"Sir, our investigator has reported back, the National Security Bureau will be taking over this case," a Hidden Guard walked into Ghost’s office and reported at this moment.
"The National Security Bureau, it seems their noses are quite sharp," Ghost stroked his chin, a slight smile curling up at the corner of his mouth. "But since they want to investigate, that’s not necessarily a bad thing."
"Sir, the National Security Bureau has always had issues with us, if they get involved, I’m afraid our investigation... will face obstacles."
"No worries, tell the investigators to pull back. Just send a few clever ones; since the National Security Bureau wants to shoulder the heavy lifting this time, then I might as well just hitch a free ride," Ghost said with a light laugh.
"Yes, sir, I’ll get right on it."
"Right, tell Worm to gather some information on assassins and compile it for me," Ghost continued.
"Good, let’s see how well the National Security Bureau’s gun fires this time." Ghost’s light laughter sounded again. Since the National Security Bureau was investigating Boss Xing, why not lend them a hand? The investigations by Netherworld Palace were efficient due to the uniqueness of undercover investigations, combined with experts like Worm, progression was often faster than the National Security Bureau’s efforts, but Ghost decided not to take direct action this time.
"By the way, Boss Xing has a female assassin under his command named Poisonous Concubine. Investigate her. She was supposedly killed by Nightmare last time; why has she surfaced again?" Suddenly Nightmare remembered the woman who disguised herself as Illusion Fox, and he was very curious.
"Yes, sir." The Hidden Guard left after finishing the report.
.................................
Yanjing, inside a villa.
"Elder Ma, I heard you are the Second Elder of the Wang Family. Why are you so mediocre today?" Boss Xing said to the man in the black robe in front of him, his tone mocking, more displeased and angry than anything else.
"I was ordered to support you, not to complete your mission for you," the man in the black robe slowly took off his hood, revealing his true face; it was indeed the Second Elder of the Wang Family, Ma Ang.
"Inability to complete the mission, is it your own incompetence or do you wish to shift the blame to me for an explanation to your employers?" Ma Ang was not someone to be trifled with; as the Second Elder of the Wang Family, he had a high standing in the Wang Family and was a very traditional thinker. The Wang Family was one of the four major families in Yanjing with a century of history, a true ’noble’ family. However, the man in front of him, at best, was nothing more than a shadow leader of assassins, not of equal status to him.
"What, a shadow boss who can’t see the light of day dares to take action against me?" Ma Ang snorted coldly, showing thorough disdain for Boss Xing. Boss Xing’s fists were clenched tightly; to move against Ma Ang would be like slapping the face of the Wang Family.
"You better think about how to explain yourself to your employers. I don’t have time for you," Ma Ang put on his hood and left the villa directly.
"Thud, thud, thud." At this moment, a woman came down from the second floor; it was Poisonous Concubine, who was spared by Ghost.
Before Poisonous Concubine could finish, a loud slap landed on her face, and she was sent flying to the ground.
"Waste, you dare to come back." Boss Xing spoke coldly, his body moved, crouched down, and his hand tightly choked Poisonous Concubine’s neck.
"Master, I... I failed... cough cough," Poisonous Concubine was choked by Boss Xing and could barely speak, her face turning purple. Boss Xing’s original plan was to assassinate Ghost, the leader, and then send assassins to kill Su Qingyu. However, Poisonous Concubine was exposed by Ghost right from the start, which was greatly disappointing to Boss Xing.
"Waste." Boss Xing violently threw Poisonous Concubine to the ground and turned away.
"Master, I have always been loyal to you, please... give me another chance." Poisonous Concubine sat slumped on the floor, gasping for air.
"Hmph, loyalty." Boss Xing slowly sat down in the center, "I know you’re loyal; your sister also died miserably at the hands of Netherworld Palace. I believe you, of course."
"But." Boss Xing paused and said coldly, "A good subordinate needs more than just loyalty. What’s your worth?"
"Master, please give me another chance." Poisonous Concubine knelt in front of Boss Xing and spoke firmly.
"Alright, remember, this is the last time. If you fail the mission, you won’t be coming back." After a long time, Boss Xing finally spoke faintly.
....................................
South America, rainforest.
"I told you not to come, but you insisted," after some argument, Ye Shikai and Ji Qian finally reached mutual terms. Ye Shikai could continue deeper into the rainforest, but Ji Qian had to follow, while the others were to leave the rainforest with Soul Destroyer.
"Why can’t I come? Do you think I’m holding you back?" Ji Qian muttered. Along the way, Ye Shikai seemed to be complaining about this, which made Ji Qian quite dissatisfied. If she really let him enter the rainforest alone, no one would know if something happened to him.
"No, I wouldn’t dare," Ye Shikai held a machete, chopping through the thorny brush in front. This area belonged to the Elephant Clan, and the two had to always be careful, as Ye Shikai didn’t believe that the matriarch elephant would let them off a second time.
"Do you think if there wasn’t this river in the middle, would the Marching Ants encounter the Elephant Clan?" Ye Shikai walked and spoke. The river was wide, at least fifty to sixty meters across. The Marching Ants would drown in large numbers even if they swarmed across, but for the robust Elephant Clan, the river was merely a tiny pond, easy to traverse. Even the gigantic elephants would be helpless against the ubiquitous and numerous Marching Ants. This must be why the Elephant Clan does not dare to cross the river lightly.
"Marching Ants and the Elephant Clan have a lot in common, such as their continuous migration, and also, they both have a leader," Ji Qian said lightly.
"Wait, what did you say, a leader?" Ye Shikai suddenly stopped in front, and Ji Qian almost ran into his back.
"Marching Ants have a leader too." Ye Shikai said in surprise.
"Nonsense, of course, their leader is the queen ant, responsible for laying eggs," Ji Qian rolled her eyes at Ye Shikai, this knowledge is in the elementary school textbooks.
"So if we capture the queen ant, could we control the entire ant colony?" Ye Shikai continued, leaving Ji Qian even more dumbfounded as she slapped Ye Shikai on the head.
"Are you stupid? With so many soldier ants around the queen, how could you catch her? Besides, with so many Marching Ants, how would you know the queen’s location?"