Surveillance
Red Dust Domain.
Jian Changsheng stood in front of the second-floor window, looking down at the crowded figures below, his brows furrowing ever tighter.
"Something's wrong..."
"What's wrong?" On the black leather sofa, 9 of Hearts lazily yawned.
"These gamblers." Jian Changsheng pointed below. "Ever since the Beidou Consortium started going crazy, I've been paying attention to the situation in the Casino. There are a few people who come every day but don't gamble. They just sit to the side eating free fruit and snacks... Remember last time someone looking for the restroom found their way to the second floor? I feel..."
"Someone is watching us." 9 of Hearts looked at him in surprise. "Not bad, rookie. I thought it would take you at least another half a month to notice... You haven't made zero progress in these past six months."
Jian Changsheng froze for a moment. "You knew already??"
"I only found out yesterday too."
"What's there to tell? Besides, isn't it perfectly normal for us to be targeted? Have you forgotten how much of a commotion we caused when we forcibly snatched Queen of Hearts back from the Police Officers that day? Furthermore, you discovering some things yourself versus me proactively telling you makes a world of difference."
Jian Changsheng paced back and forth in the room, his face full of depression, occasionally scratching his hair.
"True... But we didn't have a choice that day either. Who could have thought Senior Bai Ye would suddenly appear covered in blood and get caught right in front of the Police Officers? If we didn't make a move to save him, by the time [Floating Life Painting] over there realized his identity, everything would be too late."
"They're probably just suspicious at the moment... However, we must be careful with our recent actions." 9 of Hearts pointed at the sky outside the window.
"It's not just those Plainclothes Officers keeping an eye on us. [Floating Life Painting] probably noticed something too and has already sent people to watch this area like hawks... The moment we act abnormally, I'm afraid we'll immediately be surrounded by an inescapable net. Although it's not like we wouldn't be able to run, doing so would mean our half a year of operations was all for naught."
Jian Changsheng's expression became increasingly ugly. He glanced up at the sky outside the window and immediately withdrew his gaze.
"How long are they going to keep watching?"
"That's hard to say... One month? Two months? Depends on when he dispels his doubts about us."
"Then if they never dispel them, doesn't that mean we can't do anything?"
"There's no other way... Don't tell me you want to clash head-on with [Floating Life Painting] on their turf with just the few of us?" 9 of Hearts counted on his fingers. "Queen of Hearts is still in a coma. Just relying on you, me, 10 of Diamonds who arrived last month, and Jack of Clubs who arrived the month before... the four of us added together are still no match for [Floating Life Painting]."
Jian Changsheng struggled internally for a long time, let out a long sigh, and sat down on the sofa opposite 9 of Hearts.
"Wait it is then, it's nothing more than wearing them out... But there's one thing I'm worried about right now."
"What is it?"
"I just sent a letter to that guy Six of Hearts a few days ago, calling him over to help..." As Jian Changsheng spoke, his voice subconsciously lowered. "If he really came, and doesn't know the situation here yet, what if he gets discovered by the people from [Floating Life Painting]?"
Before 9 of Hearts could speak, Jian Changsheng shook his head on his own,
"No... maybe I'm overthinking it. Why would he come? Isn't it nice to stay properly in the Ancient Vault of the Drama Path? Besides, my relationship with him isn't even that good... It's just a letter, maybe he didn't even take it to heart at all."
9 of Hearts: ...
"You're overthinking it."
"You also think he won't come, right?"
"I mean, his vigilance is far higher than you think." 9 of Hearts leaned back against the sofa entirely and spoke unhurriedly, "A guy who could disguise himself as a Special Envoy of the Golden Society at the Third Tier and deceive the entire Main City into running circles, how could he be exposed so easily? As for whether he will come... how would I know about the affairs between you two??"
9 of Hearts pondered for a moment and changed the subject. "However, there is one thing I am certain of."
"What thing?"
"With Chen Ling's disguise and infiltration abilities, if he really came... I'm afraid neither [Floating Life Painting] nor us would be able to recognize him.
Only when a certain moment arrives will he appear before us in an unimaginable way."
...
The night gradually thickened.
Outside the Main City gates of the Red Dust Domain, a merchant caravan was only allowed passage after passing a strict search by Police Officers. Under the starry sky, they passed through the thick city walls and slowly entered the Main City.
"After rushing all the way, we're finally here..."
"Yeah, we can get a good sleep tonight. Once we deal with the goods over these next two days, we can go home."
"It still has to be the Red Dust Main City. Look, even at night it's just like daytime. Compared to here, our small town is still too desolate... I wonder when we'll earn enough money to be qualified to live long-term in the city."
"Give it up, counting on earning money to get in is far less simple than transitioning to learn Singing and dancing right now... After the Flower Capital Consortium collapsed, that newly risen Huang Clan Consortium is still pretty good. I heard their contract treatment is fairly decent, and quite a few well-known artists have transferred under their banner. Could they be considered the rising star fifth consortium?"
"Singing and dancing... Forget it, forget it, I still don't have that talent."
"..."
While everyone was chatting idly, the merchant member trailing at the very end of the group quietly and silently slowed his pace, distancing himself from the caravan. When no one was paying attention, he quietly walked into an Alleyway beside him.
When he walked out again, he had already transformed into a young figure wearing plain clothes, his gaze slowly sweeping over the surroundings.
"Half a year has passed, but this place hasn't changed a bit."
This young man was naturally Chen Ling after changing his face. After leaving the Ancient Vault of the Drama Path, he rushed non-stop towards the Red Dust Main City. Seeing a merchant caravan preparing to enter the city, he took advantage of their rest time to knock out a member, take his place, and quietly sneak in.
Compared to Aurora City, the difficulty of infiltrating the Red Dust Main City was much lower. After all, absolutely no one could enter Aurora City, while the Red Dust Main City still allowed merchants. As long as there was a place where people could go in and out, Chen Ling could get in.
Chen Ling identified the direction and, according to the location of the Casino in his memory, walked straight in a certain direction.
After entering the city, Chen Ling's first priority was naturally to rendezvous with Jian Changsheng and the others. On one hand, he needed a place to stay, and on the other hand, he also wanted to understand more about the current situation in the Main City.
Jian Changsheng sounded quite urgent in the letter, and he didn't know exactly what had happened...
An unknown amount of time passed, and Chen Ling finally arrived at the road where the Casino was located in his impression. Although it was already late at night, there were still quite a few people going in and out of the Casino entrance, and the inside of the Casino was brightly lit, a scene of bustling prosperity.
It seems in this half year, Jian Changsheng operated the Casino pretty well?
Chen Ling was just preparing to step inside when he suddenly seemed to sense something, and his figure abruptly froze in place.
"This is..." His eyes narrowed slightly.