Chapter 23: The Undercover Agent

Investigating a case involves standard procedures and the risk of exposure, but pulling a "black gun"—taking matters into one's own hands—is an entirely different game. After all, Tianhai City is a tangled web of underground forces. Once Xiao Ziguang takes on an assignment, he is an undercover operative officially registered with both the Tianhai Municipal Bureau and the Hanzhong Provincial Department.

Since he uses no legal firearms, and even illegal ones leave no traceable ballistics, any shooting incident would never point back to him. Reborn into this life, he is no longer that naive person bound by rigid rules and sentimental constraints. Besides, in his past life, Xiao Ziguang had already done work far dirtier and more illicit than this.

This time, his approach is to cut through the Gordian knot: to take down these villains once and for all. Whether they deserve to die or deserve forgiveness is a matter for God to decide; Xiao Ziguang’s role is simply to arrange the meeting.

Furthermore, his partner, Zhou Huajian, has already completed his own fall from grace, becoming a well-known drug addict in Tianhai. Everyone has forgotten that he was once a hero in the anti-narcotics squad, and no one would believe that a hardened addict could ever muster the willpower to get clean. Hatred is one of the greatest drivers of desire, and Zhou Huajian, though currently clouded, could not resist the temptation of vengeance. An avenger who has climbed back from the abyss is naturally not one to be restrained by red tape.

Two men with the capability and the resolve, committed to becoming heroes in the shadows, could surely turn Tianhai City upside down and bring direct judgment upon the criminals.

This argument moved Zhou Huajian. He held out his hand, and he and Xiao Ziguang shook it firmly. "Actually, I have more than just three gun barrels. I have a mini lathe. As long as I can find seamless steel pipes, I can rifle the barrels..."

A treasure—an absolute treasure. With Zhou Huajian, he essentially possessed a mobile, inexhaustible arsenal.

...

Xiao Ziguang knocked on Yang Jin’s office door. Hearing a "come in," he pushed the door open to find Yang Jin already changed into casual clothes.

"Close the door and take a look at what I’ve picked out for you." Yang Jin was overly familiar, clearly eager to prevent Xiao Ziguang from having any second thoughts by preemptively closing off any potential for surprises.

He pulled open a drawer containing five weapons: handmade handguns, antique black-powder pieces, and even a Mauser M1932—the "box cannon" often seen in war dramas.

Xiao Ziguang fiddled with the box cannon and said, "Captain Yang, which military museum did you raid to find these relics? Even if you dared to give them to me, I wouldn't dare use them! It’s one thing whether I can hit a target, but if the chamber explodes, it’ll be the end of me."

"So many good things, and you don’t like any of them? Then I suppose I’ll have to give you something big, black, and heavy." With that, Yang Jin took a pitch-black TT-33 from the bottom drawer.

"A fine gun!" Xiao Ziguang’s eyes lit up. He expertly racked the slide, checked the chamber, and popped out the magazine. The more he looked, the more he liked it.

The TT-33 was the Soviet designation; after domestic replication, it was issued in bulk to the military and police. Because of the star on the grip and its all-black finish, people privately nicknamed it the "Big Black Ape."

"I knew you’d be satisfied. Since you’ve served in the military, you should know how to use it. Here are sixteen rounds. Once you’ve confirmed everything, sign the handover form."

As Yang Jin pushed the form over, he also pulled a file folder from his desk. "The company you’re going to infiltrate is called Xiling Trading. Your target is Kong Ersheng, nicknamed 'Two-Monkey.' He has an older brother named Kong Dasheng, a ruthless man nicknamed 'Mad Monkey.' Xiling Trading ostensibly sells rock sugar and sugar products, but based on my intelligence, I suspect they are trafficking crystal meth."

"Your identity is that of a driver. Follow the trucks for a few days and see if you can trace the source. Don’t alert them. Whether you find anything or not, maintain only a single-line contact with me."

Yang Jin wrote down a number on a slip of paper. "Commit this number to memory. If you’re in danger, you can pull out."

The way he said it didn't sound like a taunt. While the reputation of being the Xue family's son-in-law wasn't prestigious, it was genuinely life-saving in critical moments. It seemed Xiong Yaohui only wanted to give Xiao Ziguang a warning, not take his life. After all, if he went too far, outsiders might misinterpret it as Xiong Yaohui targeting Xue Ao rather than just putting Xiao Ziguang in his place.

Xiao Ziguang signed the handover form and secured the gun and ammunition. "How long is the mission duration? If I’m exposed, which protocol should I follow?"

What is an undercover mission, really? It is a live-broadcast life-or-death struggle with no rehearsals and no retakes. Succeed, and you bring criminals to justice. Fail, and you might be torn to pieces by those very criminals. That is why, before executing such a mission, one must always make assumptions and prepare response plans one, two, and three...

"The mission is tentatively set for one month; driver turnover is high anyway. If you’re exposed, leave immediately. If necessary, you can surrender; I will step in to protect you. After all, you have status and backing, unlike other officers."

Although Yang Jin spoke earnestly, his eyes flickered with contempt. Some prejudices are not merely superficial; they are deeply felt, carved into the very marrow of one's bones.

Xiao Ziguang said nothing, offering only a shy smile. Some people have deep-seated stereotypes about many things. As someone reborn, Xiao Ziguang no longer cared about face, nor did he intend to waste effort trying to change his reputation. He was no longer a child obsessed with right and wrong, but an adult calculating his interests.

Just as Xiao Ziguang was about to leave, Yang Jin asked, as if in passing, "How is things with Zhou Huajian? Is he willing to be your contact?"

Xiao Ziguang sighed helplessly. "Zhou Huajian is finished. He drinks and uses drugs! A former anti-narcotics hero and recipient of the Gold Shield Medal, now reduced to a puddle of mud."

Yang Jin feigned regret. "To each his own; I won't force him. Regardless, Zhou Huajian was a hero once. As long as he doesn't harm society, I hope you can show him proper respect."

Xiao Ziguang stared into Yang Jin’s eyes. "Captain Yang, there’s one thing I don't understand. Every year, our anti-narcotics brigade destroys so much contraband. Why is there still so much poison in Tianhai City?"

"Too many mice, too few cats. Even if we catch nest after nest of fat rats, a few always slip through. Anti-narcotics is a marathon. As long as we persist, we will surely achieve a world free of drugs!"

The words were righteous and perfectly suited to Yang Jin’s position. But Xiao Ziguang knew full well that this was absolute nonsense.

He had no intention of exposing Yang Jin yet; after all, he lacked concrete evidence. However, Xiling Trading was an excellent entry point. A brand-new plan began to take shape in the depths of Xiao Ziguang’s mind.

Who says an undercover operative must only be a lackey? Why not support a puppet as the boss? By relying on the puppet’s intelligence to solve cases, the speed of his own promotion and wealth would surely be like riding a rocket.