Luan Xie and He Shun exchanged a quick, tense glance before shifting their attention back to the mafia leader. They had spent hours gathering whatever information they could, but everything about this man was shrouded in mystery.
No one knew his name, his origins, or how he had risen to power. He was a ghost, a phantom who controlled the city's underworld with an iron grip, and the fact that no one could pinpoint who he really was only made him more dangerous.
The leader's expression was unreadable, a mask of calm that betrayed nothing of what he was thinking. His eyes, however, were a different story—sharp and calculating, like he was assessing each person in the room, weighing their worth, their loyalty, their fear. It was like he could see right through them, peeling back layers of facade to get to the truth underneath.
He Shun tried to focus on the leader's body language, searching for any sign, any small detail that might give away his intentions. But the man was composed, every move deliberate, controlled. It was like trying to read a statue—impossible to discern anything from the cold, stone-like demeanour.
Luan Xie, on the other hand, was struggling to keep his anxiety at bay. He had never encountered anyone like this in his own time, someone so powerful yet so elusive. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to make sense of the leader's presence to understand what kind of man could command such fear and respect without ever revealing his true self.
As the leader's gaze swept over the room, it finally landed on Luan Xie and He Shun. For a brief, terrifying moment, it felt like the world had stopped. The leader's eyes bore into them, as if he could sense that they didn't belong, that they were outsiders in this world of darkness and deceit.
But then, just as quickly as it had come, the leader's gaze moved on, continuing to scan the room. Luan Xie let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, his heart still racing.
"He's impossible to read," He Shun muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible.
Luan Xie nodded slightly, his eyes still fixed on the leader. "It's like he's not even human," he whispered back, the unease in his voice unmistakable.
He Shun leaned closer, his voice low and serious. "We need to stay focused. If we slip up, even for a second, he'll know. We can't afford to let our guard down."
Luan Xie swallowed hard, steeling himself. "I know," he replied, trying to summon the courage he needed to face whatever was coming next. "We'll get through this."
The leader began to speak again, addressing the room with a calm authority that sent a chill down their spines. His words were measured, deliberate, but beneath them, there was an undercurrent of something darker—something that hinted at the ruthless power he held over everyone in the room.
As the night went on, Luan Xie and He Shun kept their eyes on the leader, trying to decipher the enigma that stood before them. They knew they were playing a dangerous game, and the stakes were higher than ever. One wrong move, and they could lose everything.
Luan Xie's eyes were drawn to the hooded man standing beside the mafia leader. There was something about him that set him apart from the others—a quiet but undeniable presence that hinted at a deeper connection to the leader. Out of all the men in the room, this one seemed to be the closest to the mafia boss, almost like a shadow that never left his side.
The hood concealed most of his face, making it impossible to see his features clearly. But Luan Xie could sense the man's sharp awareness, the way he seemed to be taking in every detail of the room, just like the leader. Unlike the other guards and associates who were positioned strategically around the hall, this man stood at the leader's right hand, a clear indication of his importance.
Luan Xie nudged He Shun subtly, tilting his head slightly toward the hooded man. He Shun followed his gaze, his eyes narrowing as he observed the figure. The man's posture was relaxed, but there was an underlying tension to it, like a coiled spring ready to snap into action at any moment. He was clearly someone to be wary of.
"There's something off about him," Luan Xie whispered, keeping his voice low so no one else could hear. "He's not like the others."
He Shun nodded, his expression serious. "I noticed that too. He's too close to the leader, almost like he's his right-hand man or… something more."
Luan Xie's mind raced as he tried to piece together what little they knew. Who was this hooded man? What role did he play in the mafia's operations? And why was he so close to the leader? It was clear that whoever he was, he wasn't just another bodyguard. He was someone with real influence, someone the leader trusted implicitly.
As the leader continued to speak, the hooded man remained silent, his presence almost eerie in its stillness. Luan Xie couldn't shake the feeling that the man was watching them, even though his face was hidden. It was as if the man could sense that they were outsiders, that they didn't belong here.
"He's dangerous," He Shun murmured, his voice laced with concern. "We need to be careful. If he's as close to the leader as he seems, he might know more than we think."
Luan Xie nodded, his eyes never leaving the hooded figure. "We'll have to keep an eye on him. If he's the key to getting close to the leader, we need to figure out who he is and what he wants."
As the evening wore on, the hooded man remained a silent sentinel beside the leader, his presence a constant reminder of the danger they were in. Luan Xie and He Shun knew that they were treading on thin ice, but they also knew that this man could hold the answers they were looking for.
For now, all they could do was wait and watch, hoping that they could uncover the truth before it was too late.
Luan Xie couldn't shake the nagging feeling that tugged at the back of his mind. As he studied the hooded man, something about him seemed oddly familiar, like a distant memory that he couldn't quite place. It was a sensation that left him unsettled, as if he were on the brink of recalling something important, but it remained just out of reach.
The idea was absurd, almost impossible. How could he recognize someone from this time, when he himself was out of place? And yet, the more he looked at the man, the stronger the feeling grew. There was something about the way he moved, the way he held himself with that quiet confidence—it triggered something deep within Luan Xie, something he couldn't ignore.
He glanced at He Shun, who was still focused on the leader, then back at the hooded man. He knew it was crazy, but he couldn't help the thoughts that raced through his mind. Was it possible that he had seen this man before? In another life, another time? The idea seemed ridiculous, but the connection he felt was undeniable.
Luan Xie's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to make sense of it all. He was from a different timeline, a different world altogether—there was no way he could know anyone here. But what if there was more to this world than he had initially thought? What if the boundaries between his past and this present weren't as solid as he believed?
He shook his head slightly, trying to clear his thoughts. This wasn't the time to get lost in strange ideas. He needed to stay focused, to keep his mind on the mission. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling that the hooded man was someone important—someone he should remember.
"Luan Xie," He Shun whispered, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Are you okay?"
Luan Xie blinked, realizing he had been staring at the hooded man for too long. He turned to He Shun, forcing a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… something about this place is getting to me."
He Shun gave him a concerned look but nodded. "I get it. Just stay sharp, alright? We're almost through this."
Luan Xie nodded, trying to push the uneasy thoughts aside. But as he returned his gaze to the hooded man, he couldn't help but wonder—was it really just a trick of his mind, or was there something more to this strange sense of familiarity?
Whatever the answer was, Luan Xie knew he had to find out. But for now, he would keep it to himself, focusing on the task at hand. There would be time to unravel that mystery later—if they made it out of here alive.
"Enjoy your stay here. If there is any problem, do not hesitate to approach my men. A week later, the auction will start," the mafia leader concluded, his voice as smooth and unyielding as ever. He offered no name, no hint of his identity—just a veil of authority that shrouded everything about him in mystery.
Luan Xie kept his eyes locked on the leader and the hooded man at his side, straining to pick up on anything that might give them an edge. But as the two turned to leave, a small army of guards closed in around them, cutting off his view. Frustration gnawed at him—he needed to know more, to see something that would help them piece together who they were really dealing with.
Just as Luan Xie was about to give up, his ears caught a soft, almost casual exchange between the leader and the hooded man.
"A-Rou, I'm hungry," the hooded man murmured, his voice carrying just enough for Luan Xie to hear. The tone was familiar, intimate in a way that sent a jolt through Luan Xie. Even though the two were now outside the grand hall, the words reached him like a whisper in his ear.
A-Rou. The way the hooded man spoke the name was casual, almost affectionate—a stark contrast to the cold, distant demeanor the leader had displayed before the guests. This man, whoever he was, clearly had a unique relationship with the leader. It was a level of familiarity that no one else in the room seemed to share.
Luan Xie's mind raced. So the hooded man wasn't just a subordinate—he was close enough to the leader to address him intimately. What kind of relationship did they have? And more importantly, how could this information help them?
He Shun noticed the change in Luan Xie's expression and leaned in slightly, his voice low. "What is it? Did you hear something?"
Luan Xie nodded, still processing what he had just overheard. "The hooded man… he called the leader 'A-Rou.' It was… familiar, like they're close. Really close."
He Shun's eyebrows furrowed in thought. "That's interesting. We might be able to use that. If we can figure out more about their relationship, it could give us leverage."
Luan Xie agreed, but his thoughts were still swirling. Why did the hooded man's voice seem to echo in his mind, stirring something deep within him? That strange sense of familiarity was back, stronger than before, and it made him uneasy.
As they watched the leader and his mysterious companion disappear into the shadows, Luan Xie knew one thing for sure—they needed to learn more about this A-Rou, and fast. Whatever secrets the leader and the hooded man were hiding, they were now more crucial than ever to uncover.