Chapter 0030: He'll Come Back - Shattered City

"What are you doing here?"

Both of them spoke at the same time.

The deputy was stunned for a moment as well.

"Captain Wen, do you two know each other?"

He turned and asked the woman.

Before she could answer, Ning Fan's reaction was even more intense.

"She's your captain?"

"Yeah!"

The deputy looked completely baffled. "Wen Cai, Captain of the F27 Zone Observers."

That's right — this woman was none other than Sister Cai, the one who had bought Ning Fan's weapons at the Black Market earlier that day.

Ning Fan had already sensed that this woman held some kind of status in F27. You could tell just from the way people around her acted.

But he never would have guessed she was the Observers' captain.

"Old Meng, why'd you grab him? What'd he do?"

Wen Cai looked at the deputy with equal confusion.

The deputy thought it over. Playing it safe, he didn't answer right away — instead, he asked, "Captain Wen, what's your relationship with this guy?"

Wen Cai glanced at Ning Fan, her brow furrowing slightly.

After a brief pause, she said quietly, "He's a client of mine."

"Oh, then it's fine."

The deputy even stepped around to the back of the chair and untied Ning Fan's ropes.

His attitude had done a complete one-eighty.

"Turns out you're one of us. No hard feelings, little bro!"

Ning Fan stared at him, unable to hold back. "Hey man, did your Spirit Servant take over or something?"

The deputy gave an awkward smile, not at all offended. He picked up the rope and headed for the door. "Captain Wen, you two chat — I won't interrupt. As for the details... just ask the kid yourself."

He paused, then turned back to Ning Fan with a slight bow. "Little bro, don't forget you literally just said 'thank you' to me. Nothing happened here — don't go spreading nonsense, yeah?"

Just as the deputy was about to open the door and leave, Wen Cai called out to stop him.

"Hold on."

The deputy froze. "What is it, Captain Wen?"

"Got any smokes?"

"Ah — yes! Of course!"

He handed her the entire pack. "Just bought them from the Path of Grace. Fresh stock!"

"Alright, get out."

Wen Cai took the cigarettes and waved him off.

Rather than looking upset about it, the deputy seemed visibly relieved as he hurried out.

Ning Fan just stared, dumbfounded.

Hadn't that deputy seemed pretty tough just a moment ago?

How had he turned into such a fawning yes-man in the blink of an eye — like some old eunuch groveling before an empress dowager?

This Wen Cai...

Was she really that intimidating?

"So why'd you come in here?" Wen Cai lit a cigarette.

"You looking for your big sis to sneak you out of the zone?"

"Two minutes ago, I didn't even know you were the Observers' captain."

Ning Fan gave a wry smile. "Aren't you just a Black Market trader?"

"Who says you can't do business on the side just because you've got a government job?"

Wen Cai raised an eyebrow. "I asked you — why are you here? If you actually did something wrong, don't expect me to cover for you. We're not that close."

"I mentioned a Spirit Servant inside the zone."

Ning Fan explained what had happened.

After listening, Wen Cai curled her lips. "Not a big deal."

"That's it?"

"What else? You want me to buy you dinner?"

She was straightforward. "Go on then. This doesn't involve you anymore. Just be more careful next time."

"What about Su Bei?"

Ning Fan asked.

Wen Cai said flatly, "That's our business — the Observers'."

"I actually have a way to catch him."

Ning Fan showed no intention of leaving.

Wen Cai's eyelids slowly lowered, and the look she gave him shifted to something odd.

"Stray pup, don't overestimate yourself. All the zone Observers couldn't manage it — what makes you think you can?"

Ning Fan was just about to speak his mind when he suddenly froze.

She...

What did she just call me?

Stray pup?

Was he reading too much into it, or...

Did she know something?

Stay calm.

Ning Fan steadied himself, keeping his emotions in check.

"Hear me out. You've got nothing to lose just by listening."

He said seriously, "If you don't think it's feasible, you can still turn me down."

Wen Cai studied him for a long moment, then suddenly smiled. "Alright. Let's hear it."

"First, get me a list of the victims."

Ning Fan's eyes lit up. "I need to know how many people Su Bei killed tonight."

Without much hesitation, Wen Cai opened the door and told one of her subordinates to bring the list.

Ning Fan studied it carefully for a while, and finally smiled.

"He'll come back."

He looked up. "And it won't be more than three days."

Wen Cai's interest finally stirred. "Why are you so sure?"

"Because he hasn't finished killing."

Ning Fan pointed at the list. "This man, Zhou Hao — his entire family of four was murdered. And this one, Xu Feng — his bedridden father wasn't spared either. That tells you Su Bei is someone who holds grudges and leaves no one alive."

"Go on."

"Do you know why he killed them?"

"Probably some conflict with Zhou Hao and Xu Feng at the Black Market during the day?"

"Exactly! And by coincidence, I was right there when it happened."

Ning Fan grew animated. "Right before you came to check out my goods."

"Continue."

"That conflict, when you strip it down, was nothing more than a few harsh words. But Su Bei still killed their entire families. That alone proves he's obsessively vindictive — and completely reckless."

Ning Fan pointed at the list again. "The one who originally argued with Su Bei was Zhou Hao. Xu Feng just chimed in, and he still got killed. But here's the thing — two other people also stepped up for Zhou Hao that day."

Wen Cai's eyes flickered.

"So what you're saying is — Su Bei will come back to kill those other two as well?"

"Not just those two. He'll kill their whole families."

Ning Fan said with certainty.

Wen Cai's expression finally turned grave.

She stubbed out her cigarette, pinched her chin, and thought for a long while.

"Would he really dare come back?"

"No — it's no longer a matter of daring. Because he doesn't feel afraid."

Ning Fan's voice dropped. "When someone breaks the rules again and again without ever being punished, the rules stop meaning anything to him. They become nothing more than words on paper."

Wen Cai clenched her teeth, anger flashing through her eyes.

"Fine. Then I'll have the guards loosen up a bit and see if he's got the nerve to come back."

"Actually, don't do that."

Ning Fan shook his head. "People died inside the zone and the killer got away — if the guards suddenly relax, he'll smell something off. Sister Cai, Su Bei might be crazy, but he's not stupid."

Wen Cai stared at him, her brow furrowed.

After a long silence, she suddenly laughed — without any warning.

"How about this — you lead the operation?"

Ning Fan blinked.

Wen Cai crossed her arms and tilted her head. "I'm not joking, and I'm not trying to mock you. It's just that this whole idea came from you, so it makes the most sense for you to be the one running it."

"But I'm not an Observer."

"Doesn't matter. I'm the captain. I make the call."

Wen Cai smiled. "Though, if Su Bei doesn't come back the way you predicted, that payment in Sola? I'm keeping it."

Ning Fan's jaw dropped.

Was this woman seriously pulling that kind of move?

What did that have to do with their earlier deal?

But before he could argue, Wen Cai's smile slowly turned wicked.

"But if Su Bei does show up and you fail to take him down... that responsibility falls on you too."