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墨書 Inktalez
The sound of gunfire swept across the entire park like a torrential rain of iron, the explosions and the shrill cries of shattering glass still reverberating in the air. Lin Tianyou crouched beneath the work desk in the laboratory, hands clasped over his head, his face pale and sweat trickling down his forehead, dripping onto the white tiled floor. He glanced nervously at Zheng Xuan, who was curled up beside him, and asked with a trembling voice filled with anger,
"What is going on!? We don’t have any armed security here; how could they have such heavy firepower? This is practically a small army!"
His tone was laced with disbelief and fear. This attack was not something street thugs could orchestrate; from the rhythm of the motorcycle squad's movements to the modifications on their firearms, everything revealed a brutal precision that spoke of rigorous training.
However, Zheng Xuan remained unusually calm. Leaning against the desk leg with her knees drawn up, her face was serious but showed no signs of panic. One hand held her phone as her fingers swiftly typed out message after message, as if she were in close contact with someone. Her brow furrowed deeply, her gaze sharp as cold steel.
"These people are subordinates of Skeleton Rose," she said quietly, her tone eerily calm. "They are the most violent faction in the South District gang, directly commanded by Maria Cabrera. They never play by the rules; they only respect power, especially when it comes to their territory."
"You knew something would happen?" Lin Tianyou looked at her in disbelief. "You knew all along but still let us work here?"
Zheng Xuan did not respond to him, her eyes still fixed on her phone, fingers never pausing. She merely said softly, "This fight was inevitable. The moment you entered this city, it was destined to happen."
Just then, a loud crash echoed from the end of the hallway—
Boom!
The door was kicked open with a force that shook the entire building. The group of thugs stormed in with heavy footsteps, their shouts roaring like wild beasts.
"Zheng Xuan! You filthy bitch! Get out here!! We know you’re in here!"
Lin Tianyou shrank back in fear, gripping the chair tightly. Zheng Xuan, however, merely lifted her head, shadows and determination flashing in her eyes.
She slowly put her phone into her pocket and looked at the door that had been smashed open, her voice low and icy:
"They're here. I hope you’re ready to witness the true darkness of this city."
As the door burst open, a thick scent of gunpowder and a suffocating aura of blood filled the research facility. The footsteps were as audacious as a leopard entering its prey's den, and then a fiery figure appeared at the doorway.
Maria Cabrera—the Latina queen of the underworld, the wild empress of the southern mafia—stood before the shattered doorway, her figure captivating and breathtaking.
Dressed in a form-fitting black leather combat suit, her long legs were accentuated by tight pants, and a magazine belt was wrapped around her waist. She wielded a modified black submachine gun, the interplay of metal and leather contrasting with her sun-kissed, deep brown skin that glistened like amber, infused with the sheen of sweat and gunpowder. Her thick black hair was braided and cascaded down her back, while the skull earrings on her earlobes swayed gently with her smile.
She stood at the entrance, stunningly beautiful like a summer flame, yet as dangerous as a venomous snake. Her smile was dazzling but sent chills down one's spine.
"The party in C City, and you didn’t invite me?" Maria licked her lips, her smile both seductive and mad, her voice dripping like syrup mixed with shards of glass. "Zheng Xuan, how could you be so distant? It breaks my heart."
Inside the laboratory, Lin Tianyou's breath caught in his throat. He crouched beneath the table, stiff as a statue, cold sweat trickling down his back. Just as he opened his mouth to dissuade her, he felt Zheng Xuan slightly turn and glance at him, whispering, "Stay put; I’ll handle this."
"But—" Lin Tianyou began.
"People like her are only interested in prey. You're a scientist; don't act like one." Her tone was gentle yet firm, like a silent knife in the night.
Before Lin Tianyou could react, Zheng Xuan straightened up and emerged from beneath the table. Dressed in a white shirt and a dark gray pencil skirt, she appeared strikingly composed amidst the smoke and shattered glass.
Maria's eyes sparkled momentarily, like a beast spotting its prey that had just revealed itself. A smirk curled at the corners of her lips as she mockingly stared at Zheng Xuan. "You still look beautiful as ever, Xuan. And your courage has grown; knowing I was coming, you dared to show yourself so late?"
Zheng Xuan's gaze remained calm as she faced the barrel of Maria's gun without flinching. "I didn’t invite you because I know you don’t need an invitation. You’ve always sought trouble on your own terms, haven’t you?"
Maria chuckled softly, twirling the submachine gun between her fingers; its muzzle briefly pointed at the ceiling before suddenly aiming at the floor. She advanced step by step, her laughter lowering to a whisper that slithered close to Zheng Xuan's ear: "This time, Xuan, it’s not just about catching up with an old friend. I’m here to collect something… and gather some interest."
Zheng Xuan did not retreat an inch; her hands hung at her sides as she responded with eyes sharp as blades: "What you want isn’t here. If you want it, talk to me—don’t fire recklessly. This isn’t your slaughterhouse for street battles."
Maria's smile gradually froze, a dangerous aura swirling in her eyes like an abyss.
With each step Maria took onto the laboratory floor in her leather boots, it felt like a slow rhythm of war drums announcing her arrival. She moved closer, exuding a lethal allure that was both dangerous and impossible to look away from. The mingled scents of gunpowder, sweat, and perfume enveloped her like a signal infused with fire and poison that thickened the air.
Zheng Xuan stood firm in place without yielding. Even as Maria's footsteps drew nearer and the murderous intent pricked at her like needles, her gaze remained steadfast as stone.
Maria approached her, leaning slightly forward, and extended her fingers painted in dark red nail polish, gently gliding across Zheng Xuan's cheek. Her knuckles were calloused and strong, the touch rough and cold, yet she feigned tenderness as she traced Zheng Xuan's features. In that teasing gesture lay a silent humiliation and challenge.
"Do you know, dear Xuan," Maria whispered close to her ear, her tone low and almost like a love confession, yet each word was laced with venom, "C City now belongs to our Skeleton Rose. You stand here not because you hold any power, but simply because I find your pretty face pleasing to the eye."
She chuckled softly, her fingertips slowly sliding from Zheng Xuan's chin, a cruel smile curling at the corners of her mouth.
"Don't get me wrong; I'm keeping you around not to let you reclaim any governance rights, but so that when I'm bored, I can watch you fall from hope back into despair. Do you understand?"
Zheng Xuan stared at her, her gaze as cold and sharp as a winter star, unwavering in defiance. She straightened her back, her voice firm and powerful, like the last flag standing amidst the ruins of the city.
"No matter how much you declare yourself in charge, no one in C City recognizes your rule. What you maintain through violence, intimidation, and bloodshed will ultimately rot away. You have no legitimacy—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Maria's hand suddenly clamped around her neck!
"Shh—be quiet now, Female Mayor." Maria sneered as she tightened her grip.
The pressure was just right—not lethal but enough to render Zheng Xuan speechless. Her throat was constricted tightly, making it hard to breathe; her lips turned pale, yet the defiance in her eyes burned brighter than ever.
Maria fixed her gaze on Zheng Xuan with a predatory intensity that radiated possessiveness and twisted pleasure as she gritted her teeth and said:
"You better remember who the true queen of this city is."
Maria's fingers remained gently locked around Zheng Xuan's neck; the pressure felt like a lover's caress yet concealed a malicious game beneath it. A sickly delight spread across Maria's face as if she were admiring a piece of art before it shattered.
"I know there are certainly others hiding here too," she whispered seductively, yet with a chilling undertone, "Our mayor is always so self-sacrificing. What do you think of yourself? A hero? A saint? A guardian?"
As she tightened her grip slightly, Zheng Xuan furrowed her brow sharply; her lips trembled for a moment but she stubbornly remained silent.
"But do you know what I like most about you?" Maria leaned closer, her lips almost brushing against Zheng Xuan's earlobe, her tone sweet as syrup. "It's your self-righteousness and your desire to protect everything... because tearing that apart is especially thrilling."
As soon as the words left her lips, she forcefully shoved Zheng Xuan aside.
With a loud crash, Zheng Xuan slammed into the edge of the experimental table, collapsing onto the floor. She gasped for breath, a scrape on her forehead oozing bright red blood that slowly trickled down her pale cheek. She tried to rise, but her body trembled slightly.
The sound of the impact was like a thunderclap, startling Lin Tianyou, who suddenly poked his head out from under the table. His eyes widened in terror, lips parted slightly as he saw Zheng Xuan lying on the ground, his heart feeling as if it had been torn open.
Yet his hands remained tightly gripping the table leg. His throat constricted; words hovered on the tip of his tongue but wouldn’t come out.
“Oh—so you’re hiding there, clever Engineer,” Maria's voice suddenly rose, calling out into the space as her gaze swept across the corner. “I knew it! Just a little mouse hiding away.”
Her tone shifted abruptly, laughter spilling forth as if she were at a party.
“Now listen closely—I give you one day to clear out all this ridiculous experimental equipment, those bottles and jars, and those stinky toys—EVERYTHING!”
She turned around, glancing at the injured Zheng Xuan on the floor, a mocking smile creeping onto her face as if she intended to shatter her pride.
“Thank you for your cooperation~” she exaggeratedly bowed. “As for the mayor… let’s take a little trip with our Skeleton Rose. We have so much to discuss.”
Several henchmen immediately stepped forward, roughly yanking Zheng Xuan off the ground. She struggled against them but lacked the strength to resist, only able to glare at Maria with gritted teeth. In her eyes burned pain and humiliation, yet they still refused to extinguish.
Meanwhile, Lin Tianyou remained hidden in the shadows, his nails nearly digging into his palm. He understood that this disaster was not merely an affront to one woman but rather the first public execution aimed at the entire Foot Odor Energy Empire.
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