NOVEL NEXT Chapter 128: Before Dawn
[Sakura Cross Street - Mori Mizu Apartment]
The police car stopped at the corner in front of the apartment.
Barry Kit sat in the passenger seat. Except during holidays, he rarely drove his car.
The apartment's sign was relatively low-key.
This place was located deep within Owl Town's territory, with unfriendly prices that only those with some strength could afford. In return, client privacy and support services were quite good.
Barry observed for a moment through the car window, then took out some prohibited pills from the passenger compartment, swallowed two, and pushed open the car door.
The police car was driven away by a subordinate who came with him.
At this moment, Barry had changed out of his uniform.
He wore a brown pilot jacket, crossing the street like an ordinary citizen.
The rain had stopped for a while.
Neon lights flooded the moist, deep-blue street.
Barry's hair was short and coarse, his facial features sharp. Standing by the roadside, he was the type easily approached by girls for a chat.
Five minutes passed.
A Jurassic Armored Vehicle parked by the roadside.
Barry glanced up and took a look:
The vehicle was moderately modified, with a new factory engine, a rarity. Driving such an expensive vehicle leisurely around the apartment district of Sakura Cross Street was practically baiting car thieves.
Barry put his hand in his pocket and loosened the safety catch through his jacket.
His identity and profession necessitated constant vigilance.
The next second.
John swung the car door shut, walked half a circle, and emerged.
"It took some time to bring the vehicle over."
"Jurassic ZT15... quite tasteful. Weren't you riding a motorcycle a few hours ago?"
"Yeah, the stuff's here."
John waved a remote, opened the trunk, and revealed the factory glaive fixed on a rack.
"I just threatened Fujimura Takeshi. In such a sensitive time, driving my car feels safer."
"Damn, did I hear you right? Who did you say?"
Barry frowned.
"It's the person you know."
John shrugged nonchalantly.
"It's not related to you. Owl Town shouldn't misjudge this; mercenaries and police colonels aren't the same level."
"I'm starting to regret giving you face."
Barry shook his head and threw his cigarette into a puddle.
John apologized nonchalantly and then said.
"I didn't invite you out tonight to use you as a shield. I truly have something to discuss and some fun to find as well. Let's withdraw money first, talk as we stroll..."
He lowered his voice and began recounting the evening's story.
Barry listened calmly, occasionally laughing, as if those crazy, dangerous tasks were just ordinary topics.
After all, he had seen a lot of the world.
Mori Mizu Apartment was built in a Japanese style.
Beyond the entrance was a narrow elevator and corridor, with three separate cabs stopped at the end of the hallway.
The lighting was dim but clear enough to see things.
The wooden floor was well-maintained, reminiscent of an old-fashioned East Asian hot spring bathhouse, with comfortable air scent, very attentive to details and tenants' privacy.
John didn't speak after entering the elevator with Barry.
The elevator went straight to the top floor.
John led Barry up the stairs to the rooftop, looked around, and immediately found the target.
Similar to the Crimson Studio.
Owl Town was arrogant within its jurisdiction, relying on strength in numbers and high control, always liking to place building signal boxes in open environments.
John took out a data cable and plugged it in.
[Mori Mizu Apartment Access Control System (Hacked)]
Black Light didn't let out even a ripple.
"You can hack... wait, are you robbing this place?"
Barry's expression remained calm.
But if John nodded or stayed silent... he'd turn around and leave, and blacklist this Shark Coin.
"I still have some boundaries with you."
John said as he led him back to the third floor.
[Door Number: 348 [No Surname]]
The electromagnetic sliding door opened automatically.
John entered the room, activated a scan, and cut off the main control system via data flow.
He acted as if it were his home, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
Barry, meanwhile, walked around the room, listening to John finish recounting the grudge between Sato Kei and Owl Town.
The guy left some money behind.
John had brought Barry to claim the inheritance, but unfortunately, after all the poking around, no safe was found.
Barry folded his arms, pointing to a hanging picture.
"He's with the Nami Group, right?"
"Exactly."
"Then it's this one."
Barry was a cop indeed.
He said the apartment showed little sign of life. The decorations and furniture were perfunctory, cheap products, except for this Oni embroidery, akin to the Nami Group's tattoos.
It was the most formal thing in the room.
John took it down, started a scan, and upon careful comparison, found slight traces.
He swung his fist at the wall.
The alloy skeleton pierced through the disguise, the panel broke, exposing a box hidden in the crevice.
"Christmas~"
John grinned.
Inside the box were three anonymous fund cards. Given Sato Kei's identity, it wasn't his entire fortune, most likely just insurance, but for ordinary citizens, it was a fortune worth risking lives for.
John tossed two of them to Barry.
The Eden City Colonel squinted and asked.
"Do you need a favor from me?"
"Exactly. This is a hard-earned fee. Before talking business, let's first cash in the fun I promised you."
John said, taking a flyer from the coffee table.
[Ban Island Izakaya]
The izakaya was a haven for Eastern People.
John crossed through neon lights and vibrant night colors, realizing immediately upon reaching the door under a huge holographic projection—only the rich or privileged had the right to shed their shells here.
The stainless steel portico was over thirty meters long, shaped like sunglasses, with embedded curved large screens, the bizarre illusions flowing over the metallic surfaces.