A chilling scene unfolded in the room. The sounds of brutal murder, punctuated by frantic, suppressed laughter, echoed within.
The hallway remained eerily silent. The neighbors seemed to be oblivious, sleeping soundly, none disturbed, none opening their doors to investigate.
Strange?
No, not at all.
This was the survival wisdom of Lower City residents, especially those in the shantytowns. After all, the apartment on the second floor belonged to the Qinglang Gang—ruthless thugs. Even a glance could invite trouble.
3/25, 5:11 AM.
This was the timestamp on the phone video.
“What’s your phone number? I’ll send you the video as a souvenir,” Ivy said, pleased that the body was almost completely dismembered, only a layer of skin remaining.
Having killed Zhang Tong, Ma Wei seemed to have undergone a transformation.
“Boss, don’t send it to me. Keep it. If you send it to me, I’ll have nightmares,” Ma Wei said, wiping his face. His expression showed signs of trauma.
Though still wary of Ivy, he wasn’t as trembling as before. A strange desire seemed to have taken root.
Ma Wei couldn't analyze his own change of heart, but Ivy, after a moment’s thought, understood.
“The shift from enemy to accomplice, from being forced into complicity, has eased his mind. And killing his close brother has begun a process of dark transformation,” Ivy thought.
“This pawn placed within the Qinglang Gang might be more useful than I initially thought.”
“Of course, I need to be cautious. Darkened pawns are prone to backfire.”
Ivy put away her phone, deciding to back up the video later. This was Ma Wei’s weakness; she had to protect it.
Ten minutes later.
Ivy sat on the sofa, Ma Wei kneeling beside her, skillfully cleaning and bandaging her wounds. He’d been treating Zhang Tong this way.
The powder was a special Qinglang Gang formula, effective in stopping bleeding. The bandages and clothing concealed the injuries.
Ivy suppressed any thoughts of using Ma Wei’s blood to heal herself.
She had already revealed some of the [Iron Eater] and [Blood Frenzy] abilities to Ma Wei, though he might not have fully grasped their significance. To be safe, she decided to keep the [Feast] ability as her trump card.
Ma Wei instinctively touched his neck, wondering if it was his imagination, but he felt Ivy’s gaze occasionally lingering on his neck, sending a chill down his spine.
Ma Wei put away the medical kit and tentatively asked, “Boss, is there anything you need me to do?”
“Clever. I like smart people,” Ivy said, pulling her mask higher, concealing her face. “I heard the Qinglang Gang is frantically searching for someone using a list?”
Ma Wei couldn’t tell if Ivy was just making casual conversation or if she had a purpose.
He looked up, their eyes meeting briefly. The bloodshot redness remained in Ivy’s eyes, betraying no emotion.
Ma Wei’s heart pounded. He blurted out what he knew. “The gang suspects foul play in Zheng Hang’s death and believes the murderer is a student, so they’re investigating.”
Ma Wei didn’t explain who Zheng Hang was, pretending to be ignorant.
Regardless of Ivy’s identity or motives, she was obviously aware of the situation.
Ivy glanced at the still-wet bodies, the geckos in the aquarium, and finally, at a stack of A4 papers on the coffee table.
Ma Wei quickly retrieved the papers, wiping the oil stains with a handkerchief before handing them to Ivy.
“I heard Zhang Tong say that the list was compiled by the second-in-command, Ma Ban, Brother Ban. The gang divided the work, with the underlings mainly checking the list.”
He added, “Brother Tong was given a more important mission by Brother Ban and didn’t participate in this.”
Ivy took the list—a thick stack of about twenty pages. Each page contained about ten names, with their full names, photos, grades, home addresses, parents’ occupations, and citizen ranks.
Ivy flipped through the pages, her gaze not lingering on any single page, as if casually browsing.
In fact, she quickly located her entry on the sixth page, fifth name.
Ivy Ruiz: Female
Age: 17
Constitution: 49 (Entrance Exam)
Grades: Literature 521, Martial Arts 236, Total 757
Home Address: Ninth District, xxx Street, xxx Complex
Current Status: Withdrew from exam, early graduation (3/18/223)
Citizen Rank: Void
Father: Eric Ruiz
Occupation: Precinct Officer
Citizen Rank: D
Mother: Wang Suli
Occupation: Unemployed
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Citizen Rank: Void
Sister: Audrey Ruiz
Occupation: High School Student
Citizen Rank: Not applicable, did not participate in the exam.
They definitely got this information directly from the school records. All the information is accurate and up-to-date. A chill ran down Ivy’s spine.
Flipping through the pages, Ivy said nonchalantly, “How did the Qinglang Gang determine that the murderer is at school?”
Ma Wei explained, “Brother Ban speculated that the murder occurred in the school storeroom, that there were traces of a dark ritual, and that the victim was a student from the school. Therefore, regardless of whether the murder was impulsive or premeditated, he believes the perpetrator is a student.”
Ivy, already knowing this, pretended to ask for clarification. “A ritual?”
Ma Wei continued, “Someone in the gang found pictures of the precinct removing the crushed ritual stones, so Brother Ban believes that Zheng Hang didn’t escape but was killed and sacrificed. The body was disposed of by the perpetrator.”
Ivy’s face darkened behind her mask. The tricks she'd used to deceive the precinct had been easily seen through by the Qinglang Gang.
She remembered the name Ma Ban, the second-in-command of the Qinglang Gang.
Ivy closed the list, sneering, “How did they come up with this list??”
Ma Wei shook his head. “I don’t know. Brother Ban distributed it, and the other members just followed orders.”
Ivy felt a slight disappointment. She hadn’t expected to get all the details from a random gang member. That’s why she’d decided to infiltrate them first.
Seeing Ivy’s hesitation, Ma Wei started sweating, quickly adding, “Give me some time, and I can investigate.”
Ivy extended a finger. “One day. I want the answer tomorrow.”
Ma Wei’s face changed. Although Brother Ban valued Zhang Tong, he was known for his cruelty and suspicion. Many members would rather be beaten by Zheng Si than arouse Brother Ban’s suspicion.
Ivy frowned. “Whether I give the video to you or Brother Ban depends on your value. From today onwards, your life is a race against time. You need to learn to keep pace, understand?”
Ma Wei nodded vigorously. “Understood.”
Ivy, after issuing her threat, offered a glimmer of hope. “Let me tell you, my goal is to destroy the Qinglang Gang or kill Zheng Si.”
“I need you to keep an eye on the Qinglang Gang and complete my requests.”
“Don’t just nod. Don’t be a puppet. You need to take initiative and help me achieve this goal.”
“The sooner I achieve my goal, the less dangerous this video will be for you. You’ll regain your freedom, won't you?”
Ma Wei’s expression shifted. The deal she offered was a gamble, but a compelling one.
“Dispose of the bodies yourself. Keep your phone on at all times. I’ll contact you,” Ivy said, taking the cash from the table.
Ma Wei watched her leave, then bent down and picked up the broken knife, stabbing himself twice in the stomach.
Blood soaked through his clothes. He waited until he felt dizzy, then staggered out into the night, screaming in agony…
Ivy hadn’t gone far when she heard the scream tearing through the night.
Her heart pounded. She cursed under her breath and ran out of the shantytown.
She hurried home, encountering a few drunk men along the way, but her mask and cap prevented recognition.
Entering the hallway, she calmed her breathing, surveying her surroundings.
6:24 AM.
An hour until the light came on.
Ivy pressed her ear to the door, confirming the room was quiet, before removing her mask and quietly returning to her bedroom. Her hand paused on the doorknob, then she pulled out a perfectly intact pencil lead.
She sighed, subtly using her stomach muscles to crush the pencil lead into dust which fell to the floor.
Changing out of her black clothes, Ivy sat at her desk, turning on the desk lamp and reviewing tonight’s actions.
Infiltration (√)
Identity concealed (√)
List confirmed (√)
Qinglang Gang’s suspicions confirmed (√)—They believe Zheng Hang died in a dark ritual and the murderer is a student.
Logic behind suspect selection (?)—Results pending tomorrow?
Source of the list confirmed (√)—Ma Ban, the Qinglang Gang’s second-in-command.
Basic Qinglang Gang structure (√)
Successfully disguised as being asleep at home (√)—Pencil in the door lead untouched.
Safe return (√)
Overall, the operation was a resounding success. The main objectives were achieved. The only imperfection was the unclear logic behind suspect selection, but Ma Wei’s report should resolve that tomorrow.
If this were an exam, the score would be above 90%.
“But the process was incredibly dangerous,” Ivy thought, still shaken. “I almost got killed.”
Ambush (Partially failed, 50 points)
Combat Experience (Abysmal, 0 points)
Technique and Skill (Pathetic, 0 points)
Courage and Aggression (Initially panicked, then successful last-minute counterattack, 20 points)
Average Score: 17.5 points
Ivy gave herself a combat performance review, her expression grim.
“I only survived that fight because of my skills. Otherwise, I would be dead,” she thought, remembering how she'd managed to turn Ma Wei against Zhang Tong.
But she couldn’t deceive herself. If she faced a stronger opponent next time, she’d be the one who died.
“Combat can’t rely on luck or a frenzied counterattack. I need to improve my abilities.”
Ivy realized that physical training alone was insufficient.
“My weaknesses are too obvious. I lack offensive techniques, and my improvisational skills are poor. I need to address these shortcomings,” she thought, making plans. She couldn’t rely solely on the [Iron Eater] skill; that was too risky and would leave her vulnerable.
“In a desperate fight, superior skills can often win, but those with fewer weaknesses live longer!”
Although she had the [Blood Frenzy] skill, Ivy didn't want to rely on a frenzied, last-minute counterattack again. It was too intense and risky. Her heart couldn’t handle it.
More importantly, humans weren’t game characters. Their HP didn’t decrease gradually; they could die suddenly.
Like today. Her wrist was slashed, and she was stabbed in the chest. Theoretically, in game she'd lost 10% of her blood, but in reality she’d been on the verge of death.
“So, my life-or-death exchange with Zhang Tong… that madness wasn’t just a last-minute burst of rage. It might have been the [Blood Frenzy] skill giving me a courage buff?”
She recalled her behavior while intimidating Ma Wei, realizing something was amiss.
“I even made Ma Wei smile for the camera?”
“That’s not something I would normally do. I might be cold and selfish, but I’m fundamentally good. I just want to protect myself. I wouldn’t be that crazy and ruthless.”
“Right, I wasn't truly myself back then, but my rationality was clouded by [Blood Frenzy].”
“Right. Any erratic behavior under the influence of [Blood Frenzy] wasn't my intention and shouldn't be attributed to me.”
“I don’t need to question my character or feel guilty, resentful, anxious, or darkened. Yes, that’s it.”
Ivy silently repeated these affirmations, using this method to cleanse and calm her troubled mind, simultaneously preparing herself mentally.
In this world, mental health was largely ignored, leading many to harbor inner rage, ultimately transforming into corpses after death.
As a time traveler, Ivy was undoubtedly ahead of her time in terms of mental health preparedness.
Having completed her self-reflection, it was time for the joyful part: inventorying her gains.
Ivy pulled out a black bag and placed it on the table.
A stack of cash—1,740$.
Two gold bars—value unknown.
These were Zhang Tong’s belongings. Gangsters often hid cash and gold at home, so Ivy’s appropriation of his assets wasn’t something Ma Wei would object to.
A bloodstained book—Crane Claw Technique, taken from Zhang Tong’s body, a supposedly powerful martial arts manual.
A folding knife, offered by Ma Wei. The man was truly talented at adapting his identity. His ability to read people’s emotions was excellent. This knife would replace her damaged knife, clearly superior in quality and feel. A significant upgrade from street vendor quality to online store quality.
Finally,
The system message…
[The player has completed their first assassination mission, successfully obtained loot from a corpse, and coerced another into committing a crime—actions in line with the character's profile.]
[Game inheritance progress increased. This time, the progress increased to 2%.]
[Rewards have been distributed. Rewards delivered!]
[Enjoy the game….]