Chapter 401

"Cindy, I'll have Xiao Dao lend you a hand."

"Remember, your goal in controlling nearby gangs is merely to facilitate our operations in Pengjie City—after all, most people here deal with gangs. But once you've secured control of this gang, keep a low profile and do not expand your influence outward."

"Yes, Mr. Sai, I understand your meaning and will follow your orders. Also, here are the property documents for this house. As you instructed, I used a false identity and did not register under my real name." Cindy pulled out a file folder from his person, placed it respectfully on the table before Wang Yu, and bowed.

"Good. For safety's sake, whenever you conduct any business in Pengjie City, use a false name whenever possible—avoid drawing attention from those who might investigate."

"Then I'll go handle the 'Blood Hand' first—I'll try to take over the gang as soon as possible." Cindy grinned.

"Before you go, take this with you. If you're in mortal danger, throw it on the ground—it should save your life." Wang Yu pulled out a thumb-sized object from his person and tossed it over.

Cindy fumbled to catch it, glanced down, and his heart jolted.

There, before him, was a miniature skull several inches tall, clad in a suit of white bone armor, each hand gripping a bone blade and a bone shield.

"This is..."

Cindy swallowed hard, and instantly, the image of the monstrous beast that had slaughtered indiscriminately in the underground garage flashed through his mind.

"Remember, this item only functions within Pengjie City. If you go too far outside its boundaries, it may cease to work."

"I understand. Thank you, Master. I'll take my leave now." Cindy carefully stowed the miniature skull, bowed even more respectfully, and exited the parlor.

"Mr. Sai, are you really planning to control a gang? I've looked into the Blood Hand these past two days—it's only a small gang controlling a few streets, but it still has nearly a hundred members, mostly young men from the slums."

"Since we'll be staying in Pengjie City for a while, controlling a gang has its advantages—at least we'll get far better intelligence than ordinary people."

"That's true. Pengjie City is ruled by gangs; joining one would make intelligence gathering much easier. Also, if you have a gang as cover, your local identity will be far more discreet."

"You've secured the local identity?" Wang Yu's expression brightened slightly.

"Yes. After communicating with our domestic intelligence agency, we found a suitable candidate. I've compiled his files—take a look and see if he fits."

Wang Yu opened the file folder and pulled out several photographs and a thick stack of documents, examining them one by one.

The photos showed two men: one, a fifty-year-old man with a full beard, brown curly hair, and a face covered in freckles.

The other, a young man in his late twenties, with hair dyed half-yellow, half-red, his face entirely obscured by bizarre tattoos, and a large brass hoop in one ear.

Wang Yu stared at the photo of the young man, speechless.

Beside him, Li Xiao Dao continued:

"The older man is Ma Lun. He's an intelligence agent our agency planted in Pengjie City at great cost. Publicly, he's the owner of a small pig-slaughtering yard with about a dozen employees."

"The other is his son, Dai Sen. Publicly, he's said to have lived in a small town in western Xierde, returning to Pengjie City only occasionally. He's eccentric, has almost no friends, rarely goes out—you're replacing Dai Sen."

"Publicly? Is Dai Sen also one of ours?" Wang Yu asked, glancing up from the documents.

"Yes. Dai Sen is a fabricated identity—anyone we need can temporarily use it as cover for our intelligence operations."

"I see. So the eccentric personality, lack of friends—all deliberately constructed."

"Exactly. Only with an ugly appearance and unusual attire will people remember him at first glance, yet not scrutinize him closely—making it easier for our agents to operate under this identity. The eccentricity and reclusiveness are the same."

"If you assume Dai Sen's identity, a slight change to your appearance will make it seamless—no one will suspect."

"This identity is perfect. I'll take it."

"But one condition: I want Ma Lun, Dai Sen's nominal father, to leave Pengjie City for a while. I don't want to meet anyone—even if he's one of our own. The fewer people who know about my activities, the better."

"Heh. You're thinking exactly like our domestic intelligence agency."

"Even if you hadn't said anything, they'd have arranged for Ma Lun to leave anyway—publicly, he's going on vacation."

"As for Dai Sen's return to Pengjie City, they've already prepared an excuse: to train him to take over the business, so he can learn the pig-slaughtering yard's operations."

"Good excuse. Arrange it then—quickly. I'll memorize all these documents thoroughly."

"From now on, I am Dai Sen. I'll live on the other side. If we need to meet, I'll come here to this villa."

"Then I'll stay here in the villa under your identity. That way, even if the British Commonwealth finds this place, you'll remain hidden. I can't perfectly impersonate you, but I can make myself look six or seven percent like you with some tricks."

"Even impersonating your current appearance carries risk. Are you certain?" Wang Yu touched his own face slowly.

"I'm ordered to protect you—your safety comes first. Besides, I don't believe anyone could track us here in such a short time."

"Since you've decided, I've prepared this for you too—if danger arises, it might save your life." Wang Yu said nothing more, pulled out another miniature white bone skull, and tossed it to Li Xiao Dao.

This bone demon was likewise infused with pure yin energy and carried a thread of spiritual awareness—it could instantly resume its original form and kill under Wang Yu's command when needed.

The young man's eyes flickered with surprise, but he said nothing, accepted the miniature skull, and took his leave.

In moments, the villa's parlor was empty except for Wang Yu.

He sat in his chair, pondered for a moment, then his gaze drifted toward the garden beyond the window. He rose abruptly, left the parlor, and headed straight for a spot in the garden.