In a dimly lit, ground-floor room.

A damp towel and a crumpled tissue lay on the bed. The air in the poorly ventilated room was thick with a stale smell.

A young woman, Xiao Ta, dressed while nudging a sleeping blond man. “Ay, it’s time. Do we keep going, or do we settle up?”

The blond man, waking with a start, glared at her. “What the hell are you talking about, money?”

Xiao Ta looked scared. “You slept with me last night, you have to pay.”

The blond man wiped his crotch with a tissue and grinned. “I slept with you, so I have to pay? Didn’t you sleep with me too? Besides, I did all the work last night. My kidneys are killing me. You think you got off scot-free?”

Xiao Ta looked completely confused. “???”

The blond man fastened his belt. Seeing Xiao Ta still dazed, he roughly pulled her hair, demanding, “Quickly, give me $70 for nutrition fees. I have work to do.”

Xiao Ta was resentful, but seeing the knife strapped to the man’s belt, she reluctantly handed over the money.

The blond man took the money, laughing, “Alright, alright. I’ll come back and see you next time.”

Xiao Ta closed the door, cursing, “Damn Qinglang Gang. They even steal the little money we make. I hope you get killed the second you step out the door.”

Ten minutes later.

The blond man and the redhead met on the street, sitting on a low stool.

The redhead, still looking sleepy, complained, “I don’t know what Brother Ban is thinking, making us watch these people all day.”

The blond man scratched his crotch. “Brother Ban gave the orders. We follow orders. Are you questioning Brother Ban’s decisions?”

The redhead quickly shook his head. “I’m just curious why Brother Ban is doing this. Why not just grab everyone on the list and bring them back to the gang?”

The blond man secretly agreed but knew he was given this assignment because of his ruthlessness and ability to keep his mouth shut.

He only followed orders; he never asked questions.

“Here comes someone,” the blond man said, rinsing his mouth with tea and spitting it back into the cup. He stood up and swaggered towards Ivy.

The redhead quickly followed.

The street vendor’s face darkened as he collected his dishes; he didn't dare to ask for payment.

Ivy, riding her bike, was stopped by the blond man, her face pale.

The blond man was pleased by Ivy's pale face, assuming she hadn’t slept well due to their surveillance. He enjoyed the fear he inspired. He said coldly, “Where are you going?”

Ivy answered honestly, “To work at the incinerator.”

The blond man pulled Ivy off her bike and got on himself. “Let’s go. You lead the way.”

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Ivy walked ahead, her head down, avoiding the glances of passersby.

The blond man rode recklessly, the bicycle’s wheels bumping over rocks and sinking into mud, as if he was deliberately trying to break it.

They arrived at the incinerator about twenty minutes late.

This was Ivy’s first time being late for work. Not only would she not get her bonus, but she’d also be docked $15, meaning her monthly salary would be reduced by $80.

At the incinerator gate.

The blond man propped the bike against the ground and gestured for Ivy to come closer. “Do you know why we’re following you?” he asked.

The security guard indifferently sipped his tea.

Ivy narrowed her eyes, thinking, "I haven’t felt anything unusual before, but there have been people following me all morning. I haven’t found a good opportunity to deal with them. Irritating."

She feigned fear, her cheek muscles trembling slightly due to her suppressed nervousness. “I don’t know.”

Actually, Ivy was controlling her facial muscles, mimicking fear. While she couldn’t make her bones protrude through her skin like her fingertips, creating facial expressions was easy.

Maybe once the [Plastic Embryo] ability improves, I can directly control facial expressions through my bones. Or maybe I can grow a bone mask?

The blond man sneered, threatening, “Think carefully about what you’ve done recently. We wouldn’t be following you for no reason. Tell us the truth.”

Ivy paused, realizing the thug was more suited for interrogation than street thuggery. If she hadn’t infiltrated the gang, she might have been easily tricked.

Seeing Ivy’s silence, the blond man grinned, pointing at Ivy, emphasizing, I’ll be watching you.

“What time do you finish work?”

“7 PM.”

“See you then. Don’t try to run; we know where you live.”

“Yes, see you then,” Ivy replied, her voice trembling slightly, suppressing a strange sense of excitement.

The blond man and the redhead left, oblivious to the tremor in Ivy’s voice.

The security guard, still sipping his tea, looked at Ivy’s back with pity, thinking that the incinerator would need new workers soon.

Ivy, not in a hurry despite the delay, calmly parked her bike and cleaned the basin.

She muttered happily, “My dear bike, you escaped my mouth when I activated the system. But today, I almost got caught. If I’d known, I should have eaten you earlier. Don’t worry, I'll get revenge for you.”

That morning, Wang Jian seemed to have heard something and expressed concern for Ivy.

Ivy remained silent.

Wang Jian suggested she report it to the police. “Go to the precinct. Wait, isn’t your father a precinct officer? Why don’t you just tell your father?”

Ivy’s mental processes never included “telling her father,” as if “father” was a sensitive word she avoided.

When faced with a problem, she instinctively excluded her father as an option.

On the one hand, the previous owner of this body committed suicide, and the lingering resentment might be affecting Ivy's judgment.

On the other hand, Ivy was preparing to leave home, and she didn’t want complicated relationships, especially with Eric Ruiz. She didn’t want to deal with the good or bad consequences.

However,

Wang Jian’s suggestion was like a sudden flash of lightning in the fog, briefly illuminating the situation, causing her to understand something.

Open surveillance and constant pressure are tactics used against vulnerable groups. The normal response would be to go to the precinct.

Someone like me, who wants to resolve things myself, who wants to eliminate a gang through murder, is unusual.

So, that's Ma Ban’s plan?

Using the list to provoke the precinct into targeting the Qinglang Gang. I’m included on the list because I’m related to a precinct officer, making it easier to incite the precinct.

So Ma Ban wants the precinct to eliminate the Qinglang Gang. What are his motives? Isn’t he the second-in-command?

Ah, I understand now. It’s precisely because he’s the second-in-command.

Although there were still some minor details to investigate, Ivy had largely figured it out.

“What a grand play!”

Ivy’s heart settled. She felt no anxiety.

She couldn't see the hidden dangers lurking in the shadow because she couldn’t see where the arrows were coming from. But once you see the threat, you become the hunter in the shadows.

A stage is set—a protagonist, supporting characters, clowns, extras… how could there be no villain?

Perhaps influenced by the system, Ivy felt a restless energy stirring within her bones.

“The play is missing a villain. I must take the stage and orchestrate a dramatic opening,” she thought.