Chapter 347 - 192: Deceit and Treachery, Momentum Forces the Tiger Ride

Chapter 347: Chapter 192: Deceit and Treachery, Momentum Forces the Tiger Ride

Wan Ze slowly nodded.

A slight smile finally touched his lips. "Old Zhao, you’re actually not so bad to deal with. It’s just that you talk way too much."

Zhao Henian had just begun to breathe a sigh of relief when his expression stiffened.

’Damn it!’

But he didn’t dare to truly relax just yet. He knew that bastard Wan Ze would definitely have more conditions.

But at least the situation had stabilized for now.

Wan Ze hadn’t refused, and that was the best possible outcome.

The price he was paying was steep, but it couldn’t be helped.

That woman was becoming increasingly aggressive, her advance relentless. She had practically cornered him, threatening to crush his power completely.

During his recent secret investigation, Zhao Henian had been horrified to discover that the woman’s intelligence network was already on par with his own.

And after all these years, he’d been completely oblivious!

Through her clandestine scheming, the woman’s network of connections ran deeper than he had ever imagined. She even had backers at headquarters.

What was even more terrifying was the news he’d received: this woman now possessed a piece of intelligence that was practically a death sentence for him.

If that intelligence made it back to headquarters, an investigation would be launched within a month, and all the leads would point directly to him.

’At that point, forget about power—I wouldn’t even be able to save my own damn life!’

Therefore, he had to make his move before the woman returned to headquarters.

Zhao Henian had thought long and hard. After weighing the pros and cons, he concluded that relying on his own Power would leave him easily exposed.

The factions within the Secret Palace were clearly defined, but his people and hers were intertwined. Any move he made against her would likely be detected in advance.

That was why he needed an outsider.

Wan Ze was the best and only choice he had.

He was young and powerful.

Most importantly, Wan Ze had a motive: he needed those Martial Skills and old artifacts.

Therefore, he wasn’t worried about Wan Ze betraying him.

At least for the duration of their partnership, the benefits he could offer Wan Ze were more than sufficient.

Even if they had a falling out later, he was confident he could maintain control of the situation.

"I’ll send you the intelligence tonight after you get back. I’ll also provide the best opportunity for the assassination," Zhao Henian added in a low, serious tone. "However, Mr. Wan, I hope your Dragon Eagle people will be cautious. Do not, under any circumstances, expose your identities... Otherwise, the wrath of the Secret Palace will be more trouble than you can handle."

Wan Ze met his gaze.

Placing his hopes in Wan Ze and wanting to secure his cooperation, Zhao Henian was eager for a positive response and so explained patiently, "It’s true that Holy City is Dragon Eagle territory. But your organization is also active outside the city. The Secret Palace is an organization of assassins. It’s no exaggeration to say that... aside from a Grandmaster, no one can withstand their true fury. Your Grandmaster hasn’t stepped outside of Holy City in a very long time, but in the Secret Palace... the old guard are constantly being killed and replaced by the new generation. When the Secret Palace is truly enraged, almost no one outside of the Royal City can stop them."

Wan Ze listened expressionlessly. When Zhao Henian finished, he said, "You don’t need to worry about who I get for the job. Just give me accurate intel. But I’ll warn you, if I find any discrepancy between your intelligence and the facts, I will call off the operation immediately and come settle the score with you."

He delivered the words with absolute finality. He wasn’t joking.

Zhao Henian nodded calmly. "Of course. I’ll come find you again tonight."

"Don’t come to my place. Meet me at Property Plaza," Wan Ze said.

"Fine."

...

Wan Ze walked out of the alley.

His figure cast a long shadow in the morning light, the bag of breakfast in his hand swaying as he walked.

Zhao Henian stood where he was, not moving.

After watching Wan Ze disappear, he turned, his gaze profound as he looked deep into the alley.

At the far end of the alley, crouched behind a trash can, was a drunkard.

He was a man in his forties or fifties, wearing an old army greatcoat. His greasy hair was matted to his scalp, and his face was covered in scruffy stubble. He clutched half a bottle of cheap liquor in his hand, cowering behind the trash can. It was as if he’d overheard something terrifying; his entire body was trembling like a leaf.

He looked at Zhao Henian in terror.

The instant their eyes met, the air seemed to freeze.

The drunkard trembled violently. Liquor sloshed out of the bottle and spilled onto the ground, releasing a pungent alcoholic stench.

"I... I didn’t hear anything... I didn’t hear anything," the drunkard stammered, his voice panicked and his lips trembling.

Zhao Henian acted as if he hadn’t heard a word.

Without a second glance at the drunkard, he turned and walked unhurriedly out of the alley.

After taking a few steps, his voice drifted back, casual and cold. "Deal with him. And everyone connected to him."

By the time the words had left his lips, he was already out of the alley.

Extremely light and fast footsteps sounded from behind him.

At least three or four people, their footsteps nearly silent, converged on a single target from different directions within the alley.

In the blink of an eye, several fully armed, masked assassins appeared silently before the drunkard.

They wore dark combat fatigues and black masks, revealing only their cold, emotionless eyes.

The drunkard’s mouth fell open as he tried to scream for help.

But before any sound could escape, a hand clamped over his mouth.

The hand was gloved, the leather cold and brutal against his skin.

SHUK.

A muffled sound, clean and decisive.

The drunkard’s eyes shot wide, his pupils contracting violently. His body convulsed twice, then went completely still.

...

Zhao Henian stood on the street at the entrance to the alley.

The morning sun shone down on him, casting a short, wide shadow on the ground.

He raised his head and looked at the sky.

The sky was a deep blue, with a few white clouds drifting lazily by. A wind blew from the street corner, carrying a slight chill.

"The wind is picking up."

Zhao Henian murmured to himself, zipped up his jacket, and disappeared into the crowd at the corner.