Anbei only had his mindset on taking down Kuroda Kiyotaka and was not interested in the remaining three on the name list. He had to win the cabinet’s support, and the three were influential figures in the Ri nation. Winning their loyalty was a smarter move than simply wiping them out.

  “The assassination cases happened because of the formation of this secret genetic engineering research facility masterminded by Kuroda Kiyotaka. That Hua nation soldier, Xiao Han, has been executing everyone involved in the project, and we must handle this matter carefully,” Anbei said.

  “Do you mean that we should compromise?” A cabinet minister raised the question.

  “Compromise?”

  Anbei smirked and said, “Since the enemy started taunting us, the people of the Great Ri nation will, of course, retaliate and fight bravely.” He glanced at a corner of the room and continued, “Minister of Defense, Oshima Jun, I order you to activate a battalion from the Ri Nation Self-Defense Force to work with the police and arrest Xiao Han, the Thousand-Faced Killer, at all costs. Since he is taking down everyone involved in the research facility, you need to ensure that Koizumi Junichiro and the rest are safe. If there is anyone else assassinated, you will be on trial!”

  “Yes, Sir!”

  A gigantic man stood up and responded loudly. He was none other than the Minister of Defense, Oshima Jun. He had a shiny bald head and was an intimidating man, even when he was calm.

  “Thank you, Prime Minister. Thank you!”

  Oi Ichiro stood up and bowed to Anbei with sincere gratitude, and thanked the prime minister profusely as his name was on that list. Anbei’s order effectively provided him with protection against any assassination attempt by the Hua agent.

  “Prime Minister, it is extremely inefficient to split up the resources to protect them separately. The defense line would become too thin. Can we request that Mr. Koizumi Junichiro, Mr. Takahara Kei, and Ichiro-san live together temporarily? This way, the Self-Defense Force and the police can focus their resources in one location,” Oshima Jun suggested.

  Everyone agreed with his point of view, as splitting up their forces would mean that Xiao Han could take them out one by one. However, if they were together in one place, it would afford better protection for the targets and will make it more difficult for Xiao Luo to deal with the combined forces of the SDF and the police. As for Kuroda Kiyotaka—he was in jail, and that was probably the safest place to be. Therefore, they did not need to worry about any assassination attempts on him. Frankly, it did not matter even if he got killed, as the Prime Minister would be happy to see that happen.

  “Fine, we’ll do as you suggest. But you must obtain their agreement, and you shall not take liberties on your own. Do you understand that?” Anbei said.

  “Yes!”

  Oshima Jun nodded his head earnestly.

  ******

  ******

  \r \r \r

  It was now midnight.

  A vibrant nightlife was part and parcel of the urban lifestyle in countries with a well-developed economy.

  In a high-end dance club, many young men and women were dancing their hearts out. The music was blasting away, and couples were engaged in sensual and suggestive dancing. The atmosphere was thick with sexual innuendoes and aroused deep desires. It encouraged many to seek partners for a hot steamy encounter.

  Xiao Luo sat at a barstool at the counter and was taking a sip from his cocktail. The Face Changing Magic had consumed too much of his inner power, and he was forced to revert to his natural form after each assassination. Xiao Luo was aware of the old revolutionary strategies of the Hua Nation and had a good grasp of guerilla warfare tactics. He would not stay at one location for over four hours as the SDF and police were conducting a city-wide search to find him. This noisy dance club provided the only hideaway where Xiao Luo could enjoy a moment of peace.

  “Hello hunk, can I sit here?”

  A sixteen-year-old teenage girl approached him with a smile. She was decked in a white dress, and she had sparkling starry-like eyes. She was quite attractive, with a hint of innocence. She looked graceful and lady-like for her age, unlike other girls in the dance club.

  Two burly men in black accompanied her, and they were undoubtedly her bodyguards.

  Xiao Luo shook his head and thought, another one of those girls from an affluent family.

  At that moment, he could not help but think of Chuyue from Jiangcheng. This Ri nation girl did not pale in comparison with Chuyue’s beauty at all. Her skin was fair as snow, and her innocent gestures added to her allure. Her cascading braid gave a hint of cheekiness to her personality.

  “Yes, of course,” he replied.

  Ignoring the threatening looks from her bodyguards, Xiao Luo snapped his fingers and told the bartender, “Please serve this beautiful lady a glass of wine.”

  “As you wish, Sir,” the bartender answered with a smile.

  The girl sat down next to Xiao Luo and studied him thoroughly. Then she said, “You’re handsome and look really like the viral Thousand-Faced assassin, Xiao Han, who is on the Internet. Had you not spoken the Ri Nation language so fluently, I would have believed you to be him. Your Dongjing accent is excellent!”

  “Is that so?” he replied.

  Xiao Luo smiled and remained calm and confident. There was no trace of anxiety in his eyes right through the conversation.

  He then jokingly asked, “If I were him, would it scare you?”

  Wasn’t it interesting that he was here exchanging banter with a rebellious young girl when he was in between assassination jobs and the target of a massive manhunt?

  “I am not scared at all. There’s a common saying in the Hua nation—you can wear out iron shoes in a fruitless search, but by chance, you may find what you lost without even looking for it. If you are Xiao Han, then you should feel bad to have met me, as I can decide your fate with just a snap of a finger,” the girl bragged.

  “Just with them?” Xiao Luo asked as he glanced at the bodyguards.

  “Of course, they have guns with them all the time,” the girl responded, looking very confident.

  Xiao Luo looked away from the men and continued to sip the cocktail.

  The girl also took a sip of the wine served by the bartender and then asked, “Are you afraid knowing that they have guns? Then you will disappoint me. I thought I had run into a knight. I’ll tell you a secret. I still have my cherry, and if you can win my heart, you can pop it tonight.”

  What a rebellious girl!

  Xiao Luo could not help laughing and said, “So, you think I am here for a one-night stand?”

  “Are you not?” the girl asked with a wink.

  “Even if I were, I am not interested in an unripe young lady like you,” Xiao Luo answered with a smile. He glanced at the girl, pausing for a couple of seconds at her rather undeveloped bosom.

  “You……!”

  His words provoked the girl. “Fine, you have managed to pique my interest. Come, let’s go to the dance floor,” she teased.

  Xiao Luo wanted to reject her, but one of her bodyguards came up with a stern face. He took out a gun and pointed it at Xiao Luo’s head. “Boy, stay away from our miss if you want to live,” he warned.

  “If you want your hand to remain intact, then take away your gun now,” Xiao Luo replied. He had a disdainful look and spoke in a soft, but dangerous tone. He detested such threats.

  It surprised the bodyguard somewhat, and he immediately thought that he had run into an idiot.

  THWACK!

  Xiao Luo struck like lightning and grabbed hold of the bodyguard’s wrist like a steel clamp. In a seamless and swift move, Xiao Luo twisted his hand.

  CRACK!

  Even in the din of the dance club, the crisp sound of bone breaking could be heard. The bodyguard howled and dropped his gun. Xiao Luo immediately picked it up and spun it elegantly with his finger. Using his inner energy, he flicked it on the wineglass, and the gun continued spinning on the glass like a dancer.

  “Wow……!”

  Beside him, the young girl was so impressed that she could not stop staring at it.

  The other bodyguard saw that the situation was getting out of hand. He reached out for the gun at his waist, but Xiao Luo was already out of his seat and instantly knocked him down with a kick.