CHAPTER 4: BLACK BOX BLACKMAIL
0:00 - MIDNIGHT DEADLINE
**[God's Eye Alert]**
* System Upgrade Requirement: 1 kill before 00:00*
* Reward: 7-Day Future Preview*
The countdown burned in my vision as I stared at the three options:
1. **The Triad Informant** (gagged in my trunk)
2. **Lawyer Wang** (sobbing in a jail cell)
3. **My Half-Brother** (unconscious in a medical coma)
Anya's stiletto tapped against the **black box recorder** from Father's helicopter.
*"Choose fast, husband."*
---
THE DEVIL'S ENGAGEMENT
Anya's penthouse smelled like gun oil and jasmine. She'd changed into a black cheongsam slit to the hip, the fabric straining over the knife strapped to her thigh.
"Sit."She kicked a steel chair toward me. "We're getting married."
I laughed. "Romantic."
She slammed the black box on the table. The audio crackled to life:
FATHER'S VOICE:"—Liang's child isn't mine. The IVF records—" STATIC SCREECH"
CO-PILOT SCREAMING:"HYDRAULICS FAIL—"
Anya's smile was a knife wound. "Your stepmother paid the co-pilot $5M. Guess who approved the transfer?"
The document she slid over showed my brother Jian's signature.
"Here's the deal," she purred:
**MARRY** her in 72 hours (her spy network needed a "respectable" cover)
**GIVE** her 20% of Shengyuan (not negotiable)
**KILL** someone before midnight (her suggestion: "The informant. He smells.")
**[System Analysis]**
*Marry Anya → 73% chance of controlling Shengyuan in 10 days*
*Refuse → 91% chance of death by "accident"*
I grabbed her waist and pulled her onto my lap. "Do I at least get a wedding night?"
Her knife pricked my jugular. "Only if you survive the next hour."
---
THE INFORMANT'S GAMBIT
The triad informant **—a weasel-faced man named Mouse—** begged through his gag as I dragged him onto the rooftop.
"Please! I know about Project Winter Cicada! It's not just an assassination—"
Anya's bullet erased the rest of his sentence.
Mouse collapsed, brains painting the Shengyuan logo on the helipad.
**[System Upgrade Achieved]**
*7-Day Future Preview Activated*
Visions exploded in my skull:
- **3 days later:** Liang holds a **positive pregnancy test** on national TV
- **5 days later:** Anya **shoots a senator** at our wedding reception
- **7 days later:** I **sign papers transferring 51% of Shengyuan** to a shadowy figure called **"The Accountant"**
I turned to Anya—**just as her phone buzzed with a message:**
"Asset acquired. Proceed with Phase 2."
She kissed me, tasting like blood and deceit. "Congrats, fiancé. Now let's rob your family blind."
---
THE BABY SECRET
Liang's IVF clinic records glowed on my laptop:
**EMBRYO TRANSFER DATE:** *1 day after Father's vasectomy*
**SPERM DONOR:** *"Subject X" (classified)*
**PAYMENT:** *$10M from Brunei shell company*
Anya traced the screen. "Your stepmother's carrying the heir to a crime syndicate. Cute, right?"
**[System Alert]**
*▶ Liang's "miscarriage" planned in 4 days*
*▶ Target: You (poisoned tea at memorial service)*
I forwarded the files to every major media outletwith one edit:
"BREAKING: SHENGYUAN WIDOW PREGNANT WITH TRIAD LEADER'S CHILD"
Anya's phone rang. She put it on speaker:
LIANG'S SCREAM:"YOU BITCH! I'LL SKIN YOU ALIVE—"
Anya hung up. "She'll move the money tonight. Ready?"
I checked my watch. **00:01.**
"Happy wedding week, darling."
---
THE MIDNIGHT RAID
We hit Liang's safe house as her men loaded gold bars into armored trucks.
**Anya's moves:**
**First guard:** Throat slashed with **a diamond ring**
**Second guard:** Skull crushed by **her wedding bouquet (weighted with lead)**
**Third guard:** Shot with **his own gun**
I found Liang **clutching a suitcase of bearer bonds**.
"Chen! She's manipulating you!"
Anya's bullet **shattered the Rubies around Liang's neck**—**the same ones she wore when I died.**
**[System Update]**
*New Mission: Steal "The Accountant's" ledger*
*Deadline: Before wedding day*
I left Liang sobbing in broken jewels as we took $300M in untraceable assets.
Anya licked blood off my cheek. "Now the fun begins."