Chapter 684: Fateful Collisions in Flame City

If it weren’t for the agent insisting on charging me 3000 just to pass, I probably wouldn’t have attempted the breach, right?

If I hadn’t tried to break in, I’d have calmly come to Flame City, booked a cheap inn, and waited for the gathering to start. That way, I’d likely have avoided meeting Dracula so early. Without meeting Dracula, I wouldn’t have been pursued by the entire law enforcement for passing counterfeit money… Dracula is truly shameless… and without being chased, I wouldn’t have ended up sleeping rough on the streets at night, would I?

Not sleeping on the streets means I wouldn’t have run into the Hell Regiment. Without them, I wouldn’t have encountered Xia Chong. Without Xia Chong, I wouldn’t have entered the Flame Building—nor met Number Two, nor stepped into the Nightmare of God, and therefore I wouldn’t have learned about the Flame plan…

…The more I think about it, the more miraculous it all seems.

If I hadn’t discovered the Flame plan, maybe I would have just chalked it up to local customs during the ceremony?

Perhaps, none of this would have happened?

Of course, given Mom’s designs with the Cangzhang Sect and Pale Hand, an encounter was inevitable.

But at least it wouldn’t have led this Hell Designer to a massive misunderstanding…

That logic flashed through my mind and made perfect sense—it was clearly Flame who struck first…

Yet, in the eager eyes of the Hell Designer, he never voiced it.

After all, it was only 3000…

I still have some pride. My gut tells me that mentioning this might be downright embarrassing.

Moreover, thinking deeper about it, Flame’s character never really cared about the chaos around.

That doomed the bandit-like agent system—all but ensuring I’d be extorted. And if extorted, I’d never submit. So, infiltrating Flame City’s internal transportation network was fated…

…So, was destiny hidden in all these coincidences?

…Flame’s fate had long been sealed.

……

……

But he only hinted at it briefly before falling into a pensive silence—a gesture that the Hell Designer interpreted all too differently.

At first he seemed confused, then anxious, and finally, he suddenly came to a realization.

With a quiet sigh, he bitterly muttered to himself:

“You’re right, there’s no need to spell everything out. A hint is more than enough.”

“If, even after your hint, I can’t figure out my mistake, who in the world is qualified to be your opponent?”

“……”

Saying that, he let out a deep sigh and looked steadily at Xia Chong.

He appeared completely resigned—like a man waiting to be led to his fate.

“What the heck is all this about?”

Xia Chong, clearly as puzzled as I was, glanced at me before signaling to the Negative Zero Unit.

Immediately, two members stepped forward, fastening the Ability Inhibitor and handcuffs around the Hell Designer’s neck and wrists. Throughout the ordeal, the Hell Designer didn’t resist at all—even the armed men behind him made no move to stop it.

“Are these guys from the Research Institute?”

After watching the Hell Designer get caught, an elderly man in a three-piece suit—leaning on a cane—hurried from a military vehicle. So frantic was he that his body trembled, while his secretary bustled to keep up. Breathless, he reached Xia Chong and the others, exclaiming, “Oh, you finally made it…”

With tears nearly streaming down his face, he hefted his cane and said, “Flame has been ruined because of him…”

“It’s all that cult leader’s doing—we have so much to say…”

Then he looked at me and deliberately asked, “So… who’s in charge on our side?”

“It’s me!”

Xia Chong’s voice chimed in just below my ear.

An expressionless girl glared coldly at him, seemingly unfazed by his anxiety and having no intention to indulge his rambling. She simply stated flatly, “There’s no need to rush these words now.”

“I just want to ask: what’s your stance on the special pollution in Flame City?”

……

“Stance…”

The old man slammed his cane down, “Of course we’ll fully cooperate and completely eliminate it!”

“Very well.”

Xia Chong nodded authoritatively, then stepped back and said to me, “Captain, I need to negotiate with Flame’s high-ups. Although the Hell plan has been halted, we haven’t received instructions on what comes next. The priority is to utilize Flame Group’s armed forces to get the city running. Will you come with me?”

I paused, knowing that complex issues lay ahead.

Aware of my own shortcomings in this area, after a moment of thought I asked, “Will they be punished?”

Xia Chong exhaled softly, “Not a single one will escape.”

Instantly, I felt relieved. “Good, because I still have a gathering to attend, so I’ll skip this…”

Xia Chong nodded and turned to leave.

“Um…”

I suddenly remembered something, hesitated, and whispered.

Xia Chong immediately turned to look at me.

Others around also stared, but in front of so many people, I felt too embarrassed to speak up.

Just then, my collar was tugged. Turning, I saw Scalpel signaling me with his eyes.

Leaning in quickly, I heard him say weakly, “Don’t worry, I’ve noted that hundred million…”

I looked up in shock. Meeting Scalpel’s gaze, I understood immediately and felt both startled and delighted.

Yet, the thought of Dracula still made me uneasy.

Scalpel tugged me once more, leaning in to add, “We’re on the same side…”

In that moment, a wave of relief washed over me.

Scalpel’s single sentence completely reassured me—what was Dracula compared to all that?

After all, we’ve got allies on the A-side…

Buoyed by the change in mood, I waved at Xia Chong, signaling her to go ahead.

Xia Chong, though unsure of what was said, decided to ask Scalpel later. Without further words, she set off with the Negative Zero Unit and the Beast Tamer, while Scalpel, along with those on a stretcher, turned and moved forward.

Nearby, my Sister—hanging by the wall—glanced at Scalpel, then at my excited expression, and hopped down curiously.

“Sister, be careful…”

Fearing she might get hurt by the heavy Scalpel, I quickly warned her.

Xia Chong abruptly stopped, turned stiffly, and a slight blush spread over her cherubic face.

“Got it.”

She replied in a forced, calm tone before striding away.

……

……

“Have you decided where to go?”

After resolving a major issue, I felt much lighter and returned with a smile.

I held a genuine fondness for every member of the Club—even for Dracula.

After all, perhaps Dracula doesn’t even realize he’s about to steal my business?

“Where to?”

A group of club members, seeing Xia Chong and the Flame armed force leave, sighed in relief.

Their faces lit up as they quickly picked up the previous conversation:

“This city is in utter chaos. Various polluting forces still haven’t been completely eradicated. Too many people need help, and many hidden polluters must be dealt with. We must also prevent opportunists from robbing amid the confusion…”

“So, are we going for skewers or hotpot?”

“……”

“When? They’re still thinking about skewers and hotpot?”

I was a bit overwhelmed by their line of thought—as a responsible normal person, I should…

Before I could form a proper thought, Dracula interjected, “Skewers or hotpot? After all, we’re club elites!”

“Come on, I’ll take you all to the grand hotel for a buffet.”

“……”

The expressions on everyone’s faces shifted immediately—especially Mad Old Wang and Night Owl.

Even I swallowed back what I was about to say, silently nodding as I trailed behind.

Taking on the burden of treating everyone, Dracula assumed the role of the big sister. With proud determination, she boarded a nearby car and led the way. Strangely, it seemed she had given a command, for none of the other Draculas followed her.

Moreover, as she left, each of the other Draculas gradually lost their distinctive look, slowly morphing into ordinary people. This seemed to be a trait of her ability—her control over the “Dracula Zombie Regiment” wasn’t permanent.

Others cheered and effortlessly pried open several roadside cars to follow her, displaying remarkable skill.

Unlike them, I didn’t just grab any car, so I ended up riding a stolen one.

“Make way, make way…”

A convoy joyfully sped through this ruined city amid a bewildered crowd, racing off to the buffet.

Not only them, but even some spies from other factions—and individuals inexplicably caught in the turmoil, who by stance had been assigned to the Red Moon Club—happily trailed behind.

Among them were that group previously involved in diarrhea and cable theft.

“After all, Sister Qi hasn’t finished her business yet. Tag along for some food isn’t such a big deal, right?”

“……”

Dracula led us to the seven-star hotel she had arranged for my check-in earlier.

I was delighted. I even checked the underground parking lot to confirm that my car hadn’t been towed, which cheered me further.

Inside, the hotel lay deserted, with a silence that usually follows after a massive riot.

Dracula, knowing the way like the back of her hand, led us straight to the lavish buffet on the seventh floor and flung open the door…

“Eat what you like, drink as you wish…”

With a sweeping gesture, Dracula pointed inside, “Everything’s on me, Sister Dracula!”

Everyone’s eyes lit up.

The riot had lasted barely three hours. By then, night had just fallen, items in the hotel had only recently been set out, and guests either fled in panic or were affected by pollution—so basically nothing had been touched.

Then, like locusts invading a paddy field, we all burst in.

Someone lugged over a giant silver plate and dug in, while others piled little portions of every dish into small mounds.

Some stuffed an entire salmon with wasabi into their mouth, while others grabbed ingredients to whip up teppanyaki right there.

A few even put on chef hats.

Amid all the chaos, someone elegantly sipped a glass of red wine at a nearby table.

One person carefully selected the most expensive ingredients and, discreetly, boxed them to take home.

In all the commotion, only Night Owl—the best eater—seemed distracted, constantly peeking out the window.

“Honestly, this Red Moon Club gathering is truly meaningful…”

Sister Dracula raised her glass of red wine, warmly signaling to everyone, “I’m genuinely delighted to see all of you…”

“Come on, let’s toast to saving Flame City…”

“……”

Everyone enthusiastically raised their glasses amid cheers.

While clinking glasses and laughing, they mused, “The only regret is that something seems a bit off with the atmosphere…”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Before the conversation could even finish, bright flames shot skyward a few kilometers away.

In an instant, in the dense black of night, several dazzling bursts of light erupted.

Flame after flame burst, nearly turning our surroundings into daylight.

Everyone immediately turned their gaze, briefly stunned before their faces lit up with surprise…

The atmosphere—miraculously, it finally arrived out of the blue…

……

……

“Oh my…”

Night Owl, who had been daydreaming, finally leaped up excitedly, thumping his thigh, and then turned to me:

“Bro, the bomb I planted finally went off. I even spent ages poring over its manual…”

“How’s the vibe, bro…”

“……”

I was completely dumbfounded: “Did you just launch Flame’s Hell Umbrella Missile?”