( BONUS CHAPTER )
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"Tell me more." Russell raised his eyebrows at Zayne's report. "Are there still demons wandering around East-Haven?"
Zayne's face turned serious. "I've never seen them mixed with demons before. Even during our clashes with the Unification Sect, we never encountered actual demons."
"Based on my subordinates' descriptions, they seem similar to... those from the north."
Russell sat up straight at this revelation. The demons from the north that Zayne mentioned could only be the demon army occupying the northern border.
"Is the pressure in the north that severe?" Russell fell into thought.
Due to altered history, the extremely cold lands that originally belonged to Tsarist Russia were now occupied by the demon army. The Eastern Slavs had retreated to Eastern Europe, their ancestral homeland.
As for the Oirat people and the Jurchens... being nomadic, most had perished when the first wave of secret realms arrived. Emperors Taizong and Chengzu of the Ming, who'd fought foreign tribes their entire lives, never could have imagined such an absurd end.
Technically, the northern demon army was fighting on two fronts—Tsarist Russia to the west, the Ming Dynasty to the south. This made Russell wonder why the situation had deteriorated so quickly.
Logically, the demon army shouldn't have resources to stretch this far south. East-Haven wasn't close to the northern border.
The Demon Army and the Unification Sect were completely different entities. At most, the Sect was just their pet dog.
If the demon army appeared in East-Haven, the situation in northern cities must be dire.
But Russell was only East-Haven's vice president. Better to let higher-ups handle such major issues.
"Do you know what they're doing recently?" Russell asked about the Unification Sect's movements.
Zayne shook his head. "Unknown. The Sect's demons have been keeping low profile. They didn't even cause trouble during the recent demon invasion."
"Tsk." Russell frowned. This calm felt like the prelude to a storm. "Forget it, let the Association handle this. Not our concern."
Zayne remained silent. As Public Security Director, he couldn't escape if something happened—it was literally his job.
"Director Zayne, do you have time today?" Russell changed topics. "Good opportunity to recruit fresh blood first. You have candidates in mind already, right?"
Zayne nodded. He'd had several candidates in mind since receiving the recruitment task, though he'd need to review his files for more. But the numbers would definitely satisfy his lord's requirements.
With a shimmer of spatial magic, the two men and spider vanished from the factory.
In a cramped living room, a middle-aged man chain-smoked with a deep frown, unable to suppress his inner sorrow. Beside him, a middle-aged woman with black hair streaked with white silently wiped her red eyes.
Before them, a somewhat disheveled young man knelt on the ground defiantly.
After a long silence, the father stopped smoking and exploded: "How old are you?! Still dreaming about becoming a cardmaker! If you had that talent, wouldn't you already be one?!"
"You don't work, just hang around and fool around all day! Tell me how much you owe!"
The young man ignored his father's scolding until the last question made his eyes light up, then hesitate.
CRASH!
An ashtray smashed beside the young man. The father laughed bitterly. "People threw paint on our door—what else are you hiding?"
The young man hesitated. "Three... three hundred thousand."
"HOW MUCH?!"
The deafening roar shook the room. The father stared at his son in disbelief.
The young man, desperate now, said stubbornly: "I don't have money anyway. They said if I can't pay, I'll pay with my life. Dad, you figure it out."
Seeing his son like this, the father gasped several times, then seemed to age decades instantly. He whispered, hunched over: "We only have 20,000 in savings. 300,000..."
"Just sell the house," the young man said carelessly. He'd already figured out how to extract his parents' assets.
The mother, silent until now, pulled out some crumpled bills from her pocket. "This is what I earned serving tables today. Son, take it for now."
"Your father and I will figure out the money. Don't worry. Mom's old and useless..."
Looking at the bills totaling maybe 200 yuan, the young man sneered: "What can I do with this pittance? When I become a cardmaker, I'll definitely make big money!"
"This is what happens with doting mothers!" The father stood up, eyes red with rage. "Look what your son's become! GET OUT!"
He grabbed his son and shoved him out the door.
Looking at the locked security door, the young man spat angrily, kicked it, and left.
Russell watched from above in silence before turning to Zayne. "Does the Society also run loan operations in East-Haven?"
The scene reminded him uncomfortably of when he'd first arrived in this world—massive debt, forced to sell property. Fortunately, he'd had cardmaking talent to fill that hole.
Otherwise, he'd have been forced into the Spirit Begging Society. Though ironically, he was now a member anyway.
Zayne shook his head expressionlessly, surprised by the family drama they'd witnessed.
"This guy just causes trouble constantly. He was even detained by the Association for attacking a cardmaker."
Russell sensed the young man's physical strength and his eye twitched. The fool would struggle to defeat a Paw Patrol member, let alone a real cardmaker.
He realized his assumption was wrong—Zayne had only received the recruitment task today. The Public Security Director couldn't have arranged this debt collection drama in advance.
"Just ordinary loan sharking?" Russell was about to conclude when his eyes froze.
Zayne also stared down with confusion.
At the building entrance, as the young man staggered out with hands in his pockets, a scarred, muscular man emerged from the shadows.
"Where's the money?" Brother Pang asked, throwing his arm around the young man's shoulders in false friendship.
The young man shuddered, forcing a flattering smile. "Brother Pang, my parents said they'll sell the house tomorrow to raise money. Don't worry, I'll definitely pay."
Pang showed a strange smile. "You know tomorrow's the deadline, right?"
The young man nodded frantically, but Pang's next words froze him.
"So if I don't see money tomorrow, it won't be three hundred thousand anymore."
Selling a house took time. This meant... he'd be overdue.
"Brother Pang, please, just a few more days!" the young man begged.
Pang looked conflicted. "The contract's in black and white. I can't just extend it... But..."
"What conditions? Just tell me, Brother Pang!"
Pang looked at him kindly. "Then come with me."
Feeling Pang's gaze, the young man's sphincter tightened, his heart sinking. No way...
But thinking of compound interest, he gritted his teeth and followed.
On the rooftop, Russell asked with interest, "Director Zayne, shall we follow?"
Zayne nodded coldly.
They'd both sensed it—the burly man was a cardmaker. Only Bronze-rank, but still illegal.
They followed at a distance until the pair entered a brightly lit establishment: "Wanhua Tower."
"Director Zayne, you can disguise yourself, right?" Russell asked casually. "I'd rather tomorrow's East-Haven Morning Post headline not be about Public Security Director Zayne's brothel visit."
Facing the teasing, Zayne remained calm. As a secret Society member, of course he had disguise methods.
With a faint blue flash, an expressionless young man with a crew cut appeared.
"You're Mr. Xu today, I'm Mr. Lu," Russell said with amusement. "Let's go listen to music at the brothel. My treat."
Zayne's mouth twitched. "How could I let Master Lu pay? Allow me."
They entered the establishment called "Wanhua Tower." Immediately, a madam approached with a practiced smile. "First time here, gentlemen?"
Russell responded casually while his eyes searched for the burly man and youth. His enhanced senses easily located them.
"What's the second floor pricing?"
The madam's eyes lit up. "Perfect timing, gentlemen! Wanhua Tower is having a membership promotion. Deposit 10,000, get 10,000 free! Second floor requires membership—just 10,000 to join."
Before she could continue, Zayne presented his card. "Ten thousand each."
"Excellent! Please go upstairs, gentlemen."
Following the madam upstairs, they noticed their targets had gone to the third floor.
Russell asked directly, "How much for the third floor?"
The madam looked confused. "Third floor is staff rest area, not open to customers."
Russell and Zayne exchanged glances.
"Is that so?" Russell scratched his head.
The madam's eyes rolled back as she fainted. Russell found an empty room to hide her, then looked at the stairs. "Come on, Mr. Xu. Let's investigate."
Zayne hesitated but nodded.
On the third floor, Pang stopped at a door.
The young man, lost in thoughts about pain relief, bumped into him. "We here?"
Pang turned with a smile, white teeth gleaming coldly. "We're here."
He suddenly opened the door and shoved the young man inside.
The young man staggered, about to complain, when he realized the environment was completely different from Wanhua Tower's décor.
If Wanhua Tower was a den of monetary sin, this room was a bloody slaughterhouse. Severed limbs hung from meat hooks.
"Brother Pang..." the young man trembled. "Where is this?"
Pang laughed. "Haven't you always wanted to be a cardmaker? Now I'll give you a chance to have the same power. Want it?"
Hearing "cardmaker," the young man's desire instantly overwhelmed his fear. "What opportunity?"
Pang sighed dramatically. "I'll be honest—I'm actually a member of the Unification Sacred Church. Our church has a secret method to help ordinary people possess the Holy Spirit's power."
"Just a small price to pay."
The young man swallowed. "Holy Spirit?"
Seeing his confusion, Pang's face twisted with disgust. "In the Association pigs' words—demons. Hateful! If they hadn't stopped us, this land would've been embraced by the Holy Spirit already!"
The young man shuddered at "demon," but remembering the Association's propaganda about demons being powerful beings like cardmakers, his heart burned with desire.
Since you look down on me, don't blame me for defecting!
"Indeed, that shitty Association is hateful!" the young man said obsequiously. "Brother Pang, when can I..."
Pang patted his back. "Smart man! But the Holy Spirit who performs the secret arts has gone to help others like you at another church location. You'll have to wait."
"Until then, stay here."
The young man knew Pang feared he'd talk, so he quickly assured: "I understand everything, Brother Pang. Don't worry. I'll wait here for the Holy Spirit."
Then, remembering: "Brother Pang, what about the loan?"
Pang acted offended. "Hey, once you accept the secret technique, you'll be my brother. We're family—why talk about money?"
Realizing his debts would be forgiven, the young man nearly bubbled with excitement. He'd already begun imagining himself defeating famous cardmakers and reaching life's peak.
Just as he was about to continue flattering, a voice came from behind them:
"So it really is you—the Unification Sect."
Pang and the youth turned to see two figures watching with half-smiles. Beside them stood a terrifying spider monster.
"I haven't settled accounts with you for before," Russell said coldly.
"For now, consider this the interest."
(End of Chapter 221)