Chapter 80 – The Oriole Waits Behind

In truth, there had been a sixth participant in Lin Xi and the others’ strategy meeting: Zhao Xinning.

Zhao Xinning slowly took off her headphones.

The listening device hidden in Lin Xi’s schoolbag had allowed Zhao Xinning to learn every detail of their robbery plan.

Zhao Xinning also learned that apart from hanging around with Shi Yu and Lu Yi, Lin Xi had two other girls with her.

“Those damn bastards!” Rage surged up in Zhao Xinning’s chest. “Not only did they drag Xi down with them, they’re planning to keep leading her into crime!”

“No. I absolutely can’t let that happen…”

Just as Zhao Xinning stood there with a troubled frown, Pluto’s voice rang out.

“I have a plan.”

Zhao Xinning stopped in her tracks. “You’re not going to tell me to call in a tip, are you? That won’t work. Xi would get arrested too.”

“No,” Pluto said. “Calling in a tip would be meaningless. My plan is for you to follow along with their operation and cut in halfway.”

“If everything goes smoothly, you can kill every single one of those bastards except Xi.”

Pluto’s words were incredibly tempting.

Zhao Xinning did not want to kill only Shi Yu anymore. Lu Yi, Zheng Mo, Qin Ling-every last one of those bastards who had corrupted Xi, she wanted them all dead.

“But what am I supposed to do?”

“All I know is their plan…”

“That’s enough,” Pluto said. “Reliable intel is the prerequisite for victory. Didn’t Qin Ling only devise a perfect countermeasure after learning Shuguang Technology and the Countermeasures Bureau’s plans?”

“She would never imagine that while the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole waits behind.”

“You are that oriole.”

Zhao Xinning could not help growing excited. “Tell me. What should I do?”

Pluto said, “It’s simple. Tomorrow afternoon, you ask for leave too. Head to the area around Jinrui Bank in advance and ambush them.”

“Me? Ambush them??? Just me???”

“Yes. Just you. For Xi’s sake, aren’t you fearless in the face of any hardship or danger?”

“I… I understand. For Xi, I can do anything!”

“Good. Tonight, go to the black market and buy a sniper rifle. Get a large-caliber one, the kind that can blow a human body apart.”

Zhao Xinning had only ever used sniper rifles in games. She was not afraid of killing people. Killing Shi Yu and the others was something Zhao Xinning could do with a perfectly clear conscience.

What she was afraid of was not being able to use the sniper rifle properly.

Pluto told her, “It’s fine. Once you buy it, spend the night binge-watching a few sniper-related movies. With your talent for learning, plus your determination to do this for Xi, it won’t be hard, right?”

Zhao Xinning nodded. “No problem.”

Pluto continued explaining the operation plan.

“Take the gun and find a high vantage point near Jinrui Bank to lie in ambush. Once they arrive, remember, don’t rush to shoot.”

“I understand. Xi will still be there,” Zhao Xinning said, following Pluto’s train of thought. “I have to find a way to get Xi to leave.”

“Exactly,” Pluto said. “As soon as their car arrives, call Xi at once.”

“Cry and tell her that you’ve run into a Dark Realm monster, that you’re terrified, and ask her for help.”

“Xi said you are her most important friend. She will definitely give up on robbing the bank and rush over to help you.”

Zhao Xinning’s timing for the call had to be when their car reached Jinrui Bank.

If she called too early, Lin Xi would leave, and Shi Yu and the others would abandon the operation.

But once they got out of the car and were already at Jinrui Bank, even without Lin Xi, Shi Yu and the others would have the arrow already nocked and no choice but to let it fly.

“If Xi wants to leave, they probably won’t try to stop her by force. Even if they do, Xi is the Blazing Blast Witch. They won’t be able to hold her back.”

“It all depends on whether Xi can give up robbing the bank for your sake.”

“She will!” Zhao Xinning said firmly. “She sees me as her best friend. I know she means it!”

“I think so too. If you’re ‘at death’s door,’ she’ll definitely rush over to help you,” Pluto said. “Once Xi leaves, Shi Yu and the others will continue with the plan. When they finish robbing the bank and walk out through the entrance, that’ll be your moment to shoot.”

“Mm. I’ll take out Shi Yu first,” Zhao Xinning said, a murderous glint in her eyes. “Even if I can’t kill the others this time, Shi Yu has to die!”

Without a doubt, this was an excellent opportunity to get rid of Shi Yu.

“One more thing,” Pluto said. “Ideally, you should kill all of them. If there isn’t enough time, or you don’t get a chance to fire a second shot, then forget it.”

Zhao Xinning understood what Pluto meant. They couldn’t let those girls fall into the hands of Shuguang Technology or the Countermeasures Bureau when they arrived later.

If they were captured, there was no telling whether they would give up Lin Xi.

So if she had the chance to fire multiple shots in a row, she would kill them all.

If they reacted quickly enough after Shi Yu died and didn’t leave her another opening, then that was that.

Zhao Xinning had no intention of shooting out their tires. It didn’t matter if the survivors got away for the time being. She could deal with them later.

After going over Pluto’s “the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind” plan once more, Zhao Xinning felt it was feasible.

First, she had to buy a sniper rifle.

She had to make a trip to the black market tonight and get a sniper rifle. Zhao Xinning waited patiently for midnight to arrive…

…

There was half an hour left until midnight.

This time, before heading to the black market, Zhao Xinning dressed herself up like a delinquent girl.

Last time, she’d dressed like an obedient good girl, which made that reckless Yellow Hair think she was easy to bully. In the end, she’d had no choice but to get violent, kill him, and set the place on fire.

And in the end, Lin Xi had been the one to clean up the mess for her…

A fall into a pit, a gain in wit. Zhao Xinning had learned her lesson this time.

When going to a place as mixed and chaotic as the black market, she had to look like a bad girl.

“Bring Meat Grinder with you too,” Pluto reminded her.

“I know.” Zhao Xinning packed the gun and the money. “Let’s hope there isn’t another reckless idiot this time who wants to teach me how to use a firearm.”

Zhao Xinning slipped out quietly, deliberately wandering through remote streets and alleys.

She had to find a “guide” first.

After searching several places, she finally ran into one.

Zhao Xinning explained what she wanted. Seeing how she was dressed, the other party assumed she was someone from the underworld and didn’t say much. He simply took the money and did the job.

Once she entered the black market, Zhao Xinning followed the information given by the “guide” and went straight to the gun shop.

Just like last time, Zhao Xinning had arrived early. There were only the owner and the employees inside.

Among them, one had Yellow Hair again.

Zhao Xinning couldn’t help wondering if everyone in this line of work liked dyeing their hair that color.

Fortunately, though, this Yellow Hair was a woman.

“Well, hello, little sister,” the woman with Yellow Hair greeted her warmly. “Here to patronize our humble shop so early?”

Zhao Xinning didn’t waste words. In the tone of a delinquent girl, she said bluntly,

“Give me a big sniper rifle. The kind that can blow a person to pieces.”

The woman smiled. “I’m the proprietress here. I do have the gun you want. But first, you have to tell me which gang you’re with.”

“Why do you want to know that?”

“Because, sweetie, I think this whole delinquent-girl act of yours is fake.”