Shackles of Humanity

Luo Kai was confused and pushed the gold coins back. "In that case, why don’t you tell me what’s going on with Black Stone Heavy Industry?"

Hongyun smiled. "Alright. But let’s be fair. You have to answer a question for me as well."

"Fine. Ladies first. You can ask."

Hongyun thought for a moment before asking, "Who are you, and what’s your relationship with Black Stone Heavy Industry?"

"That’s two questions, but I’ll answer them both. I’m just an ordinary person. You can call me 9527. I know Zang Haisheng, the big boss of Black Stone Heavy Industry, but I wouldn’t say we’re close."

Hongyun picked up her wineglass from the table and took a sip. She said nothing, clearly unsatisfied with his answer.

Luo Kai figured he didn’t have any secrets that couldn’t be shared, so he decided to be more open. "Fine. My name is Luo Kai. I once saved Zang Haisheng’s daughter."

Only then did a smile return to Hongyun’s face. She took another bottle from the nearby wine cabinet and poured Luo Kai a glass. "Now that’s more like it. You can ask me two questions as well."

Luo Kai raised the glass and downed it in one go. Finding it unsatisfying, he picked up the bottle and started chugging straight from it. ’I loved red wine in my past life. Why does it taste like nothing in this one?’ After a moment’s thought, he said, "Alright, tell me what you know about Black Stone Heavy Industry."

Hongyun turned to the bald man, who had already scrambled to his feet, and ordered, "Ah Hu, go to the bar and grab a few bottles of something with a bit more kick."

"Yes, ma’am." The bald man clutched his jaw, shot a fearful glance at Luo Kai, and scrambled away.

Hongyun’s expression turned serious. "Black Stone Heavy Industry is just a local business consortium. They have some money, but they aren’t important enough to warrant our attention. The real issue is the power behind them. Have you ever heard of the Skull Society?"

Luo Kai was inwardly surprised. ’Does this Skull Society have anything to do with the Skull and Bones from my past life?’ He shook his head, indicating he hadn’t.

"Well, you must have heard of the Tri-Eyed Race, then. The Tri-Eyed Race is one of the greatest powers among the Human Race. Their people are spread across all the human nations; even the Elder Council of the Dongyuan Upper Country has two seats held by the Tri-Eyed. The Skull Society was founded by them, and it primarily recruits people engaged in scientific research or those who control vast sums of money. Zang Haisheng from Black Stone Heavy Industry is one of its members."

Luo Kai thought of the Tri-Eyed Prison Director. Shui Su had said the Tri-Eyed Race were also considered Mutants, but they were different from others. They seemed to be born with the aura of a higher life form.

"I’ll give you another piece of intel for free. This war was instigated by the Skull Society. They donated massive amounts of money to the military. Otherwise, given the Xingma Kingdom’s strength and political situation, Lord Yiven would never have dared to rashly start a war."

Luo Kai pondered for a moment before asking his second question. "If that’s the case, Black Stone Heavy Industry certainly doesn’t want to lose the war. So why are you investigating them?"

Hongyun didn’t answer for a long time. She only spoke after the cigarette in her hand had burned to its end. "To those at the top, war is just a tool. People like us are just trying to find a way out after we’ve served our purpose. That’s why I had Ah Hu grab someone from Black Stone Heavy Industry to understand the situation. I never expected we’d ’invite’ you. In the end, not only did I not find anything out, I ended up giving away a lot of intel. You know, this kind of information sells for a very high price at the Hunter Guild."

"Then consider it a favor I owe you. I’ll repay it when I get the chance. Alright, I’m leaving." Luo Kai stood up to go.

"Heh, in that case, it sounds like we came out ahead," Hongyun said, brightening up. She drained the wine from her glass, a flush rising in her cheeks and giving her the unique charm of a mature woman.

Just as Luo Kai pushed open the door to the private room, the bald man, Ah Hu, burst in, his face a mask of panic. "Sister Hong, bad news! Hulu Pass has fallen to the Nanzhao Kingdom! Over ten thousand soldiers from the Wolf Soul Army have been killed, and more than thirty thousand captured! The main Nanzhao army has cut the railway and roads between Ironwood Castle and Ping Mountain Port, completely surrounding the castle!"

Hongyun seemed to have expected this, as her expression didn’t change. She simply nodded. "When did it happen?"

"Yesterday!"

Hongyun thought for a moment, then muttered to herself in confusion, "Strange. Why were so many taken captive?"

Her words jolted Luo Kai’s memory. He recalled the battle he had witnessed yesterday. ’At the time, I wondered why both sides were wearing the exact same uniform.’ Now it seemed there had been a mutiny within the Xingma Kingdom’s military. The soldier he’d encountered was likely one of the few who had managed to escape.

Seeing that neither of the two before him showed the slightest hint of panic at the news, Ah Hu couldn’t help but blurt out, "The Xingma Kingdom’s army has been split into three! The main force of the Tiger Soul Army is locked in a brutal fight at White Bone Ridge, and Ping Mountain Port, where the Great Lord is, has been blockaded! The Ironwood Castle garrison is just over twenty thousand strong, and they’re all new recruits and Government Army troops sent from all over. There’s no way they can hold out! Defeat is certain! Sister Hong, we... we need to find a way to get out of here!"

Hongyun shook her head. "We’re mercenaries; we have to honor our contract. Let’s wait for Gao Gang and the others to get back." With that, she turned to Luo Kai. "Our Mercenary Corps is very short-handed, and the pay for this job is substantial. Are you interested in joining?"

"Not interested," Luo Kai said flatly and turned to leave. ’Since the outcome of the war is decided, I need to find a way out of here too.’ He had only taken two steps before he suddenly turned back. "Uh... how substantial? Are there Genetic Potions involved?"

Hongyun’s eyes lit up. "Of course. This time, the Great Lord’s payment is ten million Star Dollars, plus three Low-Level Gene Potions."

Luo Kai lowered his head, calculating in his mind. ’A Low-Level Gene Potion is worth about three million Star Dollars. That makes the one-time payment for these mercenaries equivalent to nearly twenty million Star Dollars. It’s truly the most profitable business, though it’s a shame you have to risk your life for it. To fully recover, my body needs Genetic Potions, but three million Star Dollars is no small sum. I’d probably never earn that much in my entire life through normal means.’

Seeing Luo Kai was tempted, Hongyun pulled a glass vial filled with a pale blue liquid from her pocket. "If you’re interested, I can give you one as an advance."

It wasn’t just Luo Kai who was surprised by her generosity; Ah Hu’s face was a mask of envy and jealousy. ’This is a Genetic Potion! They’re practically impossible to find on the market! How can she just give it away, and as an advance? What if the kid just takes it and runs?’ He now both feared and hated Luo Kai, but didn’t dare say a word, so he could only shoot meaningful glances at Hongyun.

Luo Kai was very tempted. ’But I don’t know anything about this Mercenary Corps. What if it’s a trap?’

Hongyun could see his hesitation. "The Sun Mercenary Corps was founded several hundred years ago. It’s the largest mercenary organization registered with the Hunter Guild, with branches in every human nation. We’re known for our integrity. If you can earn the other members’ approval, they’ll treat you like a brother!"

Luo Kai hesitated for a long time before finally nodding. "Alright. But I have my own business to attend to. What’s the mission? I can only join for this one job."

An eyebrow arched on Hongyun’s face. "That’s acceptable. The missions we undertake are similar to those of the Military Punishment Department: reconnaissance, sabotaging military installations, assassinating enemy commanders, that sort of thing. All the other team members are out on assignment right now. I’m the only one holding down the fort in Ironwood Castle."

Luo Kai gestured quizzically at the bald man. "Isn’t he one of your members?"

"Ah Hu is only an outer-circle member. I’ll introduce you to the others when they get back."

Now that they had an agreement, Hongyun handed over the Genetic Potion. Luo Kai took it carefully. ’This is the first time I’ve ever seen a Genetic Potion. It kind of looks like one of those oral solutions in a blue bottle.’

"How do I use it? Just drink it?"

Hongyun asked in surprise, "You’ve never used one before?"

"Nope."

Hongyun gave him a long, searching look. "You can drink it, but the effects are much slower that way. It’s usually injected."

"Oh."

Luo Kai couldn’t be bothered to find a syringe. He just twisted off the cap and downed it in one gulp. It was warm and slightly bitter going down, but then... nothing.

The liquid was absorbed and broken down by his digestive system in an instant, but his body showed no change whatsoever. It was like a river flowing into the ocean, creating not a single ripple. Luo Kai grew suspicious. "Can this stuff really improve a person’s constitution?"

Hongyun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’This guy really is a boor, guzzling a precious Genetic Potion like it’s a bottle of cheap wine!’

"Of course it can. But the effects vary from person to person. The stronger someone’s constitution, the less effective it is."

Luo Kai sighed in frustration. ’It looks like a Low-Level Gene Potion is useless on me. I’ll have to find a way to get an Intermediate-Level one, or maybe even a high-level one.’

Since he had given his word, Luo Kai had no intention of leaving. Besides, he had nowhere else to go. He said directly, "In that case, I’ll call you Sister Hong, too. Can you arrange a place for me to sleep?"

Hongyun’s face bloomed into a smile. "Ah Hu, find a room for Xiaoluo."

"Uh... Brother Xiao Luo, I’m really sorry about what happened earlier. Please, follow me."

Luo Kai had always been broad-minded. He clapped the man’s shoulder. "I was a little heavy-handed myself. Don’t worry about it."