It was past midnight.
Twelve thirty.
Fang Xin had been staring at himself in the mirror for a full forty-five minutes.
But today, he didn't see that Fang Xin in the mirror.
Fang Xin frowned.
He stared at himself in the mirror.
He even pretended to turn and leave, just like last night.
But there was no anomaly in his peripheral vision.
Everything was fine last night.
What's going on tonight?
Could it be missing some trigger mechanism?
Recalling everything from yesterday...
If he were to replicate everything from yesterday.
Fang Xin couldn't help but wonder.
Could it be that he didn't watch his grandfather's video?
The time node had already passed today.
He could only try again tomorrow night.
Fang Xin returned to his bedroom.
He lay on the bed, thinking about tomorrow's plans with Ally.
The next morning.
After breakfast.
Fang Xin received a message from Ally.
The meeting point was a cafe.
When Fang Xin arrived, Ally was already waiting at the entrance.
Ally's silver-white hair was tied into a short ponytail.
She wore a baseball cap.
A baseball jacket and tight jeans perfectly outlined her graceful figure.
"Over here!" Ally waved.
Fang Xin had also specifically worn a baseball cap when he came today.
As he approached, Ally said, "There's still a certain degree of danger. Are you sure you've thought this through?"
"Are you sure the opponent is only Level Four?"
"I've been scouting for half a month!"
"Then there's no problem at all! Where are the others you hired?"
Ally pulled Fang Xin's arm, "The people I hired aren't easy to deal with, so we'll have to use fake names and information later. My name is Zhao Momei now, and I'm from out of town. You should also change your name."
"Then I'll be Qin Junhao."
"...Change to another name."
"Qin Xiaoqiang, he's your cousin."
As Ally spoke, she handed Fang Xin a mask and then took out an exquisite small box for him.
"Wear this mask! It's for disguise! This is the Perception-type fruit I promised you!"
Fang Xin was stunned, "You're giving me the item before we even start?"
"I'm just happy you could come!"
"Don't your Captain and teammates help you?"
Ally put on her mask. After the mask was applied to her face, her appearance changed without any visible difference. Even her face shape and hair color changed with it. Hearing Fang Xin's words, Ally said helplessly, "They've helped before, but this time, Captain Xiao recruited Qin Junhao due to incorrect information, wasting a spot. He's currently in confinement writing a self-criticism. As for my other teammates, you know they were all injured in yesterday's mission!"
Fang Xin scratched the side of his face awkwardly. It seemed to circle back to him.
If he hadn't messed up the registration before, Xiao Wutong wouldn't have chosen Qin Junhao early. If he hadn't chosen Qin Junhao, he wouldn't have been confined.
Fang Xin put the mask on his face.
His face changed.
He checked it in his phone's reflection, unable to see any flaw.
He opened the exquisite small box, which contained a bright red fruit.
"You can eat it now!" Ally reminded him.
Fang Xin took a bite.
It was juicy and crisp. He swallowed the Mental-type fruit in two bites.
A refreshing sensation spread throughout his body, as if he had eaten a big mouthful of mint candy. His entire being felt clear.
Fang Xin's already sensitive perception ability instantly enhanced.
Before, only his sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch were far beyond ordinary people.
But after consuming this Sensory-type fruit.
Within a thirty-meter radius, Fang Xin could perceive the every move of everyone, including the mosquitoes and ants on the ground. They all appeared one by one in Fang Xin's mind, outlining a three-dimensional, translucent pattern.
Within thirty meters, Fang Xin could clearly perceive what everyone was saying and doing. Even inside the cafe, he could clearly hear the waiter hiding in the restroom gossiping about his boss to a friend.
Fang Xin opened his eyes, exhaling. Is this what it means to awaken a Perception-type talent? This talent is indeed good. It allows him to clearly perceive everything and everyone around him, and also to scout ahead for enemy situations.
However, perception consumes a lot of energy. If he perceives for too long, his head would feel a bit dizzy.
"Still, thank you for coming to help me!" Ally looked up. Now, with the mask's disguise, her ice-blue eyes had turned black. Ally looked at Fang Xin seriously and said each word distinctly.
"Helping you is helping me! Let's go!"
Ally was stunned, but didn't say much more, leading the way.
Fang Xin followed behind, looking at Ally's back. Ally was only one year older than Fang Xin, a senior from the previous batch. The fact that she could become a Squad Leader in the Seventh Division right after the Youth Training Camp showed that she had put in more effort than ordinary people.
They crossed the street and entered a general store.
A fierce-looking muscular man was sprawled at the counter of the general store.
As they entered, the bell at the door chimed crisply.
Ally stepped forward and handed over a card. The muscular man took it and glanced at it, "Go inside, right-hand side, fourth room."
Fang Xin looked in the direction indicated, only seeing a wall. Ally retrieved the card and led the way, with Fang Xin following behind.
The wall suddenly rippled. Ally pulled Fang Xin and walked straight in, finding the fourth private room and entering it.
Fang Xin was still a bit confused, not expecting this general store to have such a hidden space.
After they were seated, Ally explained, "Every city has its own black market trading places. This place is Lan City's black market. You can find and post missions here, exchange items, buy information—everything a black market can do is done here.
The bounty hunters I hired will be here soon. Once they arrive, we'll set off. This is where we're going!"
Ally took out a small ball, tapped it, and the ball glowed, projecting a hologram above. It was a detached villa, and its structure was clearly displayed.
"I heard from you yesterday that you seemed to connect your parents' car accident with your sister's disappearance."
Ally nodded, "I discovered it by chance from a clue. The driver of the car that killed my parents, and the person who took my sister, both had a six-pointed star tattoo on their arm."
Fang Xin was startled, "The driver who hit your parents was found?"
"He was found a year after my parents' accident, but by the time he was found, he was already dead, so many clues were still cut off."
While Fang Xin was silent.
The door opened.
Three people entered consecutively from outside.
A two-meter-tall muscular man like a titan, a golden-haired, unusually long-faced Luosai Hu middle-aged man, and finally, a somewhat dark-skinned, wavy-haired, very voluptuous woman. The woman wore a low-cut top with a long cleavage, and ultra-short shorts paired with fishnet stockings, looking incredibly hot.
"Why are there others?" The muscular man sat down, looking at Fang Xin and grunting.
Ally said, "He's my cousin. He won't be splitting your commission."
The muscular man slanted a glance at Fang Xin, then, after a thorough appraisal, said.
"Your cousin? He looks as thin as a chick. Can he handle it? Don't drag us down!"