The Double Agent of Lungmen

Chapter 30: It's So Hard For Me!

On a rooftop terrace in the slums.

"I must say, you police officers are quite interesting," Xiu Xian looked around, "All our conversations happen on rooftops."

"It's for your own good," Ch'en glared at Xiu Xian, "With your current identity, you can't be exposed. I chose this place to remind you of your duties."

"Oh, come on. It's only been a few months since I went undercover. Let's get to the point," Xiu Xian waved his hand, "What's really going on? Weren't these LGD guys your plan to create an opportunity for us to talk?"

Ch'en rolled her eyes, "Do I look that careless? Your safety has always been my top priority. Even if you left a message requesting to see me, I didn't tell anyone, and I left the police station early, in fear of your identity being exposed. Why would I set up such a situation?"

"It wasn't you?" Xiu Xian squinted, "Then who was it?"

"First, tell me why you ended up back in Lungmen," Ch'en observed Xiu Xian, "You're not the type to desert your mission."

"Hehehe," Xiu Xian chuckled dryly, "Do you think I wanted to come back? Even if I did, it would be on my own terms! The Reunion Movement had a single rescue team, and they selected a few capable rookies to accompany a squad leader to retrieve the informant from Lungmen. And guess who got chosen? Surprise, surprise, it's-a-me!"

Ch'en was momentarily stunned, "You? You were chosen?"

"Who else?" Xiu Xian felt incredibly frustrated, "I'm still wondering myself, how did they manage to pick me so coincidentally?"

Ch'en took a deep breath, gathered her thoughts, and then smiled, "Looking at it this way, it doesn't seem like such a bad thing. You are an insider on the frontline."

"You've got to be kidding me!" Xiuxian was visibly displeased. "Let me ask you, boss, should I fight back when confronted by the LGD? Should I use lethal force or hold back? If I don't use lethal force, will my adorable colleagues use it against me? And after using lethal force and coming back, how will the LGD classify my actions?"

Ch'en frowned. "Why are you talking like Shaw now?"

"I just arrived and encountered this mess. I was in a hurry! Just now, I had to save a poor guy who almost had his throat slit. Now, regardless of whether the other Reunion members ask or not, I have to come up with a set of excuses. Come on, it's exhausting, ah sir!"

"You... hold back if you can," Ch'en considered for a moment and then said, "In situations like today, try not to get involved. If they can't see you, it won't be related to you."

"Fine, your advice doesn't help one bit," Xiu Xian sighed. "Tell me, what's going on in Lungmen? Was there a leak of information?"

"More accurately, it's an all-out move by the Reunion Movement," Ch'en explained. "The LGD files database was hacked into, and the thief had a file on undercover agents."

Xiu Xian trembled; this was the last piece of news he wanted to hear.

"Whose undercover agent?"

"I don't know."

"How many people are involved?"

"I don't know."

"Is my name in it?"

"I don't know."

"Goodbye!" Xiu Xian turned and walked away.

"Hey!" Ch'en quickly blocked Xiu Xian's path. "I'm not finished yet."

"Do you really think it's worth talking to someone who knows nothing?" Xiu Xian looked exasperated.

"I genuinely don't know," Ch'en said. "We don't know how much data was stolen, what information it contained, or who it targeted. As for your information, it's locked in my dedicated file, theoretically safe, but we have to prepare for the worst."

"Where is that person?"

"I don't know."

"Should we continue this pointless conversation?"

"Well..." Ch'en realized that not giving any information was frustrating for Xiu Xian and decided to speak up. "We have a rough idea that the person is still within the city area. We've been investigating, and it's not just us and the Reunion Movement looking for him. Many familiar organizations are also searching for his whereabouts."

Xiuxian furrowed his brow. "How did other forces find out about the data breach?"

"That person spread the news," Ch'en said with some helplessness. "That's how we confirmed he's still in the city area. But it's causing us a lot of trouble. Lungmen may seem calm on the surface, but beneath it, a storm is already brewing. Various forces are entering Lungmen, and the LGD is overwhelmed."

"They're interfering with this..." Xiu xian frowned. "I understand. They must think that the data contains spies planted by Lungmen on their side."

"It's likely related to that," Ch'en said wearily. "But even if it's not, obtaining a list of spies becomes a bargaining chip in negotiating with Lungmen, regardless of the organization. There are immense interests at play here. Currently, various forces are constraining and restricting each other. We just arrested two Penguin Logistics members who were causing trouble yesterday. However, they were released within a couple of hours. In any case, this situation is very troublesome."

"What about the person who captured me? Who are they? Where are they from?"

"I'll ask Hoshiguma," Ch'en took out her phone. "Hoshi, what happened to the bait you set? What's going on?"

Hoshiguma's reply came quickly, "We received a message in the evening, saying that someone might be heading there. Swire sent people to capture the person. It turns out someone did break in, and they escaped. If we had known, we would have gone there ourselves."

"Understood. Remember to inform me in advance next time," Ch'en hung up the phone and looked at Xiu Xian with a slight smile. "It seems that Reunion is not secure either."

"Are you even allowed to say that?" Xiu Xian pouted. "One of our people?"

"If it were our people who leaked the information, Hoshiguma would have told me. But she said they received the information, so they probably don't know the source. If it's reliable, Swire would've probably personally led the team. She wouldn't miss out on these kinds of things. Anyway, you need to be careful."

"So, what you're saying is," Xiu Xian widened his eyes, "I not only have to hide my Lungmen identity from Reunion, but also hide my Reunion identity on the Lungmen side? I also have to help the Reunion Movement find their informant and retrieve the data to hand it over to you, all while dealing with the unknown traitor within the Reunion Movement to ensure my own safety?"

Ch'en tilted her head. "It seems... that way."

"Damn it, why don't you just kill me!"

Xiu Xian looked like he was about to cry. "I'm in such a difficult situation!"

"I know the mission is challenging, but there's no other way," Ch'en patted Xiu Xian's shoulder. "I'll remember your contributions, and when you return triumphantly..."

Xiu Xian rolled his eyes. "Are you going to marry me?"

Clang!

Ch'en unsheathed her sword, but Xiu Xian pushed it back into the scabbard. "Just kidding, just kidding."

Ch'en hummed, "Who brought you?"

"Crownslayer," Xiu Xian said. "Only you should know. I have enough trouble as it is."

Xiu Xian trusted that his boss prioritized his safety over any intelligence.

"Okay, contact me if you need anything after this," Ch'en said. "If you want to see me, leave a message in the usual places, and I'll come by at night. I'll leave now, and you should go back too."

"Fine," Xiu Xian nodded and walked toward the stairwell. When he reached the doorway, he turned to look at Ch'en.

After thinking for a moment, Xiu Xian spoke, "Boss, can I at least get a kiss when I come back?"

"Get lost!"