Chapter 54: To the Melancholic World

**Chapter 54: To the Melancholic World

"Qiwai, any progress?" Mann asked, his demeanor serious as he spoke to Qiwai.

Fans like Wang Wenwei knew that Mann was professional and would switch to a serious work mode whenever necessary. One moment he was joking about David and Lucy, and the next he was focused on the task at hand.

Qiwai, sitting next to David and smoking, replied, "None at all. Since the last incident, Tanaka has strengthened security. There's no way to get a lead."

Mann sighed, "I told you, without news from Faraday, we can't find anything."

David was puzzled by the mention of Tanaka. He recalled that Tanaka was the rich kid he had previously beaten up with "Sian Weistan."

Mann assumed David was unfamiliar with Tanaka and explained that Tanaka was the owner of the luxury car David had hijacked during his first mission.

Qiwai then realized David was classmates with Tanaka's son. "What? This kid is from Arisaka Academy and a classmate of Tanaka's son? He was an outstanding student but chose to leave the academy. No wonder Gloria kept asking me for money—it was for your tuition."

As the two continued their conversation, David's dark past was revealed in detail.

David, feeling exasperated, said, "Stop digging up other people's pasts."

Qiwai then mentioned, "I did find Tanaka's private files, but they're mostly useless."

Mann asked, "Like what?"

"For example, his viewing history includes Black Superdream," Qiwai said.

"That's useful. We can use that," Mann replied.

David then provided valuable intel: Tanaka's Black Superdreams were customized, and VIP users could request special modifications, such as pain removal. "If we want to customize a superdream at his place, Tanaka himself will definitely be present, and probably for a private meeting."

Based on this information, Mann's team formulated an action plan: first, set up an ambush where Jimmy Black Sakura would appear; next, David would pose as a fan to lure Jimmy into the trap; finally, Mann and the team would kidnap Jimmy and use him to force Tanaka into their grasp.

Qiwai would then delve into Tanaka's brain-machine network to extract the necessary information.

The plan commenced smoothly until, just before success, Jimmy Black Sakura launched an attack on Mann's, David's, and Qiwai's systems. Instantly, Mann and David's nervous systems were paralyzed, and they fell unconscious. Though Qiwai remained conscious, she was violently ill and incapacitated.

Taking advantage of the situation, Jimmy Black Sakura fled in his luxury car. Lucy, who was lying in wait outside, realized the gravity of the situation and rushed back to find David and Mann.

In the end, Lucy, Dolly, and others discovered that David had been captured by Jimmy Black Sakura.

*(End of Chapter)*

Wang Wenwei, having read this chapter, felt somewhat unsatisfied. The latest episode seemed relatively uneventful compared to the dramatic events of previous chapters. The suspenseful twists of Pirana's sudden death and the moonlit romance between David and Lucy had been far more striking.

Yet, not every chapter could be filled with high drama. A story naturally has its calm and transition periods before reaching crucial plot points.

This chapter's plot, involving blackmailing Jimmy Black Sakura to capture Tanaka, was just beginning. Wang Wenwei would have to wait until next week's issue of *Edge Runners* for the continuation.

Still, he was thrilled by the weekly serialization and hoped it would continue rather than revert to the previous bi-weekly schedule.

Remembering this, Wang Wenwei hurriedly visited the official website to vote for *Edge Runners*' popularity.

Meanwhile, Liang Zhiyuan at the Light Speed Game Development Company, having read the latest issue, felt unsettled. He had seen the scene where Mann joked about giving his prosthetic to David if he died.

Recalling the earlier conversation with Lin Qingshan about the series ending with only Lucy and the driver, Falco, surviving, Liang Zhiyuan suspected that this was a foreshadowing of Mann's death.

He felt a pang of sadness. Mann was a reliable character, experienced, kind, and strong. He was not only skilled but also offered guidance and support to David.

Learning that Mann was likely to die in the story made Liang Zhiyuan consider abandoning the series, but he decided to continue. The allure of *Edge Runners* lay in its ability to evoke strong emotions, even if it meant enduring several days of sadness.

Despite knowing the series would end tragically, Liang Zhiyuan found himself drawn to it, buying the latest issue. He kept the spoilers to himself, pondering how the fans would react when they discovered the tragic end.

He couldn't help but smile wryly, imagining the reactions of his fellow fans when they realized that even the main character, David, would die.

*(End of Chapter)*