Chapter 28 Additional Commission

How... is that possible!?

Chaoyang blinked his eyes, unable to utter a single word for quite some time.

"Um... Are you alright? Was it something I said?"

In the end, it was Judy's voice that snapped him back from his daze—Chaoyang touched his cheek subconsciously, as if to mask his surprise, "Not at all. I have my own sources of information, but please forgive me for not being able to share them."

"I see, I understand," Judy said, somewhat disappointed.

"Now that the contract is complete, there's nothing more to do here for the time being. I'll be leaving this place as soon as dawn breaks tomorrow."

"Actually... There's no need for you to rush."

"I have other matters to attend to," Chaoyang smiled, "Don't worry, before I go I'll make sure everything in the house is taken care of, so that my clients don't have any concerns."

Judy knew that he was hinting for her to leave.

Even though the cabin belonged to Dane, she still felt there was a convincing power when the detective said it.

"Then I'll leave it to you," Judy walked to the door, turned to bow to Chaoyang again, "Thank you, Mr. Zhao. I wish you prosperity in your future endeavors."

Perhaps the blessing really was effective, for as Chaoyang looked at the unconscious woman, "Who exactly are you? A dying person shouldn't still possess such immense wishing power."

"Do you mean... I have something you need?" The voice in her head suddenly became much livelier.

"Yes, and it's quite substantial," Chaoyang admitted. As a consignee of the contract, he couldn't tamper with it; the amount he took had to be reported truthfully, which was a prerequisite for the establishment of the contract.

In a sense, demons are more honest than traders.

"I can give it all to you!" She immediately said, "My name is Haiya Mira, the daughter of Larachi Island and the chieftain's daughter. I want to sign a contract with you and entrust you with my final wish!"

Another unheard-of place name, Chaoyang thought, but her claim to be the daughter of a chieftain was interesting... Perhaps this identity was the reason for her potent wishing power.

"Hold on! I didn't say I've agreed to sign a contract yet." He coughed twice, "After all, I must first hear what your request is. I am just a detective, and not as miraculous as you imagine. If the wish is too grand, I'd suggest it's better to pray to the divinities."

Being eagerly sought for a contract was a new experience for him, but Chaoyang didn't get carried away, knowing it was a double-edged sword. A failure to fulfill it would be an absolute disaster for him. Therefore, even though her wishing power was very tempting, he had to ask clearly before proceeding.

"If praying to the divinities could elicit a response, why would we have fallen to such a state today…" The woman paused for a moment before continuing, "My wish is simple, to kill the chief of the North City Police Department, Kuiqi, and avenge those who died in the Black Prison!"

Indeed, a straightforward wish.

...But simplicity doesn't mean it's easy to accomplish.

Especially when the wisher is on the brink of death.

If there were a week or two to spare, Chaoyang would have agreed immediately, considering his most powerful player and the advantage of a hidden first move.

"This might be difficult..."

"He is currently in a villa in the Inner City District," the woman claiming to be Haiya added hastily, as if afraid of his refusal, "There are bodyguards, but definitely not many—because the subordinates he trusts have all been sent to the theater, and the Inner City District is usually the safest area."

"How do you know?" Chaoyang asked curiously.

"Because I've been imprisoned there before. Not just me, many people they wanted to secretly dispose of have been there — it's more of a private prison for Kuiqi than a villa! The basement there is even bloodier and more terrifying than a prison, and each time before a massacre, Kuiqi would visit to watch Ghost drag the chosen ones out of their iron cages... and he wouldn't leave until after daybreak."

The villa in the Inner City District is Black Prison... This director really has guts and wit. Chaoyang's mind was racing. Based on the information he had, there was no nighttime segregation between the Inner and Outer City Districts, and they weren't too far apart either. The Inner City usually had patrol officers, and once the alarm was sounded, the police could arrive quickly, but as long as he could breach the villa in a very short time, none of these would be a problem.

"Is there anything else I need to know?"

"That's all I know. Mr. Detective, I understand what you're worried about... but rest assured, I will survive till the end." Her eyelids trembled slightly, as if trying to open, "I... won't die until I see his head!"

After weighing his options for a moment, Chaoyang made a decision.

"If that's the case, then let's sign a contract."

...

"Do you want some water?" Zhou Zhi handed a porcelain cup to Tyler.

"Ah... Thank you." The latter took the cup and drank it all in one gulp, "I didn't realize I was so thirsty."

"I noticed you were daydreaming earlier." Zhou Zhi chuckled and sat back down on the bench, "Were you thinking about something just now?"

"Indeed." Tyler nodded.

"I... was too." Zhou Zhi lowered his head and said softly while looking at the oil lamp on the table, "I didn't expect that we would be the last two left. When Brother Zhang said he would handle the fire, I knew he wasn't planning to come back, but I didn't expect your friend and Mingzi too..."

The enemy's will to fight had indeed collapsed.

But the fire that destroyed the enemy's will to fight also crushed their spirits, and many people who caught fire completely lost their minds, charging madly toward the trio that blocked their path.

Zhou Zhi, who had never experienced such chaos, was clearly overwhelmed, and just when he was about to be pierced by a bayonet, Mingzi killed the opponent and also took that blow for him.

With her body.

Even though Zhou Zhi knew that his comrades wouldn't truly die, that it was just a temporary goodbye from the Paradise game, he still felt a strong shock in his heart.

For a moment,his heart was filled with anger, as if he had truly lost her.

Now, upon reflecting, he realized his reaction was somewhat excessive, after all, the first time he entered the game, he had helped Mingzi out of an encirclement — though it wasn't much help. This time it was probably her way of returning the favor, so there was no need to take it so seriously. However, even after explaining this to himself, Zhou Zhi found that whenever he calmed down, he would always return to the theater, to that place of departure engulfed in roaring flames.

Similarly, Tyler had lost his friend Joe James.

This game was not only affecting him.

"Oh, you mean Joe. It's not surprising he's dead. That kind of reckless fighting style, just for the thrill, was bound to get him killed sooner or later. I saw it coming." Tyler shrugged, "What I was thinking about was something else."

"Uh…" Zhou Zhi's expression froze, "I see... So what were you thinking just now?"

Tyler clasped his hands together and looked at him with interest, "On the carriage, you mentioned they talked about Mr. Detective... Don't you wonder who this person is?"