Chapter 12: The Fire That Consumed the Shadow Nest

The night sky over the western industrial district was ablaze, the flames turning the darkness into a flickering inferno. The sounds of explosions shattered the silence, each detonation reverberating through the cold air. Lin Feng stood at a distance, his expression cold and unwavering as he watched the warehouse—known as the "Shadow Nest"—burning ferociously. The desperate struggle of Viper and the cryptic business card he had found had confirmed his suspicions: the Shadow Syndicate had deep roots in Jiang City. Yet, despite everything, the whereabouts of their enigmatic leader, Black Shadow, remained a mystery.

With a final glance at the raging fire, Lin Feng turned away and got into his car. He dialed a number, and soon a steady voice answered.

"Feng Ye?"

"The warehouse in the western suburbs is gone. Keep an eye on the Shadow Syndicate—see how they react to this," Lin Feng ordered, his tone sharp and commanding.

"Understood, Feng Ye!" replied the bespectacled man on the other end. Lin Feng ended the call and started his car, heading back to his office. Burning down the Shadow Nest was just the beginning. It was a warning—a declaration that Lin Feng had returned. And for the Shadow Syndicate, their days of unchecked power were numbered.

On the top floor of the office building, Lin Xue'er anxiously paced near the entrance. The moment she saw Lin Feng step in, she rushed toward him, her eyes filled with worry.

"Brother! I heard explosions outside. What happened? Are you okay?" Her voice was tinged with panic, clearly affected by the chaos in the west district.

Lin Feng patted her head reassuringly. "It's nothing," he said with a faint smile. "Just burned down a rat's nest."

As he walked into his office, the bespectacled man was already waiting inside, a detailed report in his hands. "Feng Ye, the western warehouse was a crucial stronghold for the Shadow Syndicate. They stored both their goods and a significant portion of their funds there. By our estimates, tonight's fire cost them billions."

"Billions?" Lin Feng smirked coldly. "That's just the beginning."

He leaned back in his chair, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. "What about Viper? Did you capture him?"

The bespectacled man nodded. "Yes. He's locked in the underground chamber. We've already started the interrogation."

"Take me to him."

Lin Feng stubbed out his cigarette and stood up. Together, they descended into the dimly lit underground chamber.

The underground cell was dark and damp, the air thick with the scent of blood and mildew. In the center of the room sat Viper, bound tightly to a chair. His face was bruised and swollen, evidence of the beating he had already endured. Yet, when he saw Lin Feng enter, he managed to sneer, his lips curling despite the pain.

"Lin Feng..." he croaked, his voice hoarse but defiant. "So you torched the Shadow Nest. Big deal. The Shadow Syndicate won't let this slide. You've just made yourself a walking corpse."

Lin Feng stepped closer, his eyes icy and unreadable. "Where is Black Shadow?"

His voice was calm, but it carried an unmistakable pressure—one that made the already injured Viper shudder involuntarily.

Viper let out a ragged breath. "Kill me if you want, but I swear you're wasting your time. Black Shadow never shows his face. His orders are issued through the darknet. Even I've never seen him in person."

"The darknet?" Lin Feng narrowed his eyes. "How do you contact him?"

Viper clenched his jaw, refusing to answer. Lin Feng made a slight gesture, and the bespectacled man immediately stepped forward, delivering a brutal punch to Viper's jaw. He spat out blood, his body trembling as pain coursed through him.

"There's an encrypted channel," Viper finally gasped. "The code name is 'Shadow Command.' Only high-level members have access, and it requires a password."

"The password?" Lin Feng's voice was razor-sharp.

Viper let out a breathless laugh, his bloody lips stretching into a twisted grin. "I don't know. But Zhang Kun did. Too bad he's already dead."

A flicker of annoyance crossed Lin Feng's face. Without hesitation, he sent a powerful kick to Viper's chest, sending the battered man into unconsciousness.

"Useless," Lin Feng muttered in irritation. He turned to his bespectacled subordinate. "Track the darknet. Find that channel. I want access."

The bespectacled man nodded. "I'll have our tech team on it immediately."

Back in his office, Lin Feng found Lin Xue'er waiting for him. She looked up at him with concern as he entered.

"Brother... Did he say anything useful?"

Lin Feng sat down, his fingers tapping lightly against the desk. "The leader of the Shadow Syndicate is called Black Shadow. He's extremely cautious, never appearing in person. We'll have to draw him out."

He glanced at his sister. "Stay indoors for the next few days. Don't wander off. If they retaliate, I don't want you caught in the crossfire."

Lin Xue'er nodded, though a trace of worry still lingered in her eyes. She knew her brother was strong, but the Shadow Syndicate was not to be underestimated. Their influence ran deep, their power stretching far beyond what most could see.

Lin Feng leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. The past few days had been a whirlwind of battles—first at the Tianhuang Pavilion, now the destruction of the Shadow Nest. Step by step, he was closing in on the syndicate. Yet, Black Shadow's elusive nature was proving to be a thorn in his side.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sharp ringing of his phone. He picked it up, and a subordinate's voice came through the line.

"Feng Ye, the fire in the west district has shaken the Shadow Syndicate. Their forces in Jiang City are beginning to withdraw. It looks like they're planning to relocate their strongholds."

Lin Feng smirked. "Withdrawing? Good. That means they're feeling the pressure. Keep tracking their movements. I don't want them slipping away."

"Understood!"

After ending the call, Lin Feng turned his gaze to the cityscape outside the window. The lights of Jiang City stretched out beneath him, twinkling like a sea of stars against the night. Yet, beneath this façade of normalcy, the battle was reaching its climax. His war against the Shadow Syndicate had escalated to its most critical stage.

And he would not stop until he saw them utterly destroyed.