Yang Chen Makes a Move

It was a pity, however, that Red Hair had run into a brick wall with the old man before him.

Logically speaking, as long as Red Hair revealed his status as an esper, ordinary people would usually show him some respect. Yet, the old man seemed to have some sort of backing, as he completely ignored Red Hair.

This made Red Hair feel rather uncomfortable.

He was an esper, a person who stood above all ordinary people!

Although he was only an E-Class, he was still comparable to an ace among special forces soldiers.

And that was just the strength of the lowest-level esper!

Red Hair felt he was losing face.

He had just become an affiliate of Number 98 today, and he had originally intended to show off a bit and pick up some extra cash. Who would have thought that this old fossil before him would refuse to give him any face at all!

"Are you looking to die!"

Red Hair flew into a rage and raised his fist. A flash of red radiance flickered over his knuckles, just enough to reflect the color of his hair.

The temperature around his fist seemed to rise by a few degrees as he swung it toward the old man.

The speed was so fast that even the naked eye of an ordinary person would struggle to track it.

But the next moment, Red Hair's expression changed. He didn't feel his fist strike the old man's face; instead, something like steel gripped his hand.

Then, he saw a youth in tattered clothes holding his fist, staring at him with cold eyes, as fierce as a wolf.

A chill instantly rose in Red Hair's heart.

In the youth's pitch-black pupils, his own reflection looked like it was being swallowed by a dark abyss.

Goosebumps covered Red Hair's body. He swallowed hard, looked at Yang Chen while feigning composure, and spoke in a dry voice.

"Y-you, who are you? I'm telling you, I—I'm with Number 98!"

"Does Number 98 really produce scum like you?"

Yang Chen gripped Red Hair's arm lightly. Although he could feel Red Hair struggling incessantly, to Yang Chen, it was no different from a child flailing about; he could subdue him with ease.

For a moment, Yang Chen was somewhat certain that the "Grandmaster" rank in his system likely corresponded to the Grandmaster realm on Earth.

Even if it didn't, it couldn't be far off!

After all, although Red Hair was an E-Class esper, the firelight that had appeared just now showed he was a rare elemental esper.

Such an esper, even at E-Class, could unleash power that barely reached the strength of a D-Class.

Since he had dealt with him so easily, his own strength was surely above D-Class!

He even had plenty of energy to spare!

Yang Chen felt that subduing Red Hair was as simple as breathing.

Yang Chen's hand moved slightly, and then a crisp crack was heard, followed by a scream like a slaughtered pig.

"Ah~"

Red Hair shrieked and slumped over.

Yang Chen casually released his grip, letting him hang limp on the ground.

Beads of cold sweat broke out across Red Hair's forehead, and his face turned pale. His hand was twisted into an unrecognizable shape; clearly, the bones had been crushed to powder by Yang Chen!

"Get out. Don't let me see you again. Every time I see you, I'll beat you once!"

Yang Chen said bluntly.

Having often frequented the gray areas of the city, Yang Chen knew exactly what these people feared most: they were nothing but bullies who feared the strong.

Only by giving him a sharp blow to the head could he improve his memory!

With a look of terror, Red Hair scrambled to his feet. The moment he ran to the door, he turned back to glare at Yang Chen viciously.

"You just wait!"

Yang Chen heard him, but didn't take it to heart. Hancheng was small, and although it had powerful espers in charge, they certainly didn't exceed A-Class.

Even if an A-Class esper was powerful, Yang Chen was not afraid in the slightest. Besides, it was unlikely that a character like this could summon an A-Class powerhouse to act on his behalf.

And even if he did, Yang Chen wouldn't mind teaching that A-Class powerhouse in charge of Hancheng a lesson.

If Number 98, as the esper organization of Huaxia, failed to protect the people in the city and even condoned such behavior from its subordinates, then what was the point of the organization existing at all?

"Grandpa Liu, are you alright?"

Yang Chen turned around, looked at the old man, and said softly.

A glimmer of light flickered in the old man's eyes before he gave a faint smile.

"What could happen to an old man like me? It's you, kid, who's likely in big trouble. This Number 98 is extremely protective of its own!"

A rare trace of a smile appeared on Yang Chen's face as he said, "If they come, I'll take them on. I'm only worried about implicating you, Grandpa Liu!"

His words were filled with confidence, a confidence that stemmed from his own strength!

The old man sighed softly. "My little noodle shop isn't the problem; the problem is you! Seeing that you could defeat this Red Hair, I assume you've become an esper. In Huaxia, any esper who hasn't been recruited by or joined Number 98 is treated as an outsider. I'm afraid it won't be long before Number 98 comes for you. You'd better run!"

Yang Chen's eyes flickered slightly. Number 98 was making a move against him? Wouldn't that play right into his hands?

Yang Chen had been fretting over how to make contact with the upper echelons of Number 98. After all, Yang Chen had ambition; he didn't want to take things one step at a time. Since he possessed such formidable strength, why not stand directly in a position that matched that power?

Wouldn't that be better!

Now that Number 98 was about to move against him, he figured he would be able to make contact with their higher-ups during the process. It perfectly satisfied Yang Chen's intentions!

"Then let them come; I shall receive them. I've troubled you today, Grandpa Liu. This kid will certainly repay your kindness in the future!"

Yang Chen bowed slightly to the old man, then turned and walked back without looking back, returning to his small room.

The old man stood silently by the stove, watching the direction in which Yang Chen had departed, a trace of contemplation emerging in his eyes.

The old man's lips moved slightly, "Could the energy fluctuations from yesterday have been caused by this kid? Good lad, even I can no longer see through you!"

Afterward, the old man smiled faintly, tidied up the table that Red Hair had messed up earlier, and once finished, closed the door.

He wasn't planning on opening for business today!

To be continued!