"Mr. Jason Megan! Our esteemed VIP! We finally recognized you! Luckily, our manager was on the lookout and used facial recognition to verify that it was the renowned Lapis Lazuli Guards visiting our humble establishment! This is a welcome gift for you, Mr. Jason!"

Jason Megan was completely immobile.

He felt his throat and tongue were dry, and his nose smelled a strong odor of blood.

The copper lid in the customer service manager's hand flew off, revealing a freshly seared beef shank on the plate. The medium-rare beef was still steaming hot, bubbling with broth on the bright red carpet in the corridor.

The panicked staff member stumbled forward as if something had grabbed his legs, and was immediately "sucked" into room 2415, as if several unseen hands had dragged this jubilant but unlucky fellow into an abyss.

"Jason Megan." Haitang leaned against the doorframe, hugged the door, and rested her cheek against the security lock. "So it was you. So you, the messenger of light, have come to sweep away the darkness?"

No sooner said than done --

Without any spiritual power to protect him, Mr. Jason strode out, wanting to get away from this eerie room, but after taking only two steps, he found that everything had become hazy and distorted.

In an instant, I heard Haitang's resentful roar, her sorrowful sobs, which then turned into a sinister laugh.

"You actually lied to me? You lied to my feelings?!"

"An anonymous spy?! So the gunsmith is here too?"

"I'm so scared, damn it. Did the boss lie to me too?"

"We actually have to deal with such a terrifying and powerful enemy."

"But."

"But did the gunsmith really come? Did he really come?"

"He's nearby? I'm so scared I'm going to cry."

"He's my idol! My idol's coming to get me!"

"Just thinking about it makes me want to stand up!"

In front of the carpet in room 2415, there was only a steaming, bloody steak.

Jason and the head of customer service slumped in the room, as if pulled in by a strange force. Looking back the way they came, layers of brass lock chains were jammed against the door, turning it into an insurmountable prison door.

The shoe rack in the entryway is filled with colorful shoes, and the bathroom and toilet are decorated with all sorts of whimsical paintings.

The living room floor was covered with toys, including dolls and dress-up parts that girls like, hair clips, and plastic combs.

There are also toy guns that boys like, as well as rubber dinosaurs, toy cars, tanks, and airplane models.

What used to be a single bed has now become a crib with guardrails, and the television, which used to be a wall-mounted ultra-thin LCD plasma TV, has been transformed into a large-bottomed CRT monitor sitting on the floor.

Haitang's voice came from all directions, calling out Hunwei's true name.

"Circus of Doom! Treat my guests well!"