Chapter 0106: Finding a Way In

Turning his head again, Hou Rui noticed two pairs of Western journalists chatting idly in the bar’s booth area. However, each was accompanied by a female companion, and they came in pairs, making it inconvenient for Hou Rui to make a move. Continuing his observation, a sudden gleam appeared in his eyes as he spotted two single Western men out hunting for pleasures.

One was a balding, overweight man in his forties, holding two local girls on either side. The man was clearly quite drunk; his nose was flushed red, and his speech was loud and slurred. “Hahaha, tonight it’s you two! In this godforsaken place, only the girls are worth anything! Hahaha!”

The other man, also around forty but notably short, had his arm around a very voluptuous girl. From time to time, he would fondle her body and legs before responding to the fat man, “No, no, old friend, it’s better to go one girl at a time. That way, you can get to know them more deeply. Hehehe.”

“God, this place reminds me so much of the college fraternity days. Tonight, we’re going to party hard. Being sent to this damned place, what else can we do but drink and chase girls?”

“Well said! The government troops are a bunch of cowards, and the Liberation Alliance are nothing but scared turtles. Without fighting, we’re just stuck sitting here, damn it!” The two men downed another round of black rum, and Hou Rui noticed the balding fat man was now barely able to sit upright.

“Alright, I agree. I’ll give you a deposit now, and the rest tonight.” Having chosen his target, Hou Rui confirmed the deal with Sanka.

“You need to pay a bigger deposit. That way, I can convince them to take you over,” Sanka quickly added.

“I’ll go to the restroom first. I’ll bring you the money when I return.” Hou Rui drained his beer in one gulp and then headed into the bar’s restroom. He had noticed that the table of those two lustful men was already cluttered with empty beer bottles, and they’d also consumed a fair amount of foreign liquor. Hou Rui doubted they wouldn’t need to use the restroom soon.

Minutes later, Hou Rui’s prediction came true. The balding fat man staggered into the restroom, one hand bracing against the wall. As he merrily relieved himself, Hou Rui quietly approached and grabbed the back of his head, slamming his face against the wall.

With a sharp “crack,” the drunken man collapsed, continuing to urinate as he fell. If Hou Rui hadn’t moved swiftly, some of it might have splashed onto him.

Once the man finished, Hou Rui crept closer, took the man’s wallet, and found over three hundred U.S. dollars inside.

“So poor! But thanks, this money will barely get me by,” Hou Rui muttered to himself, tossing the wallet out through the restroom vent to the outside of the bar. Then he scooped some water from the sink and poured it beneath the man’s feet. Finally, after tidying his clothes, he boldly stood at the restroom door and called out, “Who knows this guy? He just fell!”

“Who? Who fell?” Immediately, the attention of everyone in the bar focused on Hou Rui.

“God knows, a balding fat guy, looks about forty, wearing a pink striped shirt and pants, and—”

“Damn, it’s old John! What happened to you, mate?” The short man who had come with the balding fat man hurried into the restroom, while Hou Rui, mission accomplished, returned to Sanka’s side.

It was clear that those few minutes in the restroom were agonizing for Sanka. During that time, she had finished three bottles of beer and devoured all the snacks on the table. When Hou Rui returned, she was so excited she immediately stood up.

“You took so long! I thought you’d changed your mind,” Sanka scolded him.

“Someone just fell. I went to help. Don’t worry, I’m not changing my mind,” Hou Rui said as he sat back down. Then he pulled out some warm U.S. dollars from his pocket and deliberately counted out $250 in front of Sanka before handing it to her.

As Sanka eagerly took the money with a beaming face, Hou Rui suddenly snatched it back, causing her smile to freeze. Confused, she asked, “What’s wrong? You said you wouldn’t change your mind.”

“I won’t, but can I really trust you? This is our first meeting. What if you take the money and run? In this chaotic country, where would I find you?”

“Well, well...” Sanka clearly hadn’t considered this deeply and had no convincing answer to Hou Rui’s question.

“Here’s the deal—I’ll give you the money now, but I’ll come with you and stay until nightfall, until the moment we move. That way, I’ll feel secure.”

“Fine! But throughout the entire process, you must listen to me. Otherwise, both of us will be in danger.” After some thought, and staring intently at the money in Hou Rui’s hand, Sanka finally agreed. Hou Rui promptly handed her the $250.

After carefully counting twice, Sanka led Hou Rui out of the bar and headed westward toward the town of Baka. After a few minutes’ walk, they arrived at a dilapidated two-story building.

“This is my home. Come in. We have to wait until dark before we can set out to find the person,” Sanka said as she stepped inside.

Once inside, Hou Rui quickly realized that this so-called home was a makeshift shelter shared by refugees, beggars, and prostitutes. Every room he passed was filled with people. The most outrageous was a couple engaged in passionate lovemaking behind a cloth partition, while several infants were being held by gaunt women, sitting outside the curtains and waiting. This little building was far more chaotic and complex than it appeared from outside.

Ascending to the second floor, Sanka led Hou Rui to a tiny room at the very back—her own small sanctuary.

“Please sit. Would you like something to drink?” After closing the curtain at the door, Sanka assumed the role of hostess.

“No, thanks. How did you find this place?” Hou Rui asked, eyeing the photos and little trinkets from girls decorating the walls. Though the room was modest and decorated with worn, broken objects, it was clear Sanka cared about the space.

“After the government troops and Liberation Alliance started fighting, most rich people fled Baka. There seem to be many empty houses like this. I just found one and moved in. Others outside are in similar situations,” Sanka replied, sitting on the only small bed since the room lacked even a chair.

“What are your plans? Stay in Baka or move elsewhere?”

“I don’t know,” Sanka answered honestly.

Hou Rui didn’t press further. In a war-torn country, there were countless girls like Sanka, and what could he possibly do? The best course was to remain silent.

For the next few hours, Hou Rui didn’t speak to Sanka, nor did he ask about the exit route or departure time. He would see for himself after dark—no need for unnecessary words.

Soon it was dinner time. Sanka brought out two bowls of camel’s milk as their meal. Lighting a short candle, they waited quietly in the dim glow.

At exactly eleven o’clock, Hou Rui glanced at his phone to check the time and was about to remind Sanka when she suddenly stood up. She blew out the candle, leaving only a twelve-centimeter stub, then turned to him.

“It’s about time. Let’s go.”

“Alright,” Hou Rui replied decisively, following Sanka out of the room. Taking advantage of her distraction, he quietly slipped a bread knife into his pant leg for emergencies.

The dark streets of the town were deserted, except for a few government soldiers posted on high buildings, manning sentry points with searchlights. Those large, basin-sized beams swept the town relentlessly, hunting for enemies lurking in the shadows.

Hou Rui and Sanka moved like stealthy mice, slipping through patches of darkness, constantly shifting to avoid the searchlights’ beams.

Hou Rui had just followed right behind Sanka when a searchlight rapidly swept past. He darted behind a wrecked car by the roadside to hide. The beam slid over the car and continued forward.

Sanka was about to run ahead, but Hou Rui suddenly grabbed her, pulling her back behind the wreckage.

Before Sanka could turn to ask why, the searchlight suddenly swung back, shining directly on the wreck for a full 56 seconds before moving on.

Their hearts pounded wildly in their chests. Hou Rui guessed Sanka’s was no calmer. Neither dared imagine what would have happened if he’d been a moment slower—government soldiers’ bullets would have rained down, and Sanka would have been riddled like a hornet’s nest.

“How much further?” Hou Rui whispered into Sanka’s ear.