Taken

"Hey, girls, want to make some extra cash?"

After a brief silence, screams rang out across the square. The two girls broke free and hurried away, but when they looked back and saw that Xiao Miao was actually handsome, their screams immediately died down—though their faces were still full of disgust.

A handsome man like you—why act like a creep?

Xiao Miao did not care in the slightest and continued looking for targets.

After several attempts at harassment, two small-time thugs patrolling their turf stopped Xiao Miao. "Buddy, this isn't a good time to be looking for fun."

The two pointed at the sun that had only just risen, and the implication was obvious.

What decent person was that horny so early in the morning?

Xiao Miao glanced at them, spotted the crescent-and-star tattoos on their arms, and immediately sneered. "I'll do whatever the hell I want. Who the fuck are you to tell me otherwise?"

With that, he turned and left, continuing his search for targets.

The crescent-and-star tattoo was the mark of the Albanian Mafia.

The two thugs did not get angry. They exchanged a glance, quickened their pace, and stopped Xiao Miao again.

"This won't do. You'll bring the cops down on us soon enough. If you really want some fun, come with us."

Xiao Miao narrowed his eyes as he sized them up. "Forget it. I'm not gay, so stay the hell away from me!"

"..." x2

"F*ck, what the hell is wrong with your comprehension? I mean we've got girls over there. Lots of them! Got it?!"

"You should've said so earlier. Why didn't you? I thought I'd run into a couple of perverts."

"...Enough. Come with us."

The thugs drove Xiao Miao to a construction site. He stopped at the entrance, his face full of caution. "Something's off about this. I'm done. I'm leaving."

"Don't rush!" One of the thugs stopped Xiao Miao and whistled toward the site. A corner of a large shed on the left was lifted, revealing several scantily dressed women.

"So that's how it is. Hiding them at a construction site—you guys really know how to have fun." Xiao Miao put on a lecherous grin and followed the thugs into the shed.

A wave of foul, stagnant air hit him head-on, nearly making Xiao Miao vomit. He forcibly settled his churning stomach and followed the thugs into a crude private room.

There was only one bed in the room. A woman lay on it in a daze, her arms covered in needle marks.

Drugs were the most common method gangs used to control these women. Prostitution, gambling, and drugs had always gone hand in hand.

Xiao Miao wanted nothing more than to slaughter these thugs right then and there. Unfortunately, his goal was to save someone. Until he successfully rescued Keno, he would let these gang members enjoy their last few days of freedom.

"What kind of trash is this? Change her."

Using dissatisfaction as an excuse to switch women, Xiao Miao did it several times until the thugs grew impatient. Their leader stepped in and warned Xiao Miao not to cause trouble.

Xiao Miao directly slapped a stack of euros into the man's face, declaring that he wanted premium goods and telling him not to try fooling him with worn-out sluts. His brazen confidence left the leader uncertain.

Being so arrogant on someone else's turf meant he was either an idiot or a big shot. After hesitating for a long while, the leader had one of his men take Xiao Miao to other places to inspect the merchandise.

After looking through every location, Xiao Miao confirmed that Kim had already been sold onward. He bluntly said none of them caught his eye and asked whether they had any untouched virgins, adding that the price was negotiable.

The leader sneered and stated that virgins were merchandise reserved for big shots. Xiao Miao was not qualified to enjoy one. He rudely kept the stack of euros Xiao Miao had thrown down as payment, then ordered his underlings to throw Xiao Miao out.

His objective achieved, Xiao Miao cursed a few times and left. By evening, he had met up with Brian.

Brian looked terrible. His investigation had probably made little progress.

The truth was largely as Xiao Miao had guessed. The moment Brian got off the plane, he went to the hotel where his daughter had been kidnapped. He found her smashed phone and successfully identified a suspect through the photos on its memory card.

Unfortunately, Brian was getting old. Or perhaps he was simply too desperate to learn his daughter's whereabouts. Eager to interrogate the suspect, he failed to notice the suspect's accomplices approaching. After a scuffle, the main suspect escaped, only to be sent to hell by a truck on the way.

With no other choice, Brian sought help from an old colleague—the current deputy director of the French Internal Security Directorate. Little did he know that his friend was now part of the web of interests as well and regarded Brian only with wariness.

"How are things on your end?" Brian casually asked as he considered the direction of his next investigation.

"Things are going well on my end. I'm about to find your daughter," Xiao Miao replied casually.

Brian: "???"

He had not expected much from Xiao Miao. The man was an assassin, not an agent, and Brian had only asked about the progress out of habit. He had not expected such an unexpected gain.

Wasn't that progress a little too fast?

"Tell me everything!" Brian immediately pressed, urgency in his voice.

Xiao Miao did not keep him in suspense. "That group of Albanians is huge. They control the areas around the Pigalle District and Clichy Gate, and they operate four underground brothels. I checked them all."

"Of course, that isn't important. What matters is that they only send used goods out to entertain clients. Virgins are a precious resource to them. Do you understand what I mean?"

Brian understood instantly. "Kim still has value. She's safe for now!"

"Exactly. Pretty virgins are tools the Albanians use to bribe the upper ranks. They've already sold your daughter onward, to some white glove that specializes in serving powerful people."

Brian narrowed his eyes. The direction of the investigation immediately became clear. Time was running out, and he intended to pay his old friend another visit for a little "catching up."

Brian hurried off, then quickly returned a few seconds later. Looking Xiao Miao straight in the eyes, he said solemnly, "Thank you. I owe you one."

[Story Character: Brian Mills]

[Current Bond: Level 3]

[Draw Cost: 60 Fate Points]

Xiao Miao waved a hand casually. "I'm just doing the job I was paid for."

Brian said nothing more. He had never been a man of many words. After committing the matter to heart, he turned and hurried away.

There was no need to elaborate on the interrogation... catching-up process. The old friend's entire family fell into a deep sleep, and Brian got the information he wanted.

The white glove was named Saint-Clair. He would be holding a private salon at eight tomorrow night, with a secret auction taking place at the same time. Pretty virgins abducted from all over the world would be delivered into the arms of powerful men.

Thanks to the timely intelligence Xiao Miao had provided, Brian had far more time than he did in the original film. After discussing it, the two decided to raid the auction venue that very night.

The auction was being held at Saint-Clair's private estate. Completely enclosed black vehicles constantly came and went, delivering things that could not see the light of day into the estate.

They were most likely tomorrow's auction items!

One retired ace CIA agent and one rookie assassin with more than twice the physical abilities of an ordinary person charged into the private estate together. Their coordination was somewhat rough, but their advance was unstoppable!

None of the guards in the estate could stand against them. It was not until the basement had been breached that the intruders were discovered. More than a dozen guards rushed into the basement, and then...

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Xiao Miao and Brian unleashed a barrage of gunfire, killing more than a dozen guards on the spot. Brian ducked back behind the wall, his eyes wide. "Are all Continental Hotel assassins this good with a gun?"

"Not really. My shooting is only average. Strength is what I'm good at," Xiao Miao said modestly.

Brian naturally did not believe him. He was convinced Xiao Miao simply did not want to reveal his true capabilities. That was normal—one had to remain mysterious at all times, or death would not be far away.

After their brief exchange, the two quietly waited for the next wave of guards to attack. Instead, they heard footsteps rapidly retreating, until they vanished completely.

What was going on?