While the Red Maple personnel were conducting the search, Han Xiao returned to the Dorasi mansion, left the last file in the study, and then left.
[Deterrence and Intimidation] Completed
[You have gained 120,000 experience points]
[Blood Pact Union Favorability +500, Current Relationship: Respected (4450/6000)]
There are subordinate relationships between factions. The Blood Pact Union is a subordinate force of the Dark Net Organization. Favorability can affect relationships within the Dark Net Organization, just as his favorability with the Thirteenth Bureau affected Stardragon's attitude towards him. According to Han Xiao's estimation, to unlock a higher-level faction, the Dark Net Organization, a trigger is needed, such as a mission. The higher the favorability with the subordinate force, the more it affects the initial favorability needed to unlock the upper-level faction.
"This mission isn't difficult, and I suspect there are hidden benefits, like increasing Bennett's favorability." Han Xiao nodded to himself. He was looking forward to being a partner in the main storyline of the Sanctuary when he returned to the Southern Continent.
After a busy night, Dorasi finally returned home under the protection of his new bodyguard, his face showing his exhaustion.
As he passed by the study, he noticed the desk lamp was on. When he got to the desk and was about to turn it off, he found a document he had never seen before sitting quietly on the desk.
Dorasi's expression changed, he hesitated for a few seconds, and then slowly flipped through the documents.
The documents contained shady evidence of his clandestine profits and his dark past, all signed by the Dark Net.
"The Dark Net Organization sends you its sincerest greetings and wishes you good health."
Dorasi's face turned ashen. In an instant, he understood why the Dark Net was doing this. It was only a matter of material aid; he never expected that the Dark Net could even find out information about something he opposed.
He slammed the documents on the table in anger, gritting his teeth as he said, "This is outrageous! This is extortion! A bunch of robbers!"
The fact that someone could sneak into his house and plant something means they could also take his life; that intruder must be from the Dark Net! Tonight's events were all orchestrated by the Dark Net!
But he dared not retaliate. If these dirts fell into the hands of an opposing party, his political career would likely be over, and he would certainly be abandoned by his patron. Without the protection of his party, he would definitely be eliminated. As an official, he knew Red Maple's style best.
Dorasi immediately burned the document, slumped in his chair as if his bones had been removed, stared at the document turning to Ashes in the fireplace, and remained silent for a long time.
"This matter cannot be publicized. I'm not the only official who opposes funding the Dark Net, and no one else would be foolish enough to leak it." Dorasi's eyes flickered. If everyone keeps quiet, this matter can be concealed, becoming a secret known only to you and me. As long as we agree to provide material aid, the Dark Net will not take any further action.
However, things always take unexpected turns. Of the five officials who were hacked, one was found dead, his body hidden in a cabinet! This immediately drew even greater attention. Special agents sealed off the official's residence and thoroughly searched the house. Han Xiao, seeing that the person had been frightened to death, wouldn't have bothered to leave any files, so the intelligence agency naturally gained nothing.
But they had a hunch: of the five involved, only one died, so why were the other four unharmed? What was the intruder's motive? The intelligence agency questioned Dorasi and the other three about whether they had noticed anything unusual, and all four denied it. However, the intelligence agency also discovered a common thread among the five involved: not long ago, they had all opposed the proposal to fund the Dark Net.
The Dark Net is the prime suspect!
The infiltrator was able to confront legends of the old era, only to vanish without a trace in the blink of an eye. Red Maple Intelligence Agency instantly locked onto the prime suspect: the Black Phantom of the Dark Net!
Therefore, these four people must have lied, and why was the deceased official brutally murdered?
The doctor's examination revealed that the deceased official had no external or internal injuries; the cause of death was a myocardial infarction and excessive adrenaline secretion—in short, he was scared to death!
What did the deceased see before his death that terrified him to death?
Could it be that I've seen a ghost?
What did Black Phantom do?
Upon further reflection, the Red Maple intelligence agents felt a chill run down their spines.
"Such terrifying Assassination techniques, so seamless and natural, leaving no trace, god-level disguise, unbelievable!"
The intelligence officers quickly made a note of it.
The notorious difficulty of finding Black Phantom was already a well-known rumor in the underworld, making it virtually impossible to locate him. Red Maple's intelligence agency could only do their best and leave the rest to fate, mentally prepared for the possibility of failure.
Vernina sat shirtless, leaning back in a chair with her hands on the back and her chin resting on the back of her hands. Hannes was tending to her shoulder injury from behind, with clumps of blood-soaked cotton balls beside her.
Ding-dong.
Hannes finally managed to pick the bullet out of the flesh and toss it onto the plate.
The pain made Vernina frown, and she sighed, "I actually failed such a simple task. How embarrassing."
With his stitches still in place, Hannes said without looking up, "Grian's intelligence was wrong; it's all his fault."
Upon hearing this, Grian slammed his laptop onto the table in annoyance. The page displayed the files of the agents around Dorasi. He cursed, "Bullshit! This is all intelligence I painstakingly hacked from Red Maple's archives. That formidable enemy's name is Angston. Looking at his resume, he seems like an ordinary person. Who knew he was hiding so well?"
Vernina put on a white wool sweater, smoothed her golden hair, and said calmly, "After this failure, it won't be easy to kidnap a target next time. That Angston is not easy to deal with."
Grian glanced at the computer, then suddenly exclaimed with delight, "Wait a minute, I have new intelligence. The ones fighting us are imposters, not Red Maple's people at all!"
"Who?" Hannes asked, looking surprised.
"Looks like someone from the Dark Net." Grian typed on the keyboard, gathering information.
"The Dark Net... only Bennett and two other old guys are capable. The one I fought wasn't them. Has the Dark Net got fresh blood? I haven't been following underground intelligence for a while." Vernina was slightly surprised, touching her shoulder. "He also left me with a bullet hole. He's not someone to mess with."
"We had no conflict with him, we were just unlucky to run into him," Grian cursed. "Bennett really hit the jackpot by running into such a formidable opponent."
"Asking directly is the fastest way." Hannes took out his phone; he had Bennett's number.
The call connected.
"Hannes? I didn't expect you to call me. Didn't you retire?" Bennett's voice rang out.
"Grian said he needs my help with something important, and I happen to owe him a favor. Anyway, I have something to ask you. Did you send someone to Red Maple to do something...?" Hannes explained the situation.
Bennett was both amused and exasperated. "What a coincidence. I don't know if it's his bad luck or yours."
"Who is he?"
Bennett paused, then chuckled, "You want to cause him trouble? I advise you not to mess with him; he might just kill you."