Chapter 218

Page Seventy-Three Threat

Unexpected developments had calmed Sister Zǐ down. While keeping her guard up, she whispered, “What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?”

“I… I don’t think so?”

Originally wanting to deny it, the events from Lin Zǐyè’s coming-of-age ceremony yesterday made me uncertain. Perhaps Lín Yùhuáng was more petty than he appeared, especially since he didn’t even want to acknowledge Líng Shàojié as his daughter.

Maybe he sent people here to take revenge after getting angrier yesterday?

Sister Zǐ asked again, “Hey, they’re coming in. What are you going to do?”

“Regardless of who they are, we just need to ask them clearly.”

I wasn’t scared but felt a bit excited.

Ever since unlocking the Megami Mod, I’ve been looking forward to something like this. Five ordinary men couldn’t possibly be my match. Knocking them out would be a classic urban plot, and there’s nothing more satisfying than that.

“Ahem,几位客人要点什么？”

Despite those five being tough, the bartender was used to such situations and greeted them calmly.

“…………”

The man leading them had a scorpion tattoo on his forearm, with pincers resembling the creature’s claws. He silently handed the bartender a significant amount of money, who hesitated briefly before taking it and retreating behind the bar, glancing at me with a look of schadenfreude.

Tsk, does this mean he’s accepting it?

Though I didn’t expect much, this attitude seemed quite underhanded.

The man with the scorpion tattoo sat across from us and started eating walnuts on the table, causing Sister Zǐ’s anger to rise.

“Little girl, do you know why we’re here?” the scorpion man asked.

I smiled. “No idea. I don’t know anyone so low-class. Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

The scorpion man raised his eyebrows.

“Huh, quite calm?”

“Don’t show your eyes to dogs, they’re annoying. Take your people and leave quickly.”

Sister Zǐ spoke, her voice firm despite its small volume. The scorpion man frowned, unsure how to react. Maybe he only had information about me and not Sister Zǐ’s background, fearing he might hit an obstacle.

The empathy side effect from the restraint hadn’t disappeared yet. I vaguely sensed changes in Sister Zǐ’s mood.

Mm, she seems more like the original Lu Huángzé now.

I sensed these people had clear intentions, targeting me specifically, not just random thugs. As a violent group for hire, they wouldn’t waste their efforts.

The scorpion man hesitated but said, “Miss, we’re not here for you.”

Even if he was cautious, he wouldn’t run away just because of threats.

I asked, “Then who’s your employer? I haven’t had any conflicts recently… Could it be Lin Yùhuáng?”

“What… You had a conflict with that man?”

The scorpion man’s eyebrows raised even higher. The mention of Lin Yùhuáng intimidated him.

“So surprised, it can’t be him sending you?”

Now I truly couldn’t guess their background.

Sister Zǐ threatened, “Even if you say nothing, I’ll find out. So one last chance, it’d be better to leave now.”

“This bar isn’t your territory, right? Why can’t I come in?”

This place used to be Rōshōmon’s domain. For Sister Zǐ, the scorpion man’s words were like reopening old wounds.

“Hmph, trying to act tough? Then none of you will leave!”

Her cold words conveyed displeasure. Despite her limited experience with techniques, I had no doubt she could summon fireballs to warm these men up.

Sister Zǐ stomped her foot, her thick boots hitting the wooden floor.

“Bang, bang—”

Three sounds later, the four men accompanying the scorpion man collapsed into sudden unconsciousness.

“What did you do?”

The bizarre and incomprehensible situation panicked the scorpion man, and the bartender behind the bar watched nervously.

Sister Zǐ smirked.

“What’s wrong? I warned you earlier.”

Wait, isn’t this what I should be doing?

Even though it was the scenario I’d been waiting for, Sister Zǐ had stolen the spotlight.

Ultimately, what did she do to them?

Could it be some kind of hypnosis or mind-blowing technique?

—”It’s simpler than you think. Sister Zǐ just injected her magical energy into their brains, causing them to pass out from the energy poisoning.”—

That does sound simple. Maybe I could do it too.

—”No, no, no. You can’t. Even though it’s quick, it requires precise control. A single mistake could burn their brain… unless you plan to kill these five here.”—

How could I possibly kill them!

I mentally rebutted Cherry Sauce, then looked back at the scorpion man.

Sister Zǐ asked, “Still planning to resist? I won’t mind sending you all to the riverbed tonight.”

He kicked his subordinate’s body tentatively, fear evident on his face. He knelt down by the table…

Huh, such a weakling.

—”Sister Zǐ’s move really frightened him. The unknown can drive people mad.”—

The scorpion man prostrated himself.

“We targeted the wrong person. I’m a nobody who doesn’t recognize mountains. I’ll… Ugh!!”

In pain, the scorpion man screamed as Sister Zǐ stabbed his left arm with a kitchen knife, blood gushing out.

My heart sank, and I felt afraid too.

“Shut up, lackey.”

Even with sweat dripping from his forehead, the scorpion man stayed silent under Sister Zǐ’s pressure, not daring to breathe. She still held a gleaming kitchen knife in her hand—he didn’t want another cut.

“Wrong target? Don’t think you can get away with it. Tell me everything.”

His icy gaze was chilling, and his words were ruthless. Sister Zǐ showed no hesitation in hurting others. If the scorpion man truly threatened me, she’d likely burn his brain.

Comfortable interactions made me forget her nature. She was a cunning lion, once the leader of the largest criminal organization in the Balance Commercial District… though lately, life had been rather bleak.

Despite my inner turmoil, I kept smiling.

“Alright, now you can speak. Who sent you, and what’s the purpose?”

Compared to Sister Zǐ, I must seem like an angel.

The scorpion man, clutching his injured arm, answered shakily, “We’re looking for a friend of a female student named Dragon Strategy. We’re collecting… incriminating content.”

They wanted to use me to threaten Sister Tāo. That means they were hired by the Glorious Family.

I wonder how they knew about my relationship with Sister Tāo. We haven’t acted together outside school recently. Could there be spies in Bìyáng Girls’ School?

—”Photos.”—

Cherry Sauce reminded me.

—”You caught photos of Sister Tāo in the stairwell. Not just on the campus BBS. You should act like a campus idol. You’re almost a social media sensation.”—

Oh, because of that!

Since they targeted Sister Tāo, they wouldn’t overlook any clues related to her.

Seeing her former subordinate involved, Sister Zǐ’s dissatisfaction grew.

“How exactly are you collecting ‘incriminating content’?”

The scorpion man’s sweat dripped into his eyes, but he dared not answer.

Sister Zǐ placed the kitchen knife near the scorpion man’s left ear and ordered, “Speak.”

“Taking photos…”

The scorpion man cowered, pleading on the ground.

“We planned to take photos of this lady—Aah!”

His right arm was also pierced by a kitchen knife, blood soaking his shirt.

Sister Zǐ was furious with his answer.

I asked, “Did you see the photo of me and Senior Student Long Tàozhēn? But why do you think we’re friends? Maybe we’re just classmates.”

“That, the employer said Long Tàozhēn’s friend is an amateur model… And you are an amateur model, right? I saw your photos in the fashion magazines in the commercial district.”

Oh, those were taken when I worked part-time for Tony Yáng last summer.

I earned two thousand yuan back then.

But that reason wasn’t strong enough.

“Just because of that? No other candidates?”

AJ should have more photos, shouldn’t she?

“You’re the least experienced among them…”

…Oh.

Being such an amateur model is indeed a shame.

I didn’t expect AJ’s bait to lead trouble to me.

Suppressing the urge to kick him over, I asked, “So you’re saying you’re from the Glorious Family?”

“Glorious Family? If you’re talking about the employer, I don’t know much. We’re just debt collectors. Business hasn’t been good lately, so we occasionally take extra jobs for extra cash…”

Their menacing appearances seemed like debt collectors, but they were all pushovers, backing down against stronger opponents.

“Do you dare take such risks for extra cash? How much did they pay you?”

Sister Zǐ flicked the kitchen knife stuck in the scorpion man’s arm. He winced, speaking unclearly, “Four… Four thousand.”

“Ha? Only four thousand and you dare break the law?”

The scorpion man reiterated, “Twelve thousand! But they only gave four thousand, the rest eight thousand after success.”

Would twelve thousand be needed to deal with a small streamer like Dragon Palace Princess Yǐjī?

—”It shows they fear her potential. Compared to future losses, twelve thousand is insignificant… Plus, they might not pay. This scorpion man clearly doesn’t understand the Glorious Family’s background, just a disposable pawn.”—

Is there a way to further utilize these people?

While I was thinking, Sister Zǐ already had an answer.

“How did your employer contact you?”

She asked while pulling out both knives, perhaps considering her strikes to avoid major arteries. The bleeding wasn’t as severe as expected, so the scorpion man could stop it himself.

“…Phone,” the scorpion man replied, his face pale.

Sister Zǐ asked again, “Oh? After collecting ‘incriminating content’ against Dragon Strategy, how will you deliver it?”

“Email.”

“Ha? Online transaction? How will you ensure they pay the remaining eight thousand?”

The scorpion man remained silent, clearly not having considered this.