Dark Light Chaser.

Chapter 210 Testing
A basement in Nevada.

Song Jie took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

"Boss, I'll light the fire for you."

As usual, Mu, the sycophant, picked up a lighter and moved closer to Song Jie.

For some reason, Song Jie shivered as he looked at Mu Si approaching, and his body involuntarily leaned back.

Song Jie narrowed his eyes as he looked at Mu Si.

Why does this guy suddenly give me a dangerous feeling?
This feeling comes and goes quickly.

Song Jie sat up straight again, letting Mu Si light his cigarette for him.

This guy is so down on his luck that he needs my protection now, what danger could he possibly be in? It seems I've really been scared out of my wits by Janus.

Looking at Mus's obsequious expression, Song Jie shook his head and mocked himself inwardly.

After smoking half a cigarette, Song Jie shoved the cigarette butt into the ashtray.

"How is Wang Youde's matter being handled?"

Upon hearing Song Jie speak, Mu Si immediately picked up the tablet on the table: "It's all been taken care of. All the neighbors who saw Wang Youde have moved to other cities, and the surveillance footage along his escape route has been cleaned up."

Mus pointed at the tablet, recounting the entire incident.

"Wang Youde was hiding in a shantytown at the time. The people there were easy to please; they would shut up as long as you gave them money."

The police want to track down Wang Youde, and they'll most likely follow the route taken in Tsinghua University, so I spent a small amount of money to send them to Nevada.

How much is a small sum of money?

Song Jie lit another cigarette, but this time he pushed away Mu Si's outstretched hand and lit it with his own lighter.

"Two thousand for the whole family, a total of one hundred and twenty thousand," Mus said honestly.

This number is neither high nor low.

That's why there were so many eyewitnesses.

It was because although Wang Youde was staying at an inn, he deliberately went into the shantytown to escape on the day Janus was chasing him.

Many people in the shantytown live in shipping containers. If they weren't blind, they could easily spot Wang Youde escaping down that road by glancing outside.

This added a lot of trouble to Song Jie's follow-up work.

Song Jie patted his thigh and said, "Although this amount of money is not much, it's not appropriate to spend so much on those scavengers."

Upon hearing this, Mu Si immediately realized that Song Jie was testing his attitude.

"Of course, sometimes fists are more effective than money when dealing with those beggars, but that won't keep them quiet. The cops will always find a way to pry their mouths open. Even if we retaliate afterward, their few worthless lives won't change the fact that they've been exposed."

Mus began to list the significance of his actions in an attempt to persuade Song Jie.

“Even if they are at the bottom of society, most people will not even glance at them, but there will always be nosy people who pay attention to their lives, so it is not realistic to directly deal with so many people.”

"In my opinion, a combination of coercion and enticement is the best option."

After hearing Mu Si's explanation, Song Jie laughed: "But why do I hear from others that some people agree to move, but you still have to pay them hush money?"

"Well, you see, it's much better for them to move on their own initiative than for us to make a big fuss about kicking them out, right? Giving them a little travel expense won't cost much, so why not?"

Mus had a fawning smile on his face and kept rubbing his hands together.

Be upright when you should be upright, and be weak when you should be weak. You can use your power to help the working class, or you can be obsequious and flattering to please others.

This is Mus, a cunning man with a flexible moral bottom line.

"Well said."

Song Jie cast an admiring glance at Mu Si: "The most important thing for us intelligence officers is to minimize the impact of events."

Mus laughed and said, "Hehe, it's all thanks to your excellent teaching."

"Stop flattering me; I only care about results."

Song Jie stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray again, but this time his expression had completely changed: "I'll ask you one last time, why did you give up everything in Nevada City to come and rely on me?"

The moment Song Jie opened his mouth to speak, his originally dark eyes turned deep purple, and his left hand, which was tucked into his trench coat pocket, curled up and gripped a pistol tightly.

Song Jie activated the strange object Janus had given him. This strange object had no other function than to detect lies and perform a very short-term, superficial mind reading.

According to Janus, without the constitution of a suitable candidate, even using such a low-level contraption could cost him his life.

Therefore, Song Jie cherishes every minute and second of this ability.

If Mu Si were to utter even half a lie, Song Jie would kill him without hesitation.

The basement was dimly lit, and Mu Si didn't notice the change in Song Jie's eye color or the surging murderous intent within him.

He looked troubled, thought for a moment, and said, "Boss Song, I know you have all your suspicions about me, but I really don't have any bad intentions."

Since you're so eager to know why I've come to you for help, I might as well be frank.

I am indeed reluctant to give up my business in Nevada, but I have no choice because the authorities have their eyes on me.

They've effectively imprisoned me, and that old bastard Yue Chongshan not only openly fueled the flames but also secretly began eroding my power. To survive and gain my freedom, I have no choice but to abandon my empire.

Is Mus telling the truth?

The answer is yes.

There wasn't a single lie in those words, but he didn't tell the whole truth.

Mus did not specify which official force had its eye on him.

He said it, but not completely.

Speaking in half, splitting a single piece of information into two or three parts for sale—these are the professional instincts of intelligence brokers.

The amount of detailed information you want depends on your offer.

Most intelligence brokers do this, and only a very few, who occasionally want to improve their reputation and performance (a phenomenon known as involution), will sell all their intelligence at once.

Not always, but generally speaking.

"The Neva City authorities have no reason to target you, right?"

As someone who is generally considered to be one of them, Song Jie naturally wouldn't let his guard down because of Mu Si's honest words.

Because some truths, when strung together, can form a huge lie.

At this moment, Mu Si finally noticed Song Jie's hands, which had been in his pockets.

Thinking back on these questions, he broke out in a cold sweat.

"They really are planning to target me. I can assure you I have no ill intentions towards you! I came to Qianhua City just to make a living, then retire at fifty and find a scenic place to live out my days!"

Mus raised his hands and backed away, indicating that he had no intention of resisting.

He retreated to a corner, cornering himself.

As for why they didn't run towards the door...

Song Jie always chooses to meet in underground bars or basements. What do you think he's after?

Let's not even talk about what Song Jie was carrying in his pocket.

Both the entrance and the elevators and staircases leading to the upper floors were controlled by Song Jie's men.

No one can go up without his permission.

On the ground, one can escape by jumping off a building, but underground, there's no way to escape.

Song Jie didn't say a word. He first took out a cigarette from his right pocket and put it in his mouth.

Then he pulled out a palm-sized pistol from inside, pointed it at Mus, and gestured for Mus to come over and light a cigarette.

But Mus dared not approach at this moment, and could only keep begging for mercy.

"Boss Song! Brother Song! It can't be that bad! I really didn't mean any harm. I just wanted to stay here for a while to avoid the limelight!"

As Song Jie approached step by step, Mu Si put his hands behind his head and slowly squatted down, still trying to persuade him.

Even though Song Jie was only two steps away from him, he had no intention of seizing the gun and killing him in return.

“Raise your head,” Song Jie said.

Mus looked at Song Jie tremblingly, the muzzle of the gun only twenty centimeters away from his forehead.

Mus thought he had escaped a disaster.

To everyone's surprise, the other party immediately disengaged the safety, put his finger on the trigger, and before he could even beg for mercy.

Song Jie pulled the trigger immediately.

In the midst of intense tension and despair, time seemed to slow down all around, but Mus only had time to close his eyes.

Click.

A flame emerged from the muzzle of the gun.

"Haha, don't be nervous, I was just joking with you."

Song Jie chuckled and patted Mu Si on the shoulder, then casually lit a cigarette with his flame.

"You used to be an intelligence dealer who controlled the entire intelligence network of a city. Although you've fallen on hard times, you can't lose your former prestige. Otherwise, where would I, who am on the same level as you, put my face?"

I preferred your previous stingy, shrewd businessman persona. It's a bit strange to see you suddenly become so humble.

You're fucking insane!

Mus wanted to shout at him like that.

But now, when you're under someone's roof, you have no choice but to bow your head.

"That's all in the past. Now I just want to make a living and then retire and live in seclusion."

Mus said with a fawning smile.

"You're quite honest. Why don't you say so now? You want to contribute to my power building?" Song Jie asked with a smile as he put away his lighter.

"Since you trust me so much, I can't lie to you, can I?"

Mus stood up shakily from the corner, but his legs gave way and he sat back down on the ground.

Song Jie stepped forward and helped Mu Si up: "Tsk, you need to work on your courage!"

"Next time, definitely next time."

Mu Si helped Song Jie stand up, supporting his shoulder.

He followed Song Jie into the elevator and returned to the ground floor.

The elevator doors opened right into the underground parking lot. In the past, Song Jie would always lead Mu Si out of the bar through the main entrance; this was the first time they had taken the elevator to the parking lot.

This means that Song Jie has initially accepted Mu Si into his core team.

"I have other things to do, let Ah Er take you home."

Song Jie got into his car and gave instructions to another bodyguard beside him.

Ah Da and Ah Er were Song Jie's personal bodyguards.

The two brothers have been by Song Jie's side ever since records began.

Ah Da was responsible for driving Song Jie, while Ah Er was responsible for his personal protection.

Song Jieken sent his trusted confidant to escort Mu Si, partly as a gesture of reassurance.

Mus quickly waved his hand and refused: "No, no, I'll just take a taxi myself. Your safety is the most important thing."

"Alright, you can go back by yourself. I'll contact you again if there's a mission."

Song Jie didn't stand on ceremony with Mu Si, after all, he was Mu Si's boss now.

After Ah Er got on the bus, he sat in the back row with Song Jie.

In the event of a shooting, this would allow him to shield Song Jie from bullets with his own body in the immediate aftermath.

Ah Da started his car and drove away from the parking space. Before the car had even left the parking lot, a black sedan not far away followed.

The car behind them is also part of Song Jie's bodyguard team.

As the saying goes, the more you know, the faster you die.

Those who work in intelligence are always at risk of being attacked by multiple forces working together. How can two bodyguards be enough?
Song Jie sat confidently in the back row: "Musi's suspicion can be temporarily removed; this person can be trusted."

"Yes."

Ah Er immediately picked up the tablet, found Mu Si's information, removed him from the danger list, and then added him to the whitelist.

At this moment, Ah Duo, who was driving, chimed in, "He's only been here for a few months, right? Is it really okay to trust him so easily?"

Song Jie shook his head: "Don't worry, I've already investigated. He doesn't have any malicious intent. He just wants to use my influence to seek refuge and temporarily escape the pursuit of the Neva City authorities."

Moreover, I pointed the gun at his head and released the safety; he didn't dare to take the gun even after I pulled the trigger.

Are you that timid?
Ah Da frowned: "So, in other words, once things calm down, he could leave the organization at any time. Is that worth it?"

"His abilities are worth the price I paid."

Song Jie took a bottle of champagne from the freezer and poured himself a small glass: "He's a bit timid, but if he were really a good-for-nothing, he couldn't possibly run an entire city's intelligence network by himself and insist on leaving Nevada City only now."

That old guy Yue Chongshan is not someone to be trifled with.

Moreover, after all this time, not a single person in Neva City, including his subordinates, knows his true identity. Based on this alone, he can't possibly be a simple character.

Ah Da didn't say anything more, but he still couldn't connect that sly-looking guy with the word "unfathomable".

………………

Mus left the parking lot with his legs trembling.

As soon as he entered a public restroom, he immediately stood up straight, and his back pain and leg weakness disappeared.

"Damn it! Weren't the citizens of Qianhua supposed to be kind and honest? This ruthless attitude of theirs is no different from the Nevada thugs of over a decade ago!"

Mus washed his face by the pool while cursing.

Damn it! Song Jie is a real scoundrel! Luckily, I held back and didn't try to grab the gun, otherwise, if his men had come in, I would have been dead with just a lighter in my hand!

They even acted out shooting so realistically, are they all Oscar-winning actors?

Luckily, I have a lot of experience in undercover work, otherwise this would have been really difficult to get through.

In his mind, Mu Si launched into a tirade against Song Jie, lamenting the coldness of the world, the wickedness of human nature, and the complete lack of trust between people.

After washing his face, Mu Si looked in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction.

Before leaving the bathroom, Mus pinched his hamstring hard to regain his leg strength before staggering out of the bathroom.

If you're going to put on a show, go all the way.

(End of this chapter)