Arms? Drugs? Xiao Lin watched the hands on his watch ticking away, as if he had grasped a point. Nicholas needed arms to flood the market while establishing ties with the drug lords of the Golden Triangle, using modern weapons as a prerequisite to suppress drug trade prices. Was Shao Weihua’s role in this as a supplier?

DOMO is dead! To outsiders, this name meant nothing, but to those in the know, it was shocking. This was the first time Xiao Lin killed someone since appearing in Palermo. This news was far more troubling than DOMO’s death itself.

Robert sat in a single-seat sofa. Upon hearing the news, he didn’t have much reaction, but he realized from the expressions of others what a terrifying thing this person called Xiao Lin had done. So he remained silent. Sitting in the hall, Wang Zhanting was not entirely ignorant, but he only knew that this DOMO was an assassin, a very skilled one. Yet, seeing the faces of those present who were also assassins change drastically made him feel it was a stroke of luck he managed to escape.

"Wasn’t DOMO one of your people?" Shao Weihua, sitting in the middle, puffed on a fine cigar. He looked rather displeased at the Magician. Today, the ’Black Crow’ was unusually gathered except for Angel, who was left with Nicholas. The other four made no exception. "Furthermore, your cleaner hasn’t just once ruined my plans. As the second in command of ’Black Crow’, shouldn’t you do something? Either you make him submit to me, or you get rid of him."

The tone was evidently unpleasant, with the rustling sound of the newspaper showing his noble status, brazenly refuting the people before him.

"Wasn’t DOMO sent by Mr. Shao?" Lucifer shot a look to stop the Magician’s killing intent. His gray eyes casually brushed over Shao Weihua’s exposed neck. If looks could kill, there would be a deep cut on that not-so-thin neck with blood gushing out.

"Me?" As if hearing an intriguing question, Shao Weihua lowered the newspaper slightly and coughed upon making eye contact with Lucifer’s cold gaze. "Not me, I don’t even know who DOMO is."

"Then Mr. Shao has asked the wrong people. You should ask your partner, not us."

"What kind of attitude is this?" Clearly feeling his face slightly disgraced in front of the other two, Shao Weihua angrily slammed his palm on the newspaper. "You people let someone slip away from Xiao Lin, and I can’t even ask about it? Isn’t that cleaner one of your ’Black Crow’? Always hovering around Xiao Lin, shouldn’t I start doubting your loyalty to me?"

Ha, ridiculous face! Lucifer shook his head. "’Black Crow’s internal structure is our own matter, none of your business. Our task was to get the useless people out smoothly, not to kill Xiao Lin for you."

"You..." Shao Weihua was infuriated, and the term ’useless people’ also stirred anger in the other two. Robert couldn’t hold his temper, leaping up from the sofa. Even before he steadied himself, someone was in front of him, black feathers falling as a long silver thread edged at his chin. The Magician’s bright red lips looked about to touch Robert’s mouth, his pale face excited with pre-killing bloodlust.

"Lucifer, what are you doing?" Shao Weihua roared at Lucifer upon seeing the Magician’s murderous intent.

"Mr. Shao! Next time, think about our position and relationship before speaking." Lucifer calmly walked to the Magician’s side, patting his shoulder. The seven-grade code and the Joker behind him followed suit, strutting out in front of Shao Weihua without giving this central figure any face.

With a thud, the sound of a glass shattering against the wall echoed. Shao Weihua’s chest heaved continuously, shaking as if unable to calm down. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Mr. Shao, these people are not to be trusted!" Wang Zhanting crossed his right leg over his left, indifferent to the previous scene. "These people are all Xiao Zhenfeng’s subordinates. Although they betrayed him, will they genuinely kill for you?"

"I know!" Shao Weihua calmed down considerably thanks to Wang Zhanting. "Hmph, as long as they can be used for now, once it’s over, let them meet King Yama." After a vicious spat, he finally calmed down.

"Zhan Ting, are you saying this Su character is unwilling to cooperate?" Returning to the main issue, Shao Weihua made another cup of tea.

"He thinks the price is too low and refuses to sell his goods!"

"Well! Robert, find a way to trace where this Su’s goods are stored, and also..."

Shao Weihua’s voice lowered, the three of them erupting into cold laughter after their whispered discussion. Under the bright lights, the three looked extremely sinister and treacherous.

Meisai returned to the police station from the government building, feeling unworthy of the morning commendation ceremony. Clearly, after busting Robert’s drug stash, another matter troubled him: the discovery of two anonymous corpses at Robert’s residence. Of course, it was easy to cover this up, but evidently the anomalous and brutal method of murder hinted at a terrifying figure in Palermo, making life difficult even for a police chief like him.

"Chief!" Rochester knocked at the door. Meisai didn’t have the habit of closing the door at the Mora Society; the door to his chief’s office was always kept open except in emergencies. Right now it was open, and Rochester stood there with a not-so-good expression on his face.

"Rochester, you don’t look very well!"

"Yes, Chief! If you saw what I saw, you would feel the same." Rochester walked in dispiritedly and closed the door, an action that made Meisai realize the gravity of the situation.

"Has something happened?"

"Remember you and Mr. Xiao asked me to investigate Edmund’s case? We have results now. We found Edmund’s body at his neighbor’s house, dismembered and stored in the refrigerator and even the sewer. Saying these words, Rochester could barely speak through the teeth, almost suppressing his stomach’s pain. Those listening could deeply feel the scene’s perversion and disgust.

"Rochester, what are you trying to tell me?" Meisai clearly found that Rochester was not just here for this.

"Why is it that only that gentleman knew where Edmund’s body would be? The suspicion towards the elderly couple was so precise as if everything had been anticipated beforehand. And why was he the only one who showed up in front of Wang Zhantian? It was raining so heavily that night. Why did he appear at the crime scene? That alley rarely sees anyone passing by, yet he happened to be there. There are many things, I don’t know where to start, but don’t you think these are all coincidences?"

Meisai rubbed his brow, realizing Rochester’s doubts were not without factual basis. "Rochester, Xiao Lin isn’t the killer. I can tell you responsibly. Of course, you may not believe what I say, but he is definitely not the killer you’re looking for. I know Edmund’s death is a blow to you; you were good partners. Though Edmund was never quite competent, I know your feelings for him were deep."

"Chief, it’s not that I suspect Mr. Xiao to be the killer, I’m just doubting the immense conspiracy behind this, maybe even a terrifying plan. I have a hunch that something horrific will happen in Palermo." Rochester stared wide-eyed in terror, mouth agape, looking as if he were about to burst into tears.

"Rochester, I think you should take a vacation. I’ll give you a week’s leave, rest well, don’t overthink, we’ll catch the killer who murdered Edmund." Meisai comforted this good man, who was close to breaking, an honest man.

"Thank you, Chief!" Rochester placed Edmund’s report on the table. On his way out, he just happened to encounter Tang carrying a flower pot.

"Rochester?" Tang greeted him, but the former didn’t glance at him and quickly left. "Meisai, what’s wrong with him?"

"An honest man scared out of his wits." Fingers tapped on the file regarding Edmund.

"Oh, I’ve heard. Edmund died miserably, but you shouldn’t have more time to deal with this, the case can already be closed." Placing the flower pot on the table, he sprayed water on the flowers. "Let him die! I’m not happy."

"I know!"

"Why did you let him die? Xiao Lin could have saved him; he’s always been by my side."

"If he didn’t die, how would you face Xiao Lin?" Meisai asked a strange question.

"You all think I have some kind of relation with Xiao Lin, but in fact, I don’t know him at all. But he knows my master and hates him deeply!" Tang jumped on the table, balancing on the edge, his feet swinging nonstop. "Meisai, you must know the reason, don’t you?"

"No, I don’t!"

Looking at Tang’s round eyes, as if accusing him of lying, Meisai helplessly turned his head, feeling the emotions spent on this child were a bit too much. "Alright! If Meisai doesn’t want to talk, then I won’t ask! Let’s discuss something serious! There’s news from the master’s side; Shao Weihua and the others are about to take action, you’ll become very busy."

"Is it finally starting?" Meisai sneered slightly, and the white flowers on the table now looked incredibly bloody. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes, monthly votes, your support is my greatest motivation.)