Chapter 81: A Sleepless Night

About 200 meters away from Adams’ residence, a medium-sized truck without its headlights on silently stopped in the bushes. More than twenty shadowy figures quietly jumped off the vehicle.

“I’ll go in first and deal with the three guard dogs. Once you receive my signal, you can cut the power.”

“Understood, Master,” Lei Li replied, his voice tinged with excitement.

It had been ten long years since he last felt this thrill. His master was truly back.

Watching Masashi vanish like a specter into the moonless night, Lei Li stood still, entranced.

At seventeen, Lei Li realized he could never reach even half of his master’s skill. Masashi rarely engaged in combat, and on the few occasions he did, Lei Li couldn’t discern his true depth. He had wondered if there was anyone in the world who could force his master to fight at full strength.

From then on, Lei Li gave up practicing with blades and focused on firearms. Although his master excelled in this area as well, Lei Li believed that with dedication, he could one day gain his master’s recognition.

When his master saved him at the age of six, Lei Li had felt an indescribable sense of awe. As he grew older and gained more experience, that awe only deepened. Lei Li didn’t believe in gods, but to him, Masashi was a god.

Five minutes later, Lei Li felt his signal receiver vibrate slightly on his left wrist. His master had succeeded. Lei Li led 19 others silently to the mansion. Not long after, Masashi emerged like a ghost to join them.

Masashi gestured to a man in his thirties, who immediately pulled out a small box, opened it, and pressed a few buttons.

Seconds later, the mansion plunged into complete darkness.

Masashi waved his hand and was the first to leap over the high wall. Though the elite members of the Dark Division were well-trained, none could leap over the four-meter-high wall like he could. Using climbing gear, they scaled the wall in just 15 seconds.

Inside, Lei Li and his team noticed three dog carcasses scattered on the ground and two bodies at the entrance. The corpses showed no visible wounds, but Lei Li knew the injuries were to their heads.

Masashi preferred using concealed weapons over firearms. With his internal energy infused, even small objects like coins, iron shards, or throwing knives could match the power of bullets while avoiding the noise of gunfire. Moreover, he didn’t need to reload, unlike a gun with its limited ammunition. However, at long range, firearms remained more accurate.

Masashi gestured to Lei Li with a few hand signs. Understanding immediately, Lei Li took nine people to the back of the mansion. Masashi then directed the remaining ten into two groups to climb the balconies on either side. He himself followed the group on the left.

In the darkness, two guards stood talking.

“Why’d the power go out? Damn weird,” one muttered, the faint glow of a cigarette in his hand.

“It’ll be back on soon,” the other replied, yawning.

“You look awful. Out at the club again last night?”

“Yeah, with Kevin. There’s a new girl there—beautiful face, great body. Pricey, but worth it. Wanna go tomorrow night?”

“Hey, why aren’t you talking?”

The smoking guard patted his companion on the shoulder but felt something wet on his clothes.

“Why are you sweating so much?” he asked, shaking his hand. It felt slick. As he lifted it to his nose to smell, a hand clamped over his mouth. Before he could react, a sharp pain sliced across his neck, and warm blood gushed from his throat. Only then did he realize it wasn’t sweat on his hand.

Inside a large fourth-floor room, Adams suddenly woke from sleep. Groggily, he reached for the bedside lamp, but the light didn’t come on.

Strange. Is the bulb out?

Getting up to check the main light, he froze—he could barely make out the silhouette of a person in the darkness.

Fear overwhelmed him, but his survival instincts kicked in. He dove for the gun at his bedside.

Before he could grab it, a faint noise sounded, and sharp pain erupted in his leg. Adams realized he’d been shot. He also knew that if he didn’t retaliate, he would die.

Oddly, his assailant didn’t fire again, giving Adams time to reach under his pillow.

But the gun wasn’t there. His heart sank.

“Looking for this, Mr. Adams?” The intruder tossed something onto the bed—it was his gun.

Adams snatched it up and fired four times. But instead of bullets, only the sound of the trigger clicking echoed in the room.

“Did you really think I’d return a loaded gun to you, Mr. Adams?” the intruder said, laughing.

“Who are you?” Adams demanded.

“Isn’t this unlike you, Mr. Adams? Can’t you recognize my voice?”

“You… you’re Lei Yin?” Adams stammered in disbelief.

“Ah, so your memory isn’t entirely useless,” the man said mockingly.

“How did you get in here?” Adams asked, both shocked and furious.

“Walked right in, of course. I’m here to repay your hospitality, Mr. Adams,” Lei Yin said before shooting Adams in his other leg.

Though the gun was silenced, Adams’s screams echoed throughout the room.

Applause rang out in the darkness. “Bravo, Mr. Adams. Even now, you’re hoping your guards will come to your rescue. Too bad—they’re all dead. As for the workers and maids, they’ve fled in fear of the gunshots. They’ll call the police, but by the time they arrive, the firefighters will be needed more,” Masashi said, snapping his fingers.

Two black-clad men poured gasoline around the room.

“Please, spare me! I’ll give you anything you want—money, power—anything!” Adams begged, pale-faced.

“Sorry, I’ve got more money than you. Oh, and by the way, these guns we’re using? We bought them from you.” With that, a coin whizzed through the air, slicing Adams’s throat. He clutched at his neck, eyes wide, and collapsed onto the bed.

Masashi glanced at the body before firing a shot into the gasoline-soaked floor. Flames roared to life.

The three of them ran to the truck, where eight black-clad figures waited.

“Where’s your boss?” Masashi asked.

The scarred man replied, “Master, the boss took nine others to handle another matter.”

Masashi nodded. “Thank you all for your hard work tonight.”

“You’re too kind, Master,” the man said respectfully.

Watching the flames engulf the mansion, Masashi said, “Let’s go. The police will be here soon.”

“Yes, Master.”