Two hours later.

F32 District.

In an alley beside a three-story building.

Ning Fan addressed Qiao Fei and Hui Zi, "We can't be certain if Yang Beihai knows we're still alive."

Although the Stray Dog Pack had lost over half its members, Ning Fan knew this was no time for despair.

Lin Chuan had valued his intellect.

He needed to do something for those who remained.

Otherwise, he would be letting Lin Chuan down.

"Yang Beihai is a three-star researcher at the F32 District's Technology Institute," Hui Zi said coldly. "If he knows we're alive, he'll realize we're definitely coming for revenge! With his status, he can request Level 2 protection."

"Then we'll assume he already knows," Ning Fan said decisively. "For Level 2 protection, you two will handle the distraction. I'll go in for the kill!"

On their way back, Ning Fan had learned a crucial piece of information.

The use of Soul Servants was forbidden in the inner district.

This was an iron-clad rule!

It also explained why Ning Fan had never heard anyone mention Soul Servants before.

However, for Ning Fan, this was actually good news.

He didn't have a Soul Servant.

But that didn't mean he was completely incapable of fighting!

"You? Can you handle it?" Hui Zi questioned skeptically.

Qiao Fei thought for a moment, then said to Ning Fan, "If you fail, you're out of the Stray Dog Pack."

"Deal," Ning Fan nodded firmly.

...

Nightfall.

Yang Beihai, just out of the laboratory, immediately took out his phone.

The signal on this type of phone wasn't great, and it was limited to use within the district.

Only some higher-grade phones could be used in the wild, but they were extremely expensive, beyond the means of someone of Yang Beihai's status.

Seeing a missed call, Yang Beihai called back, his face expressionless.

"Is it done?"

"Three got away," a nonchalant voice came through the phone. "Just give me half the bounty."

Yang Beihai's face instantly changed, his grip tightening on the phone until it creaked.

"Say that again?"

"I said, three got away, so I'll take half the bounty..."

"You have the nerve to ask me for money?!"

Yang Beihai exploded in rage. "Didn't I tell you? This job had to be foolproof! Not a single dog from the Stray Dog Pack could be left alive! I even arranged the bait for you! All you had to do was ambush them from hiding, and you still messed it up?!"

The other end was silent for a moment, then replied reluctantly, "They were indeed tough, especially that captain. His decision-making was too quick. If they had hesitated for even half a minute, I could have killed them all!"

"Captain? Lin Chuan?"

"I don't know what his name was," the voice continued. "That guy... he had already escaped, but then he came back and chased after me with his blade. I almost didn't make it out of the wild."

"So where is he now?" Yang Beihai's heart was racing.

After a moment of silence, the voice chuckled, "I killed him."

Yang Beihai felt slightly relieved but then raged again, "But you still let three escape!"

"Alright, enough talk. How about I take 30% then?"

Just as Yang Beihai was about to curse again, the voice on the other end lowered, "If you don't pay me, I'll end you, got it? You know I've got nothing to lose. I don't care about using a Soul Servant in the district. I'm already wanted in several districts anyway! One more doesn't matter!"

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Yang Beihai's chubby face trembled.

He knew the other party wasn't joking.

This guy was a professional assassin.

And a madman at that.

"I'll get you the money before nightfall," Yang Beihai said, not giving up. "Can't you chase after them again? If you kill them all, I'll still pay you in full."

"Too much trouble," the man chuckled. "But since you're pretty trustworthy, I'll give you a tip for free!"

His voice grew eerie as he continued, "On my way back, I noticed some traces. Those three stray dogs... they've probably returned to the F32 District!"

Yang Beihai's eyes widened instantly.

The man laughed again, "I reckon they're coming for revenge! Yang Beihai, they might have discovered your plot against them!"

Click.

The call ended.

Anger flashed in Yang Beihai's eyes, but more than that, there was panic.

Three dogs had come back?

Who?

Lin Chuan was dead, so who else had died?

Just as Yang Beihai was about to find someone to investigate with the district guards, a sudden cry came from downstairs.

"Fire! Fire!"

Yang Beihai jumped in fright.

Soon, he saw many people rushing out the door from downstairs.

"What's going on? How did a fire start?"

An older man came out of his office: "Old Yang, what are you doing here? Didn't you hear there's a fire?"

"Brother Chen," Yang Beihai quickly grabbed him. "I want to apply for Level 2 protection."

"Level 2 protection?" Brother Chen was taken aback. "Got into trouble?"

"Yes," Yang Beihai's face was pale. "Someone wants to kill me! And I suspect they started this fire too!"

"Who? Who's bold enough to set fire to the Technology Institute?" Brother Chen immediately became agitated.

"It's the wild..." Yang Beihai stopped mid-sentence.

Many people knew he had commissioned the Stray Dog Pack to deliver goods to the F27 District.

If he said now that members of the Stray Dog Pack were coming to kill him, everyone would immediately understand what kind of game he was playing.

So, he couldn't say it!

"Just some wild youngsters! Trying to extort benefits from me!" Yang Beihai forced out a lie that even he couldn't understand.

Brother Chen narrowed his eyes, looking at him.

"Brother Chen, help me out!" Yang Beihai clutched his arm tightly. "Please."

Brother Chen sighed, "Fine, regardless of the reason, I'll approve your application. But right now, everyone's busy with the fire, we can't spare that many people! How about I arrange four people to protect you?"

"That's fine!" Yang Beihai's face was full of gratitude.

Those three stray dogs had just been through a tough time in the wild and had just returned. They must be at the end of their rope.

Moreover, Soul Servants couldn't be used in the district. Four people for protection should be enough.

Soon, the four people arranged by Brother Chen were escorting Yang Beihai out of the research institute.

Yang Beihai poked his head out, looking around cautiously, only daring to step out after confirming there was no danger.

"Brother Yang, why so nervous? Who exactly wants to kill you?" one of his protectors asked casually with a smile.

Yang Beihai ignored him.

"Take me to the Enforcers first!"

The Enforcers were a group responsible for maintaining basic order in the inner district.

Yang Beihai didn't believe those three stray dogs would dare to make a move in front of the Enforcers.

Once he was safe, he would have the time and opportunity to root out these three stray dogs.

But just as everyone was about to get in the car, Yang Beihai suddenly noticed a graceful figure walking out of the alley.

Zzzz... Zzzz...

Qiao Fei dragged her Tang sword, the blade scraping against the ground, producing a series of ear-piercing sounds.

"Q-Qiao Fei!" Yang Beihai startled like a frightened bird.

Qiao Fei's pretty face, in his eyes, was as terrifying as the Grim Reaper.

"It's her! Stop her!"

"Oh! This little lady's quite a looker!" one of the men chuckled as he walked towards Qiao Fei.

Though they seemed casual, they all drew their weapons.

"Yang Beihai, you must die today!" Qiao Fei's figure flashed as she charged towards him.

Everyone moved to intercept Qiao Fei.

"Don't all go! They have more people!" Yang Beihai shouted in panic.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, a person jumped down from the second floor of the building opposite.

Hui Zi!

Hui Zi's eyes blazed with fury as he charged across the road, dagger in hand.

Yang Beihai panicked, seeing the four men already engaged with Qiao Fei. He couldn't care about anything else and turned to run back into the research institute.

Just as he reached the entrance, he collided head-on with someone.

"Get out of my way!" Yang Beihai irritably tried to push the person aside.

But in the next second, he felt an intense, stabbing pain in his abdomen!

Looking down, he saw a dark, long sword had pierced through his stomach.

"You... you..." Yang Beihai looked up in disbelief, seeing a young face.

Ning Fan, wearing a baseball cap, stared at Yang Beihai with gloomy eyes.

"You're... that... new guy..."

"I have a message from Brother Chuan," Ning Fan pulled out the black sword and stabbed it in again forcefully. "Whoever dirties the Stray Dog Pack's name has to clean it with their blood!"

He leaned close to Yang Beihai's ear, his face cold and expressionless.

"In your next life, don't mess with mad dogs."