Chapter 27: "Money is no object."
Returning to the hotel, Chen Jiang began changing into night gear along with Silent Snake and the others, preparing for tonight’s operation.
The reason for choosing this particular hotel was that on the top floor—his floor—there was a sizable casino.
A casino was an excellent target.
It was all cash, with untraceable bills, making it very convenient to use. Originally, tonight was just a reconnaissance mission. But those five reckless guys had stormed the enforcement bureau, causing significant damage. That extraordinary being engulfed in flames seemed exhausted after the fight, gasping for breath—a godsend opportunity.
...
“Um...” Xu Kun looked a bit lost. “What should I do?”
“Do you have any special skills?” Silent Snake asked casually.
“Business.”
“Anything related to crime?”
“Uh... does explosives count?”
Chen Jiang, still putting on his night gear, glanced sideways at Xu Kun. “Tell me more carefully. I didn’t see anything related to explosives in your personal record...”
“I...” Xu Kun took a deep breath before explaining, “I’ve been fascinated with explosions since I was a child. When I see the sparks flying from an explosion, I get an uncontrollable thrill, my whole body trembles.”
“At first, when we set off fireworks, the kids in the village used firecrackers to blow up dung pits. I found that boring and lacking beauty.”
“So I started experimenting on my own.”
“Later, I made many fireworks myself. But once, something went wrong, and the fireworks I made were too powerful. They blew up the ancestral tomb of a family in the village. After that, my parents took me away from home. I knew I’d caused serious trouble and never touched explosives again.”
“For example—”
“The ‘number 7’ firework you performed at Chaoge University? I made that by hand when I was nine. It’s simple, just precise timing of the explosions. Each firework unit has a delayed electronic fuse.”
“When the fireworks ascend, the ‘7’ ignites stroke by stroke in order.”
“The main problem is that materials are hard to get in reality. Otherwise, I could definitely make more powerful explosives.”
“...”
Chen Jiang remained expressionless for a moment before softly saying, “I don’t have anything for you to do this time. After we get out, tell me more about your past.”
“But...”
“There are plenty of materials in this city. Let’s see if you can make something.”
The reason Chen Jiang agreed to let Xu Kun join was simple: inside this mission, Silent Snake was the only other person, and they needed more manpower. Someone had to scout ahead. If Xu Kun really had a knack for explosives, he could be trained.
He really needed someone like that.
For now—
The plan was to strike hard.
He pulled out the Uzi submachine gun he had obtained in the previous mission, stepped onto a chair, and crawled straight into the ventilation duct overhead. Silent Snake and Xu Kun followed closely behind. The three of them moved slowly through the narrow, cramped duct.
...
Soon enough,
They reached the ventilation duct above the casino, an underground gambling den built on the hotel’s top floor. Naturally, it was illegal, occupying a large space below, where the atmosphere was lively.
The roars of red-eyed gamblers.
The clinking of chips.
The crisp calls of dealers.
In the high-oxygen environment, scantily-clad casino hostesses moved among the guests.
Directly beneath them was the “chip exchange” — a square transparent booth made entirely of bulletproof glass. Staff stayed inside, exchanging chips for customers through a window.
...
They had already scoped out the place.
This transparent booth had bulletproof glass on all sides except the top—it was open. Perhaps the casino owner never imagined anyone would try to rob it.
After all, it was right next to the enforcement bureau.
If this were reality, Chen Jiang would have planned the operation meticulously. But inside this mission, without so many concerns, a swift, decisive strike was often more effective.
“...”
After pulling the hood of his night gear over his head, Chen Jiang kicked open the grille of the ventilation duct and precisely jumped into the transparent booth below.
The moment he landed, he didn’t hesitate.
With the Uzi in hand, he opened fire rapidly. The four employees and two security guards inside were caught in a hailstorm of bullets, killed instantly.
Immediately afterward—
He swiftly drew the pistol from a security guard and began firing indiscriminately at the casino patrons. Chaos erupted—piercing screams echoed, and terrified guests scattered in all directions!
Silent Snake and Xu Kun quickly stuffed all the cash from the transparent booth into pre-prepared snake-skin bags.
Chen Jiang smoothly ejected the empty pistol magazine and replaced it with a loaded one, continuing to pick off the security guards rushing in through the window. Before long,
All the security personnel were eliminated.
The advantage of position—
Hidden behind bulletproof glass, their safety was maximized.
“Whew...”
Glancing back at Silent Snake and Xu Kun, Chen Jiang exhaled softly and couldn’t help but laugh. This mission was exhilarating. In reality, he’d always have too many reservations, but here, none of that mattered.
At this point, the casino was plunged into utter chaos.
Chen Jiang led the way, pushing open the door and quickly leaving the casino. Silent Snake and Xu Kun each carried two heavy snake-skin bags behind him. Years of training made Silent Snake’s steps light and agile, but Xu Kun was clearly struggling, his arms trembling.
Two large bags stuffed with cash were indeed heavy.
They swiftly headed to the hotel’s fire escape and reached a window where they had prepared pulleys. Ropes stretched in the night to the rooftop of a low-rise building opposite.
First, they tied the bags to the pulley and sent them across.
Chen Jiang then pulled out another pulley, gripped its handles tightly, and like a swallow in the night, dashed quickly across to the opposite rooftop.
After Chen Jiang left,
Silent Snake handed a pulley to Xu Kun. “Remember what I taught you. Hold the pulley handle tight—don’t let go. If you fall, it’s almost certainly death. When you’re about to reach the other side, press this button on the handle. The pulley will clamp the cable and slow you down.”
“Don’t forget.”
“Otherwise, at this speed, hitting the concrete rooftop won’t kill you outright, but you’ll be crippled.”
With that, Silent Snake skillfully grabbed another pulley, clipped it onto the cable, and slid swiftly toward the opposite rooftop.
“Whew...”
Alone, Xu Kun took several deep breaths. After looking down at the dozens of floors beneath him, he gritted his teeth, gripped the pulley handles tightly, and kicked off from the rooftop, sliding down rapidly.
The intense sensation of weightlessness and the incredible speed almost made Xu Kun scream uncontrollably.
This was far more thrilling than any roller coaster or pirate ship—without any safety measures.
...
Chen Jiang and Silent Snake, standing on the low building’s rooftop, watched Xu Kun in midair.
“Jiang, are we really going to train him?”
“Yeah, let’s give it a shot. Two people just aren’t enough manpower.”
“We haven’t known him long, maybe—”
“Better if he doesn’t know too much.”
...
Soon—
Xu Kun successfully reached the low rooftop and pressed the pulley button in time, preventing himself from crashing into the concrete below at full speed. Apart from his pale face, bluish lips, and trembling body, he was okay.
At that moment,
Chen Jiang’s pupils contracted sharply. At the fire escape window, a security guard was standing, twisting his coat into a rope and preparing to slide down the cable!
A skilled opponent.
An extraordinary being?
However...
The next instant, the guard leapt from the window but didn’t hold the coat tightly. Screaming sharply, he plummeted to the ground, followed shortly by a heavy thud.
Clearly, little chance of survival.
“...”
Expressionless, Chen Jiang turned and walked toward the rooftop entrance behind them. “Let’s go.”
At the back exit of this low building waited a vehicle Chen Jiang had prepared long ago. As long as Silent Snake was around, he never lacked cars.
...
Dawn.
Awakening, Chen Jiang sat in a small inn in the neon city, watching the morning news on TV.
“At 00:28 last night, the Northern District Enforcement Bureau was attacked by five men armed with heavy firepower. Their motives remain unclear. They were killed on the spot by an extraordinary being inside the bureau...”
“At 01:12 last night, a violent robbery occurred on the top floor of the Northern District’s Luxurious Hotel, resulting in multiple deaths. Witnesses report three suspects...”
“At 01:27 last night, a convenience store in the Southern District was robbed by a man. The owner pulled out a shotgun and killed the assailant. The case is under active investigation...”
“At 01:58 last night, multiple beggars were maliciously murdered in the Southern District. The investigation is ongoing...”
“At 02:21 last night, in the Eastern District...”
“Not bad.”
Chen Jiang quietly evaluated. Seventeen violent incidents occurred last night. Looks like no one was idle. After waking up, only 121 players remained.
Nine players died overnight.
This wasn’t elimination—it was outright death.
Especially that guy who tried to rob the convenience store—what a tragic death. He was probably just hungry and wanted to steal some food, but never expected the owner to pull out a shotgun from the drawer.
Real-world habits could very well lead to one’s demise here.
All participants in this mission had completed hidden tasks, which Chen Jiang knew were difficult. In other words, no fools took part. Even the five who attacked the enforcement bureau had the right idea and firepower.
Normal players wouldn’t have five automatic rifles to bring into this mission.
They just hadn’t expected to run into an extraordinary being.
After this night, everyone would realize how dangerous this city was, and likely act more cautiously—not launching direct assaults on the enforcement bureau, at least.
Just then—
The phone Chen Jiang bought yesterday received a message.
“We can do it, but it might be expensive. Many of your items need to be remolded, and components must be purchased individually—no wholesale prices.”
Chen Jiang smiled lightly and quickly replied.
“Money is no problem.”
“Can we meet? I need to see a deposit first.”
“That’s fine.”