Chapter 18: The Assault

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In this world, the practice of rent collection as a form of management is exceedingly common. According to Hill, whether it’s the agency or the various gangs entrenched on the streets, they usually operate by district and rely heavily on the regular management and protection fees paid by residents as their main source of income. The only difference between an agency and a gang is that agencies regularly dispatch personnel for patrols and promptly handle residents’ reported issues, even taking responsibility for cleaning and maintaining the environment to make the entire jurisdiction more stable.

Xingyu knocked on the door of a small building before her. The door quickly opened.

“Agent from Raindrop Agency,” she showed her badge to prove her identity. “It’s time to pay last week’s management fee.”

The person behind the door nodded and, as if prepared, took out a few coins and handed them to her.

Isn’t this exactly like dealing with a supervisor?!

Xingyu’s feelings were mixed as she counted the coins. The amount was correct. After confirming, she called out to the distance, “The last household has paid. Hill... sis.”

According to Hill, she disliked being called “director” and insisted that Xingyu address her this way.

Having been in this world for less than two days, Xingyu had already gained two older sisters...

“Well done,” Hill yawned, leaning against the wall. “One more street to collect from, then we’re done.”

Although she showed no concern for the outcome, Xingyu reported honestly as Fran had instructed before departure: “Seven residential buildings on this street are vacant, two didn’t respond or leave messages, and three have collapsed. The remaining 1500 new coins were all collected.”

As expected, Hill didn’t even lift an eyelid.

Xingyu asked again, “Several houses show signs of attacks. Didn’t we say we were responsible for ensuring safety here?”

She felt this place seemed less secure than the Border Mutual Aid Alliance’s territory.

“No one can guarantee absolute safety. You can only blame those who live inside for having bad luck.”

Xingyu opened her mouth but said nothing in the end.

The residents trusted the agency, but even if they died, Hill remained indifferent — an attitude that was hard for her to accept.

Hill seemed to notice her mood and gave her a sidelong glance. “Feeling uncomfortable? Maybe life is more valued where you come from, but it’s not like that here. Expecting full protection is impossible. Even I can’t guarantee everyone’s safety.”

“Hmm...” Xingyu replied vaguely, “I don’t want to die either.”

“No one wants to die. But no one can guarantee it. Living here means constantly facing death at any moment.”

Xingyu nodded silently.

At that moment, a deafening explosion came from afar, and Xingyu couldn’t help but look toward the source — the direction of the sixth street, where they were headed next!

Simultaneously, their terminals rang—an alert from Fran.

“An explosion on Sixth Street...?”

“They definitely targeted us on purpose. Picking this moment to send a message,” Hill sneered, glancing at Xingyu. “Perfect timing. I’ll take you to school you on what a life-or-death battlefield feels like.”

Crossing into the street, they saw a starkly different scene—

Billowing smoke obscured the view, and a pungent smell of burnt flesh filled the air.

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Flames ravaged Sixth Street, devouring everything combustible. Some houses were already shrouded in thick smoke, with dark red flames flickering faintly through windows and door cracks.

The street was short, but chaos and panic spread to every corner. People scattered, knocking over vendors and obstacles in the road.

In a corner, several oil drums stood quietly, gleaming menacingly in the firelight.

Beyond the crowd, Xingyu spotted the instigators of the riot.

Amid the chaos, a group wielding clubs rampaged recklessly, smashing everything around them. They assaulted and beat every passerby—old or young—without mercy. Their faces twisted into savage grins, like beasts gone mad.

“Tch. We’re late. It’s already come to this?”

Displeasure flashed across Hill’s face. She pulled off her black gloves and extended her hand to Xingyu. A long scar snaked across the back of her hand, grotesquely winding its way.

Hesitating briefly, Xingyu placed her own hand on top.

It was their first physical contact, and Hill’s palm felt far hotter than when covered by gloves.

A strange sensation coursed through the skin—a powerful psychic force surged into Xingyu’s mind, causing her to stagger slightly.

This form of communication was much faster than words. In an instant, she understood it was the result of a clash between supernatural psychic powers.

A shallow connection could substitute for “conversation,” while deeper trust and connection replaced “communication.”

Xingyu couldn’t reveal her own thoughts to Hill fully, so though she sensed Hill’s mental waves, her own emotions and ideas stayed private.

“I’ll deal with these reckless fools,” Hill said, loosening her grip and gripping the battle axe on her back. “Be careful. Take care of yourself.”

“I will.” Xingyu tightened her hold on the dagger she carried. The touch of the handle brought a flicker of security.

Her gaze turned to the rioters. Under the influence of her [Information Reading] ability, waves of data flooded her mind: Red Flame Gang, D-ring, low-level members... In a flash, she had a rough understanding of these thugs.

“Trash from next door, a small gang without much clout. Didn’t expect them to have such nerve, daring to mess with us?” Hill sneered with disdain.

No need for words—they exchanged a look that conveyed volumes.

“Hey! You’re in the wrong place!” Hill shouted, her voice booming like thunder.

The Red Flame Gang thugs seemed to just now realize they were noticed.

Their leader slowly turned, bloodshot eyes fixed on Hill with a vile grin. He was tall and burly, his facial muscles twitching, radiating a savage brutality.

He waved for his men to continue the attack, then deliberately approached Hill, rhythmically striking the ground with an iron hammer, producing an unpleasant creaking sound.

“I already gave them a chance.”

Before the words finished, Hill’s figure shot forward like the wind.

Her speed was lightning-fast—within the blink of an eye, she was before the leader. The axe’s cold blade gleamed sharply, aimed at his throat.

The leader, clearly caught off guard, panicked and raised the hammer to block.

A muffled “bang” exploded, deafening.

Xingyu almost felt the ground tremble beneath her feet.

The hammer was severed cleanly by the axe, the break smooth as if cut by an invisible force. Half the hammer flew far away. The leader’s wrist numbed from the impact, and he staggered back.

Hill gave him no chance to recover, pursuing relentlessly.

Only then did the Red Flame Gang thugs react, rushing at Hill with various weapons whistling sharply through the air.

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Yet to Hill, these seemed nothing more than ants overestimating themselves.

Her axe swung like a tempest, carving a bloody path through the crowd. Each strike was accompanied by the crisp sound of shattering bones and the dull thud of mangled flesh.

Amid the rising wails, some figures were flung like ragdolls, crashing heavily against walls and leaving vivid bloodstains.

Everything happened so fast, Xingyu could hardly believe it.

Hill’s ferocity exceeded anything she had imagined.

She stared blankly at Hill’s back, her mind struggling to process the scene.

This was not the power any human should possess.

What kind of monstrous strength was this? To achieve such feats with mere flesh and blood?

And this was her everyday life.

Such was the weight carried by the title “Senior Agent”...

Hill slowly turned, eyes sweeping over the remaining Red Flame Gang members.

“Anyone else want to say something now?” she asked casually, her tone calm as if the earlier battle were a trivial game.

In an instant, the scene reversed completely.

The thugs’ eyes widened in disbelief; their lips trembled, unable to form coherent words. Some clutched wounds, writhing on the ground with agonized screams. Others scrambled backward, trying desperately to escape this slaughterhouse.

“How could this be... The intel wasn’t supposed to...”

No one expected Hill to seize control so swiftly. Thick fear and the stench of blood filled the air.

Suddenly, a piercing roar shattered the silence.

Xingyu saw one of the thugs, kicked away by Hill, rise unexpectedly.

He was drenched in blood, pale-faced, eyes bloodshot and bulging, looking like a beast gone mad.

“You... agents... don’t think... you’re so great...” he shouted hoarsely, blood spilling from his mouth with every word. He frantically searched his body as if for something.

Xingyu’s pupils constricted sharply. She saw a grenade strapped inside the man’s jacket!

A cruel smile twisted the thug’s face.

“Die!” he roared, voice tearing the air.

“Hi—!” Xingyu instinctively opened her mouth to warn Hill.

The crisis struck too suddenly; Hill’s back was defenseless, right within the grenade’s blast radius.

At that moment, a scorching wave mixed with dust and debris surged over them. Xingyu felt herself thrown forcefully, crashing heavily to the ground as her lungs were instantly crushed for air.

The world fell into silence, leaving only a sharp, low buzzing sound.