Chapter 44: Success

“Flying Fox, it’s time to report to the boss.”

A member of the Cunning Fox squad, who was guarding the stairwell, shouted toward the Flying Fox standing in the middle of the corridor.

“Got it.”

Flying Fox’s tone carried a hint of impatience at his companion’s reminder.

After all, having to report every single minute was something he had never experienced before.

Perhaps the weight of Cunning Fox’s authority was too great; Flying Fox still took out his communicator.

“Puff, puff, puff.”

Just as Zhou Ming saw his opponent dialing the communicator, he suddenly sprang out from his hiding spot and fired a rapid three-shot burst.

“Puff.”

The silenced gunshot that followed didn’t come from Zhou Ming—this time it was from Flying Fox.

Bearing the title “Flying Fox” for his incredible reaction and evasion speed, he dodged the lethal bullets at the very instant Zhou Ming pulled the trigger.

Zhou Ming’s reflexes weren’t any slower. In the middle of the empty corridor, he twisted his body with astonishing agility, dodging aside and swiftly retreating back to the stairwell.

“Dong, dong—Boss…”

Seeing Zhou Ming evade his shot, Flying Fox immediately seized the opportunity to rush toward the room where Cunning Fox was staying. He knocked on the door, calling out urgently.

“Wuu…”

Flying Fox, unaware of the Ironthread Snake creeping up behind him, could only let out a low groan.

“Flying Fox.”

As soon as Black Fox opened the door, he saw Flying Fox collapsing toward him.

Realizing something was wrong, Black Fox quickly retreated backward and grabbed a nearby ballistic shield.

His reaction was correct. In the next instant, the shield was violently struck—the force came from Zhou Ming, who used this opportunity to eliminate another of Cunning Fox’s men.

Holding his Blood Hunter Type-1 handgun, Zhou Ming had been firing fiercely at the doorway just moments ago, but now he suddenly dropped to the ground, sliding forward like a giant python.

“Boom, boom.”

Cunning Fox stepped out of the room, shotgun in hand, blasting wildly toward Zhou Ming.

The door was blown apart instantly.

The floor tiles around where Zhou Ming had just dodged were shattered and sent flying.

“Swish.”

“Puff, puff.”

Inkband shot forward like a streak of black lightning toward Cunning Fox, while Zhou Ming immediately returned fire.

Though Cunning Fox didn’t have Zhou Ming’s agility, his contracted beast appeared before him in an instant, blocking Zhou Ming’s bullets while also fending off Inkband’s strike.

“Boom.”

Several Ironthread Snakes crawled in through the shattered window, ready to ambush Cunning Fox. But sensing danger, Cunning Fox spun around and fired a quick shot.

Still wary of Zhou Ming’s threat, he quickly took cover to avoid being hit.

Meanwhile, in the spacious living room, Night Fox had engaged Inkband in combat.

Despite Inkband’s small size, it was nimble enough to dodge Night Fox’s claw strikes. And with its current scale defense, Night Fox’s attacks could barely harm it—on the contrary, Night Fox had to beware of Inkband’s venomous fangs.

“Ha!”

In the fleeting exchange, Black Fox regained his composure. Curling behind his shield, he charged straight at Zhou Ming.

Having just reloaded, Zhou Ming realized he couldn’t break through the defense and had no choice but to engage in close combat.

To guard against Cunning Fox’s sneak attacks, Zhou Ming used Black Fox’s body as a shield, leaving no room for Cunning Fox to shoot.

“Heh heh, got you!”

After only a few breaths of fighting, Black Fox managed to seize Zhou Ming.

“So did I.”

Zhou Ming’s lips curved into a similar smirk. His limbs coiled around Black Fox like a constricting python.

“Courting death.”

Black Fox sneered, determined to show Zhou Ming the might of his strength.

“Hiss, hiss…”

“You think I’d compare martial strength with you when I have beasts? Am I stupid?”

From beneath Zhou Ming’s clothing, the Ironthread Snake struck, sinking its fangs into Black Fox.

“You…”

Black Fox’s strength drained rapidly, his eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness.

“Boom.”

This time, Cunning Fox’s shot wasn’t aimed at Zhou Ming or the Inkband fighting Night Fox—but at the Ironthread Snakes that had suddenly appeared. Zhou Ming would never let such a dangerous opponent act freely.

“How can you command so many beasts? Is this a secret technique?”

Seeing that the Ironthread Snakes weren’t Ferocious Beasts, Cunning Fox assumed Zhou Ming possessed some special forbidden art.

“Boom!”

A thunderous roar erupted—like a Beast King’s fury, echoing far louder than the blasts of Cunning Fox’s shotgun.

“Bang!”

Night Fox, still fighting Inkband, was sent crashing into the floor. Inkband seized the opportunity and lunged forward.

The devastating power came from Zhou Ming—the Thunder Type-2 Revolver, capable of killing a small Ferocious Beast with a single shot.

It was exactly as the arms rental salesman at the city gate had advertised—no exaggeration at all.

The only downside was that Zhou Ming’s right hand was now numb. Considering his physical strength was already twice that of an average person, that said a lot about the recoil.

“Boom, boom.”

Seeing his beast gravely injured, the calm façade on Cunning Fox’s face finally cracked. He hastily pulled the trigger toward Inkband, trying to stop its advance.

“Stop.”

A smooth, cold, steel-like jade hand suddenly gripped Zhou Ming’s nape.

At the same moment, a completely naked Mei Fox appeared behind him. Her skin, like that of a chameleon, shifted from a near-invisible camouflage tone back to its normal color.

“A genetic potion? I didn’t expect anyone to actually succeed.”

The Radar Sensory Domain was powerful, but it required the Ironthread Snakes to spread out and weave intersecting Spiritual Threads, while Zhou Ming had to stay fully focused.

Because there wasn’t much intel on Mei Fox, and Zhou Ming had assumed she was just Cunning Fox’s lover trapped in the room, he hadn’t paid her much attention.

He hadn’t expected her to silently sneak up behind him. Fortunately, her camouflage only applied to her skin—if she had a dagger, the danger would have multiplied several times over.

“Too bad…”

Inkband hadn’t stopped its assault—it continued its deadly attack on Night Fox. Cunning Fox’s shotgun could only delay Inkband’s approach.

Meanwhile, Mei Fox, who had been threatening Zhou Ming moments earlier, was now lying lifeless on the floor.

Her fatal mistake had been not killing Zhou Ming instantly. His Beast Space always had Ironthread Snakes stationed within, ready to appear at any moment.

“Ahhh!”

Night Fox was finally slain by Inkband.

Cunning Fox’s Spiritual Sea felt as though it had been struck by a sledgehammer—blood streamed from his seven orifices as he howled in agony.

“Puff.”

Zhou Ming’s recovered right hand gripped the Blood Hunter Type-1 and ended Cunning Fox’s life.

From start to finish, there had never been a chance for negotiation.

After confirming the target’s death, Zhou Ming went to the room where Er Leng had been stationed.

Two corpses lay inside.

Zhou Ming, who disliked unexpected variables, had already instructed his Ironthread Snakes to take care of them beforehand.

He picked up a glass box from the side and, seeing that the twice-mutated Ironthread Snake inside was unharmed, sprinkled the corpses with flammable liquid, ignited the fire, and left carrying the glass box.

As long as the Security Bureau couldn’t identify the two bodies, they wouldn’t be able to find Brother Snake—or link Zhou Ming to them.

As for the hotel’s surveillance records, Zhou Ming had burned them before heading upstairs.

Leaping out the window, Zhou Ming carried with him the glass box containing the twice-mutated Ironthread Snake—and Mei Fox’s corpse.

Although she was dead, Zhou Ming didn’t want her body drawing the Security Bureau’s attention.

Such an incident would be treated far more seriously than a simple assassination.

After all, a person who had successfully used a genetic potion—Zhou Ming had only ever heard rumors of such a thing.