Chapter 38: Appearance Fee: 10 Million

It is currently the class review time before the exam, yet the classroom is not quiet; the sounds of laughter and play are incessant, with students discussing the latest holographic projection games and luxury brand cosmetics, while Qi Yu picks up a pen to work on physics problems, his focused demeanor completely out of place with his surroundings.

"Buzz!"

Ling Wu's phone vibrated once.

He swiped the screen open and saw a striking red dot appearing next to the encrypted Dark Web app; he originally didn't intend to deal with it, but the phone vibrated again.

Ling Wu clicked into the message.

-J: Magician, I know you are within the Empire.

-J: Make a deal with me, or come out and meet me.

The other party's nickname is the letter J, the avatar is blank, and the account's ID number is not unfamiliar; Ling Wu had once crossed paths with this hacker J internationally, caught a vulnerability, and followed the trail to learn that the other party is Jing Du, the heir to the Jing Family of the Empire.

Ling Wu does not need to think at all about why Jing Du would look for him on the Dark Web; as long as he is unwilling to show himself, the other party has no way to drag him out.

-J: I will sign a non-disclosure agreement and will absolutely not expose your identity, provided that you are willing to meet with me.

Jing Du edited this message repeatedly.

Strictly speaking, he had come into contact with the hacker industry earlier than the Magician, but even geniuses have barriers; the Magician is the most brilliant new star in the hacker world, appearing out of nowhere and quickly making a name for himself, leaving countless geniuses unable to see his back.

By the time he reacted, the other party had already established an Organization and possessed a massive underground kingdom.

No reply was received on the screen.

Perhaps he simply didn't want to bother with him.

After all, geniuses are often proud and arrogant.

The twilight renders the sky, reflecting in the swimming pool like a pool full of golden scales; the luxury swimming pool located on the 101st floor offers a panoramic view of the city, leisurely and comfortable.

Yin Huaiyu rarely saw a smile on his lips: "Did you encounter something interesting?"

"Tsk."

Jin Shaoyu lifted his sunglasses: "Ever since he met that Magician yesterday, he has been in this state of excitement."

Yu Shixue hung up the remote meeting: "What is going on?"

Jin Shaoyu: "Ask him yourself; I am not going to be the messenger between you two."

"Looking at you like this..." Yin Huaiyu dragged out the end of his sentence: "Did you find the person?"

Jing Du: "It's just a Dark Web account; currently I only know he is within the Empire. If he is unwilling to appear on his own, finding him is as difficult as ascending to heaven."

"Oh."

Yin Huaiyu: "I heard their Organization also takes assassin jobs; when you have time, contact him to take a job to deal with someone for me. Money is not an issue."

"Who provoked you?" Yu Shixue was clearly unfazed.

"Didn't I tell you last time?" Yin Huaiyu explained concisely: "Regarding that batch of arms, there was a mole in the group; it was a subordinate my father had trusted for many years, and when the matter came to light, he took the opportunity to run away. Now I don't know which corner of the Lower City District he is hiding in."

"In short, he made me very angry, and threw the mess to me to solve."

Jin Shaoyu: "A traitor?"

He pondered these two words, his tone dangerous: "Then he truly deserves to die."

Jing Du couldn't be bothered with him: "Do your own business; don't always think about dumping it on your brothers."

Yin Huaiyu shrugged: "Oh."

"Ding!"

It took a long time to receive a reply.

-Magician: My time is very precious, 10 million per minute; please settle the bill.

Then he threw over a payment link.

Ling Wu originally didn't want to pay him any mind, but fearing that Jing Du would get no response and be endlessly annoying, he simply acted unreasonably and asked for an exorbitant price.

He had just intended to turn off his phone when he saw the link was in a sold-out state, and received a system notification: The other party has initiated a payment to you, waiting for collection.

??

It was too little.

Ling Wu felt that his appearance fee was too low.

For a top-tier wealthy family like the Jing Family, he should have asked for two hundred million more.

-J: Can we meet now?

-Magician: No.

-J: Why?

-Magician: What do you think? Young Master Jing.

Jing Du looked at the screen and fell into deep thought.

In the current Jing Family, there is only one legitimate young master, Jing Du; who this "Young Master Jing" refers to is self-evident.

But how could the other party know his identity?

-Magician: Thanks for the 10 million, you scatter-wealth boy.

Jing Du turned off his phone screen, saying nothing.

Yin Huaiyu sensed something different: "What's wrong? Did he reply to you?"

Jing Du: "Mm."

"Let me guess," Yin Huaiyu said with schadenfreude: "Did he tell you the appearance fee is 10 million, and ask you to please settle the bill first?"

"And you transferred it?"

Jing Du did not speak.

Yin Huaiyu applauded silently: "Beautiful!"

"Scatter-wealth boy."

"Have you downloaded the Empire's Anti-Fraud app? I find it necessary to educate you on some knowledge for the sake of the police officers."

Jin Shaoyu covered his lips, unable to hold back a laugh.

Jing Du seized the bug in his words and sharply retorted, "How do you know the appearance fee is 10 million?"

Yin Huaiyu: "..."

Damn.

There is a sentence I don't know whether I should say or not.

Yu Shixue loosened his collar, glanced at Yin Huaiyu, his expression quite unable to suppress a smile: "Huaiyu, is that why you downloaded the anti-fraud app?"

Yin Huaiyu: "Heh."

"Otherwise, why do you think I asked you to contact him?"

Jin Shaoyu: "But I've never heard of a Magician working in the scamming industry. What did you guys talk to him about to even mention a 10 million appearance fee?"

The few of them looked at each other in silence.

The next day.

Following several low rumbles, the tires rubbed gray tracks onto the ground; four supercars appeared at the end of the road, driving over like arrows released from a bow, their bodies sliding through a beautiful arc before stopping steadily in front of everyone.

The crowd was instantly ignited:

"Ahhh... it's the young masters. I knew they would definitely come for the Academy test. Young Master Jin is so handsome... it's a good thing I got my hair and makeup done."

"So happy, it's simply a paradise for face-value lovers."

"Which classroom are Young Master Yin and the others taking their exams in? I want to watch them take the exam with those god-like faces. Do I still have a chance in B Class?"

"It's actually Young Master Yu, ahhh! How long has it been since he came to the Academy? I actually got to see him again."

"Click, click."

It was all the sound of mobile phones taking pictures.

Not far away, Ming Tan rolled his eyes: "Are these people crazy? Drag racing inside the school—what if they hit someone?"

As expected of the fresh and refined protagonist shou.

【Exactly, shou is completely right. I don't know how the author's brain came up with this kind of manga that makes one's toes curl.】

【Let's just say, setting aside the safety issues, isn't it really handsome?】

【Handsome (said weakly)】

【As expected of my upright Ming Tan baby. Once the plot picks up later, you'll be able to bring them to heel and make them obey you unconditionally.】

Ling Wu continued walking forward; the exam room for Class F was not far from here. After passing the fountain pool and going around two teaching buildings, he would arrive.

"Whoosh—"

The beautiful supercar stopped, the wind it kicked up lifting the hem of the young man's white shirt. Yu Shixue took off his glasses and stepped out of the car; the snake-head tattoo on his collarbone made him appear wild yet cold-blooded.

"Ling Wu, which class are you taking your exam in?"