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Chapter 125 – Tracking

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As he was trailing the two of them from the shadows where he has plenty of room to run and hide, Max gradually thought that these Awakeneds were smarter than he expected.

A few minutes had passed, and they were still on the move, Max, who knows a lot about the city, estimated their final destination.

From the direction they were going, it seems like they planned to move from one side of the city to the other.

Max initially thought that these two Awakeneds were simple, but from how they acted, it showed that they were quite experienced, particularly in escaping.

The unconscious man was slumped on the shoulder of the big-framed Awakened with a thick coat covering him while on the other side of his shoulder hanged his little partner.

When they reached a certain distance away from the area where they took the man, they immediately went to a nearby street where their truck was parked.

Not wasting any time, they drove away as if nothing happened. Even now, as Max was trailing them, he could see their faces focused on getting their job done.

Based on his observations, they always avoided big roads, preferring to stay on the small streets where it was dark and roads that not many people use.

While the bigger Awakened was driving, his partner was on the lookout, giving Max a harder time following them.

Getting closer and closer to the other side of the city, Max slowed down and maintained a considerable distance between them, expecting them to meet another Awakened sometime soon.

This area is the location of factories and warehouses, so not a lot of people hang around this place.

Max watched as they slowed down and took a sharp turn, getting inside an inconspicuous building at the corner of the district.

He stopped near the building as he checked his surroundings while making sure there was no one on his tracks.

Following them in after confirming that it was only a parking space, Max saw their truck on one side without anyone in it.

As there was only one room with the lights on, it was evident where they were currently at.

…

“It’s a man this time?”

The fat guy said after looking at the unconscious man on the floor. Standing beside him were Bear and Fox, waiting for their payment.

Hearing what the fat guy just said, Bear responded in an uncertain tone,

“Yesterday you said that a man would be fine, right?”

Bear became worried when he heard his question. As far as he knows, women would be more expensive and more desired for prostitution. He also knows that the man they captured is not an attractive one.

He only did it because the fat guy said it’s fine to bring a man next time with no other requirements.

“Yes. This is fine.”

“And about your payment…”

Bear and Fox intently stared at the fat guy, waiting for his next words. They wondered whether there was a problem or they won’t be paid as much as they got when they brought a woman.

“Are you fine being paid on your phone?”

Bear sighed in relief and nodded as he was urged by his partner to pull out their only phone to receive the payment.

Once the transaction was done, the payment instantly reached their phone. Seeing the long string of numbers, Fox became ecstatic.

“Hah, we thought a man wouldn’t be as popular as a woman in the prostitution industry, looks like we were wrong.”

Bear with a broad smile, jokingly told the guy. When the fat guy heard him, one of his eyebrows twitched but it quickly replaced by a fake lewd smile as he said,

“Hehehe! Of course, of course! Different people have different tastes, you know, and our business is only getting started!”

“That’s right! Sometimes we could hear their voices when we’re on our way out. They must be having fun!”

Fox nodded, looking like he understands what the fatty said. Bear was the last one who spoke, ending their conversation.

“Brother Zhu, we’re going to go now! The night is still young, and we will have enough time to celebrate this day’s success!”

“Wait, before you go let’s add our contacts so I could easily reach you whenever I need something.”

Bear and Fox’s eyes brightened, being in contact with the Fatty Zhu meant that they would have a long period of cooperation which means more money for them, hurriedly nodding, they added each other on their phones.

As they got out on their truck, Fox couldn’t contain his excitement, hurrying Bear to drive.

“Let’s go to the bar we last went to!”

“No, let’s find another one. The last time we have to spend a long time to convince them to let you in because of how small you are. Do you want to wait that long again?”

“Hmm, so how about that high-class club? We are going there next time, right? How about now?”

“I don’t think they will let you in.”

“Hide me inside your coat and get a private room! We have a lot of money so they won’t chase us out!”

Bear nodded and turned their truck to another direction, going back to the center of the city.

Fatty Zhu followed them out to make sure they left before closing the gate to the building. He then went back to the room and locked the door.

Feeling safe with no eyes watching him, Fatty Zhu brought the unconscious man in the inner room where a stairs down was located.

When he reached the basement, he went directly in the only door ahead.

Inside the room, a strong stench of blood drifted through the air. The floor had traces of blood, especially near the table with a lot of straps attached to it.

At the corner of the room was a bloody cage with rusted steel chains sticking on the wall.

“Hehehe, they thought we were buying these people to become a prostitute. Can you believe that?”

Fatty Zhu walked in with the unconscious man, talking to the man waiting for him in the room.

On the couch by the wall, a man in a white shirt was busy scrolling on his phone. He looked up to see Fatty Zhu with a man on his arms.

“They finished it already? They sure work fast.”

“So what’s the plan for this guy?”

Fatty strapped the man securely on the table as he turned to his partner, waiting for his answer.

“We have a new order. Let’s check him first then we’ll send him off to the different buyers. They paid a lot for this, after all.”

Not bothering to look at the Fatty, the man replied while looking at his phone, communication with those buyers.

“How much did would we get with this?”

Fatty Zhu patted the strapped man then went his way to sit beside his partner. After calculating the amount they would get for this guy, his partner spoke,

“Almost double the amount yesterday.”

“Seriously? This is getting desirable by the day.”

From his laughing expression, Fatty Zhu seemed to be pleased with what he heard.

“Yeah, and it will increase our chances of being caught.”

 

 

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Chapter 124 – Capture

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The shadows were still quite far away, but as it kept hopping on roofs after roofs, it got closer and closer.

Max watched as they stopped on the nearby roof, looking down at the streets around them, seemingly waiting for someone.

Upon closer inspection, the shadows were two people. From how they effortlessly jumped from roof to roofs, Max figured that they should be Awakeneds.

Only Awakeneds would be able to do what they just did. Right now, two Awakeneds were in front of him!

This isn’t something Max always get to see. Thinking about it now, this was the first time he sighted two Awakeneds that he has no connection with.

But if Max were to guess, he would say that they aren’t that strong. From their faces and how they move, those two don’t look formidable in any way.

Recalling a problem that he had previously, Max focused on the two Awakeneds to try something.

Slowly, his eyebrows furrowed. This was something he would prefer not to see. Not seeing the familiar interface, Max confirmed it.

He couldn’t see their Status. Max tried it multiple times, and his skill was showing nothing.

This was truly problematic. It seems like he would have to consider being more cautious in the future.

Watching them from a distance, Max waited on their next move, wanting to see if they were the kidnappers from the reports.

The first time he read about the report, Max immediately knew there was something suspicious happening.

One kidnapping incident won’t be too questionable since it might just be some people exacting revenge on their enemy, but if it were repeating day after day, there definitely is something going on.

Of course, there is also the possibility that they aren’t the same people. Still, Max decided to follow them for the night to find out more about them.

There were currently two of them in his vision. Max didn’t exclude the idea of them having more helpers somewhere.

The first Awakened had a broad build, towering over the small guy next to him. When standing side by side, the small Awakened would only reach his waist.

Both of them stayed unmoving on one side of the roof like they were communicating. Max had no idea what they’re up to; he could only wait for them to move.

…

“Bear, did you see our target yet?”

“Why are you asking me? You should be the one looking! You have better eyesight than me!”

The guy with a massive frame nicknamed Bear responded. His eyes were not good enough to see faces clearly while they were on the roof; he is only good with brawls.

Looking at the areas of the empty street, the small-framed Awakened with a nickname Fox turned back to where Bear was waiting,

“Who should I even look for? The same as before?”

“What? You don’t even know that?”

“I didn’t hear anything. I was busy counting our money.”

Bear stared at him for a second before going deep in thought, recalling the words of their buyer last night.

“He said that we could catch anyone we find. Usually, we only take women because you know women would be more expensive, but last night, he said we should also take men, and they will pay the same amount!”

“Can you believe that? This will make our job easier! Who would have thought they would also take men as prostitutes!”

Fox had shining eyes as he smiled in excitement, showing his shiny white teeth,

“Did he really say that? They will take men and turn them into prostitutes?”

“Yes! And they will pay the same price! How great is that! It seems that they are really skilled. Every time they take the woman from us and bring her to a room, we could hear screams inside. They must be good at handling them.”

“Then, I’ll find us a good target; just wait here and be ready.”

Bear nodded as he stared at Fox, walking to the edge of the roof to find their next prey. This was how they spend their night every day.

They only have to take one person each night, and they would get paid a large amount of money, enough for them to live a few weeks in luxury with good food and liquors.

Bear could still remember the days when they had to risk getting caught stealing a tiny sum of money. At that time, they had to move to different places to lower the risk of being identified.

Their skills aren’t that strong either. Bear could only get a small boost in strength and speed that isn’t that effective against real Awakeneds they had encountered before.

Fox only has better eyesight, twice as clearer and sharper as ordinary people but he could only use it once a day at a maximum of an hour.

To avoid people recognizing them, they often change styles, sometimes with Fox wearing little girl’s clothes.

They also gave themselves a nickname based on their abilities to prevent people from knowing their identities.

Unbeknownst to them, their lame nicknames were starting to be heard by local forces from the number of thefts they have done.

Some authorities also know about them but chose to turn a blind eye, labeling them as harmless. If only the authorities know that they have already changed professions.

One day when they reached this city, after doing their daily rounds of stealing, they were approached by someone telling them that if both of them help with their tasks, they would be paid an enormous amount of money.

Now, they became used to it, taking one person from the streets in the most impoverished side of the city each day.

Since their victims were alone and there weren’t many people at night roaming around this area, they were able to get away with it.

As for what happens to those people they caught, they heard screams on the farthest rooms so it must be some prostitution happening.

Bear and Fox never bothered asking because they couldn’t care less, getting their hands on that much money with such an easy job.

“I got one! Come quick!”

On the vision of the small-framed Awakened was a man wearing a jacket, sneakily looking from side to side, feeling a chill run down his spine without any reason.

Once he saw there was nothing on his surroundings, the man tried to walk faster, slightly afraid of the silent, eerie atmosphere around him.

When he stepped forward, something fell on top of him, and not being able to react, he instantly got knocked out.

“We got him!”

Bear with Fox holding on to his neck, jumped down on top of the man, hitting his head and Bear trapping him in his thick arms.

Not wanting anyone to see them, Bear with Fox holding tightly on him and their victim unconscious on his arms, ran to a dark corner at the side of the street, away from any of the street lights around them.

The street had been robbed repeatedly that its condition became worse, without even a single security camera placed anywhere.

A dark shadow hurriedly traced their movements from the roofs, trailing them wherever they turned.

Max watched the whole thing happen and started following them, easily keeping up with their speed with his Level 20 Peak Rank 1 body.

 

 

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