novelraw Chapter 138 : Identity Revealed
Chapter 138 : Identity Revealed
While Shen Han waited for backup in the managers' break room,
In another quiet private room of the entertainment center, a tense atmosphere continued to spread.
The two drug dealers who had come with Yan Bo were now extremely agitated.
One had his kneecap shattered by Shen Han, the other had two ribs broken by her kick.
After receiving basic treatment from medical staff, the two immediately began pressuring Ren Hui.
"Brother Hui, Boss Yan was killed at your party. You can't just let it go without an explanation. That woman must die! And she can't die too quickly!"
"That's right! Let's be clear upfront, Brother Hui. If you try to protect that woman, don't blame us brothers for turning on you!"
Ren Hui pressed his brow and said coldly, "Show some respect for the dead. For Old Yan's sake, I'll let this slide."
"The underworld has its rules. Since when do you two get to bare your teeth at me?"
The two drug dealers fell silent.
But their heaving chests clearly revealed the violence seething within them.
Ren Hui glanced at the two and continued, "That person belongs to Miss Nuoman. Miss Nuoman is already on her way here. You two aren't qualified to be involved in deciding how this will be resolved!"
......
Outside Jinxi Entertainment City, in a quiet alley,
Little Ma and Da Wei were hurriedly walking towards the end of the alley, sullen and silent.
Others might not know the details of tonight's incident in the private room, but these two knew exactly what had happened.
The alley reeked of urine, with garbage strewn about.
The streetlights, once repaired, were always smashed by drunks throwing stones. Eventually, the road administration stopped bothering to fix them.
Normally, Little Ma and his companion would never venture into such a dark and filthy alley.
But now, as they fled for their lives, how could they care about such things?
If Yan Bo's subordinates discovered that their instigation had led to that incident, they would surely die horribly.
At the time, there were two Omega companions by Yan Bo's side who had heard their entire conversation. It was only a matter of time before the truth came out.
"Brother Ma, will Boss Yan's people kill us? I'm regretting this so much now."
Hearing Da Wei's voice, Little Ma feigned calmness and said softly, "What's the use of regret now! Let's quickly run away. I know a brother who's doing well abroad. We'll go to him. We can't go back to the gang anymore, or we'll definitely be thrown out to face those drug dealers' wrath!"
As they spoke, several dark figures suddenly appeared atop the walls on both sides of the alley.
Before Little Ma and Da Wei could react, the figures leapt down, delivering a chopping blow to the back of their necks.
The two didn't even have time to groan before losing consciousness.
The dark figures caught their collapsing bodies, gagged them, and bound their limbs in one smooth motion.
The group orderly moved to the exit of another alley, boarded an off-road vehicle, and quickly departed.
The entire process was swift and clean, without alerting anyone.
In the modified off-road vehicle, one of them made a phone call, speaking concisely: "Report! Two target individuals have been secretly apprehended!"
On the other end of the line, the special team leader's voice came through steadily: "Team 1 is responsible for escorting. Teams 2 and 3 remain on standby. There are two more drug dealers to arrest later."
......
When Zhou Nuoman arrived at Jinxi Entertainment City, she was accompanied by 25 Alphas.
Moreover, they were clearly well-trained professionals, with an entirely different bearing from ordinary bodyguards!
Wherever they passed, whether nightclub patrons or staff, all gave way.
Only after Zhou Nuoman and her entourage disappeared from public view did many who knew her identity begin to whisper among themselves.
"My god! What big event happened tonight? Did you see Zhou's aura just now? Saying she's here to dominate the entertainment center wouldn't be far off."
"You don't know? I heard someone say that Zhou's people offended the big shot hosting tonight's party. There was bloodshed, and now someone's being held. So Zhou's come in person to get them!"
"A fierce dragon crossing the river? Tsk tsk, for Zhou to have such capability at her young age, the winds of this Jinxi Entertainment City are bound to change!"
Naturally, the 'fierce dragon crossing the river' Zhou Nuoman was unaware of these hushed discussions about her.
In fact, at this moment, her mind was also shrouded in fog.
Her father had told her on the phone that they were cooperating with the police.
But she wasn't foolish. She could distinguish whether those Alphas disguised as her bodyguards were police or military.
She didn't want to work for someone so blindly.
So, just before reaching the door of Ren Hui's private room, Zhou Nuoman suddenly changed direction and walked straight towards the managers' break area.
Zhao Qi extended his arm to block her: "Miss Zhou, what you should be doing now is negotiating with Ren Hui."
Zhou Nuoman halted, looking at the sharp-featured man before her, her eyes showing no sign of backing down.
"I have something important to discuss with your Captain Shen first. This will directly affect the outcome of my negotiations with Ren Hui."
As she spoke, Zhou Nuoman stared unblinkingly at Zhao Qi.
Her words flowed naturally, her pace neither hurried nor slow, as if stating an absolute fact.
But in reality, this short sentence not only contained a bluff but also tested the other's attitude.
Zhao Qi was a platoon leader from the Xuan Leopard Special Operations Brigade of the Federation's Third Army Group, called in overnight to support the special team's operation.
He knew Shen Han was the captain of the empress's guard team but wasn't clear on her specific cooperative relationship with the woman before him.
Hearing Zhou Nuoman's words, he thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Zhou Nuoman led the way at the front, her face impassive, but her heart was turbulent.
'Shen Nuan isn't just some police officer. Given how much importance these people attach to her, she must be at least a commissioned military officer.'
'Even her name is probably fake!'
'What was her purpose in approaching me? If I had arranged a different job for her at the time, would she have accepted just as readily?'
The group arrived outside the managers' break room. Zhao Qi escorted Zhou Nuoman inside, while the others stood guard at the door.
As the two entered the room, two soldiers who had arrived earlier were treating Shen Han's wounds.
One was removing glass shards from her temple, while the other was stitching her arm.
Knowing her cover was blown, Shen Han didn't initiate conversation with the Zhou family's young miss.
She understood that the other must have many questions now. She would just need to answer selectively later.
Staring at the woman whose face and clothes were stained with blood, Zhou Nuoman suddenly found herself at a loss for words.
Her throat felt like it was blocked by a wad of cotton, unable to spit out or swallow.
Her father had only mentioned on the phone that Yan Bo had picked a fight and been killed in self-defense, without revealing many details.
Zhou Nuoman had mentally prepared herself on the way, but she never realized how different imagining bloodshed was from seeing it firsthand.
"Are... are you alright?"
Hearing Zhou Nuoman's question, Shen Han finally spoke: "I'm fine. Have you met with Ren Hui?"
Reminded of this, Zhou Nuoman immediately recalled why she had come here.
She carefully inquired: "That night when you saved me outside the hospital, was it a pre-planned, targeted operation by your team?"
Shen Han pondered briefly, then answered directly: "No, I was at the hospital that night for other reasons. Only after overhearing two thugs' plot did I coincidentally save you."
According to operational rules, Shen Han shouldn't have answered this question.
But everything requires flexibility.
No one wants the foundation of their trust to be a long-planned deception.
Although Shen Han's explanation couldn't change the fact that Zhou Nuoman had been used, it did ease the weight on her heart considerably.
"Is Shen Nuan your real name?"
The second question that followed made Shen Han frown slightly: "I can't disclose that."
Zhou Nuoman, seasoned in the business world and skilled at engaging in tug-of-war with opponents, wouldn't be deterred by Shen Han's refusal.
However, just as she was about to press further, Zhao Qi spoke into his earpiece: "Yes! I'll ensure the mission is completed!"
He then immediately stepped forward, gesturing to Zhou Nuoman: "Miss Zhou, let's not waste any more time. Shall we?"
Zhou Nuoman knew she couldn't stay to ask more questions. She glanced at Shen Han once more before turning to leave the room.
Unable to clarify Shen Han's identity, she didn't seem anxious.
After all, they would be cooperating for some time. There would be plenty of opportunities!
Peace Palace, Command Center.
Watching Zhou Nuoman and the others leave on the screen, Xu Zhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It was she who had just signaled the special team leader to quickly order Zhao Qi to get on with their task and stop lingering in the room chatting about irrelevant matters.
Xu Zhao felt somewhat worried: Miss Zhou, please save us some trouble and don't provoke those you shouldn't.
Gu Junwan withdrew her gaze from the monitoring screen, gave some instructions to the special team leader, then left the command center with Xu Zhao.
"Your Majesty, should we send someone to bring Shen Han back temporarily?"
Not long after leaving, Xu Zhao inquired in a low voice.
She felt her Empress must still be shaken.
Earlier, when the drug lord pulled out a knife to stab Shen Han's face, even she had been terrified, let alone Gu Junwan.
Xu Zhao thought that since Vice Chairman Zhou Ming of the Zhou K Group had now agreed to be recruited, they might as well bring Shen Han back directly.
This would prevent her from being targeted for revenge by drug dealers while staying near the entertainment center.
However, Gu Junwan's answer surprised her special assistant.
"No need. Quickly make arrangements now. Change your identity. We're going there overnight."
Xu Zhao: "Huh? Isn't that too risky?"
Gu Junwan shook her head lightly: "When sailing against the current, some risks are unavoidable."
"Shen Han can't be brought back yet. Her mission isn't complete. Abandoning it halfway would be irresponsible not only to herself but to the entire special team."
At this point, Gu Junwan paused, a hint of killing intent flashing through her long phoenix eyes.
"It's said that Yan Bo's Yongle Gang has long been hiding in the border areas, difficult to capture."
"With tonight's opportunity, the special team should be able to collect some early 'interest'."
"Moreover, only when the drug branch under the Zhou family is 'eliminated by their own people' near the entertainment center will Zhou Ming truly have no way back. If he wants to defect, he'll have to offer a proper show of loyalty!"