Chapter 60: Undercurrents

As Zhao Kuo's words fell, the alley was shrouded in darkness, with only the flickering torchlight serving as a makeshift streetlamp.

No one here? No, that couldn't be.

Zhao Kuo had known from the beginning that someone was following him. At first, he thought it might be someone sent by Dr. or Qiong En. After all, as the leaders of the Blaze Gang, they had many considerations, including the uncertainty surrounding him and Tang Yingying. Sending someone to tail him was only natural.

However, after leaving the apartment building where Qiong En lived, Zhao Kuo was almost certain that the person behind him did not belong to the Blaze Gang.

In the darkness, the stalker concealed their form.

Li Shisan didn't believe he had been discovered. As a spy, he had undergone the most rigorous and meticulous training since childhood, completing countless covert missions for his master.

Moreover, Li Shisan was certain that he hadn't revealed any flaws along the way.

Was Zhao Kuo trying to bluff him? This kid was really a bit naive.

Just as Li Shisan thought Zhao Kuo was merely trying to trick him into revealing himself, he completely failed to notice the giant white snake slowly materializing behind him.

With a scream, Xiao Bai, the white snake, emerged from the darkness, holding Li Shisan in its mouth.

Zhao Kuo smiled. "Well done." He then turned his gaze to the young man dressed in black.

The young man appeared to be in his early twenties, with a small build and a height noticeably shorter than the average adult male—likely no more than 1.6 meters tall, reminiscent of a certain famous writer Zhao Kuo knew from the real world.

However, such a physique was quite suitable for a spy, especially in the dark environment of the subway world.

"Speak. Who sent you?" Zhao Kuo looked at the young man, who was firmly restrained by Xiao Bai, and casually pulled out a rocking chair.

This place was deserted, making it ideal for interrogation. Besides, Zhao Kuo remembered there was an underground waterway nearby, perfect for disposing of evidence.

Li Shisan stared in shock at the man lounging in the rocking chair, his mind replaying the terrifying moment the white snake had appeared. He couldn't comprehend how such a monstrous creature could exist in the world.

Seeing the dazed young man, Zhao Kuo signaled Xiao Bai to release him.

With a thud, Li Shisan fell to the ground. The impact, however, brought him back to his senses.

He immediately drew the dagger from his waist and charged at Zhao Kuo.

The giant white snake was too powerful; he had no chance against it. But this man in front of him was clearly the snake's master. If he could control him, there was still hope.

However, in the next moment, two glowing orbs exploded in front of him. The intense shockwave sent Li Shisan flying, slamming him hard against the nearby wall.

Lucky Magic Missile. Zhao Kuo didn't hesitate to use his skill, even against an ordinary person.

The impact left Li Shisan disoriented. He struggled to get up from the ground, only to find the enormous white snake staring at him, its white eyes filled with undisguised killing intent.

Clearly, Li Shisan's attempt to threaten Zhao Kuo had angered Xiao Bai.

Zhao Kuo slowly rose from the rocking chair and approached Li Shisan, looking down at the young man, who was now immobilized due to internal injuries from the shockwave. His gaze was icy.

"I don't have much patience. Either answer my questions obediently, or die."

To be honest, even if the guy answered his questions, Zhao Kuo didn't plan to let him live. He understood the principle of cutting weeds at the root.

But he had clearly underestimated the young man's resolve.

After waiting for more than ten seconds, Li Shisan still hadn't spoken. Zhao Kuo completely lost his patience. He nodded, signaling Xiao Bai to deal with the nuisance.

Just as Xiao Bai was about to act, a low voice came from the entrance of the alley.

"Please, show some mercy."

A beam of light pierced the darkness. At the entrance of the alley, an elderly man dressed in a sophisticated black suit, wearing a red bow tie, with graying hair and leaning on a cane, slowly walked forward.

The old man held a flashlight, but it was pointed at himself. Only when he reached the area illuminated by the torchlight did he turn it off.

Zhao Kuo raised an eyebrow. He didn't sense any danger from the man. His ​Potential Perception​ wouldn't deceive him—this old man meant him no harm.

"Your man?" Zhao Kuo pointed at Li Shisan on the ground and asked.

The old man nodded. "I deeply apologize for meeting you in this manner. Originally, I had planned to meet you formally tomorrow morning, but I didn't expect… I'm truly sorry."

"My surname is Li, and my given name is Jue. I am, humbly, a count of Eternal City."

A count? A title? Zhao Kuo frowned slightly. If it was a title, it meant this old man was a high-ranking figure in Eternal Station, and one with considerable status at that. But why would an upper-level person appear here?

It was clear he had come for Zhao Kuo.

Although he could sense that the old man meant him no harm, Zhao Kuo remained on guard.

He said in a low voice, "Sending someone to tail me isn't a friendly gesture."

"It was merely to gather some information for assessment. As an apology, I'm willing to offer this item in exchange for Shisan's life." With that, Li Jue took out a spherical object from his pocket.

Zhao Kuo signaled, and Xiao Bai slithered over, picking up the item with its mouth.

[Explosive Orb]​

[One-time consumable item. Contains a surge of violent energy. When activated, it causes significant damage within a 5-meter radius.]​

An Explosive Orb, similar in effect to a grenade, with considerable destructive power!

Zhao Kuo narrowed his eyes and looked at the old man in the distance. "Are you threatening me?"

Li Jue shook his head. "Displaying one's strength appropriately can't be considered a threat. Moreover, even in the upper levels, this item is considered precious. I came here simply to discuss cooperation with you. Nothing more, no ill intentions."

Li Jue's response didn't ease Zhao Kuo's vigilance. He began to miss Tang Yingying's stealthy bunny doll.

If he had that invisible rabbit with him, he would have more control over the situation.

What he could confirm was that the old man still had other destructive items like the ​[Explosive Orb], which posed a threat to him. However, the old man meant no harm, and his proposal for cooperation seemed relatively credible.

With ​Super Potential Focus, Zhao Kuo wasn't overly afraid of such destructive weapons.

What did surprise him was the old man's offer of cooperation.

Cooperation. It seemed that beneath the seemingly simple structure of Eternal City, there were undercurrents at play. With the sixth wave of players about to arrive, all factions had begun their own preparations.

Zhao Kuo looked down at Li Shisan at his feet and smiled. Without hesitation, he activated the ​**[Explosive Orb]​ in his hand.

The loud explosion startled the residents of the lower levels, but no one dared to investigate at night.

Li Jue waved his hand, dispersing the smoke and dust. The blast range of the ​[Explosive Orb]**​ had enveloped him, but at the moment of detonation, a faint white light appeared around his body, shielding him from the explosion's damage.

Through the smoke, he saw that Zhao Kuo had already appeared outside the explosion range, as if he had teleported.

The strange white snake, however, remained unharmed. Unfortunately, Li Shisan had undoubtedly perished in the violent explosion.

"We agreed on one thing, but it seems it's one thing at a time," Zhao Kuo's voice came through.

The hidden assassins in the shadows drew their weapons, but Li Jue raised his hand to stop them.

Zhao Kuo's voice continued, "I think when dealing with a tiger, one should understand who the real tiger is. Don't you agree?"