Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 974: Lost (10)

Disappearing and reappearing suddenly, like teleportation in a fantasy novel, Hoodie Joan launched a surprise attack on Song Haoran from behind. Yet, instead of fear, Song Haoran felt... excitement.

Excitement for what?

Because the world held so many mysteries, and he was repeatedly verifying their existence. Powers that defied common sense but undeniably existed: the Sun God’s emblem, Mr. Blind, the Song brothers, zombies, vampires... He had only uncovered a corner of this vast and extraordinary world.

In that split second, Song Haoran’s adrenaline surged, heightening his reflexes, strength, and senses to the extreme.

Hidden under his sleeve, his arm seemed to surge with boundless power. A flash of golden light shimmered beneath his skin. As Hoodie Joan’s fork was about to stab the back of his neck, Song Haoran dodged.

Not only dodged but also struck back. His elbow swung back with force, slamming into Hoodie Joan’s chest.

He followed up by spinning around, his leg whipping out like a lash and striking Hoodie Joan’s side. The powerful spinning kick sent her flying several meters before crashing to the ground.

“Phew.”

Song Haoran whistled and casually tossed Paul, who was in his arms, toward Song Ying. Startled, Song Ying caught the boy, instinctively ready to scold Song Haoran for his recklessness. But the unsettling smile on Song Haoran’s face stopped her.

It was a smile Song Ying had never seen before, one resembling a lion stalking its prey on the African savannah.Her words caught in her throat, leaving her deeply unsettled.

Hoodie Joan coughed and staggered to her feet, her body bent slightly as she glared at Song Haoran. She was clearly struggling even to stand.

Song Haoran slowly rolled up his shirt cuffs while locking eyes with her. “Come on. Show me how that strange teleportation works... Don’t disappoint me.”

Super Intuition—that was the ability granted by the Sun God’s emblem. Song Haoran didn’t fully understand the principles behind this extraordinary perception, but he had aptly named it himself.

Hoodie Joan watched him coldly as she gradually eased her pain. Then, without warning, she disappeared again.

Both Song Haoran and Song Ying saw it clearly this time. She vanished without a trace, as if erased from the world.

Song Haoran’s heightened intuition confirmed it—Hoodie Joan was genuinely gone, as though she had ceased to exist in this reality.

“Uncle!” Song Ying called out to him in alarm.

Song Haoran frowned and gestured for her to remain silent. He scanned his surroundings, but there was no sign of Hoodie Joan.

Suddenly, Song Haoran spun around. In that instant, Hoodie Joan reappeared behind him. However, Song Haoran was quicker, slamming a knee into her abdomen before she could strike.

The blow sent Hoodie Joan staggering backward, clutching her stomach. She glared at him with hatred as her body disappeared again.

Song Haoran remained still, his arms relaxed at his sides. This time, he closed his eyes.

Hoodie Joan reappeared once more behind him. Without opening his eyes, Song Haoran sidestepped her attack and countered with a sweeping strike, landing a solid hit on her temple. She vanished again.

Song Ying watched in shock and disbelief. With his eyes shut, Song Haoran effortlessly deflected Hoodie Joan’s relentless attacks, landing precise blows each time. Meanwhile, Hoodie Joan grew increasingly battered, as if she were throwing herself against an unyielding wall.

“You... you’re a monster!”

Hoodie Joan cried out after being struck down again. This time, she tried to stand but found her body wracked with pain, as though her bones were breaking. She spat out blood and managed to prop herself up into a sitting position.

Song Haoran opened his eyes and looked at her. “Aside from your teleportation ability, it seems you’re just an ordinary person. If your reflexes matched your power, you might’ve stood a chance against me.”

Hoodie Joan gritted her teeth and forced herself to her feet. Yet, her expression shifted subtly, and Song Haoran noticed the change.

She didn’t teleport again.

Song Haoran, ever attuned to his opponents’ psychology, chuckled softly. “Oh? Not teleporting anymore? Let me guess... Your ability isn’t limitless, is it? Does it have conditions? Or maybe a usage limit, and you’ve reached it?”

Hoodie Joan spat blood-tinged saliva onto the ground, her expression feral. “Don’t get cocky!”

“Give up. You can’t beat me,” Song Haoran said calmly. “You can barely stand. I don’t intend to harm you—I’m just curious about your power. If possible, I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

At that moment, Song Ying suddenly cried out in pain.

Distracted, Song Haoran turned toward her. Paul had bitten her hand and wriggled free from her arms. The boy sprinted toward Hoodie Joan, spreading his arms to shield her while glaring angrily at Song Haoran.

“This complicates things...” Song Haoran frowned.

From the Joans’ earlier conversation, Song Haoran and Song Ying had pieced together some details. But for Paul, it was simple: he saw a stranger attacking his mother, and protecting her was instinctive.

However, what happened next shocked everyone. Hoodie Joan grabbed Paul—not tenderly, but with an arm clamped around his neck and a fork pressed to his throat.

“What the...” Song Ying gasped in disbelief.

Song Haoran’s expression turned icy. Using a child as a shield was a despicable tactic, even to someone like him, accustomed to ruthless mercenary life.

“You’re tough, huh? Come on, then!” Hoodie Joan sneered. “You’re so strong, aren’t you? Try coming closer!”

Song Haoran took a deep breath, his voice cold. “Isn’t this your child?”

“I never had a child,” Hoodie Joan scoffed. “Anyone standing in my way to a better world will be destroyed. Nobody can stop me!”

“Mom... it... it hurts... Mom...” Paul whimpered.

“Shut up!” Hoodie Joan snapped. “I’m not your mom! Your mom was already killed by me... And you!” She glared at Song Haoran. “Stay back! Or do you want this kid to die?”

Song Haoran shrugged, taking a single, measured step forward.

But Hoodie Joan clearly did not intend to face Song Haoran head-on. At this moment, holding Paul, she slowly retreated—until she eventually turned and walked away.

Song Haoran didn’t chase after her, instead glancing at Song Ying and saying calmly, "Go check if the person downstairs is dead... there are some things we need to figure out."

Song Ying suddenly looked at Song Haoran and asked unexpectedly, "Song Haoran... am I... am I not dreaming?"

"Mm, you're not. You're as awake as I am," Song Haoran replied, looking at her and taking a deep breath. "Awake enough that you can't tell whether you're in a dream or in reality."

Song Ying opened her mouth, wanting to say many things, but she couldn’t get the words out. She could only mutter to herself, "What has happened to this world?"

"Paul... my Paul..."

At that moment, without the two needing to check, the white-clad Joan, who had been severely injured by Hoodie Joan, had already crawled up the stairs. She pressed her hand against the bleeding wound on her side and leaned against the stair railing. "Paul..."

Seeing this, Song Ying quickly rushed forward to help her up. "Are you... are you okay?"

"Paul, Paul, Paul..." White-clad Joan didn't seem to hear, gritting her teeth as she tried to move away.

Song Haoran suddenly spoke. "With your current condition, even if you catch up, can you handle that crazy woman from earlier?"

White-clad Joan had no choice but to stop.

Song Haoran smiled and said, "How about we cooperate? You tell me what I want to know, and I'll help you get the child back. You saw it, right? It’s easy for me to deal with her... what do you say?"

It seemed there was no room for choice.

...

...

In a room in the airport medical office.

Two guards were idly chatting—inside the room was Han Bingjiang, who had fainted during interrogation.

But at that moment, the guards suddenly heard a scream from the room. It came from the medical staff who had entered to check on Han Bingjiang.

The two rushed into the room, only to find a caregiver lying on the floor. On the bed, the previously unconscious Han Bingjiang was now covered by a blanket.

"What happened?!"

One guard checked the caregiver on the floor, while the other pulled back the blanket on the bed—only to find two pillows lying across the bed!

Bad!

When the guard realized what had happened, they heard the sound of the door to the room slamming shut behind them!

The two guards rushed out, but there was no sign of anyone in the hallway! They frowned and quickly called over the intercom, "Calling... calling... suspect Han Bingjiang has escaped... sorry!"

...

They couldn’t just sit there and wait—they had to leave!

Running frantically, Han Bingjiang's mind was in turmoil... Calm down? Hell no! What time is it?! If I stay here, how much trouble will it cause later?

That damned woman!

Joan!

It must have been her who set me up... She was the one who knocked me out in the end! But those useless idiots say they can't find anyone! No surveillance footage? What a joke! How can such a big person just disappear and reappear like that?

Don't let me escape this time... Joan!

I'll make sure you can't survive in this entertainment industry! No! I'll make sure you can't survive in life!

Absolutely!!

Perhaps the heavens heard his prayers, as Han Bingjiang suddenly stopped in his tracks while running—because he clearly saw ahead that Joan was rushing toward him!

And Joan was holding a child in her arms!

"You damn woman, how dare you set me up!!!" Han Bingjiang’s eyes widened with rage!

"It's you... get away! Don't block me!!"

The moment Han Bingjiang appeared, Joan... Hoodie Joan’s expression shifted as if she had become even more frantic!

"Han Bingjiang, you beast! Scum! Animal!! Are you going to appear before me again?!!"

Hoodie Joan, with a fork in her hand, immediately rushed toward Han Bingjiang, even throwing Paul to the ground!

Clearly, Han Bingjiang was not someone who had undergone rigorous training. In recent years, he had gained much by stirring up the entertainment industry, but his body had been drained by indulgence in alcohol, sex, and money!

Faced with a crazed person, even a woman, he couldn’t stop her for an instant!

He was directly knocked to the ground by Hoodie Joan!

The fork in her hand was slowly moving toward Han Bingjiang’s eyes—he could only desperately grip her wrist to prevent it!

The two were locked in a stalemate on the ground!

"Han Bingjiang! You beast!! Die!!!"

"You damn woman, you..."

Han Bingjiang fought desperately, but the fork kept inching toward his eyes, filling him with unprecedented fear. The expression on Joan’s face, so close, terrified him... It seemed like she was about to swallow him alive!

Who... who will save me?

Han Bingjiang’s eyes frantically searched, hoping someone would come to his aid—even those useless police officers!

But the next scene he witnessed made his eyes widen in disbelief, feeling a madness he had never felt before!

What did he see?

Another Joan!

Another Joan! Wearing a red plaid shirt, she was shocked, covering her lips, and looking toward him in terror.

And beside this Joan stood a young man... It was clearly the same young man who had met Paul, the lost child, before all of this happened!

"Paul!"

At that moment, a sharp scream came from the other side.

Han Bingjiang turned his head abruptly and saw another Joan rushing to the child who had been thrown to the ground... Surprisingly, this Joan, dressed in a white sweater, had a swollen nose and bruises on her face, but Han Bingjiang still recognized her.

And behind the white-clad Joan, there was clearly Song Haoran and Song Ying.

Luo Qiu looked at everyone... they had all gathered here.

(The End of this Chapter)