Chapter 149: Joining the Brigade, Su Ying, and Number 4 |
"Could the other new member the Leader is looking for... be that 'Black Cocoon'? I just heard that Black Cocoon has returned to Lijing, and I recently came across surveillance footage of him dueling Tun Yin."
As Xia Pingzhou's words settled, the gazes of the other members immediately fell upon him.
The entire private booth fell silent for a full second. Aside from Bernardo and White Wolf, who were out of the loop, it seemed no one else was particularly eager to recall that lunatic who had bounced around, singing and dancing at the Auction House.
Seeing their silence, Xia Pingzhou added, "Since the Leader went out of his way to travel to Lijing, I think the possibility is quite high. Didn't the Leader mention before that he was very interested in Black Cocoon's abilities?"
As soon as he finished speaking, several members in the booth, including Ayase Origami, replied with absolute certainty and in perfect unison:
"Impossible."
"Who is Black Cocoon?" Bernardo asked. At this point, he finally displayed the typical attitude of a newcomer, completely bewildered by something everyone else knew perfectly well.
White Wolf crossed his arms and said coldly, "I heard he is a minnow with a rather unique ability. I was busy dueling the Red Dragon at the time, so I didn't notice someone like that."
Blood Progenitor smiled and said, "That being said, knowing the Leader's personality, he might actually let him join the brigade."
"If he joins... I quit," Ayase Origami declared while flipping through her Haiku Collection.
"Why?" Xia Pingzhou asked.
"I hate black moths."
Xia Pingzhou turned his head and shot her an exasperated look. 'If you knew that the black moth you are talking about is actually me, you would question your entire existence,' he thought.
But more than that, Ji Minghuan felt that if Ayase Origami knew his true self was only a twelve-year-old boy currently locked up and being studied in the Experimental Facility, her reaction would be truly spectacular. She might even end up treating him like a pet cat.
However, Ji Minghuan planned that once he rescued his true self from the Salvation Society, he would temporarily recall all his avatars, vanish without a trace, and travel the world together with Kong Youling.
So, he did not worry about how the acquaintances his avatars made would view him. Even if Ayase Origami, along with Su Zimai, Gu Qiye, and their entire family searched the whole world for him, Ji Minghuan was absolutely confident they would never find him.
Because once he broke free from the Salvation Society's control, he would become an unstoppable existence. The only person in the world who could catch him would be himself.
Of course... taking a massive step back, if they hypothetically did manage to find him, the worst that could happen would be bringing them along to travel the world. Kong Youling certainly would not mind bringing one or two extra people on their journey anyway.
Bernardo shook his head, his voice pulling Xia Pingzhou's thoughts back to reality, "What a shame. I originally had something important to discuss with the Leader... Since he is in China, it will just have to wait a while."
"What is it?" The Ripper asked, her face completely expressionless. "You can just relay the message to him directly through Hacker."
"Hacker?" Bernardo cast a sidelong glance.
Xia Pingzhou explained, "Our Member Number 8 is a child prodigy from China. He can be considered one of the most powerful hackers in the world, which is why his codename within the brigade is 'Hacker'."
"I see..." Bernardo muttered. He looked up with a smile, fish-scale wrinkles crinkling at the corners of his eyes. "Then how should I contact this Hacker?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the mobile phone in his pocket suddenly rang, emitting a crisp series of beeps.
Bernardo took out his mobile phone and saw a text message pop up on the lock screen.
[Hacker: Looking for me?]
Aside from the newcomer, every member present understood exactly how Hacker operated. This was an unspoken rule within the White Raven Brigade; any new member inevitably had to endure two layers of torment:
First, they had to surrender their heart to The Ripper for a period of time to ensure they were not a traitor.
Second was the hidden rule: Hacker would monitor your mobile phone twenty-four hours a day. Every text you sent, and even every website you browsed, would be recorded and scrutinized by him.
At the same time, Hacker would use the phone's camera and microphone to listen in on your every move. This was exactly what Xia Pingzhou had experienced before.
Bernardo glanced at the message, then looked up at the members in the booth, smiling as he said, "I understand now. So this is the Hacker you spoke of?"
"Who else?" The Ripper girl remarked. "Other than Hacker, the rest of the members basically cannot contact the Leader during our disbandment periods. If you need anything, you can pass the message to the Leader through him."
"I understand." Bernardo adjusted his monocle, peering through the lens at the phone screen.
Xia Pingzhou quietly observed him out of the corner of his eye. 'At this point in time, he should be just about ready to mention invading Whalegarden to the Leader,' he thought. 'I need to wait for Bernardo to speak up first, and then have Black Cocoon negotiate with the Leader. Otherwise, relying on mere words will hardly convince the Leader that what I say is true.'
"Oh right, newbie. This is a gift the Leader asked me to pass on to you," The Ripper stated. Suddenly, a pitch-black raven appeared on the back of her right hand.
"A raven?" Bernardo raised an eyebrow.
As soon as she finished speaking, the pitch-black raven flapped its wings and slowly flew onto Bernardo's shoulder.
He tilted his head, gazing at the bird in bewilderment.
"It is a mark of joining the brigade," The Ripper said expressionlessly. "Everyone has one. Though, unlike a certain someone, you don't have to specifically tattoo it in such an obvious place." As she spoke, she gestured toward Xia Pingzhou with her eyes.
Following The Ripper's gaze, Bernardo looked up at Xia Pingzhou, who was sitting opposite him.
Xia Pingzhou sighed and silently pulled off the glove on his right hand, revealing the raven tattoo beneath—a black raven motif, the red number "12", and a white cross slicing right through the design.
He said, "Pick a spot."
A few hours ago, Lijing, China. On the rooftop of an abandoned school.
The dark night fell like a curtain, and black clouds pressed down on the city, yet they could not obscure the brightly lit neon skyline.
Qi Yuanli, wearing a black high-collared trench coat, leaned against the railing and quietly observed the brightly lit city out of the corner of his eye. A moment later, he took a mobile phone from his coat pocket and opened a video sent by Hacker.
[Hacker: The person you asked me to find has already returned to China. He was just dueling a Transgressor.]
Qi Yuanli lowered his eyes, watching the video play out from the perspective of a street surveillance monitor.
The black figure extended his restraining bands, pulling them taut like springs to launch his own body forward.
Immediately after, a burst of deep blue electricity erupted all over his body. The lightning surged across every restraining band rising from his back, turning them into electrified jellyfish tentacles that lashed out at the enemy.
[Hacker: Invisibility ability... suppression of supernatural abilities... theft of supernatural abilities, and suspected to possess some kind of intelligence-gathering ability. Not only that, but his restraining bands are evolving; blades have already appeared on them.]
[Hacker: If we can pull him into the brigade, it indeed wouldn't be a bad choice. He could help us defeat many troublesome opponents. But Leader, do you really think such a deranged madman can be trusted?]
[Hacker: No one knows what he wants.]
[Qi Yuanli: He is not the person I am looking for. But I came here to make contact with him in passing, to uncover the secrets he harbors.]
[Hacker: Ah? I thought the new member you were talking about was this Black Cocoon?]
[Qi Yuanli: She has arrived.]
After sending the message, Qi Yuanli slowly raised his eyes from the mobile phone. He turned around unhurriedly, his deep gaze looking straight ahead.
The iron door of the rooftop was pushed open from the inside. Following that, a slender figure slowly stepped out from the shadows. She wore a long black coat and glasses, with slightly curly black hair cut short.
"Hello, I am the new member here to take over the Number 4 position. You can call me 'Su Ying'. Of course, I also go by another name..." She paused. "'Hollow-Faced Ghost'."