Forge a path to success

“The fourth-series ‘Golden Butterfly,’ green label. A fine product brewed by the farmer himself, perfect for pairing with honey-cured dried worm larvae.” Kanin raised his glass, “To our first collaboration.”

Chu Hengkong clinked glasses with him, calmly downing the entire glass of strong liquor before spitting out the worm. The liquor was so potent it seemed to evaporate upon entering the mouth, releasing the flavor from the dried worm and creating a smoky, exquisite taste. He had to admit this man knew how to enjoy himself.

"You're faster than I expected." Chu Hengkong put down his wine glass.

The bar played soothing music and was completely secluded except for the occasional waiter; it was a private meeting place. Just two hours earlier, however, this place had been a sleazy mix of casino, arcade, and nightclub, with demons holding a concert 500 meters away.

The entertainment demons have barely fallen, and this place is now entirely Kanin's territory.

“Taking over the property is not difficult at all; everyone is happy to cooperate. It’s just a matter of moving things around.” Kanin crossed his fingers. “What really surprises me is you, Detective Chu. You actually went to play cards earlier without being on guard against me.”

“I know you too well, so I don’t need to be on guard against you,” Chu Hengkong said. “This is not the time to fight to the death. The fact that you dared to show up in person means that you have something to rely on, something that would have allowed you to escape unscathed even if the battle had started last night.”

Kanin smiled but remained silent.

“You’re considered a strong player among the 5-point level, capable of going toe-to-toe with the captain of the Divine Guard. The one who can back you up is either a 6-point or a 7-point level.” Chu Hengkong tapped the table. “You have a 7-point level player standing behind you. You came to contact me with his mission, which makes you even more hesitant to act rashly.”

“You seem to habitually overestimate your enemies,” Kanin chuckled. “Perhaps they’re just a point 6.”

“Impossible. You have ambition, and a 6-point rank wouldn’t dare to protect you.” Chu Hengkong poured a second glass of wine. “And the Supreme rank wouldn’t even look at you, so it can only be a 7-point rank.”

Kanin clapped his hands and laughed, "I really wasted my intelligence."

"What does the intelligence report say about me?" Chu Hengkong asked with great interest.

"The intelligence said that Detective Chu of Huilong City is brave and fierce, loves to use force to suppress people, is strong but reckless, and is not to be feared." Kanin shook his head repeatedly. "After meeting him today, I realize that the detective is worldly-wise and insightful. The claim that he is reckless is utterly absurd. He just doesn't care about using his wits."

"You overestimate me. I can only observe; I don't know how to come up with ideas."

"Your idea to break the Inspiration Mushroom was pretty good, wasn't it? You're just used to having others think for you, aren't you?" Kanin crossed his legs. "So, let's talk about something we both care about, our deal..."

He leaned down and stared into Chu Hengkong's eyes: "Have you heard of the 'Twilight Library'?"

Chu Hengkong narrowed his eyes. He was somewhat prepared, but he didn't expect the other person to bring up the topic of the library.

But considering the old octopus's origins and Olek's strange behavior, the Library's forces are probably inextricably linked to demons.

“I’m very interested,” he said.

“Me too. My inherited memories contain many fragments about the library, yet in reality, the library is… a non-existent organization.” Kanin mused. “You can find such individuals all over the world. They are demon possessed, retired demons, or others connected to demons. They mostly appear harmless and non-aggressive, and seem erudite in certain areas. When asked about their origins, they will tell you they come from the ‘Twilight Library.’ However…”

He cast an inquisitive glance at them, and Chu Hengkong said, "They can't tell you the library's address, they don't know the library's history, it's like they're describing a dream."

“A very precise metaphor.” Kanin snapped his fingers. “Like a collective dream! They all gain something from the dream, but can’t describe its details. I’m very interested in this ambiguous force. My men are gathering information about the library, and so far, they’ve made considerable progress.”

"Is that all?" Chu Hengkong made a move to leave.

Kanin remained calm: "What I can tell you, plagiarism may not know. You know that I have a god behind me, while plagiarism is already an abandoned pawn without a master."

Chu Hengkong pondered the mysterious origins of Fan De, the old octopus being hunted, and Ji Qiufeng's warning that night. Yes, he was too close to Fan De; knowing too much would be harmful and not beneficial.

Conversely, he couldn't simply abandon Vande and go his own way. The library's destiny would inevitably come knocking; for now, at least they were safe within the Thorn Robe. If he refused now, who knew when the next opportunity would come… in Dragon City? On some unknown island? Or even in the Bloodless Plains?

By then, will he still have room to negotiate?

"Your conditions," Chu Hengkong made up his mind.

Kanin smiled warmly: "To be honest, I hit it off with Detective Chu at first sight and want to sign a contract with you!"

"No need to discuss."

“Of course, it’s not a possession contract; you already have a contractor.” Kanin shook his finger. “I provide information about the library, or any other information you want about heretics. In return, you share the power of each demon you kill with me. It’s a long-term partnership; we exchange money for goods.”

"A long-term contract means you continuously receive benefits, then casually divulge information of dubious veracity before stabbing me in the back," Chu Hengkong sneered.

“We can sign a contract, which you will draft,” Kanin said without changing his expression. “To show our sincerity, on the day you bring the contract, I will take you to meet a very important person. I guarantee you will get some of what you want.”

I will get back to you within three days.

I look forward to your reply.

Kanin tossed him a lighter, which Chu Hengkong caught casually and walked out of the bar. As he pushed open the door, Kanin suddenly asked, "May I ask one last question?"

"explain."

“Ji Huaisu was so eager to fight last night because the actions of the entertainment company stirred her sense of justice; she felt a responsibility to stop them from doing evil,” Kanin said slowly. “But what about you? This is Harleroya’s territory. You have no obligation to the demons here. You call yourself an assassin, but you’re not a person who carries the weight of justice. You don’t even mind doing business with me… So why were you the first to act? You’re practically a person without desires; I can’t find any motive in you.”

"Is this question important?" Chu Hengkong countered.

“It’s very important because we’re doing business,” Kanin said. “If I can’t figure out what you really want, I can’t give you the product you want.”

The assassin pondered, realizing that his boss had asked a similar question long ago. What had he said back then…?

“I can. I am willing. I should,” he said. “So I acted.”

Kanin pondered for a long time, then suddenly stood up, as if he had understood something. By this time, Chu Hengkong had already walked far away.

He sat still for a while, until a purple light emanated from the chair opposite him, forming a translucent wolf's head. A magnificent, delusional illusion, a chaotic fragment of spirit.

"What kind of person is he?" the Chaos Demon asked.

“A very, very, very… absurd person.” Kanin chuckled. “His desires are so immense that it’s as if he has no desires at all.”

"You shouldn't underestimate someone like that who signs contracts with you," Chaos sneered.

“The world is about to descend into chaos, sir.” Kanin leaned back comfortably in his chair. “In the sea, the lives of big shots and small fish are equally worthless. And before long, places beyond the ocean will become like that too… I still remember fragments of Huilong City 20 years ago, that chaotic chaos where opportunities abounded.”

In such an environment, some people will naturally step forward; they are either the darlings of the times or sacrifices swept along by the tide. But a very few will stand at the forefront of the trend, fearless, because they are the ones who personally drive change.

“That’s just the kind of person he is,” Kanin smiled. “Whether he realizes it or not, he has already changed the world a little… so I’m going to bet on him.”

"Don't reveal anything about me, the rest is up to you." The chaos gradually subsided. "You will be in charge of the lower city for the time being. It doesn't matter if this test fails. Just show some respect to the Divine Guard for now... The seeds of chaos have been sown. I don't need to teach you how to recruit henchmen."

Kanin respectfully rose and bowed, and only raised his head long after the chaos had completely subsided.

"As you wish, Lord Chaos."

·

"Are you in charge of the Lower City now? Ah, Kanin, what a lovely name!" Harleiroya said cheerfully. "No extra taxes or fees will be levied... That's great, the employees will be very happy... Of course, for those who have no intention of coming to the surface to make a living, the Lower City has always been managed by itself."

"Thank you, thank you. It's a pleasure working with you. You're welcome to visit anytime."

Harley Roa put down the communication crystal and said, "As you can see, the little incident with the cards has been resolved."

Opposite her sat several well-dressed citizens, all important figures holding positions in the House of Lords. They rose humbly and apologized profusely. "Thank you for your trouble, Captain..." "We've troubled you to waste your precious time." "This way, we also have something to take back."

"It's all official business, I understand," Haliroya smiled. "Welcome back again, everyone!"

The important figures left one by one. The middle-aged man at the very end of the line noticed Harley Luoya's gaze and nodded slightly in response. An hour later, he appeared at a fast-food restaurant in the amusement park, where Harley Luoya was eating a hamburger for a late-night snack across the table.

"I guess you're the spokesperson for the Serpent of the Underworld?" she asked with a smile.

“As you said.” The middle-aged man wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Behind me are the company and the laboratory, and behind them are the Dustless Land and the attitude of Longquan Township… But after all, they are too far apart, and it is not appropriate to send capable people to interfere in the internal affairs of the city-state. In the end, it has fallen on an incompetent person like me.”

"Please don't say that, Congressman Croz. Your approval rating is still very high."

“How can we compare to the Speaker?” Senator Croz smiled wryly. “I won’t lie to you, we’ve exhausted all means, even resorting to bribery, and we’ve only managed to secure 35% of the seats… Including what you’ve negotiated over the past few days, it’s no more than 42% at most.”

"Although Huan Ge is not in a position to express his opinion, there are still impartial people in the second lineage. Add to that the die-hards in the third lineage, and we can barely reach 50%."

"This is too much of a stretch!" Croz said worriedly. "A single vote can make all the difference... It's one small matter that I can't explain this to my boss, but what if the bill actually passes...?"

Harley Luoya, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed and continued to eat her fast food heartily.

"Do your best and leave the rest to fate!" she said.

·

Thus, the story of the Demon Cards comes to an end.

The entertainment industry that caused the trouble has been apprehended, and all cards circulating in the market have been recalled; the conspiracy has been nipped in the bud. The future of the city-state depends on future strategic planning; the devil's schemes are yet to be revealed.

However, this night ultimately allowed someone to steal the spotlight once again. Those watching likely took it all in stride…

Or keep it in mind.

Shortly after the duel ended, in the lower city.

A man in a casual suit skipped into the alley. He leaned against a dirty wall and pulled out a somewhat old iPhone 4. It took him three tries to unlock it with his fingerprint, his fingers trembling as he laughed heartily. He dialed a number.

"This is not the designated contact time!" came the menacing female voice.

“You’ll never believe what I saw tonight.” He was laughing so hard he was practically going crazy. “My God. I feel like I’m dreaming.”

"A demon controlling the giant robots to combine?" a male voice replied casually.

"Spit it out already," the woman's voice urged impatiently.

"I saw snakes playing cards with my own eyes."

"This isn't very common in city-states..."

The male voice suddenly stopped, as if someone had grabbed his throat. The female voice became shrill: "What snake?!"

"The snake we know best," the man in the suit laughed heartily, "the sacrificial snake, Verus's second-in-command, the strongest on Earth, number 0. Our great and invincible Chu Hengkong!"

"...Could you please tell them for me that I just found out I have cancer and would like to request three months of sick leave?" the man said sheepishly.

The woman's voice was even more decisive, almost manic: "I quit! I'm giving up this mission! Whoever wants to die can go ahead, I'm not doing it!!!"

“There’s no such thing as withdrawing from the Blood Alliance,” the man in the suit said. “You don’t want to hear Wang Quan say that himself.”

"But you saw it, didn't you? The throne might even..."

“Even I know, how could Wang Quan not know?” The man in the suit held the phone away.

"Um, could it be that Verus also..." The male voice wanted to ask something else.

"The snake has appeared; there's no room for complacency," the assassin said. "The old ways have returned, my fellow assassins. The impossible has come knocking once again."

He cut off the communication, leaving the female assassin on the other end to scream hysterically. He laughed excitedly and happily as he stepped into the dark alley.

(No updates for the holiday. We will resume next Tuesday. Happy Dragon Boat Festival!)

Explanation on comprehensively expanding the edible range of zongzi (sticky rice dumplings).

Hello everyone, I'm your good friend, Seal Man.

It's that time of year again for the Dragon Boat Festival. The shrimp company on the land has given us a three-day holiday, which is also the last holiday left in the first half of the year. The thought that the next holiday won't come until October, by which time I should have finished writing "Zhu Ming" and probably won't have to write "Lame Chapter" anymore, makes me feel sad and unable to stop. For a moment, I even wanted to put down my pen on the spot and throw myself into the passionate creative life.

However, with the holiday approaching, I had no choice but to ask. This was partly due to the unexpected work that the middle-aged seals arranged at home, which would forcefully interrupt their creative process every fifteen minutes, and partly due to my recent writer's block that almost made me want to vomit blood. But more importantly, I was shouldering an important mission for the spotted seal clan and needed to go out to conduct a formal study of the 21st-century zongzi (rice dumpling) format.

As we all know, zongzi can be roughly divided into two types: sweet and savory.

Savory zongzi are more common in southern regions. They are made primarily with glutinous rice and soybeans, filled with ingredients such as pork belly, salted egg yolk, dried scallops, and peanuts. They offer a rich and layered flavor, and their price range is flexible, making them popular with seals. Savory zongzi are commonly steamed, but they can also be sliced, wrapped in eggs, and pan-fried for a different flavor. For those seeking a high-calorie, satisfying meal, try the extra-large "wrapped zongzi" (裹蒸粽), wrapped in winter leaves. One zongzi can be equivalent to a meal, and it's worth a try for those who enjoy trying new things.

Sweet rice dumplings come in a wider variety than savory ones, and are generally made with pure glutinous rice. Depending on the fillings, there are two types: the "pure" type, which is eaten plain with just white sugar and no filling, and the "inclusive" type, which includes fillings such as jujubes, red bean paste, and candied fruit. Both of these types are quite popular with the spotted seals.

In recent years, dog poop has also appeared with durian, chocolate, matcha, and other flavors, fully demonstrating the excessive desire for expression and curiosity of the general public after their material lives have become richer. As far as I know, no seals like this kind of food; probably only humans eat it.

Regardless, zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) in the 21st century have demonstrated a diversity far surpassing that of ancient times, and it is visibly poised to continue innovating. However, in the ocean today, the debate over whether food should be savory or sweet persists. Sea creatures with limited palates stubbornly cling to their plates, pointing and gesturing at what's on the other side, refusing to taste anything. This is particularly heartbreaking for the spotted seals, who advocate for common ground while respecting differences.

Just last night, the Great Sage of the Ocean appeared to me in a dream and gave me a difficult task—you must replace all the rice dumplings of those who only like sweet ones with savory ones, and all the rice dumplings of those who only like savory ones with sweet ones. You can handle the wear and tear of the rice dumplings in the process yourself.

I knew this task was important and difficult, but the thought that I could fix the worn-out rice dumplings myself gave me endless courage. For the future of the food festival, and for mutual understanding among the marine life, the task must be completed, and the rice dumplings must be replaced!

Therefore, I have to take two days off and expect to resume updates on June 3rd. I also wish all my readers a happy Dragon Boat Festival.

If you have any different opinions, please pat the seal's belly and burp.

Chapter 309 Desires and Needs (1)

When he returned to the hotel, the clock had already deviated from 12. Chu Hengkong was a little sleepy, but his mind was still sharp. His thoughts drifted along with Kanin's last question, drifting back to the upper reaches of his memories in a half-dreaming, half-awake state…

Let's go back to the last time he heard this question.

·

Seven years ago, in Las Vegas.

"This is a room where no one has ever died," Chu Hengkong said with satisfaction. "It's been a long time since I've stayed in such a clean room."

As always, after checking the room, he began flipping through the hotel menu. The Union Hotel in Las Vegas was surprisingly good; there were no cameras or listening devices, not even traces of blood. Vilbert figured it was probably because there were too many people here who gambled extravagantly; the guests, regardless of their wealth, all had a reckless abandon, while the hotel owners couldn't afford to gamble.

Over the years, she and Chu Hengkong had stayed in hundreds of hotels, sometimes with their subordinates, but more often just the two of them. Chu Hengkong would point to an oil painting and tell her that it was a room where a gunfight had taken place, then remove the frame to show her the filled-in bullet holes behind it as proof. Before falling asleep, he would suddenly say that someone had been shot dead in his bed, then lift the mattress to reveal the broken wooden frame underneath, stained with dried blood.

At first, she felt disgusted, then she felt numb, and finally she even developed a sense of morbid curiosity. Just like he had said long ago, nothing can be trusted except people.

Brands, rules, and even the blood alliance itself—their "credit" has a price. And that price is actually surprisingly low, because in order to maintain their credit, they will actively cover up the ugly things happening in their territory. It's just that most people are unaware of this and blindly trust them.

She sat at the table, typing away, enduring the noise from outside the window. It was another rainy night, and no matter how good the hotel's soundproofing was, she could still feel the raindrops hitting the glass, like bones hitting rusty iron, which was incredibly irritating.

"What should we eat tonight?" Chu Hengkong was still looking at the menu. "Steak, fries, onion soup... Oh, they even have barbecue here! No wonder it's a gambling city."