Dual-wielding! 100x proficiency, I'll grind my way to godhood!

The fluorescent lights in Brother Long's warehouse were humming.

Chen Mo lit another cigarette and handed one to Naga.

He took the cigarette, and Chen Mo lit it for him.

"I don't know who your employer is."

Naga took a drag of his cigarette, his voice hoarse.

"The rule on the dark web is to only accept orders and not ask questions."

"I know who it is."

Chen Mo flicked off his cigarette ash.

His name is Wang Jun.

Naga's right eye narrowed slightly.

"Kill him for me, and the five million is yours."

Naga looked down at the scab on his ribs.

My ribs still hurt when I breathe, and my body is slightly hunched.

He took another drag of his cigarette and slowly exhaled.

"I broke my ribs and I won't be able to move for at least two months."

Chen Mo didn't speak.

Naga put the cigarette in his mouth and mumbled:

"But I know someone. Ghost, second on the dark web assassin list, an American, a former Navy SEAL. He can take my place while I'm recovering from my injuries."

"What's the price?"

"It's still five million US dollars, he gets four, I get one."

"You're not at a disadvantage."

Naga took the cigarette out of his mouth and looked at Chen Mo with his right eye.

"The person I introduced is worth the price. Besides, I'm not idle while I'm recovering from my injuries; Ghost does the work, I provide the brains. You won't lose out on this deal."

Chen Mo leaned back in his chair.

"What skills does he have?"

"I used my hands and a gun, he used his brain. Gas leaks, car accidents, falling objects from heights, medical malpractice. They were all accidents, and the police would rack their brains but still not find anything."

He finished his last puff, threw the cigarette butt on the ground, and stomped it out.

"Also, this guy is incredibly particular. His hair and beard are groomed like an English gentleman's, and his suits are always impeccably tailored. He changes into clean clothes before killing someone, and then changes again afterward. It's like he's going out for afternoon tea with his mother."

"Can I trust you?"

Naga smiled.

His smile aggravated the wound on his ribs, turning it into a bared grin.

He took a cell phone out of his pocket, dialed a number, and turned on speakerphone.

The phone rang twice before being answered.

"Naga".

The ghost's voice came through the receiver, in English, with a lazy tone, like someone who had just woken up or had just finished a drink.

"It must be the middle of the night there. If someone calls me at that hour, it's either they're trying to kill someone, or they've been killed themselves. Which one is it?"

"I'll introduce you to a job."

"Europe--"

The ghost's voice suddenly rose, drawing out a long note.

"My old friend, you have finally learned to share your wealth."

"Hangzhou, China, with one target."

"Wait, let me guess."

A faint sound of liquid being poured came from over there, like he was pouring wine.

"A deal that can wake me up in the middle of the night can't have a low commission. A million? No, no, no..."

Naga was about to speak.

"Two million?"

The ghost spoke to itself.

Naga glanced at Chen Mo.

"Four million US dollars."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, then Ghost whistled.

"Four million US dollars."

He slowly read the number aloud, as if savoring the name of a dessert.

"Naga, my old friend, your boss is too generous. I like generous people; they understand the value of life."

"I'll send the information to your email tomorrow."

"Same as always, half payment upfront, I'll leave once the money arrives. Any other requests?"

Naga glanced at Chen Mo again.

"I have only one request: let the target be consumed by extreme fear and utter despair, then die slowly. Can you do that?"

There was a five-second silence on the other end of the phone.

Then he spoke, his tone still languid.

"How should I address this gentleman?"

"His surname is Chen."

"Boss Chen."

The sound of a glass gently being placed on the table.

"Your demands are more interesting than your wallet; I like interesting people."

Are you going to answer it or not?

"Of course I'll take it! That's four million US dollars! Enough for me to live a carefree life for a long time."

The ghost's voice was tinged with laughter.

"And I've decided to give you a discount; a prepayment of 1.5 million will suffice."

Naga's right eye opened slightly wider.

Chen Mo looked at his phone.

Why is it on sale?

"Because I owe Naga a life, but he never says it."

The ghost's voice became very soft, as if it were talking about something that had nothing to do with itself.

"The fact that he contacted me first means he's in trouble. The fact that you're keeping him alive means you didn't kill him. So, here's the discount."

A very soft laugh came from the other end of the phone.

"The remaining 500,000 will be paid after the deal is done. Consider it my treat to a drink for Naga."

The cold light in Naga's right eye flickered.

He didn't say anything, but his Adam's apple bobbed once.

"Mr. Chen."

The ghost's voice returned to its lazy tone.

"I'll fly from Los Angeles to Hangzhou tomorrow once the money arrives. Naga, take good care of your ribs, and don't keep me waiting too long next time we drink."

Thanks.

"My old friend, we don't need to say this between us. Bye."

The phone hangs up.

Ah Kai stuffed the lighter back into his pocket and muttered under his breath, "This guy talks like his mother in a movie."

Chen Mo stubbed out his cigarette on the armrest of the chair.

Naga put his phone away, lowered his head and remained silent for a while, then looked up at Chen Mo.

"He'll leave tomorrow once the money arrives. I'll stay in Bangkok to recover from my injuries. Contact me if you need anything."

Chen Mo and A Kai left.

Lotus Hotel, Presidential Suite.

When Akai came in carrying his toolbox, Lu Xingyao was curled up on the sofa scrolling through Douyin (TikTok).

She looked up and saw the box, her eyes widening in surprise.

"What are you trying to do?"

Lu Xingyao asked.

"Making movies."

Chen Mo took off his shirt and lay down on the sofa.

Akai opened his toolbox. Fake blood plasma, silicone, alcohol swabs, foundation, and setting spray were neatly arranged.

Lu Xingyao leaned over and reached out to touch the bottle of fake blood plasma, but pulled her fingertips back just before she touched it.

Su Wan closed the book and placed it on her lap, her gaze fixed on Chen Mo's chest, never looking away.

"Before working with Brother Long, I worked on film sets for two years."

Akai squatted down and applied silicone to Chen Mo's chest.

"Specializing in makeup for corpses."

Lu Xingyao gasped, and Su Wan's fingers twitched on the book cover.

Ah Kai's technique was very efficient.

Silicone molding creates the burning sensation of the bullet hole's edge.

The fake blood plasma was applied layer by layer, first deep red, then bright red, and finally a few drops of semi-coagulated dark red were added to the edge.

Wipe away excess foundation with an alcohol swab, blend the foundation evenly with your skin tone, and then spray on setting spray.

Lu Xingyao kept her mouth open the entire time.

Su Wan picked up the coconut water on the table, but didn't drink it. Water droplets slid down the cup and wet her fingers.

"Alright."

Ah Kai took a step back.

Lu Xingyao leaned closer to look, stretched out her finger to touch the "bullet hole," and stopped her fingertip about a centimeter away from her skin.

"This looks so real..."

Su Wan said softly, "It's exactly the same as the real thing."

Chen Mo looked down at his chest.

Bullet holes, burn marks, and subcutaneous bruises—the light from the floor-to-ceiling windows shines on them, making them look as if they had really been torn apart by bullets.

Akai took out his phone and pointed it at Chen Mo.

After filming the first segment, he changed the angle and filmed the second segment.

Halfway through filming, Lu Xingyao suddenly shouted.

"Wait a moment!"

Ah Kai stopped. Lu Xingyao walked over to Chen Mo, squatted down, and poked the fake blood on his face with her finger.

"Could you really just die?"

Chen Mo opened his eyes and looked at her.

"Not really dead!"

Lu Xingyao quickly waved her hand, "It's the one where your pupils dilated just now, it's so similar, do it again and I'll make a Douyin video."

Su Wan stood up from the sofa.

"Xingyao".

"Just one take! Can't I keep it for myself?"

Su Wan went over and helped her up.

Even as she was dragged to the window, Lu Xingyao kept turning back and shouting, "It really looks like it! See for yourself!"

"alright."

Ah Kai put away his phone.

Chen Mo sat up and took a wet towel to wipe the fake blood plasma off his chest.

Lu Xingyao jumped up from the chair and ran over, poking the "bullet hole" with her finger.

She felt a sense of relief upon touching the silicone, then poked it again.

Chen Mo sent the video to Naga.

About half a minute later, Naga replied.

Thank you! I've received the $500,000, and my mission is complete.

Chen Mo asked him for his bank account number, transferred five million US dollars to him, and told him to make his own arrangements.

In the evening, Chen Mo asked A Kai to take him to Brother Long's place.

Inside the villa, Brother Long was sitting and drinking tea.

Chen Mo sat down opposite him and pushed a card towards him.

"Two million. Thank you for this."

Brother Long didn't look at the card; he picked up his teacup and took a sip.

I never accept money when helping friends.

Brother Long put down his teacup, picked up the card, and put it in his pocket. "But if a friend gives me money, not accepting it would be disrespectful to him and unfair to the brothers who risk their lives for me."

Chen Mo picked up his teacup.

"friend."

The two clinked their cups together; the purple clay cups made a very soft sound when they touched.