Chapter 17: The Gambler

“I’m your friend.”

“I don’t recall having a friend like you,” CC replied coldly.

Thud!

Lin Xian kicked the corpse on the ground. Blood trickled from the Rhine Cat mask, pooling beneath it. He stepped aside, giving CC a clearer view.

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

CC remained silent, her gaze fixed on the Rhine Cat mask adorning the corpse, taking in every detail.

“You lured Big Cat Face here with tales of hidden money and gold bricks in the warehouse,” Lin Xian circled around to the other side of the body, facing CC. “Once the truth was revealed, a showdown was inevitable. It was uncertain who would survive.”

“Now that I’ve eliminated this threat for you, doesn’t that make me your friend?”

CC clutched her gun, her stance tense. “Why should I trust you?”

Lin Xian gave a slight smile, slowly lifted his gun, then flipped it, presenting the handle toward her. He tossed it across the warehouse floor. “Does this demonstrate my sincerity? Now, I want to see yours.”

“We share a common goal—to crack open Lin Xian’s safe. You can take whatever you find inside; I just want the information.”

“You need to decide quickly. The power will be back soon, and once the alarm sounds, our window closes.”

After a moment’s hesitation, CC mimicked Lin Xian, throwing her gun away as well. It arced gracefully—Thud.

Her gun struck the safe with a dull clang and rolled to a stop.

Click!

A gun barrel pressed against the back of CC’s head. Big Cat Face slowly emerged from his hiding place behind a cabinet.

“Liar.” CC stared at Lin Xian through her mask, her eyes filled with deep disappointment.

“What... what did you say?”

Big Cat Face’s eyes widened in panic. “Something crucial for me?”

CC’s smile was cryptic as she watched him. “Consider this—if the safe had nothing of value to you, why would I involve you? I want to open it for both our benefits.”

In an instant, realization dawned on Big Cat Face. “An invitation!” he exclaimed. “Are you saying it contains an invite to the Genius Club?”

CC remained silent, her smile enigmatic.

“Don’t listen to her!” Lin Xian intervened, seeing Big Cat Face’s confusion escalate. “She’s bluffing. She doesn’t know what’s in the safe any more than any of us!”

“Do you dare to bet?” CC challenged Big Cat Face directly, her eyes piercing. “This could be your only chance.”

Big Cat Face’s face flushed with a mix of doubt and anticipation. He glanced between CC and Lin Xian, then back at the safe, unable to decide whom to trust.

Bang!!!

A deafening gunshot echoed through the warehouse.

Big Cat Face’s head burst open, his body collapsing like a felled tree!

Lin Xian staggered back in shock...

CC’s hair flowed loosely around her shoulders, the red ribbon that had bound it fluttering slowly to the ground. In her hand was a gun, previously concealed within her hair.

Thud.

Big Cat Face’s body hit the ground heavily.

“Take a guess... will I kill you?” CC advanced toward Lin Xian, gun aimed and ready.

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation