Guan Jinyue's Encore Performance

Baobao's ears perked up, swiveling toward the southeast corner.

Chen Guan pressed a hand on its nape, gently pushing down. Sure enough, the upgraded Baobao had much keener senses.

Baobao stayed still, but its muscles were already tensed.

The walkie-talkie crackled again. This time it wasn't Skinny's voice—it was Hoodie.

"Southeast corner, report."

No response.

"Southeast corner?"

Still nothing.

The static in the channel suddenly became piercing. It wasn't a equipment issue; the silence itself made every stray noise louder.

"Southeast corner, come in."

That was the third call.

Chen Guan unhooked the walkie-talkie from his belt and held it in his hand. From his experience, anyone who didn't answer was usually someone who could no longer speak.

Baldie's voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"Should we go check it out?"

"Don't move," Hoodie replied quickly. "Everyone hold your positions. No one leaves."

"What about the southeast corner?"

"I'll go myself."

The channel fell silent again.

Chen Guan crouched beside a shipping container, peering through the darkness. About sixty meters away, he could make out a pile of rusted scrap metal. That should be the southeast corner's post.

He saw nothing.

No sounds of a struggle. No flash of an ability being released. Nothing at all.

Just absolute quiet. That kind of quiet was more unsettling than anything else.

…

On the other side.

Guan Jinyue released her grip on Skinny's neck.

The body slid down the side of the container, land in a pose similar to when he'd been leaning against the wall pretending to sleep. Only this time, he really wouldn't be waking up.

The entire process made no extra sound.

Spatial abilities had a natural advantage in killing. No need for a blade or a fist—just open a small enough rift in the air over a vital spot, then close it.

Clean, silent, leaving no outward injury.

Guan Jinyue crouched beside the body. Her silver hair cascaded down, the tips lifting slightly in the sea breeze, glinting faintly in the night.

She wasn't looking at the corpse. Her gaze tracked toward where the walkie-talkie voices had come from.

Three calls. No answer.

Based on how this kind of organization operated, the next step would be sending someone to confirm the situation.

Not the hired hands—they wouldn't risk their lives for money. Only the coordinator would come.

She'd heard that voice.

The leader said he'd come himself.

Guan Jinyue stood up. Dock lights didn't reach this corner. The gaps between containers looked like narrow black alleys. No one would interfere. This was exactly how she'd planned it.

She waited quietly.

Footsteps came about three minutes later.

Light—but not light enough for her.

Hoodie rounded the corner from the southern passage. His steps paused when he spotted Skinny's body, then he moved forward.

He crouched down, reaching out to check Skinny's carotid artery.

No pulse.

As he withdrew his hand, Guan Jinyue stood three meters behind him.

"Don't move."

Hoodie's body tensed, but he didn't turn around or try to stand. He kept his crouch and slowly raised both hands to shoulder height.

"Who are you?"

"I'm the one asking questions." Guan Jinyue's voice wasn't loud, but the sea wind made it sound colder. "Turn around."

Hoodie turned slowly.

In the dark, his expression was hard to read, but when his eyes met Guan Jinyue's, his pupils contracted.

Silver hair. Dark eyes.

Very distinctive features.

"You're not from around here," Hoodie said, his tone a mix of probing and stalling for time.

"What cargo's being unloaded at Pier 3?"

Hoodie didn't answer. His eyes flicked left toward where his walkie-talkie was clipped.

Guan Jinyue's right hand lifted slightly.

A razor-thin spatial rift flashed across Hoodie's walkie-talkie. It snapped in two, plastic fragments falling to the ground.

Hoodie's hand froze mid-motion. That rift had missed his skin by less than two centimeters.

If it had been a little off...

"I'll ask again." Guan Jinyue's expression was even colder. "Pier 3. What's being unloaded?"

"You killed him just to ask that?" Hoodie glanced at Skinny's body on the ground.

"He was just a hired hand. Even if you asked him, he wouldn't be useful. You know that."

"That's why I kept you."

Now Hoodie understood everything. Skinny had only had time to radio for help because Guan Jinyue had let him.

The purpose of that sparing had been Hoodie himself.

Hoodie cursed Skinny's stupidity in his mind—the man had gotten himself killed, and dragged Hoodie down with him.

Guan Jinyue didn't rush him. People like this needed a moment to convince themselves. The usual way was to imagine what would happen if they stayed silent.

Still, she needed to push a little. She didn't have time to lock horns with him.

"Soul Search!"

"Beast eggs!" Hoodie blurted out, afraid she'd follow through. Guan Jinyue's hand paused as promised.

This trick works every time.

"A batch of wild beast eggs seized from the South Sea. Not a lot—thirty-two eggs, mixed types. Most are low-grade, a few are decent quality."

"Going where?"

"I don't know. I'm only in charge of the unloading. The rest isn't my business."

"Who's picking them up?"

"Someone will come. When and who isn't in my authority."

Guan Jinyue locked eyes with him.

Hoodie's breathing was still steady. The dilation of his pupils was within normal fear thresholds. No tell signs of lying—at least not on these questions.

"Where are the eggs stored?"

"After unloading, they're moved into the cold storage next to the pier. Pier 3 Cold Storage. There are special climate-controlled units there."

Guan Jinyue's gaze shifted from his face toward Pier 3.

In the distance, unloading continued. A few silhouettes moved under dim lights, showing no signs of finishing.

"How many people do you have here?"

"Six unloading. Five hired hands including the one you killed. Plus me. That's twelve."

"Anyone else?"

Hoodie hesitated.

"Two guards at the cold storage. Permanent, not just for tonight."

"Ability users?"

"One reinforcement type, one manipulation type. Both around Stage Four."

Guan Jinyue ran through the information in her mind.

Enough.

Hoodie watched her expression. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something but held back.

"You want to ask something?" Guan Jinyue caught his slightest fidget.

"Are you from the demon clan?"

Guan Jinyue didn't answer. She'd expected him to ask something more useful.

She took a step back. Hoodie's shoulders relaxed slightly, thinking the questioning was over.

A spatial rift opened silently beneath his feet. Just wide enough to hold an adult man's body.

Before Hoodie could even cry out, his entire figure vanished from the ground.

The crack sealed shut.

Nothing remained on the surface—not even a trace of blood.