Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 377 - 370: Coercion

Chapter 377: Chapter 370: Coercion

"Do you remember how we found the person who wanted to assassinate us?" Hu Daoke asked casually.

"Yes, we found the middleman through Kali, then we found the assassin’s client through the middleman, and we found the person trying to assassinate us by threatening him." Luo’er answered, looking at him, "Why do you ask this?"

"Exactly, peeling the layers, step by step to find the real perpetrator, just like a criminal investigation!" Hu Daoke nodded and confirmed.

"What are you trying to say?" Luo’er couldn’t help but ask, looking at his mumbling manner.

"I’m thinking, if we have to do everything ourselves, even if the advance team has hundred members, we wouldn’t be able to keep up. After all, in this Holy Heart City, we’re nothing but foreigners. How easy can it be to find a person in such a large and chaotic district?" Hu Daoke spread his hands and said.

"Well, what next?" Luo’er continued to ask.

"So, I think, shouldn’t we seek help from outsiders?" Hu Daoke proposed.

"Outsiders?" Luo’er asked.

Hu Daoke looked around, then said lightly: "In such a chaotic place, there should be those local big shots who are born and bred here and know this place inside out. Compared to us, they can find people with much less resistance."

"So you want these people to help us find Fu’en?" Luo’er replied.

"Yes!" Hu Daoke nodded.

"But how do we find them?" Luo’er queried.

"Well, it’s not that hard," Hu Daoke spoke with a smug smile, "We go find that middleman. If he’s still around, he definitely knows some local big shots. If he’s not around anymore, we go look for the client from the assassins’ organization. Anyway, we just need someone who can connect us with the local big shots in the district."

"Can you promise that these crews will help us find Fu’en?" Luo’er asked on.

"People bustle around all for profits. As long as there’s enough incentive, these people could even move Earth. Don’t forget that we’re not alone, we have a headquarter backing us!" Hu Daoke spread his hands, speaking excitedly.

Hearing Hu Daoke’s suggestion, Luo’er was suddenly enlightened. He had been troubled about how to find Fu’en, but he hadn’t expected Hu Daoke to come up with such a great suggestion.

Indeed if they were to do it themselves, the resistance would be huge. They were outsiders and unfamiliar with the area. Finding a person wouldn’t be easy. However, local big shots growing up here are a different story. They know this place better than anyone else, so getting their help would definitely speed up the process.

Headquarters is apparently desperate to locate Fu’en, as was evident from Lin Wei’s attitude. If Fu’en were of no use, Lin Wei would have issued an execution order, not an arrest order when meeting with Cheng Ziang and others.

After all, Fu’en had opened a new Otherworld Gate causing the country to be invaded and almost spread the genetic weapon domestically. This alone would have him sentenced a hundred times over.

Headquarter’s desperation for Fu’en also implies that, as long as the demand is not too excessive, they can agree to them. Thus, they can use benefits to lure these local big shots to help them find Fu’en. These street dogs have a much keener sense compared to them.

"I can’t tell that usually you just loiter around, but you are quite smart when it matters!" Upon understanding this, Luo’er couldn’t help but praise.

"Really? Am I considered a dumbo in your heart?" Hu Daoke asked with a resigned laugh.

"Not anymore," Luo’er answered honestly.

"Alright, I’m flattered!" Hu Daoke rolled his eyes, seemingly accepting his previous impression.

"Shall we go find that guy now?" Hu Daoke asked.

"Let’s not rush. Let’s go to the bar first to check for any information. I am not sure if that guy is still there after what we did last time." Luo’er responded.

"Old Xu, we’re going to the bar now. Don’t be shy when picking up the girls, I would let you choose first!" Hu Daoke patted Xuzhong Qi on the shoulder and said aloud.

"Ah, no, no, no, I won’t pick..." Honest Xuzhong Qi blushed and hurriedly waved hands to refuse.

"Ignore his nonsense!" Luo’er glared at Hu Daoke, motioning them to the end of the street.

Halfway there, they saw a bar with its doors open. The three of them shared a look, and then Luo’er led them inside.

Walking into the bar, they were greeted by the familiar stench of liquor and sour smell. Otherworld bars mostly served fruit wines, which can easily turn into fruit vinegar if improperly fermented, hence the strong smell in the air.

"This stinks!" The moment he smelled the air, Hu Daoke wrinkled his nose and covered it, his face twisted in disgust.

"You’ll get used to it. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to places like this, too," Luo’er covered his nose and mouth and then went in.

Being in the morning, the tavern wasn’t crowded. As soon as Luo’er walked in, he spotted a portly figure sitting at the bar, drinking in solitude. The figure felt so familiar that he couldn’t help but smile upon seeing him.

"Why are you smiling, boss?" Hu Daoke asked, noticing Luo’er grinning.

"Speak of the devil, and he appears," Luo’er replied, gesturing towards the chubby man and smiling.

"You know him?" Hu Daoke asked in surprise. He barely recognized the chubby man before them.

"I’ll go say hi!" Luo’er announced, and walked straight up to the man.

"A glass of Earth’s liquor, please!" Luo’er said, as he casually produced a coin and placed it on the bar counter.

The bartender took the coin, popped open a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Baijiu), poured it into a wooden cup, and handed it to him. Luo’er took the cup, glanced at it and then nonchalantly pushed it in front of the chubby man.

"For me? You... you..." The chubby man looked up, his drunken eyes briefly met Luo’er’s, causing him to startle awake so abruptly that he toppled off his chair.

"You... you..." The man stammered, pointing at Luo’er in disbelief.

"Long time no see, Mr. Dunuo. Looks like you’ve put on some weight," Luo’er said, his smile innocent and disarming.

Dunuo’s chubby face quivered, sweat beading on his forehead. He turned and tried to crawl towards the tavern entrance. Luo’er noted the man’s struggle—a clear indication that the leg injury from their last encounter had taken its toll.

"Hey, our boss is talking to you!" Hu Daoke stepped forward, grabbing a handful of Dunuo’s greasy hair, but quickly let go uttering, "Disgusting!"

"What more do you want? You’ve already crippled me; can’t you just let me be?" Dunuo said, seeing no escape, he turned back to face Luo’er and roared defiantly.

Luo’er could tell his bravado was a front to hide his internal fear.

"You brought it upon yourself. If you hadn’t breached our agreement, would you be in this mess?" Luo’er shrugged, playing down the root cause of Dunuo’s injury.

"You want to break my other leg?" Dunuo asked, nervously peering around as if expecting a sniper hidden nearby.

"Relax, we just want to ask you a few things. Here, have a drink to loosen up a bit," Luo’er said, lifting the glass of liquor from the table and pushing it towards Dunuo.

Dunuo seemed to swallow hard, and Luo’er could hear the sound of his gulp. The sheen of sweat on Dunuo’s already oily face shone brightly.

After a moment’s hesitation, and once convinced Luo’er meant no harm, Dunuo finally relaxed a little. He extended a shaky hand and took the glass from Luo’er.

"Mr. Dunuo, I guess we were both at fault last time. How about we call it even and let bygones be bygones?" Luo’er asked, his smile ever so gentle and disarming, yet it sent shivers down Dunuo’s spine.

Of course, Luo’er couldn’t let the past go so easily. His soothing words were merely a ploy to make Dunuo relax so he could get more information out of him.

From Otherworld’s standpoint and its laws, Luo’er and his crew did nothing wrong. Dunuo and his lot were the ones to blame. By the Otherworld’s standards, people like Dunuo who betray trust might not entirely absolve themselves from guilt even if they receive the harshest punishments. Still, Luo’er and his team settled for just punishing them and not wiping them out completely.

"What...you guys... want from me?" Dunuo asked, taking a sip of the liquor. He then clumsily stood up and gingerly took a seat before continuing.

"Mr. Dunuo, are you still working as a middleman?" Luo’er asked.

"What else can I do? I’ve already been crippled," Dunuo replied in a low voice.

"You’re talking as if you would earnestly make a living if you were not crippled. Just look at that fat belly of yours!" Hu Daoke scoffed at Dunuo’s doleful claim, expressing his indifference.

Luo’er glanced at Hu Daoke but made no comment. Instead, he continued, "So, if we ask you to help us find someone, can you do it?"

"Just leave me out of your troubles. I refuse," Dunuo said, dismissively waving his hand.

Despite Dunuo’s flat refusal, Luo’er remained calm, as if expecting this response. He took a breath and said, "Mr. Dunuo, we indeed require your help. We should discuss this calmly. Or, we may be compelled to resort to unpleasant measures."

Dunuo’s face soured under Luo’er’s quiet but forceful threat. His chubby face twitched nervously with tension. After a deafening silence, he finally let out a sigh of relief and responded, "Alright, tell me. Who are you trying to find?"

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