Clues

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The change in Riley's expression did not escape Qin Ran.

"What?"

"Something suspicious?"

Qin Ran held up the white magnetic card and waved it in front of Riley.

"Wait!"

Riley gave no answer. He left it at that and ran toward the cellar.

A moment later, he climbed back up carrying a banknote detector with an ultraviolet lamp.

Qin Ran tossed him the white magnetic card, then glanced at the detector. He did not ask why Riley had one in this safe house. He could make a fair guess.

A safe house was meant to stay hidden.

And hidden places were good for certain kinds of business.

Especially for a gang member like Riley.

"I hope I'm wrong!"

"Damn it!"

"It really is Sphendick!"

Riley held the white magnetic card beneath the detector's ultraviolet lamp, muttering under his breath.

As for the result?

His curses said enough.

"Sphendick?"

Qin Ran frowned.

The name was not among the basic memories he had received.

"Sphendick means the Sphendic Conglomerate!"

"They specialize in medical equipment and military manufacturing! They built half the hospitals in our city, and over a quarter of the weapons and equipment used by our police and military come from them!"

"They're a giant!"

"We're done! We're done!"

"We crossed people like that. We're dead!"

Riley sank to the floor, despair written across his face.

"Calm down!"

"Have you thought about why you crossed them?"

Qin Ran's voice cut through his panic.

If Riley's face had not been wounded, Qin Ran would have used a more direct method to calm him down. He simply did not want blood on his hand.

"Why? Why..."

Riley stared blankly and muttered to himself. Then he