Five minutes before the storage room explosion—
At the auction.
A luxurious, spacious venue that could hold thousands of people.
It was now completely packed.
Faces from all countries were present.
A scantily clad Brazilian beauty stood on the auction stage, introducing the item beside her in a standard, sweet international language.
She smiled with captivating allure, whether to show off her figure or the item, every move was a seductive pose.
This incited the men in the audience to excitedly raise their paddles, bidding wildly.
The entire venue exuded an atmosphere of decadence and intoxication.
In the central private box on the second floor.
The luxurious and exquisite decor, precious red wine shimmering like fine diamonds under the brilliant light, and elegantly arranged pastries.
Those who could board this cruise ship were already elites from around the world.
And those who could enter the underground auction venue were even more so—wealthy businessmen who spent money like dirt, and certain high-ranking officials from all over the world.
Therefore, those who could be in such a setting, sitting in a private box where every inch of space was priceless, held even more noble status and prestige.
Chi Xian stood tall and slender, leaning against the leather sofa.
His gaze was not on the auction stage.
Instead, he slightly lowered his deep, dark eyes, as black as obsidian, lost in thought.
His pupils seemed to have diffused a patch of ink, deep and somber.
His face, which could overturn cities and nations, had cold and sharp, beautiful contours, his expression calm and indifferent.
He seemed to be enveloped in darkness.
Even the entire private box felt exceptionally oppressive.
Just then.
The priceless watch on his wrist vibrated gently.
His eyes, as placid as stars in the dead of night, finally showed a hint of fluctuation.
He raised his hand and lowered his gaze.
His sight finally had focus, falling on the watch.
The surface of the watch, like a real timepiece, showed no abnormalities.
The man's long, jade-like fingers gently touched the watch with his fingertips.
The watch flickered.
The clock face was instantly covered by a virtual screen.
"Brother Chi, we've searched all the items in the backend, and haven't found the one we're looking for."
This was a secret message transmitted by Si Qi.
Chi Xian's gaze flickered.
None?
Could it be that the "item" he was looking for had not yet arrived at the auction backend today?
For some reason.
A fleeting image of a woman in a stunning black mermaid dress, incomparably beautiful, appeared in Chi Xian's mind.
Especially those eyes, as brilliant as starlight.
They deeply hooked his heart.
Could it be…
Her?
The watch vibrated again, pulling his thoughts back.
On the virtual screen, another message popped up—
"Brother Chi! Oh no, oh no! I was trying to climb to the top of the cruise ship, and I heard an explosion on the ninth floor, almost blowing me to smithereens!"
A long string of words.
Continuously scrolled across the virtual screen.
Chi Xian's eyes darkened.
He abruptly stood up, his slender fingers tapping on the watch.
"Operation commence."
The moment this sentence was typed.
"Bang!"
The shelf holding the auction item on the stage suddenly exploded.
The Brazilian beauty next to it screamed in fright.
"What's going on?!"
"Quick! Protect the items!"
"Someone has planted a bomb at the auction!"
Countless armed bodyguards quickly surrounded the auction stage.
And countless more bodyguards immediately rushed to the backstage to check the items.
For a moment, the entire venue fell into chaos.
The bidders from various countries participating in the auction let out screams of terror, creating a commotion.
This was all happening—
Just seconds after the explosion on the ninth floor.
Alarm sirens blared throughout the cruise ship.
Bodyguards on every floor became vigilant.
-
Ninth floor of the cruise ship.
Armed bodyguards converged towards Ming Zheng.
The merchant from Sang country, assuming Ming Zheng was as good as dead, then sternly shouted into his walkie-talkie, "Go! Search! Those items are all injured and can't have gone far! Capture everyone for me!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
A blur of movement flashed before his eyes.
The walkie-talkie in his hand was kicked away by a foot, landing on the ground and emitting a "sizzling" sound of malfunction.
The woman surrounded by bodyguards had, at some unknown time, appeared in front of the Sang country merchant.
With one hand, she grabbed his neck and pressed him against herself.
Countless guns were aimed at them.
The Sang country merchant was terrified, waving his hands frantically, yelling sharply in the international language, "Don't move! Don't shoot!"
Ming Zheng's lips, painted in fiery red, curled into a smile, her eyes teasing, her voice still laced with a seductive laugh, "Tsk, so afraid of dying?"
The Sang country merchant's face turned pale with fear.
He was afraid that in order to capture this woman, the rich merchant would completely disregard his life.
There had always been conflict between him and the merchant from Xia country.
It was not impossible for the Xia country merchant to want his life at this moment.
Of course, he was afraid of dying!
"Godfather, forget him!"
Ming Chuyan wiped the blood seeping from the corner of his lips and said sternly, "Give the order directly to shoot and kill this woman who let the items escape!"
The Sang country merchant did not understand the Xia country language, but from the murderous look in Ming Chuyan's eyes as he looked at him, he could guess the general meaning.
He wailed incessantly.
He yelled loudly, using his strange, accented international language to curse Ming Chuyan.
The Xia country merchant narrowed his eyes slightly.
He glanced at the Sang country merchant.
Even if he gave the order to shoot and kill the Sang country merchant along with the woman at this moment,
It would not be his fault if it later reached Mr. Kelsen's ears.
If he could take care of the Sang country merchant at this time,
It wouldn't be impossible!
Ming Zheng's dark eyes turned cold, her gaze shifting to Ming Chuyan.
Having someone like him in the organization really lowered the standard.
He wanted to shoot her.
Not at all to preserve his identity as an undercover agent.
But rather…
For that shred of filth in his heart.
In the end, it was because he felt he couldn't defeat a woman, felt incompetent, felt like a failure, yet was unwilling to admit it.
Simply because of this selfish motive.
He wanted to use the underworld forces to kill her.
Such a person.
His existence only defiled the organization!
"All personnel, heed my order!"
The Xia country merchant finally made his decision, loudly shouting in the international language, "Shoot the person who trespassed into the storage room! Take her head and offer it as an apology to Mr. Kelsen!"
"Swish swish swish!"
Countless armed bodyguards aimed their dark muzzles at Ming Zheng, and at the Sang country merchant standing in front of her.
The Sang country merchant immediately roared anxiously, "You, you are so very bad! You want to take my life, impossible!"
He struggled desperately.
But…
"Bang!"
"Bang bang bang!"
The bodyguards opened fire simultaneously.
Countless bullets shot directly towards Ming Zheng.
The dense bullets rained down like a celestial scattering of flowers.
The Sang country merchant's face twisted in terror, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted from fear.
Ming Chuyan watched as the bullets flew towards the woman.
A sinister smile appeared on his face.
A mere woman, yet she dared to step all over him!
Die!
Bitch, die!