"I have one more thing to say. Just now, an anonymous commission requested that we take on a job."
"The commission fee is quite generous."
"But the other party didn't say what exactly they need us to do, only that we should discuss the details via private message later."
"Our account level is so low right now, and we don't have any real achievements to show. Them contacting us so secretively is actually a bit unusual," Zhe pondered.
"I think this is where Fairy needs to step in."
"Fairy, can you find out the identity information of this client?" Hoshimi Aya interjected, raising her head. For matters on the internet, it was better to ask Fairy.
"Searching now."
"The Inter-Knot account for this commission was created the day before the commission was posted."
"The account avatar is a low-resolution scene photo without a clear subject. No identical images were detected online, so we can preliminarily deduce that the user took the photo themselves."
"After analyzing the city's street view data and ground material data, the location where the photo was taken is on the edge of the Janus District, currently a construction site for the subway renovation project."
Fairy reported, stating all the information it had found.
"Bai Zhi Heavy Industry?!"
Hoshimi Aya blurted out almost immediately upon hearing Fairy's deduction.
"Huh?!"
"Aya, how did you guess so quickly?" Ling looked at Hoshimi Aya doubtfully. It didn't seem like her usual thought process.
She had even tricked Aya about this a few times before.
"Aya is correct. After we exposed Vision Company's misdeeds, the subway project was re-tendered, and the company that took over was exactly Bai Zhi Heavy Industry," Zhe realized, surprised at how sharp Aya's mind was at this crucial moment.
"Master, a certain television channel is broadcasting a program featuring Bai Zhi Heavy Industry as invited guests."
"Adjusting now for you."
As he spoke, Bangboo appeared on the TV screen.
The guest on the show was our good brother, Drill Brother Anton, whose six lives of damage were still just scratching the surface.
The program was comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the plans from Bai Zhi Heavy Industry and Vision Company?
As the conversation progressed, it drifted to scandals, specifically the scandal involving Bai Zhi Heavy Industry years ago.
Finally, Anton angrily took off the plush bunny head covering, revealing a lion underneath.
The program ended there.
"I could tell there was something wrong at a glance."
"Bai Zhi Heavy Industry must have been targeted by someone."
"This program was very pointed," Hoshimi Aya gave her assessment. She had felt this way when playing the game, even speculating whose interests had been stepped on at the time.
"This episode was indeed very targeted. I didn't expect that even Bai Zhi Heavy Industry, which generally receives positive reviews from the public, could have its dark history dug up."
"I really don't know how much bloodshed this subway renovation project will cause," Zhe guessed.
"Ding!"
"Master, I have detected a private message from the client we detected earlier."
Fairy reminded him.
"They sent a private message?"
"Quick, see what they sent," Ling asked.
"I have detected that this private message contains some threatening language. I will read the contents to you now."
Fairy then read the contents of the message aloud.
"Then it's fine. Tomorrow, I'll go with Ling."
"Unless the other party is truly powerful, I won't let Ling get hurt even a little bit," Hoshimi Aya said after hearing Fairy.
Afterward, Fairy reminded them that the client had prepaid 20% of the commission fee as a gesture of sincerity—which was 1.1 times their total Inter-Knot earnings from the previous month—making the three of them instantly bright-eyed.
After a brief discussion, they finally agreed to accept the commission.
...
The next morning
"Zhe, don't worry. I will definitely protect Ling well," Hoshimi Aya said as she shouldered her sword case.
Although she knew there wouldn't be any real danger, Ling and Zhe didn't know that.
So, the necessary precautions couldn't be skipped.
"That's right, Brother, don't worry," Ling added.
"With Aya here, what could possibly happen to me?!"
With that, the two of them left and ran toward the toy store at the end of the street.
They stopped at the street corner.
"Is that the client?" Ling whispered, hiding behind Hoshimi Aya.
"We'll just go up and ask," Hoshimi Aya replied.
"Ling, don't worry, it's fine."
Saying this, Hoshimi Aya walked directly toward Anton, who was not far away.
"Hello, are you the client?" Hoshimi Aya patted Anton's shoulder and asked.
"Oh, you came so quickly?"
"Hello, I am the client for this matter. You must be Phaethon, right?" Anton extended his hand toward Hoshimi Aya.
Hoshimi Aya subtly shifted her body to the side, presenting Ling to Anton. "I am not. She is."
"Oh, I see. Hello there, Phaethon." Anton then extended his hand toward Ling.
Out of courtesy, Ling shook Anton's hand once.
Then Ling began to ask Anton how they knew that this Inter-Knot account belonged to them, but she immediately guessed that Belle was the one who leaked the information.
However, regarding the commission, Anton suggested they go to the Bai Zhi Heavy Industry base to discuss the details of this commission.
Since it required traveling some distance, the group returned to the garage.
They drove toward Bai Zhi Heavy Industry.
...
Bai Zhi Heavy Industry Base.
Anton led the two of them toward the base while introducing their CEO.
That existence, like the king of all beasts.
Hearing this, Ling couldn't help but cling tighter to Hoshimi Aya's arm to feel a bit better, but she was still somewhat nervous.
Suddenly, a yellow machine smashed open the iron gate not far ahead, and there was a girl who looked like an engineer on top of it.
"Ling, fall back!"
After saying that, Hoshimi Aya pulled her hand away and rushed out, leaping up and kicking the four-legged machine back with both feet.
"Not bad, brother!" Anton gave Hoshimi Aya a thumbs-up.
However, Hoshimi Aya's kick did not stop the machine.
"Ben! Come help me control this thing!" the woman on the machine shouted while holding a tablet.
"I'm almost done!"
The machine prepared to charge again but was pinned down by a Thiren that descended from the sky.
...
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