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墨書 Inktalez
Li Mu drove his car to the 1984 Bar in the Mist Shadow District. The bar's understated and cold exterior came into view through the car window. The entire establishment was dominated by a matte black finish, with not a single decoration on the walls. The smooth, matte black walls appeared exceptionally secretive under the night lights, perfectly blending with the style of the upscale residential area, exuding a sense of nobility amidst its coldness. This was not an ordinary bar; it served as the management office for the Twilight Alliance in the Mist Shadow District. Those who were assassins or part of underground forces knew that this was a stronghold of the alliance, a gateway to a secret world.
Li Mu stepped out of the car, adjusted his coat, and walked steadily toward the bar. The flickering cool-toned neon lights at the entrance offered a cold welcome. He pushed open the heavy door, and the tranquil yet understated atmosphere inside made his heart tighten. The cool lighting cast shadows throughout the bar, where high tables and several low-key yet comfortable leather sofas were arranged. Abstract paintings hung on the walls, appearing gloomy and mysterious in the dim light. The music played softly and slowly, adding a sense of oppressive calm to the desolate bar.
A few patrons sitting on the sofas glanced up at Li Mu, their eyes lingering on his stern face for a moment before they seemed to sense the undeniable anger radiating from him and quickly looked away. Li Mu kept his gaze straight ahead and walked directly to the bar, suppressing a surge of emotions within him.
"I want to go in," he said coldly, his tone leaving no room for refusal.
After speaking, he pulled out a special coin from his coat pocket and placed it heavily on the bar counter. The coin was made of black metal, intricately engraved with patterns that almost blended into the black surface of the bar. This was a symbol of identity for internal members of the alliance, held by only a select few, understood only by core personnel of the alliance.
The bartender behind the counter was a taciturn middle-aged man who calmly assessed Li Mu with a hint of caution and respect in his gaze. He picked up the coin and examined it closely; once satisfied that it was genuine, he nodded slightly and gestured respectfully for Li Mu to proceed, as if indicating that he was about to enter an even more secretive realm.
Li Mu nodded coolly and moved behind the bar. The bartender stood beside him and silently pressed a concealed switch on the wall. The matte black wall slowly slid open to reveal a discreet hidden door. Behind it lay a dimly lit passageway illuminated only by a few faint red lights, casting an eerie glow that made the floor and walls appear drenched in blood.
As Li Mu stepped into the passageway, he felt that the air around him was heavier than outside; it felt like entering an entirely different world—dark and secretive. The bartender closed the door behind him, seemingly cutting off all sounds from outside. Li Mu stood in the corridor with an icy gaze, his fists clenching involuntarily. Memories flooded back to him, especially news of Mao Ba's death, which left him restless. He could not accept that Mao Ba had vanished silently amidst this conspiracy; perhaps this place was just the first step toward finding answers.
Walking down the dim corridor, each footstep echoed in the silence, as if every step proclaimed his determination to uncover the truth. At the end of the long hallway, faint light glimmered through, seemingly beckoning him toward deeper darkness. Whatever lay hidden there, he would personally unravel this mystery.
As he approached the end of the passageway where a faint glow emanated, Li Mu stepped forward with resolve and placed his hand on the doorknob, pushing open the heavy wooden door with force. The door creaked ominously as it slowly opened, stirring up an atmosphere within that felt charged with an invisible pressure.
Inside, the room was dimly lit but at its center sat a powerful man behind a large office desk—MR.K, one of the core figures of Twilight Alliance. Approaching fifty years old, his hair was meticulously styled; silver strands hinted at age but did nothing to diminish his commanding presence. MR.K wore a tailored dark gray suit that hugged his tall frame tightly, exuding competence and coldness; his silver tie matched perfectly with his crisp shirt collar.
His figure blended into both light and shadow, emanating an unsettling aura of intimidation. At that moment, he quietly scrutinized Li Mu with deep-set eyes that held both examination and confusion. On top of his desk lay a Black Cat with dense fur; its eyes were half-closed as if indifferent to what transpired in the room. When Li Mu pushed open the door, however, the Black Cat lazily lifted its head and shot Li Mu a cold glance with its emerald eyes before resting its head back on its paws in an air of nonchalance.
Li Mu stood at the doorway, his gaze icy, and the tension between his brows revealed a suppressed fury. His figure appeared particularly taut in the dim light, as if he carried the weight of a brewing storm, instantly stirring the tranquility of the room. He scanned the layout; it was neat and minimalist, with several abstract paintings on the walls—hard lines and heavy colors that added to the oppressive atmosphere. The documents on the desk were stacked neatly, and the crystal pen holder reflected a faint cold light, exuding an air of orderliness that mirrored MR.K himself, devoid of any chaos.
“Li Mu?” MR.K spoke coldly, his voice deep and steady, carrying an unshakeable authority. He furrowed his brow slightly, his eyes reflecting a hint of inquiry, seemingly unable to comprehend Li Mu's current anger. “I’ve heard you’ve been inquiring about matters that don’t concern you.”
His tone held a subtle warning, as if reminding Li Mu to know his limits. However, Li Mu did not back down; instead, he stepped forward, locking eyes with MR.K, his own gaze filled with repressed anger and deep confusion. The fury within him felt like a long-suppressed undercurrent; the restlessness and anxiety of recent days made it impossible for him to remain calm, especially after learning of Mao Ba's death—his anger could no longer be contained.
“I cannot accept that explanation for Mao Ba’s death,” Li Mu said in a low voice, his tone laced with suppressed rage and determination. “A car accident? Not a single trace left behind? Do you really find that credible?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Black Cat's ears twitched slightly but then closed their eyes again, seemingly uninterested in this confrontation. MR.K remained composed in his seat, his gaze devoid of any emotional fluctuation as he scrutinized Li Mu. The hint of confusion in his eyes gradually transformed into coldness. He did not respond immediately but leaned slightly on the table, hands clasped together, coldly observing Li Mu as if weighing whether his words were worth considering.
“Li Mu, I hope you can remain calm,” MR.K’s voice was low and carried an oppressive undertone. “You’ve been with the Alliance long enough to know that some matters are best left unexamined. The car accident is not something I want you to interfere with.”
Li Mu's expression showed no sign of wavering as he replied coldly, “But everything about this is too unusual. Mao Ba was not an ordinary person; his death cannot simply be an accident.” He stared directly at MR.K, his gaze sharp. “The commissions over these past few days, the anonymous employer, the frequent movements of assassins—haven’t you noticed something amiss?”
MR.K's brow furrowed slightly as a barely perceptible shadow crossed his eyes. He leaned back in his chair as if processing Li Mu's words. After a moment, he raised his hand slightly and waved it dismissively as if to disperse what he deemed unnecessary doubts. “Li Mu, the rules of this line of work are simple—don’t ask questions, don’t doubt, just complete your mission. As for those so-called anomalies, regardless of the truth behind them, they are not your concern.”
Li Mu’s hands tightened slightly into fists as he unconsciously clenched them harder. He understood that MR.K’s words carried an undeniable weight; however, this cold response only strengthened his conviction about his suspicions. Suppressing the anger within him, he spoke in a low yet resolute tone: “If everything were merely an accident, I wouldn’t be here questioning it. But what if it was a deliberately arranged death? Who will explain that to me?”
The two locked eyes; the atmosphere in the room suddenly grew tense. MR.K remained calm and stern, his gaze carrying an underlying pressure as if silently conveying a threat to Li Mu. In contrast, Li Mu appeared grim and unwavering, anger still simmering in his eyes.
Black Cat suddenly lifted its head and opened its eyes slightly to glance at the two confronting each other before gently closing them again as if ignoring this undercurrent conversation altogether. It curled up under the cold light, silently witnessing this clash without uttering a sound.
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