Chapter 36: Smuggling Routes

Lin Yue hopped off the ring, clapping his hands together as he smiled at Ross. He freely admitted that this was a provocation directed at the high-ranking soldier.

"Holy shit, that was badass, man—absolutely insane!"

The residents of Dogtown, who had been grumbling about losing their money to Lin Yue, stared at his cybernetics with hungry eyes. They had the desire but lacked the nerve; in Dogtown, whether it was a corpse in the drainage ditch or one of Hansen’s public hangings, they usually scavenged anything of value.

Although the underground fight club owner’s men had been beaten half to death by Lin Yue, the owner himself was secretly ecstatic. With such high odds, he had made a fortune. Lin Yue’s eyes glowed, and the owner didn't hesitate to transfer Ross’s money to him.

"Good fight, brother! Leave me your contact info; what you’ve earned is all yours." The man spoke loudly, clearly wanting to make sure Ross heard every word.

Everyone hanging around Dogtown was a seasoned veteran or a desperate drifter; Lin Yue knew exactly what the owner was up to. He didn't decline. In a sense, the owner had provided a divine assist. Though the owner had taken a hefty cut, that didn't stop Ross, whose face had turned green with rage, from wanting to cause trouble.

"Everyone, keep your hands off that money!"

Ross, a veteran thug, was used to throwing his weight around. He wasn't about to watch his money go into someone else’s pocket. The Barghest soldiers following him raised their rifles, and the scene went deathly quiet.

"Cough up the cash. I'm done playing."

Lin Yue’s brow twitched. Dozens of people around the ring had placed bets; the bastard was trying to welch on the deal! Seeing the Dogtown residents intimidated by the Barghest soldiers, Lin Yue shouted out, "Looks like these Barghest dogs don't want us to eat! Tell me, if this guy takes the money back today, who’s ever going to come watch a fight here again? If a bastard’s word means nothing, and we just listen to them whenever they want to take our winnings, we might as well all just get on our knees and lick their boots!"

It would have been better if Lin Yue hadn't started it, but once the crowd began to jeer, the situation turned chaotic. Curses and hostile glares surrounded the three Barghest soldiers. If Ross were bold enough to open fire, Hansen would undoubtedly have his head severed and hung upside down in the underground streets of Dogtown.

Seeing the residents incited, Ross didn't dare continue his displays of dominance. Lin Yue stuffed his hands into his pockets and sauntered out of the arena. The crowd dispersed, leaving Ross and his two subordinates struggling to catch their breath.

As Lin Yue walked ahead, he sensed the Barghest vehicle crawling along behind him, but he didn't rush to escape. He acted as if he were just out for a casual stroll. The architecture of Dogtown consisted of two levels—surface and underground—especially around the Pacifica development. These areas, originally intended as pedestrian underpasses, had long since become gathering grounds for beggars and criminals.

Lin Yue descended into the tunnel, and the engine noise behind him ceased. Choosing a public bench covered in relatively clean graffiti, he lit a cigarette and examined the data shard in his hand.

[Ross Ulmer]: I’m asking you, where is the shipment?
[Linus Rudy]: Dammit! Yuri’s people intercepted them; two crates were seized.
[Linus Rudy]: Forget the shipment for now. The two idiots are being hunted across the city by Yuri’s men. Think of something! If they get caught, you and I are both finished, you moron.
[Ross Ulmer]: Just find someone to take care of those two. I need the cargo—do you have any idea how badly I need this money?
[Linus Rudy]: Are you brain-dead, man?

The contents of the data shard still made Lin Yue want to laugh. Based on his memories from his past life, Ross Ulmer was just an arms smuggler, using the underground tunnels to move goods and make a profit behind Hansen’s back. But what kind of man he truly was, Lin Yue hadn't been sure—until he paid for information within Barghest and uncovered the story of Ross’s botched deal.

As for the two soldiers mentioned in the shard, they had long since vanished with the money—they were probably already through security at Orbit Air. Petty, greedy, shortsighted, and possessing the mind of a low-level crook—that was Ross Ulmer.

Lin Yue rubbed his chin, taking a final drag of his cigarette until the heat burned his lips, then crushed the butt on the ground. He looked up.

Ross stood before him with his arms crossed, a vicious expression on his face, staring intensely at the young man equipped with military-grade cybernetics.

"Where the hell are you from? I’ve never seen anyone like you in Barghest."

The three Barghest soldiers flanked him. Lin Yue leaned back against the bench, looking at the three idiots with interest. "There are a lot of people you’ve never seen. Do you need me to introduce myself?"

Ross’s exoskeleton let out a sharp metallic click. His strength lay in the heavy protection of his rig and his military shield, though he had stripped off the cumbersome parts today, thinking he was just here to watch a fight.

Ross threatened, "I don't mind you introducing yourself, or... I could just beat you until you start talking."

Lin Yue was exactly looking for a simple-minded worker like this. He pointed at Ross. "How’s business been lately?"

Ross played dumb. "What are you talking about?"

"Dogtown business. Selling some weapons, making a profit, maybe digging a few tunnels on the side—"

Before Lin Yue could finish, Ross grabbed him by the collar. "Who the hell are you? One of Hansen’s? You’re investigating me, aren't you?"

"Whether it’s Hansen, Yuri, or Gago from accounting... you really shouldn't treat someone who knows the details of your business like this." Lin Yue looked at Ross’s hand, his expression blank.

The Barghest soldier behind Ross swallowed hard. "I think you... uh, should let go of his collar."

Ross’s adrenaline faded, and like a deflated balloon, he released Lin Yue. Lin Yue let out a sigh of relief; he wasn't confident he could get the better of a high-ranking Barghest soldier in a fight, so talking was clearly the better option.

"Still want to do business?" Lin Yue asked.

Ross’s expression shifted uncertainly. "I just sell a few things. You know how Hansen is—"

Lin Yue cut him off. "I get it, I get it. Who doesn't love making money? I’m asking if you want to keep doing business."

Ross’s face froze. *Who the hell are you, man?*

"Those two soldiers? I’ll clean them up for you. Arms smuggling is too high-risk, never mind the NCPD. Just look at the Colonel—he turns a blind eye for now, but what if he audits the books one day? What will you do then?"

Seeing Ross remain silent, Lin Yue continued, "My boss and I have a new path for you. Cybernetics and weapons brought in from the city, moved through your channels... as for the split."

Lin Yue’s eyes brightened as he transferred ten thousand Eurodollars to Ross.

"That’s your fight club money—keep the extra. My boss says a new shipment is coming into the city soon. If there are any issues, contact him. I’ll send you the contact’s info when the time comes."

Ross’s mouth went dry. He loved cold, hard cash more than anything.

"Wait! You know everything in Dogtown is under Hansen’s control. I’m afraid..."

Lin Yue put on an expression that suggested Ross lacked vision. "I guarantee the goods won't hit the black market immediately. They’ll circulate within Dogtown first and be sold slowly."

Smuggling guns out was one thing, but bringing items *in* was far more dangerous, which showed just how tight Hansen’s grip really was.

Ross gritted his teeth. "Fine... mind telling me who your boss is?"

Lin Yue shook his head. "Knowing less is for your own protection. Think about it: if you don't know anything, you have no burden. If you know too much, you’ll just be afraid. We’ll settle the payment once the goods arrive. How about a long-term partnership with our boss?"

Ross’s already fragile defenses completely crumbled.

Ten minutes later, Lin Yue emerged from the underground passage, feeling refreshed. The smuggling channel was secured. The next step was to look into this "big boss" of his.