Blood Hand Society.
It was a medium-sized Predators organization.
Predators organizations ranged from thirty to fifty people at the smallest to three or five hundred at the largest. They were notorious for their secretive operations and ruthless methods, a festering nightmare despised by every human settlement on Blue Star.
The Blood Hand Society had fewer than two hundred members. It had been founded single-handedly by a man known as Blood Hand.
It was said that he had once been an assassin, specializing in no-investment ventures. Later, he realized that killing people by himself was too slow, so he began recruiting members. Each person helped him slash someone once, and thus the Blood Hand Society came to exist.
After getting up that day, Blood Hand had felt his right eyelid twitching nonstop. There was an old saying on Old Earth: "A twitching left eye brings wealth; a twitching right eye brings disaster."
Could some disaster befall me today?
Blood Hand muttered to himself.
That was impossible. His organization was not large enough to warrant the Flame Shrine's attention or a purge.
Apart from the Flame Shrine, their natural enemy, they got along fairly well with the other Predators organizations. Everyone stayed out of everyone else's way.
His robbery business was also thriving. In such a harsh living environment, he and most of his brothers could still wear gold and silver, eat meat, drink wine, and live quite comfortably.
Other than one squad that had gone out on a job and still had not returned, almost nothing troubling had happened recently.
"What exactly is this disaster?"
"Am I overthinking it?"
However, an assassin's instincts told him that things would not be so simple.
Sure enough, before long, a lackey shoved open the door and rushed inside, shouting, "Boss, this is bad! The Flame Shrine has surrounded us!"
Usually, they were the ones silently surrounding others. Now that the Flame Shrine had surrounded them, the feeling was utterly miserable.
But that was the Flame Shrine.
Apologize!
No matter why they had come, the Blood Hand Society should first kneel and kowtow to them.
Thus, Blood Hand slapped the lackey across the face and roared, "What are you shouting for? What problem can't be solved?"
The lackey spun around twice from the blow. Covering his face, he said, "Boss, the Flame Shrine brought a lot of people. The brothers at home have already confronted them. The second boss told me to hurry over and ask you to take charge."
Blood Hand's expression turned grave. "Who from the Flame Shrine is it? Bian Zhenxin? We've always gotten along well with Bian Zhenxin. I gave him several fine pieces I'd enjoyed before, along with plenty of gold, silver, and valuables. He brought people to surround us?"
"It isn't Divine Envoy Bian. A White Robe is leading them, and the ones surrounding us are the Flame Army."
"..."
Blood Hand began to feel a headache coming on.
"Even a White Robe came? Did they say why?"
"They said they wanted us to hand someone over."
"Hand over who?"
"They said a Black Robe was killed by one of our people. They want us to hand over the culprit, or they'll purge the Blood Hand Society." The lackey's face was filled with terror.
They feared neither heaven nor earth. They had done plenty of murder and robbery, so they knew exactly what the Flame Shrine was capable of.
They did not believe in gods, but they feared those who represented them.
"What the hell does one of their people getting killed have to do with us?" Blood Hand flew into a rage, but his expression quickly turned terrified. "You said a Black Robe was killed?"
"Yes, that's what they said."
"The Black Robe in Hate Mountain District is Bian Zhenxin. Bian Zhenxin is dead?"
"They didn't give a name."
"The sky is changing." Blood Hand muttered to himself. "The sky is changing. If this isn't handled properly, Hate Mountain District will become a slaughterhouse."
After pondering for a moment, Blood Hand gritted his teeth and said, "Bring out that chest of Luminous Pearls I collected. And that batch of fine goods we robbed last time—bring all of it out."
"Boss!" The lackey was horrified. This was the fortune his boss had painstakingly built up over many years. Was he really handing it over just like that?
"Lose money to ward off disaster," Blood Hand said bitterly. Giving away so many treasures at once hurt him terribly as well. "The Flame Army is here. If we don't give them some benefits, will they leave? If we offer it ourselves, we can still save the brothers' lives. If they take action and seize it themselves, we'll lose both our people and our wealth."
Blood Hand had dealt with the Flame Shrine many times and knew exactly how greedy and brutal they were.
They were the true Predators who committed every evil, while people like him were the Flame God's believers.
When Blood Hand rushed out with a group of lackeys, the dense ranks of the Gray Robe Army before him frightened him.
The Gray Robe figures had great numbers, but they were merely a disorganized mob. If a real fight broke out, it was uncertain who would win. Blood Hand did not take them seriously.
What truly concerned and frightened him were the nearly hundred Flame Army soldiers gathered around the White Robe old man.
They wore uniform weapons and equipment, all carrying spears suited for charging. More than a dozen of them even held rifles, which were rare treasures after the Great Cataclysm.
The Blood Hand Society had a few pistols too, but they were nothing compared to theirs. Worse still, they lacked bullets. Having three to five rounds for a gun was already remarkable. Entire boxes of ammunition were unrealistic.
When they robbed people, they could not exactly warn them beforehand: "I'm going to steal your gun later, so prepare more bullets."
That would not be proper!
Blood Hand walked through the crowd and straight toward the White Robe divine envoy. He bowed deeply, observing every courtesy.
Only then did he raise his head to look at Bian Feng and say fearfully, "Divine Envoy, your presence brings honor to our humble Blood Hand Society. May I ask what brings you to our little temple? If you have any orders, please say the word."
Bian Feng stared coldly at Blood Hand. In his eyes, Blood Hand was already a corpse.
Chen Hu tossed the Skull Lighter in his hand at Blood Hand's feet and asked in a deep voice, "Do you recognize this lighter?"
Blood Hand glanced at the lighter and immediately wanted to deny it. But when he remembered the White Robe old man's sinister gaze, devoid of even a trace of emotion, he decided to tell the truth.
"I have indeed seen this lighter. It belongs to one of our minor leaders. I saw it when he lit a cigarette for me." As Blood Hand explained, he carefully observed the White Robe old man's expression. "How did it end up in your hands, sir?"
"Where is that minor leader? Have him come out," Chen Hu said.
Since the divine envoy was unwilling to speak personally, Chen Hu handled everything for him.
Blood Hand also knew that Scarface and his group were probably the source of the problem. He hated them bitterly, thinking that even if that bastard returned alive, he would slit his throat himself. Anyone who dragged him and the Blood Hand Society into danger deserved to die.
But for now, he still had to humble himself and explain, "Sir, it isn't that I'm unwilling to hand him over. The main thing is that they went out on a mission and still haven't returned."
With a clang, Chen Hu drew the broadsword from his waist and roared, "Do you take us for three-year-olds? You expect us to believe such a rotten excuse?"
"You want to protect him?" The White Robe old man finally spoke. It was his first sentence since arriving.
His voice was soft and weak, as though he had no strength at all. Yet Blood Hand felt the hairs all over his body stand on end in terror.
Blood Hand looked at the White Robe old man with a serious, earnest expression and said solemnly, "Divine Envoy, I never intended to protect him. I do not wish to be enemies with the Flame Shrine, and I know the consequences of offending you. If he were here, I would have tied him up and delivered him before you long ago."
Blood Hand waved a hand, and the four Blood Hand Society brothers behind him placed four large chests at the White Robe old man's feet.
"Divine Envoy, you have come from afar as our guest. Our Blood Hand Society has nothing fine with which to entertain you. These are a few small trinkets I have collected over the years. I hope you will accept them."
The White Robe old man did not even glance at the chests. He merely looked calmly and deeply at Blood Hand, saying in a low voice, "The Black Robe envoy of the Flame Shrine in Hate Mountain District has died. The death of one Black Robe is not important. Our Flame Shrine has many Black Robes, and every human settlement has one."
"But the Black Robe who died happened to be my son. I had only this one son. So now, you should understand how I feel, shouldn't you?"
"I understand. I understand." Cold sweat streamed down Blood Hand's face as he nodded repeatedly.
"No, you do not understand." The White Robe old man shook his head and sighed. "If you understood, you would not think of buying peace from an old man whose son has just died."
"Divine Envoy..."
Blood Hand was bewildered by the old man's logic.
I gave you money only to show my respect. It does not mean I did this.
We honestly made a living from burglary, robbery, murder, and theft every day. We never thought of becoming enemies with the noble Flame Shrine, much less ambushing and killing a Black Robe. Wouldn't that be insane?
And insanity meant death.
Bian Feng raised his hand and said, "If the owner of the lighter does not appear within three breaths, there will not be a single living person left in the Blood Hand Society."
"Divine Envoy, that man really hasn't returned. My brothers have been looking for him too. If you don't believe me, send someone inside to search," Blood Hand said anxiously.
"Three."
"Divine Envoy, we've been wronged! You should understand the nature of us Predators. I've brought out every bit of wealth I've accumulated over the years. How could I possibly do such a thing for one minor leader?"
Predators were ruthless enough that, at critical moments, they would even insult themselves.
You know us Predators are no good. How could a heartless, beast-faced bastard like me make such a huge sacrifice for some underling in the organization?
Divine Envoy, think about it carefully. How could someone as inhuman as me do something so loyal and righteous?
I've been wronged!
"Two."
"Divine Envoy, Bian Zhenxin and I are friends—old friends. We often drank and played games together. If you don't believe me, have Divine Envoy Bian come out. He'll definitely speak fairly for me—"
The White Robe divine envoy's finger came down noticeably faster as he said, "One."
The Flame Shrine represented light and justice. Yet a Black Robe of the Flame Shrine was friends with an infamous Predators leader. If word got out, it would harm the father and son's reputations.
"Kill!"
Understanding his boss's intentions, Chen Hu let out a furious roar and swung his broadsword at Blood Hand before him.
A new week had begun, and it was time to climb the rankings. Dear readers and adorable little fairies, please lend Old Liu a hand!!!
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