Chapter 1243 - 1105: Professional Killers

Chapter 1243: Chapter 1105: Professional Killers

Xiao Moshan had secretly gone out to investigate the situation with the newcomers from Hongyun during this period.

He was inherently good at investigating and had Ping’an, the local snake, providing information, so he was quite familiar with Hongyun’s movements.

The Hongyun Financial Group was large, but previously had almost no operations on Purple Star, only a small office.

The office staff were in single digits, merely coordinating some related matters.

This time, a lot of people came to discuss the acquisition, and besides the energy stone mine, other cooperation matters were also being negotiated.

Xiao Moshan initially thought that he didn’t lack information.

Unexpectedly, with Yin Shan leading him, they visited three cities in six days.

Only then did he realize that Hongyun had quietly controlled and influenced multiple forces through acquisition or shares, without making a sound.

Some forces had been in contact with Hongyun for decades.

Most of the time, the local forces on Purple Star handled matters, and Hongyun rarely appeared, but that didn’t mean they were absent.

After visiting the three cities, Xiao Moshan showed no expression on his face, but he was a bit surprised: How could this person have such well-informed intelligence?

Even with Ping’an’s help, he didn’t have such extensive information.

However, when it came to close-up information gathering, he still had to take action himself, as Yin Shan seemed to be a bit lacking in this area.

After five days, Xiao Moshan unexpectedly discovered: Hongyun had done quite a few small maneuvers.

On the surface, they were just exerting pressure from various sides, but the reality was different.

Hongyun’s methods were very secretive, starting with picking off the peripheral forces related to Ping’an bit by bit.

Several recent murder cases on Purple Star were the handiwork of Hongyun.

However, the targets weren’t just related to Ping’an, there were other factors as well.

As long as one wasn’t particularly sensitive, they wouldn’t notice that these cases were related to Ping’an at all.

Xiao Moshan could see clearly Hongyun’s operational approach.

The other party was trying to test the alertness and sensitivity of the Ping’an Trading Group through this method.

It’s like two chess players, one seemingly idle move, but which piece will be useless?

If Ping’an could detect the anomaly early and respond, it would indicate that their alertness and execution were not bad.

Very unfortunately, Ping’an did not make a qualified response to this kind of probing.

This is one downside of local enterprises: with too many and too broad contacts in the area, they become accustomed to many unexpected events.

Moreover, the murder cases initially occurred in small cities.

Later on, Hongyun’s probing tactics became increasingly excessive, attempting to test the threshold of Ping’an’s vigilance.

Realizing this, Xiao Moshan was a bit surprised, "Such a big force actually plays such underhanded tricks?"

Yin Shan answered flatly, "It shows they’re also cautious, don’t assume that large forces will always bully others with their power."

Xiao Moshan acknowledged his speculation, "Indeed, forces with strong execution usually strike with a thunderous strike if they act at all."

In the military, there are similar combat techniques: first probing thoroughly, then launching a surprise attack.

The day after the two returned to Shanshui Small Building, news came from Ping’an that Kading was dead!

Kading was the first wave of people from the Ping’an Trading Group who made contact with Qu Jianlei’s team, meeting on the energy stone tailings star.

This guy had a bad temper, initially wanting to take action against Qu Jianlei’s starship, eventually leading to a fight breaking out between acquaintances.

Kading died in a club where the owner was his lover and he was basically her protector.

Last night, he was drinking there, and upon hearing that someone was causing trouble, he went to stop it.

Kading was really quite drunk, believing that no one in that area wouldn’t recognize him.

His tone wasn’t good, and as a result, the other party directly pulled a gun and shot him.

Although he was A-level, without being on guard, he wasn’t much stronger than an ordinary person.

In the Empire, there are too many cases like this, whether A-level, B-level, or Supreme without armor, there are many instances of them being killed by ordinary people.

Out of the four perpetrators, two died and two were injured. According to the injured ones, they had come from the Edge Star Realm to Purple Star for sightseeing.

It’s just that Kading’s tone was too much at the time, and many people from the Edge Star have bad tempers, which led to the tragedy.

The Ping’an Trading Group also conducted an investigation, confirming that these people were indeed from the Edge Star Realm.

The four had no criminal records—otherwise, it would be very difficult to enter the Inner Circle, but they had repeatedly violated the law and weren’t considered well-behaved even in the Edge Star Realm.

As for the specific process of how the dispute occurred... everyone was drinking anyway, so they were just fired up.

Ping’an found no obvious problems, but the absence of a problem is itself a problem.

Considering the recent disputes with Hongyun, and as Kading was among Ping’an’s top combat powers, Jilt felt something was amiss.

Bentley and others had already learned a lot from Xiao Moshan, and upon hearing this news, they immediately made a judgment.

"Hongyun is beginning to up the ante!"

Bentley felt it was necessary to respond but still looked at Yin Shan, "Should we pay attention to this?"

"Old Ben, you handle it," Yin Shan replied, "Ping’an is still guaranteeing us with the computer group."

Bentley thought for a moment and stated, "If it were up to me, I wouldn’t simply notify Ping’an."

Facing the boss, he didn’t hide his thoughts, "I wonder how many Supremes they brought?"

Silver Fir replied, "The Supreme is just one... if the opponent hasn’t hidden it, I also believe we shouldn’t just call the police."

Xiao Moshan straightforwardly stated, "Probing to this step, the opponent is not far from closing the net... Ping’an’s response is too slow."

"Then..." Bentley cast a glance at Silver Fir, finding no reaction from the other party, he decisively expressed his stance.

"Inform Ping’an, let’s meet the opponent once more... does anyone have any other opinions?"

There were still two A-level members who hadn’t expressed their views, namely Xiao Qin and Zi Jiu Immortal.

However, now that the elder is already the Supreme, unlike before, Xiao Qin was very clear, "Let Brother Ben decide."

But Zi Jiu Immortal raised an objection, "Since they created so many cases, should we retaliate in secret first?"

"Oh?" Bentley looked at her in surprise, nodded with a smile, "I like your personality, I support you!"

Zi Jiu Immortal calmly said, "A life for a life, a debt for a debt."

She hadn’t become ruthless, rather Professor Zi had always adhered to this philosophy.

Silver Fir watched their discussions, feeling gratified in his heart, the direction of the team’s development was really good.

As for how exactly to respond, that’s a minor issue, just consider all necessary aspects clearly.

Anyway, he wasn’t particularly opposed to the proposals they made.

Soon, everyone reached a consensus.

Xiao Qin first informed Duoduo, telling them about all the little actions Hongyun had recently done, so she could remind Ping’an to be alert.

Next was for both sides to meet again, but not today, rather tomorrow — their Supreme would arrive tomorrow.

Today... was suitable for killing!

They wouldn’t take action around the Ping’an Headquarters, but rather deal with those who had previously committed murder.

Xiao Qin’s words were vague, but Duoduo, having been in contact with them for years, could discern the meaning.

Before long, she responded, "Go ahead and do it, we’ll also distract their attention."

It’s not that the Ping’an Trading Group is afraid of trouble, but rather that everyone has different roles.

The formal enterprises handle formal matters, while the matters of combat and killing are left to the professionals.

Ping’an Trading Group acted swiftly; by the morning of that day, they began to take initiative.

They raised various complaints against departments and forces that had previously troubled them, and even stirred up considerable public opinion.

Hongyun also received the news, but what they cared about was — the opponent’s Supreme would come tomorrow.

"So, this is about gaining leverage before the Supreme’s arrival?"

"It’s really slow, probably Kading’s death made them more cautious, beware of their retaliation!"

However, even with defenses up, their focus was on Ping’an’s high-level combat power and the corresponding security and PR departments.

That evening, Hongyun’s people successively received news that their members had been attacked, with more than a dozen killed one after another.

Those attacked included Hongyun’s people, as well as locals they had bribed.

The attacks occurred in different places, even involving previously unresolved murder cases, with individuals being held by the City Guard for investigation.

In other words, the attackers were audacious to such an extent that they even committed murder in the City Guard’s prison.

However, even with such a heinous case, it did not create a huge impact.

The key issue was that the locations of those attacked were too scattered, and previously there hadn’t been an apparent link with Hongyun.

Many of them were hired by Hongyun from foreign planets, paid with Nameless Silver Notes, showing no obvious ties to Hongyun.

Yet the Hongyun Financial Group knew very well: it was definitely retaliation from Ping’an.

They didn’t expect that the previously slow Ping’an Trading Group, once they took action, would be so unexpectedly fierce.

This was truly a silent loss!

Nevertheless... how to put it? It’s not fear of the opponent’s intense reaction, but dread of subtle malice in response.

After all, the hired people for the job weren’t legitimate, and if they died, so be it.

At worst, it involves paying some funeral expenses, what else is there to do?

Honestly, they rather underestimated Ping’an: if Kading hadn’t died, would they even have noticed our actions?

As local snakes, they lacked even basic vigilance, typical of small places.

Of course, perhaps their intelligence capability wasn’t lacking, they might have noticed anomalies but didn’t dare to investigate further.

After all, they have a Supreme, and yet the opponent’s Supreme hasn’t shown up.

In such a situation, even with evidence, there’s suspicion of "offending the Supreme," let alone without evidence?

All in all, Ping’an suffered heavy losses, and only dared to retaliate after knowing a Supreme would come, which is hard not to scorn!

Ultimately, it was necessary to confront each other; Hongyun’s Supreme gave orders.

"Tonight, everyone stay vigilant, try to gather together, do not go out without orders, prepare for tomorrow’s battle."

By dawn, Hongyun had calculated the night’s losses — seventeen dead, two severely injured.

Upon receiving the news, the Supreme grit his teeth and declared, "We must make the opponent pay a heavy price!"

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