Volume One: Entering the City Chapter Twenty-Seven: Minor Details

Lu Yi fixed his gaze on Fang Hao. Although Fang Hao's face was stern, Lu Yi could sense no trace of murderous intent from him.

After a long moment, Fang Hao chuckled and shifted the muzzle of his gun away from Lu Yi's forehead. Then, with a twist of his wrist, he holstered the weapon back into his equipment template.

“Come on, I’ll take you somewhere,” Fang Hao said, beckoning for Lu Yi to get in the car.

“What on earth are you trying to do?” Lu Yi frowned, finding Fang Hao utterly inscrutable.

“Relax, your life’s not at risk. I’m not the sort to plant a bomb in my own car,” Fang Hao replied with a faint smile. “Besides, this trip will certainly be worth your while.”

Lu Yi looked ahead. The Emperor Ao’s convoy had vanished without a trace; even if he tried to chase them by car now, it was far too late. He might as well get in Fang Hao’s car and find out what scheme he was up to.

Fang Hao drove, winding through the city streets, taking turn after turn, until they finally stopped near a run-down apartment complex.

“You live here?” Lu Yi asked, incredulous.

“No.” Fang Hao took out his laptop and, with a few deft movements, displayed live footage from inside the complex.

He studied the scene intently, then brought up another interface—all surveillance camera feeds. After a careful scan, he closed the laptop.

Strapping the computer across his back, Fang Hao flashed a smile at Lu Yi as he stepped out of the car. “Looks like we arrived at the right time.”

“You’re monitoring this place?” Lu Yi was puzzled. With all this effort, why not focus on the protagonist? Why waste time on this inconspicuous apartment block? He couldn't make sense of Fang Hao’s intentions.

“Monitoring? That’s not entirely wrong. Without these precautions, we couldn’t even get in. This place is far more complicated than you imagine.” Seeing Lu Yi’s look of disbelief, Fang Hao continued, “You think I’m wasting my time here, don’t you?”

“Exactly. I don’t see any point in you investing so much energy in this. And your habit of speaking in half-truths is infuriating.” Lu Yi truly loathed Fang Hao’s secretive ways—either say what you mean, or don’t, but this coy teasing was unbearable.

“Heh. If you were willing to offer something in return, I could be more forthcoming,” Fang Hao replied, unfazed. “But tell me, what do you consider meaningful action? Tracking the protagonist, making contact in time? Since Shanel Town, I’ve never expressed any desire to approach the protagonist.”

Lu Yi tried to say more, but Fang Hao waved him off. “Enough. Time for us to head in. Be cautious—whatever you want to say, save it for later.”

Following Fang Hao closely, Lu Yi gradually realized something was off about this apartment complex. Despite its dilapidated appearance, there were surveillance cameras everywhere. The men they discreetly avoided were all burly, and the bulges at their waists made Lu Yi suspect they were armed.

That thought sent a chill down Lu Yi’s spine. A strange notion crept in—was Fang Hao bringing him here just to use him as a decoy during a retreat?

Soon, Fang Hao led Lu Yi to the door of an apartment. He took out a ring of keys and quietly let them inside.

“All right,” Fang Hao said, restoring a blacked-out device and turning to Lu Yi. “This place is perfect for our conversation.”

“Is all this really necessary? Can’t we just talk anywhere?” Lu Yi couldn’t fathom why Fang Hao chose this location.

“It’s absolutely necessary. At least here, nothing we say will reach Dong Xingteng’s ears.” Fang Hao nodded seriously.

Lu Yi frowned. “Dong Xingteng? What’s wrong with him?”

“There are some issues, but that’s not the subject of our talk today. If required, I’ll take care of him myself. Just keep that in mind.” As he spoke, Fang Hao fetched two drinks from a freezer.

Lu Yi watched him closely. This man had to be the most flamboyant infiltrator he’d ever met—sneaking into a suspicious apartment block, breaking into someone’s home, and helping himself to their drinks. “Aren’t you worried someone will notice and come after you? Those men outside are probably armed.”

“Not at all,” Fang Hao replied, taking a sip. Then he looked at Lu Yi. “The dead don’t take revenge. For now, this apartment belongs to no one.”

“You killed him?” Lu Yi shot to his feet, shocked. “How could you do something like that? Have you forgotten that, though we have freedom of action, we’re responsible for the consequences of our deeds in this world?”

“Oh?” Fang Hao set down his drink, giving Lu Yi a curious look. “I never pegged you for the righteous type. But relax—I didn’t do anything to him.”

Relieved, Lu Yi sat back down.

“Besides, if there’s any revenge to be had, it’ll be directed at you. After all, it was you who got him killed. Me? I just came in to take a few things.” Fang Hao spoke as if it were nothing.

“Me?” Lu Yi was stunned.

“That’s right. Remember Deng Zhi? He died during your crisis—he died in your stead, you might say.” Fang Hao smiled slyly at Lu Yi. “So, if there’s a reckoning, you’ll be first in line.”

“So you found Deng Zhi’s apartment. But what’s the use of that?” Lu Yi steered clear of the previous topic.

Fang Hao set his empty bottle aside and glanced at Lu Yi. “Why do you have so many questions? You’re usually so careless, missing all sorts of details. Why so inquisitive with me?”

Lu Yi blinked. “Do I really come across that way?”

Fang Hao began to pace the room. “Lu Yi, graduate of Anvalo University. During your years there, you founded a small studio, mostly staffed by fellow students.

Through certain special channels, I learned that during this period you were entangled in ambiguous relationships with several women.

Yet, there’s no mention of this in school records or official sources. On the contrary, your studio gained a good reputation at the university thanks to several successful cases. Among studios of similar size, yours was considered a success—not only did you discover two artists, you also launched a few up-and-coming models. Though they were later poached by larger companies, you still made a tidy sum.”

Lu Yi was dumbfounded. This was background information for his character—details even he, as the player, hadn’t known. Yet Fang Hao had investigated it all.

Fang Hao went on, “But that’s not all. When you started the studio, you suddenly acquired a sum of money from an unknown source. Even now, portions of your assets—now in the millions—remain unexplained.”

“I have that much?” Lu Yi frowned. He’d always thought the sixty thousand in his account was all the funds the system had provided for him, to cover daily expenses and emergencies.

Fang Hao walked over to the window, lifted the curtain slightly to peer outside, then turned back to Lu Yi with a smile. “See? There are plenty of mysteries about you. Haven’t you noticed any of this?”

“But what does all this have to do with the mission? Are you saying this could trigger a side story or something?” Lu Yi was completely at a loss.

Fang Hao paused, slipped something back into his pocket, then smiled. “Since you put it that way, let’s get down to business.”