"Time, place, target."
Qin Ze opened his notebook, took up his pen, and assumed a listening posture.
The Person in Black Robes was taken aback.
Bro, how are you this calm?
We're talking about raiding an execution ground.
Not catching a mistress or playing paparazzi.
"I said I need you to raid an execution ground," the Person in Black Robes repeated.
Qin Ze nodded. "Time, place, target."
"I'll assess the job based on a range of factors and give you a final commission."
The Person in Black Robes couldn't help but slap the table in admiration.
Professional!
So professional!
I really found the right people this time.
"The man I want you to save is Wang Biao. He'll be executed at the Cloud Mountain Execution Ground in three days."
The name sounded familiar to Qin Ze. "You mean Wang Biao, the Shame of Humanity from the news?"
"That's right, it's him!" The Person in Black Robes suddenly grew agitated. "He's not the Shame of the Human Race! He's a hero of the human race! An enforcer of fairness!"
It really was Brother Biao.
Qin Ze frowned slightly and began considering whether the job was feasible.
Brother Biao was an internet celebrity these days, topping the trending searches every day.
The news came up with different ways to curse Brother Biao every day.
The Shame of the Human Race, humanity's greatest scum, a lackey of the foreign races, and so on and so forth.
From three-year-old little girls to eighty-year-old women, there was no one who didn't pale at the mention of Biao.
The execution ground would probably be guarded as tightly as possible on the day.
Brother Biao was said to belong to a terrorist organization. Was this guy in the same organization as Old Biao?
Qin Ze glanced at the Person in Black Robes.
"You know Wang Biao's current situation better than I do."
"Raiding the execution ground will be extremely difficult."
"The police won't be the only ones there that day. Law enforcement will probably be there too."
The Person in Black Robes looked a little disappointed. "So you're not taking the job?"
Qin Ze shook his head. "It'll cost extra."
The Person in Black Robes naturally understood how dangerous the job was. He had come prepared to bleed money.
"Name your price."
Qin Ze held up his right hand, spreading all five fingers.
"At least this much."
The Person in Black Robes fell silent for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth.
"Fine. Five million it is."
"I'll give you a deposit of three million first. You'll get the balance when the job is done."
Qin Ze's breathing quickened.
Five million!
Heaven and earth were his witnesses: he had actually meant five hundred thousand.
When the other man kept silent, he had even considered lowering the price.
No wonder the city's gray market was so active.
It really paid.
Qin Ze did his best to keep a straight face, putting on an inscrutable air.
"Let's be clear beforehand."
"Wang Biao's situation is unusual. We can't guarantee we'll get him out."
The Person in Black Robes nodded. "I know the rules."
"Whether or not he makes it out safely, the deposit is yours."
Smack-
The Person in Black Robes set a suitcase on the table.
When he opened it, it was packed with stacks of cash.
Dharma King's and Brother Devour's eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
Their original body hadn't seen much of the world, so the clones had never seen this much money either.
Dharma King: "Why are my legs feeling a little weak?"
Brother Devour: "Look at you. What a sorry sight."
Dharma King: "If you're so impressive, why are your legs shaking?"
Qin Ze: "Grab a chair. Don't embarrass me. Pretend we've all seen things like this before."
The three exchanged a flurry of messages in their heads.
Dharma King and Brother Devour exchanged a glance, then grabbed Qin Ze's chair and stood as steady as mountains.
"All right, we'll accept the deposit."
Qin Ze closed the suitcase and set it by his feet.
The Person in Black Robes couldn't help but marvel.
As expected of an organization with a gifted ability user. Even with so much cash in front of them, they were as steady as old dogs.
"Once we get him out, where do we take him?"
The Person in Black Robes thought for a moment. "There's a crooked tree at the top of Black Wind Mountain. I'll meet you there."
Qin Ze said, "All right."
"The operation will take place in three days. We'll work out a detailed plan in the meantime."
"If there are any issues, we'll contact you to discuss them."
The Person in Black Robes thought they were professional. This was in the bag.
"See our guest out."
Brother Chicken came in at his call and escorted the Person in Black Robes out, returning a moment later.
"He's gone?" Qin Ze asked.
Brother Chicken answered, "He's gone."
"Come on out, everyone. Pretending to be people for so long must've worn you out." Qin Ze clapped his hands.
The clones wearing masks of all kinds of birds and beasts emerged from the room at the back.
Everyone gathered around Qin Ze, their eyes burning as they looked at the suitcase full of money.
Qin Ze opened the suitcase, scooped up a handful of bills, and scattered them like a heavenly maiden strewing flowers.
"Our first job! We're open for business!"
The clones joined in with loud cheers.
"Three million, oh, three million! We couldn't spend it all in a lifetime!"
"I want to buy a bicycle."
"I'm going to dye my hair green!"
"Let's split the money."
Qin Ze kicked the clone who had suggested splitting the money to the ground.
Bang!
Qin Ze snapped the suitcase shut.
"I'll set aside one million for your operating expenses."
"Now let's discuss the operation in three days."
The clones looked at one another and all fell silent.
"Useless when it counts."
"Dharma King, you go."
Seeing them all play mute, Qin Ze called on him by name.
Dharma King was silent for a moment. "How about... we take the money and run?"
The other clones' eyes lit up at once.
"That could work!"
"This lousy warehouse only cost a few hundred anyway. We can just leave it behind."
"Raiding the execution ground won't be easy. Who knows how many brothers we'll lose?"
"Let's scram. The world's a big place-where can't we make a home?"
"Let's move! Right now!"
Black lines appeared on Qin Ze's face.
"If we take the money and run on our first job, how will the Circus ever do business again?"
Brother Devour spoke up. "I have a plan..."
Half an hour later, Qin Ze made the final decision.
"That's what we'll do."
"Tomorrow, send two brothers to Cloud Mountain to scout the place out."
Three cobblers could equal one Zhuge Liang.
Building on Brother Devour's plan, a whole roomful of cobblers had finally worked out a reasonably passable plan of action.
"Brother Biao probably has a secret. Otherwise, so many people wouldn't be concerned about him," Dharma King said suddenly.
Brother Devour said, "Either way, he'll pass through our hands first. We'll find out whether he has any secrets once we investigate."
Qin Ze had the same idea.
He was just as curious about Brother Biao.
He wanted to know just how disgraceful this Shame of the Human Race really was.
Qin Ze rose and straightened his clothes. "Everyone, our first performance since coming to this world is about to begin."
"Even if no one applauds, remember to take your final bow with grace."
"Has it been taken care of?"
In a cramped, dim room, more than a dozen black-robed figures had gathered.
Some were tall, some short, some fat, some thin.
Without exception, they were covered from head to toe, with only their eyes showing.
"I've given them the money. The strongest of them are just two Level One Martial Artists."
"Though one of them is a Level One gifted ability user, his level is too low to affect the bigger picture."
The tall Person in Black Robes who had negotiated with Qin Ze said this.
"A gifted ability user? Could something unexpected happen? What if they actually rescue him?" someone asked.
The tall Person in Black Robes scoffed. "Then it'll save us even more trouble."
"But I'd advise you to put your heart back in your belly."
"If those rotten cloves of garlic actually raid the execution ground, I'll take my head off!"