The past two weeks had settled into a rhythm—one that danced on the edge of law and crime. Lin Feng still worked at the convenience store, but he wasn't just another minimum-wage grunt anymore. Every shift, he siphoned off money, altering the accounts to reroute small amounts into his own pocket. Not enough to raise alarms, but over time, it accumulated. He was patient. Careful.
Stealing wasn't just a matter of grabbing cash—it was about understanding how people overlooked the obvious. Customers too distracted on their phones, a manager too lazy to double-check inventory logs, a security system barely maintained. He tested the waters first, pocketing change here and there. Then, he got bolder—adjusting product prices, rerouting cash payments before they were logged, making entire transactions disappear from the records. It was a slow siphon, bleeding the store without leaving a visible wound.
But money wasn't his only concern. The stolen goods—the premium meats, rare ingredients, and small valuables—had to be stored somewhere. His rundown apartment was a terrible hiding spot, but he had no other choice. He made do, slipping cash between the pages of old books, wrapping goods in plastic and stuffing them under the floorboards. Every time he left, there was a nagging sense of unease. If someone ever decided to ransack his place, he'd lose everything. But for now, there was no other way.
Yet, even this was just a stepping stone.
He wasn't going to scrape by on stolen food and petty cash forever. He needed real money, and for that, he had to step deeper into the underworld.
Through careful listening and subtle questioning, he had mapped out a few key players operating in the shadows of Bo City. The drug trade wasn't just some small-time street business here—mages used special substances to enhance their abilities, and non-mages got hooked on whatever numbed them to their powerless existence. There was always demand. The suppliers? That's where the money was.
It took time to make the right contacts. The first few times he approached, he was brushed off—just another desperate lowlife trying to get involved. But persistence paid off. He learned the right names to drop, the right people to talk to, and eventually, a door cracked open.
Tonight, he was meeting someone.
The first real step toward something bigger.
Lin Feng glanced at the clock—11:47 PM. Almost time.
Pulling on his hoodie, he checked the small knife tucked into his waistband. He didn't expect trouble, but he wasn't stupid enough to go unarmed. Adjusting his sleeves, he stepped out into the cold night.
The streets were mostly empty at this hour. The few people he passed were either drunks stumbling home or workers too tired to care about anything outside their next shift.
But not him.
He was headed somewhere no decent person would walk into willingly.
The police would never find these people. They didn't exist in the system, operating in the cracks of society like rats in the walls. But people who were desperate? People like him? They could find them easily.
Because the desperate could always recognize their own kind.
"The police can't find them, but people who are desperate can."
Drug dealers, black market traders, underground slavers—these people weren't ghosts. They were just good at hiding from authority. But to someone like him, someone hungry, someone willing to step into the filth for the sake of survival, they weren't hard to track.
Lin Feng wasn't looking for justice. He wasn't looking for fairness.
He was looking for money.
Even if it came at the expense of someone else's life.
Taking a sharp turn, he entered the dark alley where his contact was waiting.
Lin Feng turned into a narrow alley, the smell of damp trash and piss thick in the air. A single streetlamp flickered weakly at the far end, barely pushing back the darkness. And there, leaning against the wall, was the man he had been looking for.
Luo Shun.
A grizzled man in his late forties, Luo Shun had the appearance of someone who had long stopped caring about anything other than survival. His face was lined with age and exhaustion, a few scars running down his cheek and neck, making him look like he had barely survived a few bad encounters. His short, messy hair was more gray than black, and his yellowed teeth peeked out as he spat on the ground.
Lin Feng approached, keeping his movements measured. Luo Shun's tired eyes swept over him before narrowing slightly.
"You're late," the Luo Shan grunted, crossing his arms.
Lin Feng gave a sheepish chuckle. "Had to make sure I wasn't being followed. Can't be too careful these days."
Luo Shun let out a snort but didn't press further. This kid might look like some weak stray, but the way he carried himself—cautious, respectful, but not outright fearful—was interesting. Not many people walked into these alleys without nerves showing.
Lin Feng was about to speak when footsteps echoed from the opposite end of the alley. He tensed slightly but kept his face neutral. Luo Shun, however, straightened up immediately. His expression shifted from one of mild disinterest to something more respectful, bordering on anxious.
Lin Feng followed his gaze.
A man strolled toward them, dragging something heavy behind him. No—not something. Someone. A woman, her clothes torn, her body lifeless except for the weak rise and fall of her chest.
Luo Shun took a small step forward and cleared his throat. "Kid, this is Boss Zhou Hao. He runs things in Bo City's underground. If you're looking to make real money, this is the man you answer to."
Lin Feng's gaze flickered between the two men before settling on Zhou Hao.
Unlike Luo Shun, this man carried himself with an aura of absolute arrogance. Mid-30s, neatly styled hair, an expensive-looking black coat draped over his shoulders despite being in a fucking alleyway. His sharp features were marred only by the smug smirk on his lips.
Luo Shun leaned slightly toward Lin Feng and muttered under his breath, "He's a mage. Intermediate level who got fire at noviece and water at intermidiate level. Close to advancing further to Advanced tier mage."
"So you better know you place and dont say anything that might get you killed" Luo Shan said as he went near Zhou Hao.
Lin Feng's stomach tightened slightly.
'If someone like him decided to kill me right now, I'd be dead. Doesn't matter if he's a novice or higher—I'm too fucking weak to fight back. Even a normal thug could overpower me in this body, let alone a mage.'
His eyes flickered to the woman for a brief moment.
Her breathing was shallow, her arms limp, her body barely responsive as Zhou Hao continued to drag her like a discarded toy.
'Not my problem.'
Lin Feng's expression remained neutral as he looked away.
'I'm not here to play the hero. Die for all I care.'
Instead, he moved instinctively. He lowered his head slightly, his expression shifting into something deferential. His lips curled into a flattering smile.
Zhou Hao barely glanced at Luo Shun before his gaze landed on Lin Feng. The way the kid was standing, the way he looked at him—ah, he knew this type. Bootlickers. The ones who knew their place.
Luo Shun's mouth twitched as he watched Lin Feng suddenly start pouring out words like a fucking waterfall.
"Boss Zhou," Lin Feng said smoothly, stepping slightly to the side, allowing the man more space. "It's an honor. I didn't expect to meet someone of your status tonight."
Zhou Hao arched an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh? You know who I am?"
Lin Feng nodded immediately, a look of admiration in his eyes. "Of course! The true power behind the underground market in Bo City. A rising force. A man not only with strength but with ambition. Fire and water—two elements. If I may say so, it's only a matter of time before you reach Advanced Mage status."
Luo Shun felt his face twitch.
'Where the fuck was all this talk when he was dealing with me? This kid was acting all careful and scared earlier, but the moment Boss Zhou shows up, he's practically licking his boots.'
Zhou Hao let out a low chuckle. "Not bad. Most people wouldn't know that." He tilted his head slightly, examining Lin Feng with mild curiosity. "And you? What's your story?"
Lin Feng kept his posture slightly submissive but not groveling. "Just someone looking for opportunities. I don't have power like you, Boss Zhou, but I have other skills. I am good with numbers can handle accounts and make black money white and I am also good at negotiations. I will be really useful."
Zhou Hao smirked. "Useful, huh? We'll see about that." He gestured lazily with his hand. "Luo Shun, who's this kid?"
Zhou Hao asked as even though he was arrogant he wasent a fool enough to just trust any other person and so he asked Luo Shun about Lin Feng.
Luo Shun cleared his throat. "A new face. Smart one, too. Knows his place, doesn't ask stupid questions."
Zhou Hao looked pleased. "Good. I hate idiots." He glanced down at the barely conscious woman at his feet, then back at Lin Feng. "Tell me, kid. How far are you willing to go to make money?"
Lin Feng met his gaze without hesitation. "As far as needed."
Zhou Hao grinned. "I like that."
Luo Shun kept his expression neutral, but inside, he was watching closely.
'This kid is dangerous—not because he's strong, but because he's willing to be exactly what people like Zhou Hao want to see. He knows how to survive. And this type of people are always untrustworthy.'
Lin Feng, on the other hand, was keeping track of every movement, every reaction.
'He's arrogant. Loves flattery. That means he has a weak point—his ego. As long as I stroke it, I can get closer without him suspecting anything. But I need to be careful. Right now, I'm just another disposable pawn in his eyes.'
As the three continued their discussion, a pair of hazy, terrified eyes watched from the trash heap nearby.
The woman, barely able to move, tried to listen, tried to understand. But what chilled her wasn't the cruel words or the careless way Zhou Hao had dragged her like garbage.
It was the young man in the hoodie.
His eyes.
Not cruel. Not kind. Not indifferent.
Just calculating.
Like he was measuring everything.
And in that moment, she realized—he wasn't on her side.
He wasn't on anyone's side but his own.