Chapter 329 - Chapter 329: Gu Ci and Qin Wan
Chapter 329: Gu Ci and Qin Wan
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Gu Ci disembarked from the plane, and Qin Wan came to pick her up. She only had one bag, traveling light. The information had already been discussed when they cleared customs.
“Wouldn’t your identity be exposed by coming to Paris?” Qin Wan remarked.
“I must come!”
She had to be here. It was only when she came that Lu Zhiyuan would truly take this matter to heart. Her brother was deeply trapped, his life hanging in the balance. She couldn’t sit at home waiting for news and orders.
Paris, she was back again.
The last time Lu Zhiyuan left gravely injured, Gu Ci hated this city. She hadn’t expected to return in such a hurry. They arrived at a secure safehouse within the depths of the dark web. Gu Ci was here, and they didn’t go to the headquarters. The known security team and the betrayal of Xiao Min in Paris online made Dr. North very cautious. She didn’t want to deploy too many people.
Most of the people in the dark web were loyal and only followed Jiang Junlin’s orders. Now that they were following Gu Ci’s lead, they wouldn’t show themselves. This group was safe. The situation in the entire dark web was controllable. That’s why they hoped to bring Jiang Junlin back alive. They wanted a smooth transition of the dark web into their hands. If Jiang Junlin died, they would have an irreconcilable hatred with Gu Ci, and the dark web would directly become Gu Ci’s, allowing her to detach it from their control.
To avoid raising suspicions, Gu Ci hadn’t deployed Jiang Junlin’s ace cards. She had them all on standby in silence. Although the information might be delayed, it wasn’t wise to reveal all her cards when the enemy’s intentions were unclear.
Dr. North’s views aligned with hers. The dark web had grown like an ancient tree over a hundred years, with countless branches and leaves. There were always rotten branches that needed to be pruned.
Gu Ci glanced at the information from the southern dock once again, then instructed Dr. North to keep an eye on the surveillance. She called Qin Wan over. “Come with me for a moment.”
The two of them returned to the southern dock once more, standing at a vantage point. Gu Ci used binoculars to observe the rarely frequented dock, and Qin Wan asked with curiosity, “We’ve confirmed that they’re not at the southern dock. Why are we here?”
“The most dangerous place is often the safest place, and the safest place is also the most suspicious place. Searching the southern dock yesterday and having the port closed doesn’t mean today’s port is safe,” Gu Ci explained calmly.
In her field of vision, rows of containers were neatly lined up, and many cargo ships were still docked. To the south was a private port area where only private yachts were anchored. Some people rented yachts for a sea trip, and it was quite lively.
“Have my master retrieve the list of private yacht owners.”
“Alright!” Qin Wan went to make the call. Gu Ci continued to scan the private yacht area through her binoculars, as if searching for something. The waterfront of the private yacht area was bustling with activity. There were two cafes and a restaurant. Although the yacht area itself was not crowded, it was where wealthy individuals docked their vessels.
Many people arrived early for yacht parties, waiting at the shorefront cafe, enjoying drinks and the sea view. It was a good place for a leisurely afternoon tea.
After Qin Wan made the phone call, the two of them went to the cafe, choosing a window seat and ordering coffee and desserts. Qin Wan lowered her voice, “Do you suspect the target is on one of the private yachts?”
“We shouldn’t overlook any clues. The lead from the southern dock was provided by Liu Bingwen. It’s not groundless. Even if it’s a diversion, given our current lack of leads, reevaluating this clue won’t hurt.”
Qin Wan nodded, then furrowed her brow suddenly. “Gu Ci, look over there, it’s Xiao Min.”
Gu Ci followed Qin Wan’s gaze and saw a man emerging from a yacht on the dock, meeting with Xiao Min. Xiao Min handed him an envelope, and the man returned to the yacht. Xiao Min quickly left, wearing a hat and sunglasses. Qin Wan recognized her at a glance.
“How did you recognize her?”
“I’ve attempted to assassinate her before. 1 observed her through my sniper scope for an hour. 1 can accurately describe her height, three-dimensional features, and bone structure. Most notably, her waist. She has a very distinctive hourglass figure, and I suspect she may have had rib removal surgery. Her body proportions are unusually unique,” Qin Wan explained. “Your height is similar to hers, but your bone structure is even finer, and your waist is around 58 centimeters.”
“You’re quite precise.”
“Her waist is probably around 50 centimeters,” Qin Wan added. “She seems to have a penchant for wearing outfits that emphasize her waist, making her easy to recognize. 1 rarely come across women with such distinctive body proportions.”
Gu Ci called Dr. North, “Master, check Xiao Min’s movements using the city’s surveillance cameras.”
“Understood!”
Gu Ci and Qin Wan didn’t act hastily, keeping their eyes on the yacht. Their vantage point provided a clear view, and they could see everything clearly. More than one person disembarked from the yacht, and soon three people came down. Qin Wan took photos and sent them to the information center to identify their identities using the Skyeye system. After the three people left in a car, Gu Ci and Qin Wan boarded the yacht.
Both Gu Ci and Qin Wan were daring, and they boarded the yacht directly. They dressed in a slightly feminine manner, pretending to be young girls taking photos by the harbor. Many girls came to the yacht to take pictures, and if they were spotted, they would at most receive a few scoldings. If they were good-looking, they might even be invited for a drink or a boat ride. Such things were commonplace here.
After boarding the ship, they first took photos on the deck. Qin Wan didn’t hear any movement, so she quickly searched the area and found that there was no one on board. The cabin was in disarray, with beer bottles and cigarette butts scattered everywhere. Gu Ci and Qin Wan inspected their luggage and discovered two Desert Eagles.
“These are the favorite handguns of European and American mercenaries and assassins,” Qin Wan remarked. The Desert Eagle was a powerful short-barreled pistol but not widely promoted due to its special characteristics.
The weight of a Desert Eagle was several times that of similar firearms, making it unsuitable for lightweight combat. Another issue was its powerful recoil. Unless someone had a robust physique and had undergone special training from a young age, it was difficult to handle the Desert Eagle’s recoil.
So, Asians who could use Desert Eagles were all top-notch experts, while European and American mercenaries and assassins, with superior physical conditions and a fondness for the Desert Eagle’s power, were more common.
The men who had just left were all tall Europeans and Americans.
Qin Wan opened a cabinet and found a dedicated case for sniper rifles, containing two Barrett rifles. She frowned, “They are all mercenaries or assassins.”
Gu Ci’s phone vibrated, and Dr. North sent a message confirming their identities. “They are three of the top ten assassins on the North American hitman list. This is unusual. Why would Xiao Min hire them?”
“It’s definitely unusual,” Gu Ci sensed the danger. Assassins were typically solitary and preferred to operate alone. Unless they had grown up together from a young age, had an exceptional level of trust, and were accustomed to working together, they tended to operate independently..