At this moment, Luoshu had only one piece of good news.
The wanted notice had only been issued this morning, meaning most people hadn't seen it yet.
He still had time to maneuver.
Finding a secluded corner, Luoshu pulled out the Chaos Insurgency's encrypted phone and dialed Waiter's number.
As for the phone and SIM card he'd bought under the alias "He Tu", he'd already disposed of them last night.
Turns out, he'd made the right call.
Now that he was a wanted man, the police would monitor and track his phone activity.
Even if his phone, enhanced by Mechanical Animation, used ByteDance encryption to mask its precise location, the general area would still be detectable.
The SIM card had to connect to local cell towers for data transmission.
The moment he turned it on, the Foundation would pinpoint him in Tianjin.
Just like when he'd powered on his personal tactical terminal in Beijing, revealing his location.
Though Tianjin was vast—over 10,000 square kilometers—it still narrowed the search radius for the Foundation.
Now, the only secure communication device he had left was the Insurgency's phone.
On the other side of the ocean, it was nighttime. Waiter answered quickly.
After receiving calls from Luoshu two days in a row, he was hopeful. "So? Have you made up your mind?"
"Still considering. But first, I want to see if you're serious about helping me. Can you do me a small favor?" Luoshu played the stalling game—neither committing nor refusing.
Waiter wasn't stupid. He saw right through it.
He sighed. "Our sincerity is beyond doubt! From the start, my superiors told me—whether you join us or not, the Chaos Insurgency will support you unconditionally! Because you are our hope!"
That sounded too good to be true.
Luoshu, a master manipulator himself, wasn't buying it.
He asked a pointed question. "Oh? So if I handed you over to the Foundation as a peace offering, you'd be fine with that?"
Waiter fell silent for a few seconds before dropping a bombshell.
"I should remind you—there's no chance of reconciliation with the Foundation anymore. They've sent Able after you."
Hearing Able's name, Luoshu was surprised but not scared.
That brute was nothing but raw power—unstoppable offense, nigh-invulnerable defense, insane regeneration, and blinding speed.
But as long as Luoshu avoided direct confrontation, Able wasn't a threat.
Waiter continued. "Of course, if you think handing me over would help, I'll cooperate! Don't doubt the Insurgency's sincerity. We're prepared to die for this cause!"
Cough cough!
So dramatic.
You really expect me to believe that?
IR1901 was a coward who feared death—wasn't he also part of the Insurgency?
Words were cheap. Luoshu wasn't fooled.
Even if he wanted to sell Waiter out, he had no way to do it—he didn't know Waiter's location or appearance.
After wasting time on empty talk, Luoshu cut to the chase.
"Fine. I don't need your life. Just a small favor. I've been publicly branded a criminal in China—I need a new identity and face. I'm sure you can manage that."
"Consider it done. I'll contact you soon." Waiter hung up.
Five minutes later, he called back.
"You're in Tianjin, right? Go to the Ancient Culture Street theater near Liberation Square. Ask for 'Old Wang.' His number is 139XXXXXXXX. He'll fix you up."
Following Waiter's directions, Luoshu found Old Wang, a theater makeup artist, by the Hai River.
Wang crafted a silicone mask for him, complete with a fake beer belly.
In minutes, Luoshu transformed into a scruffy, middle-aged slob.
The mask was flawless—realistic pores, natural skin tone. Even up close, it was indistinguishable from real skin.
Finally, Wang handed Luoshu a full set of documents.
"ID card, household register, health insurance card, credit card, driver's license… and a property deed. My superiors said you can use them freely."
"Why the property deed?" Luoshu frowned.
Wang explained. "That's your residence. This identity has been maintained by one of our agents—a reclusive otaku who stays home binge-watching anime. No social circle to worry about."
Luoshu took the items but didn't trust them.
After leaving the theater, he dumped the entire set in the apartment the Insurgency had provided and turned off their phone.
When Waiter tried calling to claim credit and build rapport, the line was dead.
He could only shake his head wryly.
Luoshu's distrust was clear. He wouldn't let the Insurgency track him precisely.
Next, he visited the local police station, forged a new fake ID, bought a new phone and SIM card, and moved into the studio he'd rented the night before.
By evening, the landlord arrived to sign the lease.
When the door opened to reveal a middle-aged slob, the landlord nearly thought he'd come to the wrong place.
Then Luoshu flipped open the Anomaly Archive to Page 52—Class-A Memory Alteration.
"The person you saw yesterday was me. I've always been your tenant. Understood?"
The landlord nodded blankly, his last 24 hours of memories erased. Whatever Luoshu said, he'd believe.
Luoshu had considered using the same trick on Old Wang, but since multiple Insurgency members knew about the disguise, wiping one man's memory was pointless.
At 7 PM, China's national news broadcast spent two full minutes on Luoshu's wanted notice.
The most absurd part?
The "parents" of the two dead child laborers appeared on screen, sobbing and condemning Luoshu's crimes, urging the public to help capture him.
Simultaneously, police blasted "safety alert" texts nationwide—even Luoshu's new phone received one.
News apps like Toutiao pinned the notice at the top. Even ad inserts in Qidian novels featured his face.
Everywhere, Luoshu's photo.
The Foundation was leaving him no way out.
He was now a public enemy.
Staring at the news, Luoshu touched his fake face.
Since you've forced my hand… don't blame me for what comes next.