"Your sincerity and generosity are examples all the people of Faust should follow, Miss Qin. A promise made is a promise kept, I'm thankful that you didn't renege." Yet. Miss Qin's smile remains the same.

"I'm flattered by your words, sir." A small flinch at the corner of her left eye. Qin Yan puts her right hand over the left on the table, leaning forward. "I believe now is your turn to honor the deal. I would like a full report on your task."

"Certainly." Three sets of eyes, some eager, some doubtful, some reserved. All are on me. I put away my smile.

"On the way to the icebreaker, there were two men following me, they were skilled and experienced at such actions." Not many reactions since they probably all knew it from my call.

"I was able to capture them for interrogation. After cross-examination to confirm you guys didn't try something so moronic I carry on with my work." Nan side-eyes me at 'cross examination', Xiao raises her eyebrow at my words.

"Ivan.......well, I'll spare y'all the detail. I got him to open the package, after a very provocative discussion. Ivan, being a pacifist and a man of benevolence. Has agreed to take your proposal." Miss Qin frowns lightly.

"After burning the envelope as you requested, I made my way back immediately......." I move my line of sight from her to Nan. With a grin on my face, he lost his.

"But as I reached the front gate, outstanding security by the way. I look to my left and look to my right. There was no sign of Mr. Nan!" I raise my eyebrows, disclosing with a dramatic tone. Nan rolls his eyes but quickly put on a poker face as Miss Qin turns around to stare at him.

Considering what he did, this is the least I can make him pay.

"As my mind bolted through ways to get in here. Miss Xiao over here, kindly showed me a way in and escort me through the facility." I tilt my head towards her. "Oh and don't forget the cigarette you owe me." I gave her the most sincere-looking sly smile. Qin Yan rests her head on her right hand, looking back at Xiao who's biting her lips and glaring at me intensely.

"Very.....fascinating, Mr.Lee. But there are a few questions I would need you to elaborate on further.

"First of all, what's Mr.Ivan's response in detail?"

Here goes nothing Ivan.

"He suggests we hold this ... meeting. Four days later. 9 at night." She thinks for a second before giving me a nod.

"That's doable on my end, what about the place?" I can't help but grin.

"Club 57."

"Perfect, I have a booth there." She answers almost immediately with a smile. But suddenly shuts her mouth as her eyebrows knit together, with an apologetic tone she says.

"Mr.Lee. I have to inform you that the place requires......soigné outfits." Both Xiao and Nan grin silently behind Miss Qin, especially Xiao, she's barely containing a laugh.

Yeah, yeah...keep laughing you bunch of cunts in hundred-dollar suits.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"And also, the place generally has a ..... Masquerade ball theme. As some of the more identity-sensitive individuals wear masks. I suggest we do the same considering the nature of our gathering." Wouldn't dare go near the place without one. I see Xiao clenching her fist for some reason, Nan looks......like he's looking forward to it.

"Agreed, I'm sure Ivan are thinking the same thing when he proposed the idea."

"I'm sure he also knew that carrying weapons is forbidden in Club 57. Hence the suggestion?" She tilts her head to the side but keeps eye contact.

"He did. I don't. Hence the suggestion."

Qin Yan lets out something between a laugh and exhaling like Xiao.

"Very well. Lastly, did Mr.Ivan mention anything regarding manpower? How many will he bring?" She quickly adds. "If he's not intended on informing us I can understand."

Welp, how should I put this?

"......He did discuss the topic with me." From the corner of my eyes, I see a hint of disbelief on Xiao's face. "Given the fact that this invitation is more insidious than buying a government loan in Faust and y'all fellows are in the middle of a conflict. Plus, there's no way of knowing who and what he's about to deal with. Lastly negotiations like this require more than physical but also intellectual and social well powers." Xiao squints her eyes, and Nan frowns.

"Therefore, he had decided to be company by his best soldier. The most capable, trustworthy, competent, and reliable man he knew."

I press my right hand across my abdomen while my left hand extended outwards to the left. Drawing my right leg to the back of my left one. Lowering my head as I bow with a grin.

"Me."

As I return to a standing position. I see Nan grinning ear to ear. While Xiao looks at me in a strange way, I'm not sure what it means. As for Miss Qin. A smile when she saw me from the balcony returns a genuine smile without agendas. Just happy about the way things went

.......it's scary.

"I supposed we'll be seeing each other again then." She lowers her head like she's bowing too. "Please inform Mr. Ivan, considering all the factors you've mentioned. I'll bring my consoler, " She gestures towards Nan who gave me a wink while grinning. "and my best soldier too." Miss Qin turns around to face Xiao.

Ain't that fucking dandy I didn't kill either of them.

"Second, how did you deal with Xu Yu and his partner after you were done?"

"They're most likely at bottom of the canal now.....I hope you guys aren't acquainted with him right?" Xiao lets out a silent hum, Nan frowns lightly like he's trying to remember if he knew the guy.

"Speaking of which, Miss Qin." I withdraw my smile in an instant.

"You should get some shutters, or change your office to somewhere less.....open." Her face turns paler than usual. But quickly composed herself.

"He was on one of those buildings. Spying on you. I'm not going to question why, but you know who he works for so I suggest you be more careful in the future."

I gesture towards all the lights outside, imagine each and every one of them as an eye, all the lights are just the glint in their pupils, how would that look like....... I blink twice and move away from the view and gather pieces of my mind scattered across the floor behind me.

I'm goddamn tired.

Xiao and Nan exchange a look. Miss Qin is deep in thought, behind those gray eyes a war is happening.

"Thank you, Mr.Lee. For this valuable information." Her voice sounds subtly hoarse, a rusty wind chime. Her face becomes more and more serious by the second until she blinks and suddenly she's back to normal again.

This woman is truly marvelous.

"Third........did anyone. On your way to the icebreaker or inside the club. Did anyone at all, saw the envelope?"

"Well, I made sure the package wasn't damaged at the restroom in the club, last I check there are no cameras in that stall." I shrug with my hands up.

"Pleasant to know. Mr.Lee.Last question ........did you see the content of the envelope?" She asks like a wife asking her husband 'How was your day?' But those eyes sold her out again.

So are Nan and Xiao. They're body tense up, I can see it from the lines on their neck subtly bulging. Nan put both of his hands on my waist and lower his head so I can't see his eyes; Xiao just stares at me with a distant look like she already has the image of my corpse in her head. Personal willingness doesn't matter to us in this room. My answer will decide if I'll leave this room on foot or in a garbage bag.

Lie.

"At least you're asking straight to my face. I was...." The words stuck in my mouth, it's like my whole body is preventing me from uttering.

Lie?

Why not?

Those eyes.

It felt like they were choking me to death. Fuck, she's serious now. I'm on the other side of the stick. Is it possible to fool her? I already stuttered, she can tell something was off.

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Truth?

I feel naked in front of her. Goddamn it! Now she's the one breaking my defenses. No way around it, this is checkmate. Is bloody shameful that she bettered me so easily.

Will she have me killed? There's the possibility. I know too much.

No. The meeting wouldn't work without me she can't kill me right now.

But after the meeting? Probably. Anyway lying wouldn't do me any good, so.....

Truth.

"I did." Nan looks at Miss Qin, asking permission without a word. Xiao signs. Her left hand is on her thigh presumably where she hides her thin dagger.

The effects of the drugs are all gone, my mind was never clearer. Miss Qin nods slowly. A shiver ran through my spine indicating danger.

My survival instinct took over.

The blissful adrenaline kick in, my favorite drug. The future plays out in my mind, frame by frame.

My left-hand sneaks into my jacket the familiar touch of traction dots grip against my palm. Xiao will be the first to react. A flesh of light shines as she grabs either a throwing knife or a gun strapped to her thigh.

Best case scenario, Nan points the gun milliseconds after I do at Miss Qin. And if they fire regardless........well, at least I get to take that woman with me and spare Ivan from this mess. Will he be dedicated to the idea of war? Maybe. Doesn't matter. Let the living sort it out, By that time I'll be sleeping soundly.

"Why did you open it?"

"I wasn't planning to, but you gave. A Russian mobster. A recording of a classified Chinese conversation....... After translating it and agreeing to accompany him to club 57, I couldn't find a good reason not to go over the rest of the stuff."

"And what do you think of it? The papers and the conversation between me and my father." She asks with a light voice. So light it sounds like a whisper.

"He wants a war. You don't. Some in your organization don't either. But after hiring foreign mercenaries a war is definitely in order."

"Those are facts. What do you think of it? Personally."

"Personally. I would rather not have seen or heard any of them. I'm a freelancer of no legions. I shouldn't give a flying fuck about any of it."

"And yet. Here you are. Right in the middle of it......."

"Indeed." I grin the last time.

Her eyes glow, red lips slightly agape. My left arm tensed up. I crack my neck. Getting fully ready for any signs of violence. Time seems to slow down. Noises from this world became incomprehensible murmurs like I'm having tinnitus.

".......And thee. Best runner of Greece! Whose limbs did duty indeed, what gift is promised thyself?" She speaks with the same taunting tone I used 20 minutes ago.

.......................What?

"You've agreed to be a part of the meeting with Mr.Ivan. Which makes you an accomplice alongside all of us." She spread her palms gesturing to everyone in the room. "I warned you it is best for you not to see what's inside the envelope cause I don't think you would want to be tangled up with this...... business. But since you do now. I can only wish you good fortune in the storm to come." She smiles again as if nothing happened.

"And what if I decided to sell you out before the meeting?"

Qin Yan looks at me with a puzzled expression for 30 seconds. Then, she starts laughing. This room is clearly soundproof as the echo of the wind chime keeps ringing in my ear. She holds her stomach and covers her mouth. Taking a deep breath, she sits straight again.

"Why would you, Mr.Lee? You're a smart man. I dare say smarter than most of my underlings. Couldn't you see dooming me will only make your situation more critical?" She places her arms on the handle.

"Xu Yu and his brother Xu Kan might not be the best scouts, but they were the most loyal to my father. And you just threw them in the canal, while they were surveying me. How do you think he's going to react? I can keep most of my man's mouth shut about your presence tonight. But sooner or later you'll become his target if not already. What good would it do you? By ratting me out? I can guarantee you my father will not overlook those two dead scouts because of it."

The false freedom of choice fucks me over again. How could I be so blind to not see the consequences of my actions had trapped me?

There's a swirl in my head. The black hole that I throw things inside now spits it all out in my face. As the adrenaline wears off, the world spin before my eyes.

No! You're not done yet. Don't let your guard down. Get those useless thoughts out of your mind. Focus on the ground under your feet, the air in your lung, and the fight in front.

I take a deep breath. And force myself to make nothing out of her explanations.

"Yin Yu Guo ........ We reap what sow. Right?" I lower my head, looking at my feet and the solid wooden floor under them.

"Insightful opinions, Miss Qin. I supposed you're suggesting we're in the same boat here?" I force my face to create a casual smile.

"I'm glad you're finally understanding that." Xiao and Nan look a bit more relaxed.

"If that's the case. May I ask a few questions......regarding your father and the situation right now?"

Focus, you're been shown to the side of things she wants you to see. Find an angle. At least find out more about what's going on!

"What do you wish to know about?" She tilts her head to the side, her arm still resting on the handle of her chair.

"The recording.....if I heard it right...your father committed a blood oath too. Though my Mandarin is pretty inadequate. I remember he didn't have an executioner appointed. Right?" Miss Qin looks at me for a moment.

"When a blood oath is sworn. The person bonded by the oath can either appoint an executioner......or 'Ren ren de er zhu' which means anyone has the authority to take his life if he broke the oath." She pauses for a moment, staring at me while frowning. "And believe me, Mr.Lee. Your Mandarin is not inadequate."

That's a dumb fucking rule.

"Your father mentioned something about.....his deceased family member's death got something to do with the Russians? Which is why he's been provoking the Russians and preparing for war ever since the conflicts here ended?"

Her left eye bag twitched, and her eyes slightly narrowed.

"My father had..... many theories about my mother and uncle's death. The Russians being behind it all is just an excuse for him to justify the actions."

There's something else, besides the obvious bullshit. I let out a chuckle.

"Why would he need any reason for his actions? Since when did your family ever care about the legitimacy of......anything?"

"Believe it or not. Most of the people in my organization don't like conflicts. Profit is what we care about. The gun business was a necessary ........ disbursement. Now it's a liability that many are afraid to admit."

"And the many is you?"

"The many is a considerable amount of enforcers, high ranks, and me. My father backed his irrational decisions with the name of blood payment and justice so he could do whatever he wants."

"From the recording, he sounds entirely devoted to the theory. It didn't sound like he was lying." I shrug.

"That's why the others believe him too." A bitter smile creeps onto Miss Qin's face.

"And what makes you think it's a lie? That the Russian mafia didn't do it?" I put my hands on my waist.

Miss Qin leans back onto her chair, her head raises up. Looked at the ceiling wordlessly for a long time, so long that Nan move his eyes off me to check his boss.

"Why would they? My mother died in a car crash, I'm sure if the Russians have any reasons to care about the weakest family in Piao Jie at the time, they wouldn't go through the trouble of cutting off break cables. They would just wipe us off entirely. And the massacre of my uncle and his family was the retaliation of Shen family."

Lies.

I'm getting nowhere like this.

Qin Yan wants to rebel against her old man and stop a war mainly because it's meaningless in the first place and bad for business. Her little secret rebellion is going to need the help of Ivan for some bloody reason.

On the other hand, the emperor wants war with the Russians. I don't believe he's doing all of this just for revenge or the hack of it. There's something else, but it's irrelevant now.

I went through what happened tonight in my head, from seeing Vera after three months to....wherever the hell I stand now. Events, numbers, peoples, secrets, names......

Are you a Liu Jiu?

"Very well. I have one last question before I'm done." I pause. This could be completely useless but I still want to see how they react.

Here goes nothing.

"What is Liu Jiu?"

Three pairs of pupils expanded. At that small instance when everyone is shocked by my question. Reflexes took over for them. Xiao looks at me in disbelief. Miss Qin's defenses shattered for a single second, there was apparent anxiousness in her eyes. But the most interesting one of them all. Is Nan.

He froze, but not before his right hand had already lifted up his suit. I can see his gun belt from here. Two seconds later he looks down at his hand and realized what he's doing before returning to his normal composure. He adjusts his suit slowly getting the wrinkles on it out.

"Where......did you hear it from?" Her voice is a bit shaky.

"I convinced Xu Yu I'm one during the interrogation." Few different emotions flashes in her eyes.

"You.....convinced him. That you're a Liu Jiu?" I shrug. She exhales a long breath, and for the first time since I met her. She looks back at Nan, asking he's opinion silently.

For a moment no one utters a word until Nan signs a long breath. They exchanged a look.

"...... Mr.Lee. What I'm about to say is one of the most discreet secrets of my family and organization." The gray eyes are covered by a lance of shadow, her tone is cold like in the recordings. "If you talk to anyone about it. Even if taking the punishment of the blood oath." She stops for a second. Eyes closed. When she opens them again, the disguises are all gone. She's like an open book now. A book with very disturbing contents.

"I. Will. Kill. You."

A mist of cool air lingers on my nape. Great, another reason for me to get killed.

"......Even before we rule Piao Jie. Our family leader will hand-pick some of the most skillful or loyal members of our organization. Making them 'Liu Jiu'. They could be killers, spies, errand boys, or random passers. They're a group of people whose identities and activities are unknown to anyone except the current leader of the Qin Family. They're only loyal to him even if they were assigned to the many different wings and factions of ours. Therefore we also called them 'An Zhuang' " Miss Qin regains controls of herself and build up her defenses again. After a short pause, she continues.

"Not many in our organization knew they existed. But they're real. And I consider them the biggest obstacles we will face in our action." Good to know I'm included now.

"They're the reason I hoped to minimize the number of people that saw you. This Jiu Lou is one of my most secure facilities with men that are only loyal to me. But I still believe some lies about their allegiance to my father secretly." She lets out a laugh at the end of the monologue.

"And you. Somehow convinced a scout you're one of them......"

She leans forward on the table. The distance between us reduces to half a meter. Her eyes flicker with the light from the banker's lamp beside her. A few strays of black hair fall on her face. Her lips are slightly agape, the red lipstick hides redder lips under it. Eyes were bloodshot from all the conversations earlier and days worth of stress. Mine are the same probably.

"You just keep on surprising me."

There's a frantic look in her. Like a longing to burn the world to cinders. A smirk forms at the corner of her mouth. Her eyeliners change their direction from vertical to upwards.

The same question I'll keep asking myself in the years to come just like the years passed.

What do you see in me? Answer me for I don't see anything.

"Thank you. For trusting me with this information." I put my right hand on my left chest. Upon my rhythm heartbeat. "Now........" I take a step back from her desk.

I've pushed my luck far enough tonight. Plus my mind is at its limit as I feel the effects of drugs returning, not as a comforting blur but harsh dizziness. I've stayed in the state of sheer focus too long. There's a minor ache in my right temple.

"I'll take your words and be careful in the days to come before the meeting. " She lowers her head like she's bowing, but the eye contact didn't break.

"The rest of your payment will be transfer in no time. Piao Jie at night is not the safest place to wander, Mr.Lee."

"Xiao will escort you out. Nan.....we need to talk." Nan nods silently. Xiao walked by me and gave me a look before continuing her way out, a strange expression on her face.

She hooks her left index finger without looking back. As I turned around to follow her. The sound of a wind chime rings behind me.

"Thank you for your services. Mr.Lee...... I will be looking forward to see you again."

I stop my feet from taking another step. Giving her a nod with my head tilted to the left. Without looking back.