Chapter 187

Chapter 187: Dark Boundless Realm Part 42

Midnight District, West Street.

By the time Kui Xin arrived, night had fallen. The streets were lit with various colored lights, and signs written in different languages flickered at the entrances of shops.

Most of the shops were made of iron, using rivets to piece together the storefronts, with a single lamp as their pride. In damp weather, metal rusted easily, leaving rows of reddish-brown stains on the doors, making them look dirty and worn.

“West Street is the area for mechanical parts recycling and wholesale,” He Kangshi said softly. “Further out there is a massive waste disposal site, where people go to gather and refurbish old parts. Those old parts eventually make their way back into circulation. You can find some treasures if you look hard enough.”

“The small gang that rules over this area?” Kui Xin said.

“Yes,” replied He Kangshi. “It’s very profitable. High-quality parts get sold at new prices, yielding huge profits. That gang controls several stores handling mechanical parts. ”

Kui Xin’s electronic eye swept the street accurately, locking onto the shops he mentioned. They were lined up, right at the street center, making them easy to spot.

“Do gangs here have any specific rules in clashes?” Kui Xin said.

“No particular rules,” He Kangshi explained. “When two groups fight, the territory of the losing group is taken over by the victors. If both sides are hurt badly, often a third party will benefit. This happens frequently and is quite dangerous, but the rule is simple—one who has the stronger hand holds his territory. Smaller gangs rely on larger ones, and larger gangs are tied up in complicated interests with elites from the Poleward District…”

Kui Xin said, “The small gang you mentioned, who does it depend on?”

“Valeri of the Free Riders Car Shop. His brother smuggles mechanical prosthetics…”

Kui Xin recalled, “You mentioned him before; his brother wields great power in this area and seems connected to influential figures in the Poleward District.”

He Kangshi replied, “That’s accurate. But compared to Valeri’s gang, the one we’re dealing with isn’t worth much. They don’t care about its disappearance as long as we pay our protection fees on time. Such things happen frequently, and new gangs emerge weekly.”

“Alright, let’s go.” Kui Xin started forward, but paused, “Oh, yes, how capable are you in terms of business? Do you have experience?”

“Me… I…” He Kangshi hesitated, “My grandma owns a small shop and I helped with the cash register when I was young. Does that count as experience?”

Kui Xin considered, “Fairly so…”

He Kangshi noticed Kui Xin walked steadily, his nerves steadying. He touched the weapon clipped to his waist and felt the bulletproof vest under his clothes, silently bolstering his courage.

He straightened up, walking with a determined posture behind Kui Xin.

The dirty glass allowed a view inside the shop, filled with assorted metal parts, from large mechanical limbs to small screws. The shelves were crammed to the brim, swaying like they could collapse at any moment. The incandescent lights gave everything a silver gleam, creating a blinding effect.

Standing before the mechanical parts store, Kui Xin paused for two seconds.

He Kangshi understood his role and quickly stepped forward, raising his leg to kick the door open, going through various scenarios in his mind to choose the most powerful kick possible.

Confused, Kui Xin watched He Kangshi approach, then pushed him back with her arm.

Perplexed, He Kangshi thought she wanted to kick the door herself and stepped aside.

Instead, Kui Xin gently pressed the doorbell under He Kangshi’s nervous stare.

“Ring… Ring…”

Baffled, He Kangshi stood stunned. He expected a confrontation but saw a polite gesture.

The shopkeeper opened the door, revealing gold-capped teeth. He greeted Kui Xin warmly, “Welcome guest…”

His voice cut short when Kui Xin pointed a silencer-equipped gun at his quivering belly.

“Bang—”

A bullet hit home, tearing open a bloody hole.

He fell with a thud, convulsing in a pool of blood, Kui Xin entered and placed another shot between the shopkeeper’s eyes.

From upstairs came sounds: the clerk rushing down, hearing the commotion.

As he reached the ground floor, Kui Xin, calm and collected, met him. She fired four rapid shots with her right hand. Each bullet found its mark—four holes in the clerk’s limbs. Screaming, he crumpled to the floor.

“Lock the door,” Kui Xin gestured to He Kangshi.

He snapped to action, closing the door, separating them from the cries. Trembling, He Kangshi held his gun, trying not to lose his grip.

Kui Xin, with two hits, had already neutralized the threat.

“In the shop, there’s a surveillance camera…” He Kangshi stammered.

“Already disabled,” Kui Xin responded casually.

The determination in his eyes grew; Kui Xin’s actions showed her expertise.

“We need to call someone,” He Kangshi stated.

Kui Xin found a communicator. It took no effort to bypass its security and dial a secured contact. Throwing the device to He Kangshi, she instructed, “Speak.”

He Kangshi, settling into a chair, bellowed to his boss, “We need help! The enemy is here!”

In the distance, motorbike engines roared towards them, at least five or six of them. The sound pierced through the air, bikes skidding to a halt with dark rubber marks across the road. Two bikes carried armed men with submachine guns. Without hesitation, they opened fire, aiming to eliminate everyone inside.

He Kangshi barely got down in time, shouting a warning, but shadowy forms emerged from the darkness.

A shadow double stretched into a thin black curtain, blocking incoming gunfire. The screen absorbed bullets slowly, dropping them in a dull rhythm.

Kui Xin pierced the curtain with her gun, creating a hole.

She fired, hitting them squarely. Kui Xin descended from her chair, exiting the store.

Humanoid figures, arms morphing into dark spikes, emerged to defend against the gang members.

Fifteen gang members, armed and ready to charge, were met with swift gunfire. After three strikes, no one dared peek outside.

Seeing another escape attempt, Kui Xin shot at the fleeing gang member’s legs, asking sharply, “Who’s your boss?”

Crying, the wounded gang member confessed, “The first two used submachine guns!”

Kui Xin nodded, “I see.”

Shadow doubles disappeared underground and slashed throats efficiently.

Moments later, motorbikes rushed up the street.