Leading the Way

"So you're the one looking for someone? Tell me who you're looking for. But I'll warn you, finding people around here doesn't come cheap!"

Once Chen Qiang and the other man entered the building, the bartender disappeared, replaced by someone else who led them to a room. Inside was a person completely hidden beneath a cloak. When Chen Qiang and the other man entered, the cloaked figure looked them over before speaking.

"Every member of the Defu Slave Group. Take us to them, and all of this is yours!"

Chen Qiang set the chest down in front of the other person, opened it, then turned it around and pushed it closer so they could get a better look at what was inside.

The man in black first rummaged through the chest, checking how many jewels it contained. Satisfied, he finally took his hand out and nodded.

"Wait here, guests. Someone will take you to where the Defu men are in two minutes." After saying this, the man in black closed the chest, picked it up, and prepared to leave.

"I need to see them first!"

But as the other man passed by Chen Qiang, Chen Qiang pressed a hand down on his head and slammed him to the floor. A cruel smile appeared on his otherwise calm face as he spoke in a low voice.

"Th-this is the rule! Around here, we always take the money before we do the job!"

Chen Qiang's blow knocked the hood off the man's head, revealing a shifty-eyed face. Chen Qiang's sudden move had left him so nervous that he stammered, but he clutched the chest even tighter.

"If you want the money, you'll follow my rules!"

"Fine! I'll take you to them now!"

The shifty-eyed man in black first felt the chest in his hands, then nodded as if he'd made a difficult decision.

"Let's go. Take me to them!" Seeing the other man nod, Chen Qiang grabbed him by the collar and lifted him to his feet. Then he let go and spoke.

"No problem! Follow me, guests!"

The man in black stood up and, without another word, firmly nodded before leading Chen Qiang and the others toward the door. He opened it with great courtesy.

"Help! Someone's causing trouble!"

But the instant the door opened, the man in black bolted through it, shouting as he ran.

"I knew it!"

The man in black's move hadn't surprised Chen Qiang. The moment he bolted, the chains on Chen Qiang's body sprang into action and shot after him. They wrapped around the man's waist, and with a tug, sent him flying back even faster than he'd run.

"Ah!"

The man in black landed on the floor. Chen Qiang stepped forward and planted a foot on his arm. With a single press, he shattered the bones in it, drawing a miserable scream from the man.

"Who's there? Do you even know what kind of place this is? How dare you cause trouble here? Aren't you afraid you'll bring the security force down on us?"

As Chen Qiang broke the man in black's arm, more men in black heard the noise and hurried over, surrounding Chen Qiang and Lin.

Chen Qiang completely ignored them. He lifted his foot and brought it down on the other arm of the man beneath him.

"Ahhh!"

Another scream rang out. The man in black, who'd passed out from the pain, woke up again with a cry.

"Heh! I'm not causing trouble. I just want to find someone! This guy broke the rules. He took my money without finding the person I was looking for!"

After stepping on the man again, Chen Qiang looked up at the men surrounding him with a broad smile. Then he increased the pressure under his foot, making the man's screams even more agonized.

"Who are you looking for?" The man in black at the front first sized Chen Qiang up. Then he stepped forward and asked.

"Looks like you're the one in charge here. The crew of the Defu Slave Ship! Can you take me to them? If you find them, all of this is yours!"

Chen Qiang looked at the man who'd stepped forward to speak. The others had lowered their attack-ready stances after he came forward, so Chen Qiang picked up the chest from the man underfoot and held it out to him before speaking.

"Certainly. Come with me." The man who'd stepped forward didn't look at the chest Chen Qiang offered. He studied Chen Qiang again, then nodded and gestured for him to follow.

"Heh! Lin, pick up the chest. Let's go!"

At the man's gesture, Chen Qiang's smile grew wider. He pressed down again with his foot, snapping the neck of the man beneath him and ending his wicked life. Then he called to Lin, telling her to pick up the chest and follow the man.

The man in black was clearly displeased beneath his hood that Chen Qiang had killed one of his men right in front of him. But even though he was unhappy, he said nothing and continued leading the way.

As people who sold information, they naturally knew about all sorts of matters. They all recognized Chen Qiang, who had participated in the Summit War and distinguished himself in battle.

For a man like him, killing them would be easy. So no matter how dissatisfied they were, they could only keep it to themselves. They didn't even dare show it.

And since it was their own man who had broken the rules first, they had even less reason to make a move.

Before long, under the black-clad leader's guidance, Chen Qiang and the others passed through one street after another and soon arrived at the busiest part of the city: the slave market!

"This is the place. Ten minutes ago, we received word that the Defu Slave Group's men were buying slaves here. We haven't received any news of them leaving, so they should still be inside. Do you need me to take you in and find them?"

After they arrived, the leader in black didn't go any farther. He turned to Chen Qiang and asked in a low voice.

"No need. I've already seen them. As promised, this is yours!"

Chen Qiang shook his head, indicating he didn't need the man's help. The moment they arrived, he'd spotted the people who'd dared to capture him. They were in front of the largest building in the center of the slave market.

Now that he'd found them, Chen Qiang wasn't one to break a promise. He took the chest from Lin and tossed it to the man in black. Then, without looking back at him, he led Lin toward the crew of the Defu Slave Ship.

"The Undying Chen Qiang... I wonder if you really can't die. But even if you can't, Toby will make you wish you were dead!"

The man in black caught the chest and watched Chen Qiang and the others head off. He shook his head, muttered to himself, then turned and entered a dim alleyway.