Chapter 20 A Matter of Course

Following the rat’s lead, Yu Jin and Qiu Yining arrived at a place called the Veteran’s Bar, where the latest underground boxing tournament was being held. After revealing his deepest secret, the rat went on to spill other minor details as well, allowing Yu Jin and Qiu Yining to learn that he wasn’t the only middleman handling the transfer of goods and that the venue for the underground fights was constantly changing.

Walter White, upon receiving the finished concoction, was instructed by Jesse Pinkman to deliver it to a specific middleman, who would then secretly pass it on to the bribed fighters. The team was small but highly organized, and under Jesse Pinkman’s control, mistakes were nearly nonexistent.

“Cheers!”

Yu Jin and Qiu Yining sat comfortably in the car, savoring the taste of their free meal while keeping an eye on the Veteran’s Bar not far off.

The bar’s exterior was hardly inviting: its neon sign was mostly burnt out, and the glass walls were riddled with cracks. Though night had not fully fallen, numerous drunken patrons came and went frequently. Unsavory men and women lurked about, their furtive glances adding to the bar’s unsavory reputation. When the door swung open, deafening, chaotic music spilled out, as if determined to pierce eardrums. Qiu Yining frowned deeply, her heart recoiling from such a disorderly place.

“Why don’t I go in, and you wait here?” Yu Jin suggested, sensing Qiu Yining’s reluctance.

“No, I’ll stick with you. If a fight breaks out, I don’t want to be a mere bystander,” she replied resolutely, shaking her head.

“No need to guess—there will definitely be a fight. Regardless of whether the rat has informed Jesse Pinkman about us, the police chief will be deploying officers inside and outside the bar.” Yu Jin nodded toward a figure nearby. “See that plainclothes detective?”

Sure enough, a plainclothes officer, noticing their gaze, immediately realized he’d been spotted. Clutching his trench coat collar, he quickly retreated while discreetly reporting through a miniature communicator.

“So if we just barge in, aren’t we walking into a trap?”

“Not necessarily. For now, the relationship between Jesse Pinkman and us isn’t one of total hostility. From what he muttered in the car wash earlier, it doesn’t seem like he intends to completely abandon Walter White. So if possible, cooperation is still on the table. Though the chances are slim, it’s worth trying. Let’s go—don’t keep them waiting. Once inside, stay close to me. Don’t wander off and lose yourself halfway.”

“Hmph, do you think I’m three years old?” Qiu Yining rolled her eyes but the moment she entered the clamorous, sauna-like Veteran’s Bar, she instinctively grabbed Yu Jin’s arm.

With the music blaring at a deafening volume, even simple conversation became a challenge. Yu Jin gently squeezed Qiu Yining’s hand, giving her a reassuring look before parting the crowd on the dance floor and making their way toward the bar.

As he stepped through the entrance, Yu Jin immediately unleashed his Shadow Eye, sensing an intense gaze near the bar. Although the chaotic lighting prevented him from identifying its owner, it confirmed the direction of their objective.

“Move aside! Coming through!”

Yu Jin restrained his urge to charge forward, calling out as he pushed steadily through the crowd toward the center of the dance floor. Suddenly, several figures surged out from different directions, closing in on the pair without warning. If these were merely drunken troublemakers, it wouldn’t be serious, but Yu Jin noticed each concealed a weapon—clearly ill-intentioned.

As he thought, he reached out, grabbing one attacker’s hand as it reached for his waist. After a quick struggle that went as expected, he yanked the assailant aside, causing him to collide with another would-be assailant. Qiu Yining also sensed the threat, but before she could act, Yu Jin knocked a weapon from a third attacker with his cane, then pointed its sharp end at the last man’s throat, forcing him to halt and drop his weapon.

Startled by the commotion, the nearby patrons instinctively backed away, clearing a path for Yu Jin and Qiu Yining. But Yu Jin wasn’t ready to let the attackers off so easily. Brandishing his cane, he steadily pushed the last man back toward the bar until he was cornered. Then, with a cold voice, he demanded, “Tell me—who sent you?”

His gaze flicked to the side, where a tall man in black leaned casually against the bar, sipping his drink without concern for the chaos. Yu Jin knew this man had been the one locking eyes with him earlier.

Could he be the mastermind?

Yu Jin stared warily at the captive assailant, who trembled with fear but refused to reveal the truth. Suddenly, the man’s gaze shifted, inadvertently giving Yu Jin the answer. Following his line of sight, Yu Jin spotted a limping man with a prominent scar across his scalp approaching.

The Hyena?

Recalling the description from the black businessman, Yu Jin immediately recognized the figure as the owner of the Veteran’s Bar—the Hyena.

“A misunderstanding! It’s all a misunderstanding! Why resort to violence, gentlemen?” the Hyena said, baring his teeth in a grimace. His scar and expression truly made him resemble the beast he was named after. Yu Jin guessed the black businessman had been called “Fly” because of his unusually large eyes.

Just as Yu Jin momentarily relaxed, the Hyena’s expression shifted, as if listening intently. Suddenly solemn, he raised a hand and asked, “Would you two be willing to come with me? A big shot is waiting to see you.”

“Why not?” Yu Jin answered.

Exchanging a glance, Yu Jin and Qiu Yining guessed the identity of this “big shot” and followed the Hyena toward the bar’s backroom. As they left, Yu Jin glanced back to see the black-clad man rise and slowly walk toward another heavily guarded exit.

“That one’s strange,” Qiu Yining whispered to Yu Jin. “My Holy Light Detection shows an unusual reaction to him—something I’ve never encountered before. It means his existence corresponds to the unique insight of the Sun’s First Daughter.”

“Hm?”

Yu Jin’s mind stirred. If this man indeed had ties to the Sun’s First Daughter, then besides the Maple Blood family, there was another force on Maple Island connected to the Imperial World.

With questions lingering, they entered a private room and found Jesse Pinkman inside. The police chief, known for his cunning, glared at Yu Jin as if he wanted to slap himself. Previously, Jesse had been rattled by Yu Jin’s flawless judgments and had mistaken him for a legendary reality warper, fleeing in panic. This had left Jesse quite unsettled.

Upon investigation, Jesse learned that these two uninvited guests were merely private detectives hired by Feng Jing, with some reputation but far from intimidating. [Sun Defender + Shadow Agent = 2 points of notoriety]

With this amusing revelation, Jesse devised a plan. The earlier scuffle on the dance floor was his final test. The results confirmed that these two were strong enough to collaborate. At least in rescuing Walter White, there was room for cooperation—because Walter White, who held the formula for the concoction, was indispensable to their team. No matter what, Jesse intended to try to save him.

Of course, in Jesse’s mind, their alliance would end the moment Walter White was rescued.

Yu Jin’s thoughts were similar: regardless of the mission’s outcome, he doubted this greedy police chief would allow any knowledgeable witnesses to live.

Thus, with mutual consent, a temporary alliance was forged. Yu Jin offered a vial of the Berserk potion as a gesture of goodwill in exchange for more intelligence from Jesse.

At that moment, the Hyena knocked on the door and entered with a grave expression.

“The underground boxing tournament has been attacked…” he reported.