Chapter 548 - 361: A Cautionary Tale (Part 6)

And then it started to burn.

First, it smoldered, with only a faint smoke drifting out, and a few seconds later, flames appeared.

The fire from the body illuminated both sides of the road.

John watched in silence.

[6min22s↓]

The mission countdown continued.

Emergency crew, ECPD, company security department... no matter who arrives at the scene, the matter would be screwed up.

John looked at the business vehicle.

It was a 70-year Doug Louis, six-wheel bulletproof business series. Fortunately, the attackers picked a heavy enough vehicle, or they wouldn’t have been able to topple it.

[Faked accident scene. (Not achieved)]

John opened the car door and saw a few company dogs crammed inside—the two with heads down had already passed out, while the remaining one was awake and trying to push the door open to get out.

John closed the door again, turned around, dragged the burning body over, and stuffed it inside, creating the illusion that the person had crawled in with all their strength.

The company dog inside let out weak moans of pleading, curses, warnings, and bribes.

John ignored them all.

The body he had stuffed into the car was still burning.

The high temperature began to spread, scorching every company dog, whether awake or unconscious, in that narrow space, continuing to smolder. In just a few minutes, it would turn into an irretrievable fire, possibly even an explosion.

"You’re welcome."

John got up with a blank expression, using the feature of Messiah’s Eye to film it and send it back to Bone Shards.

In the distance, the sound of sirens came from the street.

[Escape the accident scene. (Not achieved)]

John averted his gaze and drove away.

Silver Rider 577 merged into the commercial street traffic in a matter of seconds, leaving behind the massive flame glaring in the shadow of tall buildings.

Before he got back to Dan Street, the money was already wired.

[Account fund change...]

Bone Shards always settled payments promptly.

John opened the email and saw the balance—Bone Shards had settled this commission at the price of a high-class mercenary rescue.

He felt no joy of having made a quick buck, rather, his hand rested on the steering wheel as his gaze wandered through the street scene outside the window—there were more streetwalkers near the business district than he remembered, very few ordinary citizens roaming around, the gang wars had significantly ravaged the city’s nightlife.

Traffic lights flashed and switched.

Silver Rider 577 roared back to life without the street-blasting roar, merely becoming part of countless red tail lights, silently gliding down the street.

John felt uneasy, and as if confirming his suspicions, a task prompt popped up.

[Contact the employer. (Optional)]

[Remain silent. (Optional)]

He followed his instinct and dialed Bone Shards’ number.

The new number.

[The remuneration has been wired to your account.]

"I saw that, but why call me? This kind of simple task of faking a scene could easily be done by any gang kid, why spend money on hiring mercenaries."

John recalled a phrase he’d heard not long ago.

"You’re either generous like a saint, or you just want to cause me big trouble."

[... Ha, alright, when you arrived at the scene, how many people were in the car? Oh, I mean that business vehicle.]

John recalled the crackling burning vehicle, almost smelling the anti-human scent of grease.

He uncomfortably wrinkled his nose.

"Three, maybe four, didn’t pay attention."

[Four, besides that business department chief, there was a marketing department manager, and the remaining two were senior executives of Jingke Heavy Industry, usually taking a hovercar, gathering today to discuss some shady business.]

"So just happened to stumble upon an assassination, such coincidence?"

Bone Shards left it at that.

Based on his half-smiling tone, John figured it out:

Bone Shards and Vito were in cahoots, aiming to resist Jingke Heavy Industry’s control over the Black Gold Gang. That hapless tenant chose today to seek revenge, certainly with Bone Shards providing clues and assistance, intending him to take out the other senior executives during the revenge.

Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on their side.

So Bone Shards called John to finish the job.

John was perhaps the only mercenary who knew the Black Gold Gang’s secrets, capable, flexible, suitable to be the glove for two generations of Speakers.

Bone Shards demonstrated that tonight.

In the future, he would spend large sums specifically to hire John for handling troubles, performing assignments walking between gangs and companies.

The aftermath of the Saw incident appeared.

John learned some secrets and gained additional job opportunities.

He figured out the crucial points and didn’t refuse—a mercenary’s job is to solve trouble for money, and with the restaurant just starting up, lacking cash flow, it relies on the boss to work around to sustain it.

Bone Shards waited for a long time without hearing John speak.

[Very well, it means you accepted. I’ve never been stingy with collaborators, and remember the historical legacy issue of your restaurant I mentioned earlier?]

"Continue."

[Now that you have a business, you’re no longer a street hustler. Corporate law and municipal law can grab you by the throat at any time.]

The majority of storefronts currently operating on the street are essentially chain stores under companies, wanting to operate as an individual will eventually catch attention.

[I know you have a gun, can kill, but bullets can’t penetrate the legal texts.]

"Why the heck didn’t you tell me earlier, I just rebuilt the restaurant."

[Because I didn’t care before, John, and now, we’re collaborators, it’s my obligation to provide you with assistance... and advice.]

John frowned, waiting for more.

Bone Shards said calmly.

[Pull over to the right.]

John looked around the car window and found that he had reached near the Bolago Club.