novelraw Chapter 169: Waiting for the Right Time to Act
Chapter 169: Waiting for the Right Time to Act
"Hey, new face?"
The big man with the mechanical arm.
The one the stall owner called Brother Dao.
Plunked down on the plastic stool next to Su Zhan, his metal arm clanging loudly on the tabletop: "Where you from?"
Su Zhan flashed a shy smile: "Came from Jiang City, first time in Black City."
A gentleman keeps his tools hidden, waiting for the right moment to act.
On a solo mission, away from home, keeping a low profile was always wise.
This helped lower the other party's guard.
And could actually help extract more information.
"Jiang City?"Brother Dao raised an eyebrow: "What brings you all the way out here?"
"Looking for work."
Su Zhan scratched his head sheepishly: "Heard there are more opportunities here."
"Pfft—"
The short-haired girl in the leather jacket.
The same one who had been standing on the car roof earlier.
Spit out her beer: "Come to Black City to look for work? You tired of living, kid?"
She had dyed purple hair and at least seven or eight rings in her ears.
Several underlings nearby burst into laughter.
One of them, a guy with green hair, leaned in: "You know what kind of place this is? This is Black City! Even the authorities don't dare mess around here!"
Su Zhan feigned surprise: "That impressive? I saw you guys street racing earlier, and the authorities didn't intervene..."
The green-haired guy said smugly: "This street is our Purple Lightning Gang's turf. The authorities? They wouldn't dare! Last week some new official tried to write a ticket, guess what happened? He's still in the hospital!"
Su Zhan showed an admiring expression at just the right moment: "So cool! The way you were racing earlier was just... awesome!"
The leather jacket girl proudly tossed her short hair: "Wanna try? Big sister will take you for a spin?"
"Cut it out."
Brother Dao waved his hand, turning to Su Zhan: "Kid, you seem alright, let me give you some advice—if you want to live, hurry back to your Jiang City. Black City isn't a place for good boys like you."
The leather jacket girl interjected: "Hey, if you really want work, our crew needs a handyman. Room and board included, weekly pay. How about it?"
Su Zhan's eyes lit up: "Really? I'll do it!"
Whether he was willing or not didn't matter.
Agree first, figure things out later.
Now he was actively looking for trouble, otherwise how would trouble come find him?
After all, he still had a month's deadline.
Being sent to investigate who stole that batch of goods from the black market...
Su Zhan was 100% unwilling.
Because he really wasn't Sherlock Holmes.
Last time he managed to find that Aberrant nest behind the orphanage.
Was purely because he'd read "Journey to the West."
It was really just dumb luck.
Investigation really wasn't his strong suit.
Su Zhan preferred to fight.
Go fight, feels great!
Everyone said Black City was chaotic.
Then chaos definitely meant lots of fighting!
Just go stir up some trouble, probably someone would come looking for him anyway.
Brother Dao laughed heartily: "With those skinny arms and legs of yours? Come with us later, let me see what you're made of."
Su Zhan showed an eager expression: "Really? I, I can go try tonight!"
Late at night.
In a place like Black City.
Being invited for an "interview."
Could that be right?
Su Zhan didn't refuse them, but played along, wanting to see what tricks they had up their sleeves.
Brother Dao grinned: "Alright then, kid's got guts. Wait till we finish eating, then we'll take you with us."
The stall owner was flipping meat skewers on the grill, a complex look flashing in his eyes before he quickly hid it again.
Brother Dao scoffed, looking Su Zhan up and down in his plain casual clothes: "Dress sharper, don't look like some student."
"Okay, okay!"
Su Zhan nodded vigorously: "I don't live far, I can go change now!"
His current persona was a young man fresh out into society, desperately wanting a job to make money, with zero life experience.
But honestly, his clothes were just regular casual wear.
What did that have to do with looking like a student?
But in Black City.
Su Zhan scanned the outfits of the people nearby.
Each one more flashy than the last, emphasizing individuality.
From that perspective, his own plain casual clothes did indeed look a bit like an honest, well-behaved student.
The leather jacket girl crossed her legs, watching Su Zhan with interest: "Hey, aren't you gonna ask what exactly the job is? What if it's illegal?"
"Huh?"
Su Zhan froze, then scratched his head sheepishly: "As, as long as it pays... I've been job hunting in Jiang City for three months with no luck..."
Right now he acted like a recent graduate with nowhere left to turn.
Brother Dao and his underlings exchanged meaningful glances.
The green-haired underling came over and patted Su Zhan's shoulder: "Relax, bro, it's just some car repair and odd jobs! Guaranteed you'll earn three times what you would in Jiang City!"
"Th, that's great!"
Su Zhan was so excited he became incoherent, thanking them repeatedly, "I'll work hard! I, I know a little basic welding too..."
He seemed completely oblivious to any abnormalities around him.
He even enthusiastically asked the leather jacket girl: "Um... should I bring any tools?"
"Just bring yourself, rookie."
The leather jacket girl chewed her gum, blowing a bubble at him.
Brother Dao and his crew lounged casually around the barbecue stall.
The green-haired underling diligently poured Brother Dao a beer.
"Remember that fight with the Iron Snake Gang last time?"
Brother Dao gulped down some beer: "I took down eight of them by myself!"
"Wow!"
Su Zhan's eyes went wide: "E, eight?"
The leather jacket girl snorted, swinging her crossed leg: "That's nothing? Last month when we were racing, the authorities set up three roadblocks, and I drifted through and smashed them all!"
"So amazing!"
Su Zhan's face flushed with excitement: "I've never seen anything so thrilling in Jiang City!"
"Know why we're called the Purple Lightning Gang?"
The green-haired underling lifted his shirt corner, revealing a stun gun tucked in his waistband: "Latest model, last time some idiot who didn't know better..."
"So cool!"
Su Zhan looked admiringly at Brother Dao's mechanical arm: "That must have been really expensive, right?"
Brother Dao proudly shook his metal arm: "Custom job, comes with electromagnetic pulse function. Used it last month to blind the Iron Snake Gang boss."
Su Zhan gasped sharply, spilling his beer: "Sorry!"
He flusteredly tried to wipe it up, only to get Brother Dao's sleeve wet too.
"No worries."
Brother Dao was surprisingly good-natured, even patting Su Zhan's shoulder: "After tonight, you might even get yourself a modification too."
...
And so.
They bragged.
Su Zhan listened.
As everyone knows, after a few drinks while eating barbecue, people start boasting.
Su Zhan didn't believe a single word of it.
He only knew one thing.
Right now, they seemed to have plans for him.
He'd just maintain his honest persona and learn more about Black City.