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Chapter 291 Cooperation with a Super Psychopathic Serial Killer

"Uh--"

Xu Hao's movements came to an abrupt halt, his fist dropped limply, and his feet left the ground.

Fang Cheng lifted him up with one hand, his throat feeling as if it were being tightly locked by an iron clamp.

A feeling of suffocation instantly surged through my body like a tidal wave, my face turned from white to blue, and then quickly turned into a terrifying purplish-red.

He struggled desperately, grabbing at Fang Cheng's arm with both hands, but it was like an ant trying to shake a tree, he couldn't budge it.

Fang Cheng stared expressionlessly at Xu Hao, who was struggling futilely in his hands. Deep within his cold pupils, killing intent seemed to solidify.

However, just as that murderous intent was about to burst forth...

A familiar face suddenly flashed through Fang Cheng's mind. He loosened his grip slightly and casually tossed Xu Hao back onto the sofa like trash.

"Cough cough cough..."

Xu Hao collapsed onto the sofa, clutching his neck and coughing violently, gasping for air, his eyes filled with terror and disbelief.

In that instant, he truly felt the approach of death.

My throat was burning, as if it had been branded with a hot iron, and every swallow felt like being cut by a knife.

The muscles in his limbs trembled slightly uncontrollably, and he didn't even have the strength to stand up again.

Fang Cheng looked down at him, his tone devoid of any emotion:

"If it weren't for your father's sake, you would already be a corpse just for attacking me."

As he spoke, he strode forward, his tall figure looming over the trembling Xu Hao like a shadow:

"Now, tell me everything you know about that organization, in detail."

"If you satisfy me, I might consider sparing your life, and I can also keep your secret collusion with the Special Investigation Team for the time being."

Xu Hao was panting heavily, his shirt back soaked with cold sweat.

Looking at the man before him, who appeared refined yet exuded a terrifying aura, he felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

Resistance? Absolutely impossible.

From the moment he launched his attack to the moment he was subdued, the entire process probably took less than a second!

Strength, speed, skill... a comprehensive and overwhelming gap!
He couldn't even touch the hem of the other person's clothes! This was not even a contest between two equally matched opponents!

Xu Hao now finally understands that the reason he was able to achieve a draw in the last fight on the stage was entirely due to his opponent holding back.

And they didn't just show any leniency, they practically let the ocean water flow freely!
After a moment of internal struggle, Xu Hao slumped down, his voice unusually hoarse from the previous suffocation:

"What do you want to know?"

He knew that he had no bargaining chips left.

Why is the Noah Organization targeting someone as insignificant as me, their sparring partner?

Fang Cheng asked directly.

"They...aren't just targeting you."

Xu Hao answered listlessly, but couldn't help but think to himself: If you're just a sparring partner, then I'm nothing at all.

Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, and he then said "Oh," signaling Xu Hao to continue.

"They received orders from above to investigate all the outstanding martial arts experts who have recently emerged in Dongdu."

Seeing Fang Cheng staring at him coldly, Xu Hao could only obediently continue his confession:

"Or rather, they're planning to include 'abnormal individuals' like you... who are incredibly skilled, have no obvious background, and aren't affiliated with any official organization, in a long-term observation list."

Fang Cheng's eyes flickered slightly; this was somewhat different from his previous guess.

After thinking for a moment, he asked:
"How is the investigation progressing? How many people have been identified as targets?"

"I'm not sure about the specific progress. I'm a newcomer and not qualified to carry out missions yet, but according to the information I've gathered, there are at least dozens of people who have been listed as preliminary investigation targets. You... are just one of them."

Even after listening to Xu Hao's explanation, Fang Cheng still had a question unanswered:

"Why did they suddenly target me? Is it because of what you just mentioned?"

"Because... you've been making too much of a splash in the East City Club lately."

Xu Hao glanced at Fang Cheng and said in a low voice:

"Old Shen seems to value you highly and is treating you as a key player to be cultivated. Moreover, as a sparring partner at the Global Elite Club, your reputation is growing, and many professional players have praised your physical abilities."

“Even the club where I usually practice boxing is talking about you. Now, whether in the underworld or in the boxing circle, you are quite well-known, so naturally you have come into their sights.”

"only……"

At this point, Xu Hao seemed to hesitate, his eyes flickering.

"But what? Tell me!"

Fang Cheng's eyes suddenly turned sharp, radiating a tangible pressure.

Xu Hao trembled, not daring to hide anything, and whispered:

"Their further investigation revealed that you were very likely the mysterious expert who destroyed the Red Tiger Gang's powder factory last year. At least according to the descriptions of the women who witnessed it, your physical characteristics were 70-80% similar. As a result, you became a key target of the organization's observation."

Fang Cheng frowned slightly, not expecting that his seemingly insignificant contact with Dongcheng would unexpectedly attract Noah's attention.

With a sudden thought, he fixed his gaze intently on Xu Hao and continued to ask:
"How long have they been investigating?"

"It seems like it was just the beginning. After I unexpectedly found your name on the list, I immediately ran to the club, hoping to use this information to make a deal with you, but..."

Xu Hao's attitude was very honest, but his voice grew softer and softer, and he stopped talking there.

Fang Cheng understood what he meant, frowned and pondered for a moment, then let out a soft sigh.

Then, feigning curiosity, he asked:
"Besides investigating abnormal individuals, have Noah's organization's people in Dongdu taken any other actions?"

"Yes, they were actually investigating something else that was even more important."

Having been so frank, he no longer had any intention of hiding any secrets from the organization.

Xu Hao swallowed hard, looked around, and asked in a lower voice:
Have you heard about the massacre at the Lingang District dock warehouse last year?

Fang Cheng's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm, as if he had just heard about a very ordinary case.

Seeing that he didn't react, Xu Hao continued:

"That night, someone massacred Wu Shih-hao's gang. I heard they killed nearly two hundred gang members, and the corpses were piled up like a small mountain. The methods were extremely cruel and bloody...tsk tsk!"

He clicked his tongue, seemingly savoring the rumors he had heard, or perhaps trying to conceal his inner fear:

"This incident shocked the entire underground world of Dongdu and also alarmed the Noah Organization. The higher-ups sent many people over to investigate the murderer's whereabouts in secret."

"However, those guys are all arrogant and act superior all the time. They've messed with the entire Red Tiger Gang several times, but they haven't found a single clue..."

His tone was clearly one of complaint and disdain, as if he looked down on his colleagues.

"Oh? He killed nearly two hundred people by himself? That's incredible?!"

Fang Cheng feigned surprise and raised his voice, then nodded thoughtfully:
"No wonder the Noah Organization went to such lengths to investigate this assassin. He's quite the hero. I'd love to meet him sometime, and it would be even better if we could become friends."

His acting was impeccable; his tone and expression conveyed a sense of shock and admiration, as if he genuinely appreciated a "powerful person" he had never met.

"Friends? Forget it!" Xu Hao couldn't help but scoff upon hearing this.
"That serial killer is indeed very strong, like a monster. However, according to the private analysis and speculation of the organization's investigators, that guy is very likely a super pervert who lost his father and mother at a young age and had no one to discipline him, and whose psychology is extremely twisted!"

"Think about it, a normal person would be weak in the knees and trembling after killing two hundred pigs in a row, yet he managed to slaughter so many people in one go without even changing his expression..."

As Xu Hao got into the conversation, he almost forgot his own situation as a "prisoner".

He had no idea that the "psychologically twisted, super-psychopathic killer" he was talking about was standing right in front of him.

And because of his description, he frowned slightly, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes as he stared coldly at him.

"But what really gives Noah's organization a headache is not how many Red Tiger Gang members have died."

Xu Hao, oblivious to anything amiss, continued speaking, his voice even lower, as if revealing a colossal secret:

"I heard that Wu Shih-hao lost an extremely important 'experimental subject' that night. They have been tracking down the murderer and trying to find the experimental subject. That is their most important task."

"Experimental subject?"

Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed, instantly concealing the fierce glint in them, and he pressed on with the question:

"What is that thing? Is there any progress in the investigation?"

"They're just live test subjects for medical experiments. How would I know the specifics?"

Xu Hao shook his head, a hint of helplessness on his face:

"They act very cautiously and keep things strictly confidential. I'm just a newbie who just joined the organization and don't have access to this kind of core information. All I know is that they attach great importance to this experimental subject and have invested a lot of manpower and resources in it."

Fang Cheng remained silent for a moment, processing all the information, then suddenly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening as he looked at Xu Hao:
"These changes in your body, and the 'experimental subject' you mentioned, are all related to the human modification experiments secretly conducted by the Noah Organization, right?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Hao gave a self-deprecating smile and slumped weakly onto the sofa.

"You already know so much, why ask again..."

This is tantamount to admitting it.

He himself may be one of the many failed or unfinished "experiments" of the Noah Organization.

Fang Cheng nodded and didn't pursue the topic any further.

Looking at the man before him, whose confidence had been completely shattered, he slowly spoke, making a request that left Xu Hao speechless:
“From today onwards, you will be my inside man. Contact me regularly and tell me everything you know about the Special Investigations Team and the Noah Organization.”

Xu Hao suddenly raised his head, staring at Fang Cheng in astonishment, speechless for a moment.

"You want me to be your undercover agent too?"

Fang Cheng looked at him strangely, catching a key word.

What is it called?
Xu Hao realized he had let something slip, so he quickly shut his mouth, his eyes darting around.

Fang Cheng didn't dwell on the issue too much, then smiled slightly:
"That's right. You should understand that this is the best option for you, perhaps even the only option."

"Otherwise, the Red Tiger Gang will find out about your secrets and those of the Special Investigation Team sooner or later, and you should know better than me what the consequences will be."

Fang Cheng's tone appeared calm, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Xu Hao sat on the sofa, scratching his hair in frustration, his face a mixture of resentment and helplessness.

Seeing his struggling expression, Fang Cheng continued to increase the stakes:
"Besides, now that you're already working with the Special Search Team, what difference would it make to you if you took on another mission? It's like having too many lice and not feeling itchy, or having too much debt and not worrying about it. The principle is the same."

"I have no grudge against official agencies like the Special Investigation Team. I'm mainly concerned about the Noah Organization's movements. When this organization is completely eradicated in Dongdu, won't you be free?"

Xu Hao remained silent, his heavy breathing unusually clear in the quiet room.

He clenched his fists, intensely weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

Fang Cheng's words, though harsh, hit the nail on the head.

From the moment he chose to cooperate with the Special Investigation Team, he had no way out.

Moreover, Fang Cheng's threat was like a sword hanging over his head, leaving him no room for complacency.

Instead of waiting passively, it's better to take the initiative and perhaps even secure a chance for an upgrade.

"Okay, I promise you."

Xu Hao finally spoke, his tone tinged with helplessness and compromise: "But you must agree to one condition."

Seeing that he still dared to throw out bargaining chips at this time, Fang Cheng raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

"I need protection."

Xu Hao took a deep breath and looked directly into Fang Cheng's eyes:

"If the special search team or the Noah organization finds out that I am working for you or leaking information to you, I need you to guarantee my safety."

Fang Cheng nodded, indicating his understanding:
"As long as you do as I say, I will definitely do my best to protect you."

Xu Hao, however, did not believe it and said through gritted teeth:
"I need you to swear!"

Fang Cheng looked at the complex light in Xu Hao's eyes, a mixture of fear, resentment, and the last glimmer of hope, and remained silent for a moment.

Then, he slowly raised his right hand and said solemnly:
"I, Fang Cheng, hereby swear that as long as you, Xu Hao, do not betray me and faithfully provide intelligence, I will do everything in my power to help you if you are ever in mortal danger because of me. If I break this oath, may I lose all my strength and die a terrible death."

After hearing these words, Xu Hao's tense body finally relaxed a little, and he let out a long sigh of relief.

Although the deep-seated unease in my heart has not been completely eliminated.

But at least, the promise made by this mysterious and powerful man gave him a vague sense of security for the time being.

He knew he had no way back and could only choose to believe and take this gamble.

"At least this guy is abnormally strong."

Xu Hao comforted himself in his heart:
"Even if we can't beat Noah and the Special Investigations Team's regular troops, we should still be able to escape with me if it really comes down to it..."

Having let go of his inner turmoil, Xu Hao's attitude became much more relaxed, and he began to consider practical matters:

"Then how will we contact each other in the future? My phone definitely won't work; those bastards in the Special Investigations Team probably installed surveillance equipment on it, and they might even be able to eavesdrop on our calls..."

As he spoke, he slapped his forehead, as if he remembered something, and quickly shifted his position, trying to find the phone he had just left aside, but he couldn't find it.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a pile of black debris scattered on the ground.

The phone was crushed to pieces, its plastic casing and metal parts twisted and deformed, almost unrecognizable from its original state.

Xu Hao felt a chill run down his spine, realizing that Fang Cheng had already dealt with this potential threat.

In fact, when Fang Cheng sneaked into the house, he used "Scavenger's Eye" to scan the entire room and only appeared to talk after confirming that there were no suspicious items.

At this moment, after careful consideration, I replied:

“If you have any emergencies or important information in the next few days, come to the Global Elite Club to find me. You can say you're visiting your father; they shouldn't suspect anything.”

He paused, then added:
"After a while, once I've settled down, I'll give you a completely safe new way to contact me."

Then, Fang Cheng abruptly changed the subject, his tone carrying a warning:

"Remember, any important developments concerning the Special Search Team and the Noah Organization, especially those involving me personally, must be reported to me immediately."

"If you dare to conceal the truth or deliberately provide false information... Hmph, even if the Noah Organization doesn't take action against you, I'll make you suffer a fate worse than death. Don't doubt my methods!"

A chilling killing intent permeated the air once more, causing Xu Hao to shiver involuntarily. He immediately responded loudly:

"I, Xu Hao, have always been a man of my word in this world. If I'm a real man, what I say is what I mean. Since I've agreed to your terms, if you dare to try anything funny, I'll make you wish you were dead!"

(End of this chapter)