Might As Well Turn Her Into the Conglomerate's Dog.jpg

"Young Master, everything is taken care of."

Having dealt with all the hackers, Su Lin led the team back to Gu Yi's residence. "The intruders have all been subdued, and their equipment and Brain-Computer Chips have been brought back."

"Well done."

Xu Shi gave a slight nod. "Any findings?"

"I took a rough look on the way back. I can confirm they're from 'Spark'."

Su Lin replied. "The rest will need further decoding."

Considering Xu Shi might not know, she added, "'Spark' is a gang newly formed in Sin City, roughly the same scale as the former 'Long Saber Party' and 'Disgu'..."

"Alright, got it."

Though he was already well aware of all this, Xu Shi nodded along with her words. "Keep on top of these matters. Report any developments to me immediately."

"Yes."

Su Lin acknowledged, then turned to look at Gu Yi off to the side. "What about her? How should we handle her?"

To be fair, Miss Black Rabbit's situation at this moment seemed rather dire.

She was slumped in her chair like a pile of mud, gasping heavily, her hair disheveled, her gaze... not defiant, but rolling back as tears streamed uncontrollably.

The "Red Ant" still hung around her neck, its countdown dramatically frozen at 00:01.

Whether this was someone's twisted sense of humor was anyone's guess... but this life-or-death race had certainly been too much stimulation for Gu Yi.

"As for her..."

Xu Shi thought for a moment. "Take her back to the company. She'll work to pay off her debt."

"...Hey!"

Hearing this, Gu Yi shot upright. "Didn't we agree that if I helped you with this, the rest wouldn't be pursued?!"

"Correct. I did think that just now."

Xu Shi leaned down, feigning an apologetic explanation. "But I estimated that your actions caused nearly ten million Credit Points in losses to 'Serpent Coil'... I can't make a call on such a large sum. Otherwise, the board will come after me.

Try to see it from my side. If someone broke into your home to steal, you wouldn't let them off so easily either, would you?"

Understand your mother!

Gu Yi could no longer stay calm. How could it be this much?!

She knew the limits of her trade—she never dared to demand ransoms exceeding five figures!

This was outright extortion!

What a Bastard Xu. She knew he was holding back some trick!

But Xu Shi's next words doused all her fire like a bucket of cold water.

"You're exposed now. Think about it—how many people out there want you dead?

The Inspection Bureau, companies you've crossed... oh, and now 'Spark' too, since those deaths are tied to you as well.

So, come with us, or get sold to District Six as a sex doll—your choice."

...And who do you think exposed me in the first place?!

Gu Yi gritted her teeth in fury, but with her leverage in his hands, she had no right to refuse.

As Xu Shi said, even if "Serpent Coil" leaked the slightest hint, it would be a catastrophic disaster for her.

Thinking about it, perhaps from the moment they broke down her door, she had no choice but to be led by the nose...

"That's more like it."

Seeing her resigned agreement, Xu Shi patted her face with satisfaction. "I'm probably the only kind soul giving you a chance to turn over a new leaf... Miss Gu, you'd better cherish this opportunity."

"...Get lost!"

Resigned as she was, after being jerked around by him repeatedly, Gu Yi finally couldn't hold back. Baring her teeth, she lunged at him. "You -expletive-! I'll -expletive-..."

Such resistance was futile. The next second, the combat team members behind her ruthlessly pinned her to the ground.

"Take her away."

Xu Shi picked at his ear with his pinky. "Oh, and remember to gag her."

Miss Black Rabbit was hauled off in a snake-skin bag.

The combat team set out first, but Xu Shi and Su Lin weren't in a hurry to leave.

"...Young Master, you never intended to let her go from the start, did you?"

By the bulletproof car, Su Lin suddenly asked.

"Of course not."

Xu Shi didn't deny it.

She was the heroine, after all, and not the decorative type... the truth was, none of the heroines in the original story were useless—they all combined looks with ability.

What's there to do about it?

Was I supposed to just let them all become the protagonist's allies one by one?

Guess I'll have to put in the effort and turn them into my dogs.jpg

Su Lin didn't question his decision.

She'd seen Gu Yi's abilities firsthand—if it were her, she'd also try every means to recruit the woman.

Just not in such a despicable way as Xu Shi.

Still, curiosity got the better of her. "Speaking of which, Young Master, how did you know Miss Gu was hiding here?"

A fugitive the Inspection Bureau had hunted for four years without success—how could he possibly have found her so easily?

"...Handle her onboarding yourself."

That question couldn't be answered, so Xu Shi simply gazed up at the bronze sky overhead and quietly changed the subject. "Remember to get her a new outfit—that one's too damaging to the company's image... Also, I suspect she's an 'Ascendant,' so don't forget to run a test on her."

Actually, it wasn't suspicion—it was certainty.

There were no sun, moon, or clouds in Night Sin City. The sky was perpetually shrouded in a haze called Rust Fog.

The source of this pollution-like presence was unclear, but under its influence, many had gained extraordinary abilities.

And the main characters from the original story were, without exception, all "Ascendants" with such powers.

"...Understood. Please rest assured."

Su Lin paused. Since Xu Shi didn't want to talk, she tactfully refrained from pressing further.

But she could be certain—the Young Master was definitely not as... incompetent as he'd seemed before.

After all, what he'd done today had largely overturned her impression of him.

"So, what next?"

The question slipped out before she could stop it. "It's just past six now. Should I take you to the nightclub?"

"Forget it."

Xu Shi leaned against the car door and yawned lazily. "I'm dead tired. Let's go home and sleep."

"Alright."

That answer clearly pleased Miss Su Lin, who rarely showed a smile.

"Oh, Young Master..."

"Hm?"

"Happy birthday."

"...Thanks."

Xu Shi smiled back, leaned in to wipe the bloodstain off her cheek, and added teasingly in a whisper, "Your stockings are torn, by the way. Don't forget to change them."

"Huh?"

Su Lin froze, looked down, and a blush instantly crept up her cheeks.

...Take that back!

His nasty streak hadn't changed at all!

At the same time.

Sin City District Seven, the "Night Charm" bar.

"Old Shen, Operation Serpent Lure is a success. I've sent you the list."

A man in a hood sat in a corner of the bar, reporting in a low voice.

"Excellent!"

A hearty laugh came through the earpiece. "And Mr. Zhou's team?"

"The Serpent Coil's people caught on too fast. They couldn't escape."

"I see..."

The earpiece fell silent. When the voice spoke again, joy had turned to regret. "Their blood won't be shed in vain. One day, the consortium will pay for their atrocities."

The hooded man sighed along with him. "So what now?"

"Proceed as planned. Reassign personnel according to the list. Also, have Chen Fang reach out to Miss Xia.

I've already contacted her before—she'll definitely be able to help us.

Oh, and to be safe, have her double-check the list's authenticity."

"Alright, I understand."

The hooded man acknowledged, cut the communication, downed the beer on the table, stood up, and left the bar.