Wang Defa's Intel

After school, Qin Siyang tidied up the Library and left with Wen Shu once again.

But as Qin Siyang walked out of the school gates, he caught sight of Zhao Liwen's furious gaze.

"Just ignore him."

"Hm?"

Before Qin Siyang could say anything, he heard Wen Shu speak.

"I said, just ignore Zhao Liwen."

"Oh."

Qin Siyang and Wen Shu gradually walked away, but Zhao Liwen remained where he was, watching Qin Siyang beneath the streetlight outside the school gates.

With his exceptional perception, Qin Siyang naturally sensed that hostile stare.

"Wen Shu."

"What is it?"

"Zhao Liwen keeps staring at us. He must bother you a lot, right?"

Wen Shu shook her head. "No."

Her denial was firm.

"Don't trouble yourself. I'm fine. I've barely ever spoken to him."

She added that last sentence as though afraid Qin Siyang might do something and make the situation worse.

"He warned me that he'd be going to the same school as you and told me to stay away from you."

Wen Shu froze for a moment, then looked at Qin Siyang. "You went looking for Zhao Liwen?"

"He came looking for me." Qin Siyang rolled his eyes at her. "I don't even know him. Why would I go looking for him?"

Wen Shu pursed her lips at that and said nothing more.

"Whatever he says, just ignore it. Treat it like a gust of wind blowing past. He hasn't affected my studies, anyway."

"You're explaining so much because you're afraid I'll kill him?" Qin Siyang sighed helplessly again. "I'm not some demon addicted to killing. Unless there's absolutely no other choice, I don't want to do that sort of thing either."

"Don't worry. I've got a way to handle it."

Wen Shu asked in confusion, "You? What way?"

"Nothing worth mentioning."

At the intersection where they parted, Qin Siyang waved to Wen Shu and walked straight off.

Watching his retreating figure, Wen Shu's lips curved slightly upward.

"Thank you."

After going home and dropping off the bag containing his lunch box, Qin Siyang headed to the Internet Cafe near his home.

He skirted the camera by the entrance and glanced inside, finding Wang Defa seated behind the counter.

Wang Defa looked thoroughly miserable as he stared blankly at the monitor in front of him.

Liu Dazhi should have been sitting there at this hour, while he stayed home enjoying the company of his wife and children.

But some damned bastard had actually killed that broke shut-in Liu Dazhi for his few hundred copper coins.

With his attendant murdered, the Internet Cafe owner couldn't immediately find anyone who knew how to operate its management system, so he had to do the job himself.

"Damn it, I'd better not find out which bastard killed Liu Dazhi! I'll make him pay me back with interest!"

Having no time to himself wasn't even the worst part.

For some reason, the Police Bureau had gone crazy lately, sending people to inspect his Internet Cafe every day. It was a crushing blow to his business.

Wang Defa's Internet Cafe was located in this slum, and its main purpose wasn't to provide internet access at all, but to offer a gray area for illegal transactions.

By modifying backend data, the computers in his Internet Cafe could hide their login addresses, allowing people to conduct anonymous transactions online.

Since the network login addresses were randomly generated, the United Government's network administrators had no way to trace them.

When someone asked Wang Defa to hide their login address, the internet fee increased twentyfold.

Internet access was expensive to begin with, and twenty times that price was astronomical.

Even so, customers still streamed into Wang Defa's Internet Cafe.

The profits from illegal transactions were far greater than those twentyfold internet fees.

Having shady dealings as his main source of income was undeniably bold. Naturally, Wang Defa wasn't some unconnected bumpkin if he could keep operating here.

Someone within the United Government specifically ensured that his Internet Cafe could operate safely. Of course, Wang Defa handed over the vast majority of his illicit income to that backer.

With plenty of room for maneuver and an owner with powerful connections, Wang Defa's Internet Cafe quickly made a name for itself in the surrounding regions. It had operated for three years without any major incidents.

Until a few days ago, when people from the Police Bureau suddenly seemed to go mad, coming to patrol and inspect his place every day.

Despite all their inspections, they had done nothing beyond taking away a few of his special customers.

Wang Defa had no idea what the Police Bureau was even trying to uncover.

He called his backer to ask what was going on.

To his shock, however, even his backer seemed helpless about the situation.

"If the Police Bureau wants to investigate, let them. Stay out of it."

"What about the business?"

The person on the other end sighed. "Put the business on hold for now. There's nothing I can do either."

"Sir, can't you give me a hint? I'm really worried the cops will haul me away one day, or I'll suddenly disappear like the previous owner did three years ago!"

"That man's disappearance was an accident. You don't need to worry. As for the police... this is a complicated matter. Someone took it to the higher-ups."

Wang Defa froze, his heart leaping into his throat. "Our business... we're only making a little money. How did it end up reaching the higher-ups?"

"They aren't after our little scraps of business at all. So relax. The Police Bureau won't do anything to you."

"All right."

"By the way, you haven't run into anyone strange lately, have you?"

"Anyone strange?" Wang Defa immediately thought of Qin Siyang. But for the sake of that one silver coin in hush money, he chose to conceal it.

"No. Just people doing business."

"Good, then. That's all for now. I have a meeting to attend."

"Goodbye, sir."

Knowing that the Police Bureau had another objective, Wang Defa relaxed.

But their frequent visits had sent his extra income plummeting, leaving him utterly miserable.

"I'll just have to cut expenses as much as possible these next few days."

As he worried over this, he spotted Qin Siyang at the entrance.

In his eyes, Qin Siyang was the incarnation of both the god of wealth and the god of death.

So the sight of Qin Siyang filled him with both apprehension and delight.

Wang Defa glanced at the handful of customers scattered around the Internet Cafe. They were all concentrating on their computers.

Grabbing a roll of toilet paper, he called out, "I'm going to the bathroom. If anyone comes in, please tell them to wait a moment. Thanks."

"Sure, Boss Wang. Go ahead."

Wang Defa went outside, circled out of the camera's view, and approached Qin Siyang.

"Hello, Boss Wang."

"Oh, please don't call me that. You're my boss."

As he spoke, Wang Defa offered Qin Siyang a cigarette.

Qin Siyang waved it away. "We're not allowed to smoke."

Hearing Qin Siyang say "we" so naturally only strengthened Wang Defa's belief that a powerful organization of Sequence Ability Users stood behind him.

"Oh, right. Having the smell of smoke on you when you're working would be troublesome. I understand, I understand."

Qin Siyang pointed toward the storeroom. Wang Defa took the hint, and they walked there together.

"How's business lately, Boss Wang?"

Wang Defa sighed. "Don't even ask. Those uniformed dogs from the Police Bureau come sniffing around every day like they've caught the scent of meat. Are you looking to use the computer in the storeroom today?"

Sensing that something might be wrong, Qin Siyang asked cautiously, "They inspect this place every day? Should I stay away for a while, then?"

"It's fine. The Police Bureau already carried out three surprise inspections today. They can't possibly come again."

"Three? That many?"

"Yes. Usually it's once every day or two. Who knows what got into them today? They inspected us three times. So rest assured, today is absolutely safe."

Qin Siyang nodded. He hadn't expected his theft of the God Remains to cause such a stir.

"But you'd better avoid coming too often for now. Quite a few of my customers have already been arrested. The Police Bureau is watching closely. I'd hate for you to get dragged into it."

Wang Defa cautiously warned Qin Siyang, outwardly showing concern for him while actually fearing that if Qin Siyang got arrested, the organization behind him would hold Wang Defa responsible.

"All right, don't worry. After I finish tonight, I probably won't come back for a while."

"Wonderful. That couldn't be better. Once things blow over, you're welcome anytime!"

Qin Siyang smiled without answering.

He was the one who had stirred all this up. It wouldn't blow over unless he was caught.

After confirming that no one was around, they slipped into the storeroom one after the other.

"Boss Wang, there are a few things I don't quite understand. I'd like to ask your advice."

"Go ahead."

"On orders from above, I'm planning to register with the Sequence Ability Management Bureau."

Wang Defa froze. "You... haven't registered yet?"

"With everything I have to do, wouldn't making my information public expose me all too easily?"

Understanding dawned on Wang Defa. "Yes, yes, you're absolutely right."

"But the higher-ups only told me to do it and left me to figure out how to register my sequence here. You're in this business, and even a powerful outsider can't beat someone who knows the local turf. You should know more than I do."

"Of course. Just ask."

Qin Siyang leaned close to Wang Defa and stared into his eyes. "I want to report a fake sequence. What hidden pitfalls should I watch out for in the 14121 Region?"

Wang Defa's gaze immediately began to dart away. "You... why ask me that? How would I know? I'm just an ordinary person."

"Eyes don't lie. Yours tell me you know."

Wang Defa's face twisted like the sole of a shoe. "Boss, please don't put me on the spot. I'm just a lowly bug. How could I dare get mixed up in matters between you and the Administration Bureau?"

Qin Siyang sat down in a chair and crossed his legs.

"Did you think that silver coin would be so easy to earn?"

"Huh?"

"You show your face here every day, living in constant fear, and how much does your backer give you in the end? I gave you that much in one go. Didn't you expect that I'd want your help with something else?"

Wang Defa swallowed.

He knew money was hard to earn and shit was hard to swallow.

There was no shame in doing what it took to feed his family.

But he hadn't known the shit behind one silver coin would be such an enormous pile!

Helping a Sequence Ability User deceive the Sequence Ability Management Bureau-wasn't that insane?

If it worked, Qin Siyang might very well silence him to keep the secret.

If it failed and Qin Siyang sold him out, the Administration Bureau would absolutely make his life hell.

Was he trying to get himself killed?!

"No, boss, please. Can't you leave me out of this mess?"

Qin Siyang smiled. "Then just give me the money."

Wang Defa thought it over. One silver coin was a huge sum, but it wasn't worth more than his life and everything he had. He gritted his teeth. "Fine. I'll give you that silver coin in a few days."

"Who said anything about one silver coin?"

Qin Siyang said coldly, "You'll return my silver coin. And you'll also compensate me for the goods worth twenty silver coins that our people lost here."

"That's twenty-one silver coins in total."

"What?! You're messing with me, aren't you?!"

Even if they killed him, Wang Defa couldn't scrape together twenty-one silver coins.

So when Qin Siyang made that outrageous demand, Wang Defa lost his temper too.

Qin Siyang slammed the table. "Messing with you?! Why do you think I was ordered to register with the Administration Bureau?! The crimes on my head are enough to get me executed eight hundred times. Do you have any idea how risky registering there is?!"

"It's because the shipment for the twenty-silver-coin deal I was handling disappeared from your place, and the higher-ups are punishing me!"

"If you'd had your cameras on that morning, would I have to risk my neck at the Administration Bureau?!"

Under Qin Siyang's furious rebukes, Wang Defa immediately wilted again.

"I searched the entire Internet Cafe and couldn't find it. Besides, you don't even know what it was. How was I supposed to find it...?"

Qin Siyang glared. "If I knew what it was, why the fuck would I need to watch your surveillance footage?! Couldn't I just find it myself?!"

"Wang Defa, I'm telling you, if I can't register with the Sequence Ability Management Bureau under a false identity, the first thing I'll do is kill your entire family!"

Wang Defa was close to dropping to his knees. "Boss, please. A man should answer for his own actions. Isn't killing my whole family a little unreasonable...?"

"Reason with me?" Qin Siyang snorted coldly. "Are you worthy?"

Wang Defa's face instantly turned ashen.

Although he was somebody on the fringes of the Safe Zone, he wasn't even an ant before Qin Siyang, with his powerful backing and countless killings.

There truly was no room for reason.

"If you know a way to fake a sequence, spit it out. My patience has limits."

Wang Defa glanced at Qin Siyang with his brows drooping miserably, then lowered his head and thought for a moment before finally gritting his teeth.

"All right. I'll tell you."

"But please, you mustn't tell anyone else."

"Cut the crap. Who do you think I could tell? The Police Bureau? Or the Sequence Ability Management Bureau?"

After thinking it over, Wang Defa realized Qin Siyang had a point.

As a Sequence Ability User who had to remain in the shadows, how could he dare expose this matter?

"I actually only know the broad outlines of this. I don't know the specifics."

"As far as I know, if you don't report your real sequence when you register with the Sequence Ability Management Bureau, it's very easy for them to find out."

"But I don't know exactly how they're discovered. That's classified information at the Sequence Ability Management Bureau."

What?!

The Sequence Ability Management Bureau actually had a way to verify sequences?!

Qin Siyang's heart tightened at those words.

Thank goodness I went to Wang Defa first instead of blindly burying myself in preparations to fake my sequence!

Otherwise, the day I set foot in the Administration Bureau would be the day I could buy myself a coffin!