Professional Assassin C15

Chapter 15: Completing job in the Substitute World (2)

Lin Yuetian indeed knew who might want Shen Junyu dead and who might be his potential client.

It was none other than the male second lead of this world!

Yes, this world had what could be called a “Deeply Devoted Male Second Lead” as determined by the system, and the original body’s memory included him.

This deeply devoted male second lead’s real name was Zhao Shuyang. He was a young, accomplished, and charming individual. As the son of the second-richest family in City A, he began helping his father manage the family business at a young age, earning considerable respect. He was a competitor of Shen Junyu and also a college classmate of the original body. During college, Zhao Shuyang had always harbored a secret love for the original body and even confessed, but after being rejected, he silently stepped back into the role of a friend. After the original body was taken away by Shen Junyu, Zhao Shuyang tried various ways to rescue him, but a second lead was still just a second lead. In this substitute world, Shen Junyu wielded absolute power in City A, making and breaking rules at will. Zhao Shuyang couldn’t compete with Shen Junyu and could only watch helplessly as the one he loved suffered years of torment.

After Lin Yuetian was discharged from the hospital, Zhao Shuyang had called him over twenty times, but Lin Yuetian didn’t bother to answer.

He wasn’t interested in the tangled romantic relationships among Zhao Shuyang, Shen Junyu, Bai Li, and the original body. What caught his attention were two traits of Zhao Shuyang: his deep hatred for Shen Junyu—and his wealth.

Of course, with Lin Yuetian’s deep understanding of human nature, he knew very well that hatred for destroying an opponent’s family business was very different from hatred strong enough to want someone dead. Moreover, now that Lin Yuetian had been “set free” by Shen Junyu, Zhao Shuyang’s lingering hatred and whether it would motivate him to fund Lin Yuetian’s assassination business were uncertain.

As Lin Yuetian put it, potential clients in such situations needed some stimulation to convert them into actual clients.

System: “Brother, take it easy!”

The system was worried that Lin Yuetian might hurt some innocent person, but this time, it was wrong.

Lin Yuetian did only one thing: he stripped off his clothes and bruised his thighs heavily, leaving grotesque marks that were hard to look at. Then, he took a fruit knife and made several cuts on his skin, pouring milk on the wounds to make the surface look pale. He took some close-up photos and sent them to Zhao Shuyang in an anonymous package.

Naturally, he also included a printed letter.

The main message was: “Weren’t you looking for Lin Yuetian? He’s been taken by Shen Junyu again. You know what kind of scum Shen Junyu is, don’t you? A complete scoundrel. Lin Yuetian is about to be tortured to death by him. If you want to save him, come alone to the phone booth at the fourth intersection westward on Guang’an Street at 8 PM on X date and answer a call.”

For a deeply devoted second lead, this was stimulation enough.

Sure enough, Zhao Shuyang appeared on Guang’an Street at 8 PM, right on time and alone.

At that moment, Lin Yuetian was hiding in an abandoned building across from the intersection, disguised and holding a binoculars. This abandoned building was the main reason he chose this spot for the transaction. He observed Zhao Shuyang pacing anxiously at the intersection, frequently checking his watch.

“His suit looks expensive,” Lin Yuetian commented.

“Focus on the important details,” the system remarked.

The alarm on Lin Yuetian’s phone rang, marking 8 PM sharp. Watching Zhao Shuyang through his binoculars, Lin Yuetian picked up a phone equipped with a freshly purchased 24-hour SIM card and made a call.

“Ring… ring…”

The telephone in the deserted booth started ringing. In a different setting, it might have been eerie enough for the opening of a horror movie. However, the already anxious Zhao Shuyang practically dashed into the booth and picked up the receiver without hesitation.

Before he could say a word, a voice interrupted him.

“Mr. Zhao, you don’t need to speak. Just listen,” Lin Yuetian said through a voice changer, making his tone odd and hoarse. “I know you hate Shen Junyu. He’s scum—we both know that. I also know what he’s done to the one you love… I’ll say this only once, so listen carefully: I can’t help you take over the entire Shen family’s assets, but I can give you an opportunity—I have the ability to kill Shen Junyu.”

Zhao Shuyang’s breathing hitched, but he said nothing, only gripping the receiver tightly.

Satisfied with his composure, Lin Yuetian continued, “Once Shen Junyu is dead, the Shen family will inevitably fall into chaos. At that point, you’ll have the freedom to rescue your beloved and become a hero… quite enviable, isn’t it? You can even seize this chance to swallow up the Shen family’s influence. By then, City A will be yours. I don’t need to explain this to you… Now, let’s talk business: upfront payment of 50 million, another 50 million after the job is done. No bargaining. Shen Junyu’s life is worth this price, and you’ll recoup far more after taking over the Shen family. This deal is more than fair. If you agree, see the empty envelope on the phone? Inside is a bank card. Deposit the upfront payment and bury the card in the flowerbed to the left of the booth. Within seven days, I’ll send you a photo of Shen Junyu’s death. Then, you pay the remainder.

“Think it over carefully, Mr. Zhao. Opportunities like this are rare. In today’s world, there are almost no outlaws left—you won’t get another chance, ever. If you miss this, you’ll forever remain second in City A, unable to even protect the one you love… Tomorrow, I’ll dig up the card. If it’s not there, the deal is off, and you can rest assured nothing will happen—everything will go back to normal. But if I see someone I shouldn’t, don’t blame me for not warning you: you won’t want to know what happens when you cross an outlaw.

“That’s all. Goodbye, Mr. Zhao. Think it over.”

Through his binoculars, Lin Yuetian saw Zhao Shuyang still clutching the receiver, seemingly stunned.

“He’ll agree,” Lin Yuetian said confidently.

The system was unnerved by the abnormal conversation it had just overheard. “How can you be so sure…?”

“Zhao Shuyang is the deeply devoted male second lead who has loved the original body for years. Initially, he could endure watching the original body suffer at Shen Junyu’s hands. But now that the original body is free, Zhao Shuyang’s long-standing love is on the brink of fruition. Yet, Shen Junyu strikes again, snuffing out even this glimmer of hope,” Lin Yuetian said calmly. “Seeing hope only to have it crushed is far closer to despair than never having hope at all. This stimulation is sufficient.”

“That’s all fabricated slander…” the system muttered.

“Not just that.”

“Oh?” The system was puzzled.

Lin Yuetian smiled. “Zhao Shuyang is also a businessman.”

And businessmen are always better at seizing opportunities.

The next day, Lin Yuetian dug up the card. Sure enough, he had received the payment.

“Zhao Shuyang probably investigated the account holder,” the system noted.

“The account holder is me—or rather, the original body. But Zhao Shuyang likely believes I’m still under Shen Junyu’s control. He probably thinks this card was smuggled out by someone close to Shen Junyu. Coupled with how I seemed to know Shen Junyu’s inner workings when I called, he’s likely concluded that this is a result of infighting within the Shen family. That may also explain why he agreed so quickly. Borrowing another’s strength while keeping his hands clean—such an opportunity is indeed rare,” Lin Yuetian said, completely at ease.

He pocketed the money, stretched his wrists slightly, and smiled gently at the mirror. “Alright, time to complete the mission.”