novelraw Chapter 21: The Sea of Darkness - (21)
Chapter 21: The Sea of Darkness - (21)
Ball Python stealthily navigated through the streets, periodically scanning his surroundings every few minutes to check if he was being followed.
The nighttime Port Bay District of Black Sea City was dark and quiet, with only a few places bustling with activity, such as bars, underground boxing arenas, and casinos. These areas were under gang control, and even the Investigation Department had to tread carefully. In such locales, violent incidents were commonplace.
Crime most easily flourishes in impoverished and underdeveloped areas, while darkness and chaos serve as the best camouflage for those operating within them.
Ball Python slipped into a small gambling den, where patrons crowded around gaming tables, shouting while flying colorful cards. Gamblers with bloodshot eyes pushed stacks of chips forward.
Ball Python had a significant gambling addiction, but his visit today wasn’t for indulging in games; it was to meet an informant for a transaction—to obtain his share of Divine Blood.
Silently, he ascended to the second floor and pushed open the door to room 208.
The room was dimly lit, and on an opulent vintage-style chair sat a hooded figure.
“You’re three minutes late,” the informant said indifferently.
Without removing his mask or immediately responding, Ball Python activated his equipment to scan the room, fearing hidden listening devices.
The informant coldly observed Ball Python’s cautious actions, awaiting his explanation.“That thorny rose woman is incredibly annoying; she loves giving orders, and I can only obey her since she’s my superior,” Ball Python remarked after turning off the scanner. “Quickly hand over the Divine Blood. That woman went for beauty treatments, and I barely managed to slip away from her control. Soon, I’ll have to return and rendezvous with her.”
“Are you that eager?” The informant chuckled.
“As agreed upon, my reward for providing intelligence to you was to arrange a new identity for me to leave Black Sea City and a bottle of Divine Blood,” Ball Python said coldly. “This is what I deserve. Having taken such great risks, it’s only fair to receive compensation of equal value. Surely you’re not trying to renege on your promise?”
“We always keep our commitments.” The informant retrieved a test tube filled with dark red liquid from his pocket. “Here’s your payment.”
Ball Python’s gaze fixed firmly on the test tube, and he stepped forward to reach out and accept it. However, the informant’s hand holding the test tube subtly moved, evading Ball Python’s gesture.
His expression hardened, and his voice deepened. “What do you mean by this? We had agreed; you were supposed to provide the advance payment of Divine Blood as discussed.”
“Don’t be so tense, Ball Python. As I’ve said, we will honor our commitment.” The informant smiled reassuringly. “There’s just a small matter that needs your attention.”
“Hah.” Ball Python let out a wry laugh. “How did you negotiate with me last time? Have you already forgotten after a few hours? You told me there was no need for me to work directly for you; focusing on passing along information would suffice.”
The informant insincerely apologized, “Sorry, these were orders just issued by my superior here. I don’t have the authority to reject them on your behalf.”
“Then may I ask, do I have the authority to refuse?” Ball Python asked.
“You do,” the informant said. “However, if you refuse, I cannot provide you with Divine Blood.”
A vein bulged at Ball Python’s temple as he suppressed his anger. “So, I’m just your tool, right? What do you take me for, some idiot?”
“How could that be? You’re an exceptional undercover agent; how can you be considered an idiot?” the informant earnestly replied.
“… Fuck!” Ball Python exclaimed.
His muscular chest heaved violently as he restrained his fury. “I feel like a wild boar in the forest, where hunters have scattered bait along my inevitable path. Following the bait all the way, what awaits me at the end is not delicious food but a hunting trap.”
“We aren’t hunters, nor do we intend to capture you. We are your collaborators and trading partners,” the informant stated calmly. “You can view this as negotiating business deals—we’re haggling over terms. You have the right to refuse, but doing so will result in missing out on certain benefits. Alternatively, you can accept, but then you must bear a certain level of investment risk.”
“My collaborator and trader have torn up the contract. Is there still any need for this deal to continue?” Ball Python asked.
“No, it’s not like that,” the informant replied. “We’re still in the negotiation phase, with no formal contract signed yet. Isn’t proposing new additional terms during negotiations perfectly normal?”
Ball Python laughed in frustration. “I fell into your trap, so don’t use business negotiations as an excuse. Have you ever seen someone need to risk their life when their investment fails?”
“Don’t hastily reject it, Ball Python,” the informant urged. “This time, what we require from you is truly a minor task with very little risk. If successful, it would also be beneficial for you. Why not listen first before making a decision?”
“Go on.” Ball Python scrutinized the informant closely.
He did not refuse because he had already taken enormous risks. If he were to back out now, his previous risks would become meaningless.
This left him dissatisfied; he didn’t want to give up just like that. Divine Blood indeed served as excellent bait, luring him step by step forward.
“We’ve cultivated a new type of alien creature.” In the informant’s hand appeared a slender glass tube. At first glance, it seemed empty, but when he picked up the glass tube and shone a miniature flashlight on it, the contents became immediately visible.
It was a slightly wriggling red worm with a body as fine as a hair strand; its presence was barely noticeable.
“Hidden Thread Worm,” the informant said. “They are smaller than the red magic spiders previously given to you, making them even less detectable. The humans parasitized by red magic spiders invariably die within an hour, whereas the Hidden Thread Worm has a longer growth cycle. After prolonged development, it can burrow into the host’s brain, gradually controlling their body and even their thoughts.”
Ball Python’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “You people truly are lunatics.”
The red magic spider was the dark red spider-shaped alien creature that Ball Python used to control assassins. In its juvenile stage, it was about the size of a peanut. Once it parasitized a human, it only took one minute for the spider to penetrate the host’s brain and exert control. The red magic spiders were also provided by the informant, and now the informant has presented him with another new alien species.
“Are you using my hands to seek experimental subjects?” Ball Python rasped, “First, it was the red magic spiders, then the Hidden Thread Worms… When you gave me these dangerous young-stage alien creatures, not only was it for completing missions, but also to obtain feedback data…”
“They are stable new species,” the informant told Ball Python. “The only uncertainty we have is whether they can work on awakened beings, controlling their thoughts.”
Ball Python felt a sense of impending doom. “Surely you don’t want me to…”
“Thorny Rose by your side. She trusts you more due to spending considerable time with you. Find an opportunity to let a Hidden Thread Worm parasitize her,” the informant said. “When placing the Hidden Thread Worm on a person’s skin, it takes just two seconds for it to burrow inside. The sensation when it penetrates feels as minimal as a mosquito bite.”
He appealed to reason: “Don’t you find this woman too bothersome, always controlling you? This is a golden opportunity. By using an alien creature to control her, she won’t be able to manage you anymore, and the risk of your exposure will greatly decrease.”
Ball Python was swayed.
Since becoming an undercover agent, his primary fear has been Thorny Rose constantly near him. Her close proximity made him feel as if he were walking on thin ice, utterly exhausted. If a Hidden Thread Worm were to parasitize her, he wouldn’t need to be so cautious.
“I can give it a try… but I cannot guarantee success,” Ball Python said. “I’ll do my utmost to complete this task, but you must provide me with Divine Blood first.”
The informant seemed to ponder for a moment before replying, “Alright.”
He placed the vial of Divine Blood and the glass tube containing the Hidden Thread Worm in his hand. Ball Python reached out, taking them with eyes filled with anticipation.
He slipped the container with the Hidden Thread Worm into his pocket and scrutinized the Divine Blood vial for quite some time.
“What, afraid we might have poisoned it?” the informant asked.
“Why would you? You still need me to carry out tasks for you,” Ball Python responded lucidly.
The informant nodded satisfactorily. “Good that you understand.”
After a brief hesitation, he continued, “I have a few questions to ask you… What is Red’s superhuman ability?”
“Don’t know. Maybe Thorny Rose knows, but she wouldn’t say,” Ball Python replied. “I only know about Bartender’s, which I’ve already told you.”
“How extensive is the range of Amber and Heiyao’s spiritual superhuman abilities?”
“Where am I supposed to find such detailed information? Do you expect me to go and ask them directly?”
“And what about the Rich Lady’s superhuman ability?”
“No one has mentioned what the Rich Lady’s superhuman ability is… The Rich Lady and Red belong to the upper echelons, whereas we are their subordinates. It’s not wise to pry into our direct superiors’ affairs; it could lead to trouble.”
“When do you plan to bomb the port?”
“Before August 8th… Haven’t I already told you? Why are you asking again?”
The informant calmly replied, “Nothing specific, I’m just concerned there might be changes to your mission plans… If any alterations occur, remember to promptly notify me.”
“Understood.” Ball Python cast him a suspicious glance.
The appointed time for meeting with Thorny Rose was approaching. Turning around, Ball Python said, “I’ll tolerate this last-minute escalation only once. I know I don’t have much leverage to negotiate with you; you have the resources and initiative… But I, Ball Python, am someone with my own temper.”
The informant watched as he pushed open the door and left.
After Ball Python departed, silence enveloped the room.
The informant tilted his head and raised his right hand. In one corner of the room, the air subtly rippled, revealing an indistinct black shadow abruptly appearing.
Despite scanning the entire room with his detector, Ball Python had failed to notice the presence of a third person!
“Did Ball Python lie?” the informant asked.
The shadow shook its head.
Smiling, the informant remarked, “He’s relatively honest… Unfortunately, he can’t shake his gambler’s nature.”
It was true that Ball Python was cautious, but he had a penchant for gambling. This gambling habit, to some extent, influenced his actions. Even Ball Python himself didn’t realize when he was taking risks or gambling… Perhaps he did, but like a true gambler, he harbored fantasies of winning big with minimal stakes.
When sensing something amiss, instead of promptly cutting his losses, he chose to gamble further, hoping to recoup his investment and gain profit.
With heavy steps, Silver Mask entered the living room and sighed, “I’ve definitely brought enough bullets!”
He unzipped his bulging jacket to reveal small boxes of ammunition taped all over his body, wrapped around in multiple layers.
“Why couldn’t you just carry a bag?” Kui Xin watched speechlessly as Silver Mask struggled to tear off the tape and remove the bullet boxes one by one from his body.
“I only realized I forgot my bag once I reached the destination. Moreover, there were no backpacks or similar tools in the armory. Luckily, they had medical adhesive tape, so I stuck the bullets onto myself.” Silver Mask seemed quite proud of his resourcefulness.
Kui Xin paused momentarily before reluctantly saying, “Good job… Just be more careful next time.”
She glanced at the equipment scattered on the floor, then picked up a bulletproof vest and went back to her room to change into it.
This bulletproof vest, made from new materials, was not only lightweight but also robust. It covered the torso and limbs, so it didn’t make movement difficult.
She couldn’t afford to repeat her previous mistake; she might not always have such good luck to deflect bullets with her iron skull. Wearing body armor properly would ensure her survival even when enemies target her torso.
Returning to the living room, Kui Xin performed one final check of her equipment.
K80 sniper rifle, pistol, magazines, tactical knife, micro-bombs, environmental scanner, communicator, locator, night vision goggles…
“What’s this?” Kui Xin picked up a black object about the size of a button.
“It’s a new optical camouflage projector developed by Headquarters, still in the experimental phase. I brought back two for fun.” Silver Mask pressed the button, and his entire body blended seamlessly into the environment like a chameleon. However, as he moved, the camouflaging effect diminished significantly.
“Suitable for static concealment,” Kui Xin commented.
Silver Mask tossed aside the button, saying, “I don’t need this; I can transform my body into transparent water.”
Kui Xin tapped on her bracelet to view the map. “We should head out now.”
Kui Xin had coordinated with Thorny Rose beforehand. Once she met up with Ball Python, they would use the pretext of collecting data to lead him towards Mooring Harbor.
Kui Xin positioned herself on the inevitable path toward Mooring Harbor, waiting to ambush and eliminate Ball Python.
Thorny Rose activated real-time location tracking, allowing Kui Xin to continuously monitor her position and ascertain the whereabouts of Ball Python.
Carrying a gun openly would draw too much attention; she could assemble it upon reaching the designated sniping spot. Kui Xin carried a box containing the parts for the K80 rifle on her back and secured magazines, knives, and a handgun at her waist, while Silver Mask handled miscellaneous items.
She fastened her mask with the vocal modulator attached, pulled down her hood, and leaped from the third-floor balcony. Together with Silver Mask, they stealthily made their way under the cover of night to the prearranged sniping location.