In the wild woods outside Silver Ridge Station, the cicadas buzzed with a frantic intensity, like a forecast of impending death.
Old Uncle De had truly been pushed to the brink of madness. Not only had Lin Zhiwan cut off his revenue streams, but she had also peeled away his "parasitic businesses" attached to the railway like layers of skin. In the face of survival, the so-called "reverence for miracles" had been shredded by greed.
"He's reached out to the 'Black Crows'," Ludwig whispered, his palms slick with sweat, barely able to grip his wrench. "They're the most ruthless bandits prowling the southern rainforest. Their leader is a deserter who's got his hands on genuine field-grade military hardware."
Lin Zhiwan sat in a rattan chair at the shop's entrance, casually toppling a box of specialized detonators in her hand. These were new blasting consumables Ludwig was responsible for maintaining; their bright copper casings gleamed with a dangerous luster in the shadows.
"Where do they plan to make their move?" Lin Zhiwan asked airily, as if inquiring about tomorrow's weather.
"The mouth of Tunnel K-109." Ludwig pointed to the map, his fingertip trembling slightly. "It's a mandatory deceleration point because of the steep grade and the sheer cliffs on both sides. Once blocked, it's a death trap. We wouldn't even be able to send out a distress signal."
Lin Zhiwan stood up, brushing wood shavings off her skirt. A spark of unprecedented excitement flashed in her eyes.
"A perfect spot. It's tailored specifically for a 'project liquidation'. Ludwig, prepare a manual track speeder for me. And bring your best blasting lead wire."
Solitary Journey to the Abyss
The setting sun stretched the silhouette of Tunnel K-109 into a deep, heavy shadow, like a massive black coffin lying across the mountains.
When the "Black Crows" roared out of the dense forest with over thirty fully armed thugs, they didn't find the expected gold-laden freight car or trembling guards.
Instead, in the middle of the tracks, sat a completely out-of-place folding chair.
Lin Zhiwan wore a sharp black hunting suit, her long hair tied back neatly. She held no gun—only an exquisite white porcelain teacup, the steam rising lazily in the cool evening breeze. At her feet, twenty-four specialized detonators were lined up in a dense row, glaringly bright in the twilight.
"Whoa—!"
The leader, "Black Crow," yanked his horse to a halt. He was a vicious man with a scar over his left eye; the dark muzzle of his carbine pointed straight at Lin Zhiwan's chest.
"Miss Lin. Old De said you're a witch who plays with fire. I just see a lunatic who isn't afraid to die. Clear the tracks, and I might consider just taking the cargo and letting you live."
Lin Zhiwan took a slow, deliberate sip of tea. She glanced up at the precariously balanced boulders on the cliffside and let out a mocking smirk.
"Mr. Black Crow, since you're a deserter, you ought to know what happens if this model of detonator explodes at this specific angle."
She extended a slender finger, pointing toward the support points of the cliffs on either side.
"It's called 'multi-point directional blasting'. The moment I press this switch in my hand, the entire mountainside will collapse within three seconds, completely burying this tunnel. You, along with your horses, will become the cheapest fertilizer beneath this foundation."
The High-Stakes Gambler
Black Crow let out a harsh laugh, trying to mask the flicker of unease in his gut.
"Stop trying to bluff me! You're less than three meters from the explosives. If it goes off, you'll be shredded meat too! Old De said you were smart; I think your brains are water-logged!"
"Smart people negotiate business; lunatics negotiate with lives."
Lin Zhiwan set down her teacup and stood up slowly, her hand gripping a red pressure-sensitive trigger. Her fingernails were neatly manicured, but her hand was terrifyingly steady.
"You have old-fashioned violence; I have modern logic. But here, the laws of physics are equal."
She took a step forward, her high heels clicking sharply against the iron rail—each sound striking the nerves of the bandits.
"Black Crow, gamble with me. I'll count to three. If you don't take your men and get out, I detonate. I'm betting my life can trade away the future of all you scum—what are you betting?"
Her voice was hauntingly calm, even carrying a shiver-inducing sense of pleasure. The thrill of standing on the edge of life and death was far more intoxicating than signing a hundred-million-dollar contract in the modern world.
"Three."
The flesh on Black Crow's face twitched violently. The hand gripping his gun grew slick with sweat.
"Two."
Lin Zhiwan's thumb began to press down. The fanaticism in her eyes sent a bone-chilling cold through these hardened killers. Black Crow saw it: this woman truly intended to drag everyone to hell with her.
"One."
"Wait!"
Black Crow let out a cracked roar, his horse rearing up in terror.
"Retreat! Back into the woods! This bitch is a real psycho!"
The bandits scrambled to turn their horses, fleeing the silent tracks as if escaping a plague.
The Consolidation of Power
Peace returned to the tunnel mouth, leaving only the rustle of the evening wind through the wild grass.
From the shadows, Deputy Supervisor Parsons emerged with a squad of railway guards, trembling. He had been watching from the rear; the way he looked at Lin Zhiwan now was as if he were staring at an alien lifeform.
"Consultant... Consultant Lin... did you really intend to blow it up?" Parsons' teeth chattered.
Lin Zhiwan bent over, unhurriedly picking up the detonators. Her tone was back to normal:
"No. The fuses haven't been installed yet. These are empty shells Ludwig made; only the copper powder inside is real."
She tossed one to Parsons. The Deputy Supervisor nearly fumbled it in shock, his face turning a kaleidoscope of panicked colors.
"In project management, this is called 'False Deterrence'."
Lin Zhiwan adjusted her hair and turned to Parsons, her gaze sharp as an arrow.
"The bandits are terrified, and Old De's last card is gone. Now, I am officially petitioning the Railway Department for independent armed deployment rights. I want to form my own security detail at Silver Ridge Station. My money, my guns."
Parsons opened his mouth to refuse, but the memory of that terrifying countdown choked the words in his throat. Finally, he could only nod weakly.
"As long as you can guarantee the tax revenue doubles... I'll speak to the Board."
Lin Zhiwan's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
She looked deep into the tunnel where, once again, those mysterious blue electric arcs seemed to be dancing. She knew the real game had only just begun.