Chapter 412: Chapter 283: Turbulent Undercurrents (Part 2)
But this rule has a premise - it only protects active mercenaries.
If a mercenary retires and leaves this circle, naturally they will no longer be protected by the rules.
Therefore, retirement is a very contradictory thing in the mercenary realm.
Because if you want to climb higher as a mercenary, you have to execute many missions, during which you will offend many people.
The more people you offend, the more you need the rules of the circle to protect you.
The more reliant you are on protection, the less you can leave this circle, and the further you are from so-called retirement.
It’s a dead end.
Mercenaries without fame, of course, can retire without much fuss, as nobody cares about the small fry.
But for those great mercenaries who have achieved success, they often have to keep fighting within the circle until the day they die.
This is also why a saying is passed around in this city known as the "Mercenary City" — there is only one destination for legends of New Moon City, and that is the graveyard.
Nuobai was hunted this time because of her retirement.
After retiring, she was no longer part of the circle and not protected by the rules.
Therefore, the bounty on her head was completely compliant and reasonable, and no one could say otherwise.
The reason this bounty caused such a massive stir was mainly due to two points, fame and fortune.
Fortune, the bounty this time is 500 million, and very few can resist such an amount.
Fame, Nuobai is the renowned "Silent Death God," and whoever successfully hunts this legendary figure proves they have the qualifications to become the next legend, instantly becoming the focus of New Crescent City, and even the world.
Even if counter-killed, is it a disgrace? Not at all, to die at the hands of a legend is better than living a mundane life and dying bedridden.
Due to this series of temptations, mercenaries, assassins, and violent groups have flocked to New Moon City, drawn by the scent.
Even some insiders with dark web access secretly picked up their guns, joining the hunt for the Death God.
The New Moon City’s New Year’s Eve remained just as vibrant as before, yet it had already begun an unprecedented enormous undertow.
...
When Su Mo arrived at Nuobai’s residential area driving a black Ark, the place had already been cordoned off by alerted security forces.
The area was teeming with sheriffs, accompanied by Anti-Violence Fourth Section team members, safeguarding and conducting on-site trace identification.
Outside the caution tape gathered numerous distraught residents of the community, whispering to each other.
And some with sinister eyes and an unusual aura, presumably mercenaries, assassins, or thugs coming for Nuobai’s head.
Su Mo, wearing a baseball cap, emerged from the shadows, first glancing at the scene, seeing only a corpse covered in a white cloth, making it impossible to identify.
But judging by the exposed antique clothing and the wrinkles on the skin, it was obviously not Nuobai.
He calmed his mind, carefully listening to the murmurs among the crowd.
"It really scared me to death, sleeping well when suddenly there’s a boom, I thought it was an earthquake."
"Did you see what happened clearly? It was so loud I didn’t dare stick my head out on the balcony."
"I hid by the window to watch, seemed like the incident happened to that girl on the 6th floor of Building 2 across, the really pretty one, who usually walks alone."
"Weird, that girl looked pretty quiet, how could she get involved in such a thing... who wants to kill her?"
"Anyway, judging by the gear, they’re all professional, wearing outfits marked with a Three-headed Dog emblem."
Su Mo’s eyes narrowed at these words.
The Three-headed Dog emblem, this should be the Hellhound Mercenary Corps led by Lucifer of Taiwei Star.
Sure enough, even the New Moon Seven Stars were involved...
This matter is problematic; regardless of the source of Nuobai’s exposure, the bounty could reveal all her citizen information—it must be connected to the Public Security Bureau.
Thinking of this, Su Mo couldn’t help but get angry and called Sikinkov.
Sikinkov: "Little brother..."
Su Mo: "You must know all about this, tell me honestly, does Nuobai’s exposure have anything to do with you?"
Sikinkov: "It has nothing to do with me... If the dark web hadn’t exposed the information, I wouldn’t even know what she looks like."
Su Mo: "But the exposed information is all from the Public Security Bureau’s citizen records. Are you telling me you, the bureau director, know nothing at all?!"
Sikinkov: "Little brother, I swear to God, okay? I really have nothing to do with this! I’ve checked all the personnel in the archives section, the surveillance, equipment browsing history, it’s not leaked from us!"
Su Mo’s brows knitted tight.
If Sikinkov is telling the truth, then the Public Security Bureau really took a hit for nothing this time...
Well, besides personnel from the Public Security Bureau, the only ones who can freely access citizen records are...
Su Mo asked gravely: "People from those giant corporations? Did they directly use special privileges to access the Public Security Bureau’s citizen information database and took Nuobai’s records?"
Sikinkov was silent for a long time before saying in a low voice: "There are things I can’t say. Little brother, I just hope you take my advice—don’t get involved in this matter."
"Those people are the real rulers of New Moon City, they can destroy you just like that, even me. Live your life well, and don’t oppose them, okay?"
Su Mo said nothing, silently hung up the phone, his heart sinking.
If figures from major corporations really got involved, then that would be the worst news...
These de facto rulers are harder to deal with than any enemy before.
Right now, the mastermind’s purpose is unclear, why they issued a bounty against Nuobai.
Whatever the other party wants, at least the situation needs to stabilize first, otherwise, under such a high-pressure environment, Nuobai can’t possibly hold on for long alone.
Thinking of this, he immediately called Dress.
Upon connection, Dress’s cheerful voice came through: "Hey, Old Su, Happy New Year."
Su Mo asked urgently: "Old D, you know about the bounty, right?"
Dress: "Sure, lots of people are buying intel from me, but I lack any real goods myself, haha."
Su Mo: "Can you do me a favor? Talk to those mercenaries you know, ask them not to hunt Nuobai, to give her a way out, persuade as many as you can."
Dress: "Oh... I just remembered, you two have a connection... Old Su, it’s not that I’m being unkind, but your request is hard to manage."
"Such a large bounty, such benefits, you want me to approach them and say stop? How am I supposed to phrase that?"
Su Mo: "I’ll give you money. I still have tens of millions on my account, I’ll give it all to you, just help me out."
Dress chuckled mysteriously, saying meaningfully: "Ah, to tell you the truth, not only do mercenaries want that 500 million bounty, but I want it too~ I’ve already sent my people."
"You!..." Su Mo clenched his fists in anger.
Dress soothed: "Old Su, I know you’re anxious, but don’t rush. Hear my advice—friendship is friendship, business is business."
"Protecting Nuobai doesn’t benefit you at all. With your current strength, it’s impossible to protect her."
"So, since you can’t protect, then simply join in, get involved in this hunt for the Death God~"
"You’ve become a renowned mercenary, surely you’re not that naïve to believe in eternal friendship, right?"
Su Mo replied with a cold face: "Nuobai is my friend, in this matter, I’m going to play the fool this time."
"Oh, suit yourself, I can’t stop you." At this point, Dress’s tone turned profound, "But, Old Su, I advise you to see the situation clearly."
"The pusher behind this must be a bigwig in a major corporation. You can have some naïve thoughts, but don’t foolishly challenge the giants’ authority."
"I have high hopes for you, you know. I’m waiting for the day you become the King of Mercenaries in New Moon City and take me, your old friend, to new heights."
"So you have to see the situation clearly, position yourself correctly. One wrong step here, and no one can save you."
"Okay, that’s all, hanging up. I’ll buy you a drink some time~"
The call was cut off unilaterally, leaving only the cold beep of the disconnected line.
