The Hunter’s Tavern, Sub-level 3.

  This was Felix’s true office.

  The walls were cast from heavy reinforced alloy, shielding the room from all forms of electronic surveillance.

  In the center of the room sat a massive sand table.

  On the table was a miniature scale model of the entirety of Blackrock Town.

  Every street, every building, and even the precise orientation of the underground tunnels were accurately rendered.

  Felix stood before the sand table, a glass of whisky in his hand.

  He stared at the red game pieces representing the Kunlun Corp branch, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

  "Andrew, that mad dog... he’s finally started biting."

  Behind him stood a lean man.

  This was Felix’s confidant, codenamed "Shadow."

  Shadow spoke in a low voice, "Boss, Kunlun Corp just issued new orders. They’re heightening inspections on all incoming and outgoing cargo and locking down the underground channels."

  Felix let out a soft chuckle.

  "As expected."

  He took a sip of the whisky.

  "Karl is dead. It would be stranger if Commander Andrew didn't go insane."

  Shadow frowned. "But this will heavily impact our business. Many clients are already complaining."

  Felix waved his hand dismissively.

  "Let them complain."

  He set his glass down and walked to the sand table.

  "Shadow, do you know what the most important thing in business is?"

  Shadow thought for a moment. "Credibility?"

  Felix shook his head.

  "Timing."

  He reached out and picked up the black piece representing The Hunter’s Tavern.

  "Andrew is losing it. The entire black market in Blackrock Town is about to descend into chaos."

  Felix paused.

  "Chaos is opportunity."

  He placed the black piece in the center of the sand table.

  "The merchants who used to cooperate with Kunlun Corp will come looking for me now. The factions that were sitting on the fence will have to pick a side."

  Felix’s smirk deepened.

  "And I will become the only person in Blackrock Town capable of standing against Kunlun Corp."

  Realization dawned on Shadow’s face.

  "Is that why you helped that 'Ghost' escape, Boss?"

  Felix nodded.

  "That kid... he’s a fine blade."

  He paused again.

  "Sharp, calm, and ruthless enough."

  Felix walked back to the table, staring at the position representing Exit 3.

  "Moreover, he’s carrying secrets."

  Shadow was puzzled. "What kind of secrets?"

  Felix didn’t answer directly.

  He pulled a tablet from his vest and pulled up a segment of surveillance footage.

  On the screen, Kane was locked in combat with Karl.

  Felix hit the pause button.

  The frame froze at the moment Kane rose from the ground.

  "See that?"

  Felix pointed at the screen.

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  "He can submerge into the earth."

  Shadow nodded. "Yes, Boss. That should be some kind of indigenous bloodline ability."

  Felix shook his head.

  "More than that."

  He switched the footage.

  It showed the moment Kane used [ Aero Blade ] to shatter Karl’s energy shield.

  "He can also manipulate air currents."

  Felix switched the frame again.

  It captured the moment Kane used [ Aerial Step ] to pull a mid-air trajectory change.

  "He can even change direction in the sky."

  Felix set the tablet down and stared at Shadow.

  "One man, possessing three completely different abilities simultaneously."

  He paused for emphasis.

  "Do you think that’s possible?"

  Shadow’s expression shifted.

  "Boss, are you saying—"

  Felix nodded.

  “There is something about him, something we don’t yet understand.”

  He paused.

  “It could be a relic of the Old World, or perhaps a sacred object of the indigenous tribes.”

  Felix stepped toward the sand table and picked up the white piece representing Kane.

  “And that metal box Karl was carrying... Kunlun Corp won't be willing to let that go easily, heh.”

  Shadow frowned. “Boss, you offered a million credits for that box just to—”

  “To test him.”

  Felix cut him off.

  “I want to see if the kid is driven by greed or caution.”

  He paused.

  “If he’s greedy, he’ll sell the box to me immediately. If he’s cautious, he’ll find out exactly what’s inside before he decides whether to trade.”

  The corner of Felix’s mouth curled into a smirk.

  “And regardless of which he chooses, I’ll be able to judge his character and his bottom line.”

  Shadow remained silent for a moment.

  “Boss, do you really intend to cooperate with him?”

  Felix nodded.

  “Of course.”

  He placed the white piece back on the sand table, side-by-side with the black one.

  “Andrew has his sights on me now. Sooner or later, he’ll make a move. I need a blade—a blade that can pierce straight into the heart of Kunlun Corp.”

  Felix paused.

  “And that kid is the perfect candidate.”

  Shadow hesitated. “But Boss, will he trust you?”

  Felix let out a soft chuckle.

  “Trust?”

  He shook his head.

  “I never expect anyone to trust me.”

  Felix raised his whisky and drained it in one gulp.

  “I only need to make him feel that cooperating with me is more profitable than going it alone.”

  He set the glass down.

  “That is enough.”

  Inside the abandoned bunker.

  Kane leaned against the wall, his eyes closed.

  But he wasn't sleeping.

  In his mind, he was rapidly reconstructing everything that had happened that night.

  Karl was dead.

  One of Andrew’s three "Aces" had fallen by his hand.

  What kind of chain reaction would this trigger?

  Kane opened his eyes.

  His gaze fell upon the metal box in his lap.

  The Kunlun Corp logo was etched onto the surface. Around the edges was a ring of faint, red indicator lights.

  A self-destruct mechanism.

  Kane narrowed his eyes at the box.

  “Why would Karl carry this on him at all times?” he muttered to himself.

  “And why would Felix offer a million for it?”

  The message Felix had sent flashed through Kane’s mind:

  “Kid, you’re even better than I thought. If you want to take down Kunlun Corp, find some time to come back to the Hunter’s Tavern later. By the way, I’m willing to pay a million for that box Karl was carrying.”

  A million.

  That number made Kane realize the value of the box. But at the same time, it made him wary.

  How did Felix even know the box existed?

  Kane thought back to his experience in the "Rat Run."

  The blood-arrow signals Felix had left behind. The intel on Karl provided in advance. The control Felix exerted over Exit 3.

  Kane suddenly realized a chilling fact.

  “Felix is monitoring the entire Rat Run,” he whispered.

  “He knows every move I make.”

  Kane stared at the metal box, his mind racing through the possibilities.

  "There are three possibilities behind Felix offering a million for this box."

  "First, he knows exactly what’s inside, and its value far exceeds a million."

  "Second, he has no idea what’s inside, but he wants to gauge its worth based on my reaction."

  "Third, he doesn't care about the box at all; he's simply using the trade to test my bottom line."

  Kane fell silent for a moment.

  "Regardless of which one it is, Felix is playing me."

  He paused.

  "But at the same time, I can use him."

  Kane looked up at Crag, who was busy clearing out the debris in the bunker.

  "Crag."

  Crag stopped his movements and turned back to look at him.

  "We need an ally," Kane said, his voice heavy.

  Crag frowned. "Felix?"

  Kane nodded.

  "Felix is deeply rooted in Blackrock Town. He controls a massive amount of resources and intelligence."

  He paused.

  "More importantly, he has a rift with Kunlun Corp."

  Crag was silent for a long moment.

  "Kid, do you trust him?"

  Kane shook his head.

  "I don't trust anyone."

  He paused.

  "But I can use him."

  Kane stared at the metal box.

  "This box is my leverage."

  "You plan to sell it to him?" Crag asked, puzzled.

  Kane shook his head.

  "No."

  He paused.

  "I’m going to find out what’s inside first."

  Kane pulled out his encrypted communicator and dialed Kyrie’s channel.

  The connection snapped open.

  Kyrie’s manic voice crackled through: "Kid! You're still breathing? I thought for sure Kunlun Corp had hauled you off!"

  "I need a favor," Kane said flatly.

  Kyrie hesitated.

  "What kind of favor?"

  Kane kept his eyes on the metal box.

  "I have a Kunlun Corp security case here. It requires dual-factor authentication—fingerprint and iris."

  He paused.

  "And it's rigged with a self-destruct mechanism."

  Kyrie went silent for a few seconds.

  Then, he erupted into a fit of ecstatic laughter.

  "Hahaha! Kid, you actually boosted something from Kunlun Corp?!"

  Kane didn't answer.

  Only after Kyrie had laughed his fill did he speak again: "Bring the box over. I’ll see if I can crack it."

  Kane nodded.

  "How long?"

  Kyrie thought for a moment. "If things go smoothly, three days."

  He paused.

  "If they don't, the self-destruct might trigger, and whatever's inside will be scorched to ash."

  Kane was silent for a beat.

  "I understand."

  He cut the transmission.

  Crag walked over to his side, whispering, "Kid, what if the contents get burned?"

  "Then it means it wasn't meant for me," Kane replied indifferently.

  He paused.

  "But if we can open it—"

  A cold smirk played on Kane’s lips.

  "Then I’ll have one more ace up my sleeve to negotiate with Felix."

  Crag fell silent.

  "Kid, when do you plan to go find him?"

  Kane stared at the metal box.

  "Once I know what's inside."

  He paused.

  "Until then, I need to recover."

  Kane looked down at his right leg.

  Beneath his trouser leg, the veins on the surface of his skin had turned from a dark red to a scorched black.

  His neural load was nearing the breaking point.

  If he forced the use of The Predator again, his nerves would be completely fried.

  Kane closed his eyes.

  "Three days," he whispered.

  "I'll go find Felix."

  Kane paused.

  "But before that—"

  He snapped his eyes open.

  His gaze was frigid.

  "I’m going to make Andrew realize that failing to kill me comes with a price."

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