In the desolate area, only a handful of houses out of the 40 to 50 were occupied, but Xu Ming remained vigilant and made sure to disable any surveillance cameras within range. To enhance his intimidating presence, he donned a Grim Reaper Cloak and carefully made his way out of the window, taking extra precautions to avoid detection. Xu Ming was confident that even if someone tried to fix the cameras, his virus would keep them from doing so, as only a master-level hacker could remove it, and such experts were both rare and expensive. Xu Ming's footsteps led him towards his destination, a once-bustling area that had been abandoned due to a failed government plan to turn it into an industrial zone. Now, the place was nothing but a desolate wasteland.
Though his destination was within a 20-minute walking distance from his residence, Xu Ming decided to run, his steps barely making any sound as he moved like a shadow across the abandoned streets. As he made his way through the deserted streets, he appeared almost like a phantom, seamlessly merging with the shadows cast by the surrounding objects.
Using his increased strength, Xu Ming covered the distance in just five minutes. Upon arrival, he found a depleted two-story building with cracks on its walls and overgrown fungus and vines. Despite its state of disrepair, Xu Ming's red eyes glowed with excitement. As he silently entered the house and ascended the stairs, he overheard the chatter of teenage voices, the bullies of the local school.
"Shit man."
"You are so stupid, letting him run under your nose."
"What could have I done? The teacher came, and I had to let him go."
"This Mf complained about us and almost caused us to be expelled from school."
As he ascended the staircase, he overheard the voices of several teenagers. Nexus Xu's memory revealed that these bullies often bunked in this building during school hours. Nexus Xu had stumbled upon a post on the Bird site where these bullies were seen tormenting a fellow student. Though it may have been a seemingly insignificant memory, it left Nexus Xu feeling angry, and he had made a direct complaint to the school authorities, even sending them the photo as proof. Xu Ming had a chilling motive for wanting to take down these bullies.
His pursuit was not rooted in sense of justice or to help vulnerable. Instead, he viewed the prospect of profiting from the trade of organs harvested from children and teenagers, as they sell at high price compared to those taken from adults.
But with the constant surveillance of the city, he could not simply abduct them in broad daylight. He had to find a deserted location, and his memory of Nexus Xu offered the solution. After reaching the second floor of the building, Xu Ming could hear the bullies' voices emanating from a dimly lit room.
He relished the thought of gaining both illicit gains and dark points, and knew he had to ensure that none of his targets could escape. Quietly positioning himself in a corner, he blended into the shadows, his presence unnoticed. Xu Ming retrieved a stone from the ground and hurled it into the torch-lit room, anticipating a reaction.
…
Inside, the bullies reclined on dilapidated furniture, their conversation abruptly halted by the sound of the object colliding with the floor.
They exchanged uneasy glances and demanded to know who had entered. When no reply came, one of them joked that someone was delivering them lunch.
Upon stepping outside to investigate, the others anxiously awaited his return. Several minutes passed without any indication of his whereabouts, and their anxiety heightened. Suddenly, darkness enveloped the room, and two small red orbs were the only visible objects in the air. Overcome with dread and fear, they were paralyzed and unable to scream as the red glowing objects advanced towards them, causing them to lose consciousness.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
…
With a sly grin on his face, Xu Ming surveyed the five bullies lying unconscious before him.
His choice to render the bullies unconscious was a well-considered one. Eliminating them in that location would have produced incriminating traces like blood, which could have prompted a police inquiry, drawing undesired attention and intensifying the investigation. Instead, he opted to take them with him while they were unconscious, confident that their absence would be dismissed as a mere disappearance, with hardly any evidence of wrongdoing to support any suspicions.
Xu Ming was a master of deception and manipulation, always thinking several steps ahead to stay one step ahead of the law.
Xu Ming lifted five teenager’s unconscious bodies onto his shoulders with ease, his remarkable strength of 150 points making this task a simple one. However, he knew it was necessary to find a more secure location to continue his sinister plan. The current location was bound to draw attention from authorities due to missing report of these teenagers and any accidental discovery could prove disastrous.
After sprinting for 15 minutes, Xu Ming halted before an abandoned factory. Its exterior walls were a dingy gray, with peeling paint and rusty metal beams jutting out in places. The iron roof was pocked with gaping holes and dents, allowing rainwater to seep inside. Thick weeds and other wild plants had sprouted through the cracks, and the few windows that remained were either boarded up or shattered, casting only a dreary light across the dim interior that played with ominous shadows.
Xu Ming had carefully selected this location, which was almost a 40-minute journey from the previous building. The factory had been abandoned by a bankrupt company and left forgotten due to its remote location. It was also the address he had given to Hydro Mart for the delivery of his purchased items, which were set to arrive in six hours or less.
After scouting around, Xu Ming located a window that he could use to gain entry. He flung the unconscious bullies through the window before leaping in after them. As he began exploring the abandoned factory, he found himself lost in a labyrinth of rooms and hallways that stretched on endlessly. The factory was in complete disrepair, with rusted machinery and metal structures caked in dust scattered throughout. The ceilings towered high above, exposing wires and pipes that hung loosely. Dirt and grime stained the walls, and cobwebs hung in every corner.
In some rooms, remnants of the factory's previous life were scattered about, including old assembly lines, conveyor belts, and abandoned workstations. In others, heaps of discarded equipment and scrap metal piled up, as if someone had been trying to salvage what little remained. The uneven floors were riddled with holes and cracks, making it challenging to move without tripping. The lighting was dismal, with only a few flickering bulbs casting a dim glow. In some places, the darkness was absolute, and Xu Ming had to use his smartphone flashlight to find his way around.
There were also several offices throughout the factory. The furniture was decaying, with some chairs and desks having collapsed. File cabinets and drawers had been left open, and papers and documents lay scattered about.
Deeper within the factory, Xu Ming found vast open spaces with high ceilings, some still fitted with cranes and other heavy machinery. These areas were devoid of life, except for piles of scrap metal and debris.
Overall, the abandoned factory was a derelict maze of decay and neglect, frozen in time and outliving its usefulness. A place nobody cared about, where Xu Ming could continue his villainous activities with impunity.
If anyone had the idea of revitalizing this forsaken factory, they would also need to allocate resources towards rebuilding the poorly maintained road that leads to the city. This roadway is plagued with deep crevices and potholes, rendering it perilous for any vehicle to navigate, let alone transport large goods.
The road's deplorable state was among the primary factors that led to the factory's downfall. Hence, any attempt to revive the factory would demand a significant amount of funds and efforts to reconstruct the road. Even if someone dared to undertake this daunting mission, Xu Ming would ensure they did not live to witness its fulfillment.
The news of someone attempting to rebuild the factory with a new road would undoubtedly make headlines, making Xu Ming not concerned in the slightest that he would not hear about this development if happened.
With his mind racing, Xu Ming swiftly obtained a sturdy chain from factory and tightly bound the unconscious bullies to a nearby pole. Their continued unconsciousness was not due to fear, but rather because Xu Ming had deliberately rendered them so by pressing an acupuncture. In due time, they would awaken. Now, his attention turned to finding a suitable location to carry out his plans. As he surveyed the abandoned factory, a space caught his eye - it was the size of three large rooms, scattered with empty boxes and furniture. Xu Ming swiftly cleared the space, tossing out the boxes and furniture and meticulously cleaning the area until it was an empty slate, ready for his operations.