75: Chapter 75 The Clash in the Forbidden Room: Do You Really Understand Your Master?

Beneath the Bangkok Camp lies Confinement Cell No. 1.

This is the most secret and heavily guarded place in the entire autonomous region, a corner where light cannot reach.

Thick alloy walls block out all sound and light from the outside world. Only the cold white light from the ceiling ruthlessly illuminates every corner of the room, making it impossible to distinguish between day and night.

"Phantom" curled up in the corner, like a wounded beast driven into a dead end.

The tight combat suit she had once been so proud of, the symbol of her identity as a top-tier assassin, was now tattered and torn. Although her wounds had been simply bandaged, the dull ache in her bones served as a constant reminder of the humiliation of that night's crushing defeat.

Half a year had passed since she was captured.

During these six months, there had been no torture, no verbal abuse, and not even a single word spoken to her. Only the food and water delivered on time every day proved that she was still alive and had not been forgotten.

This kind of silent torture was more devastating than physical pain. It was the fear of the unknown, the doubt of the self. She began to let her mind wander, thinking of the organization's rules—those who fail their missions die; thinking of the consequences of mission failure—how the organization would clean house; thinking of the terrifying man who had easily defeated her—was he human or a ghost?

"Buzz—"

A heavy hydraulic sound suddenly rang out, and the alloy door slowly slid open, breaking the deathly silence.

"Phantom" jerked her head up, her body tensing instinctively, and a ray of vigilance shot from her blue eyes.

Zhang Cheng walked in.

He didn't bring that group of wolf-like guards, nor did he carry any weapons. He was just wearing a casual shirt and carrying an ordinary folding chair in his hand. He pulled the chair opposite "Phantom," sat down comfortably, and looked at her with a calm gaze, as if he were looking at an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time, rather than an assassin who wanted to kill him.

"Have you thought about it?" Zhang Cheng spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the narrow space, carrying a sense of ease as if he were in total control. "Do you intend to waste away here until you become a pile of dry bones, dying for that so-called 'glory' and for that master who treats you like a tool, or... change the way you live?"

"Phantom" stared at him intensely, gritting her teeth, her voice hoarse: "Change the way I live? To fawn over you like a dog? In your dreams! My skills were inferior, so do whatever you want—kill me or carve me up! Just give me a quick death!"

Zhang Cheng laughed, a laugh that was somewhat contemptuous and somewhat pitiful, as if he had heard some childish joke.

"A dog? No, no, no, you underestimate yourself, and you underestimate me too." He leaned forward slightly, and that invisible pressure instantly enveloped "Phantom." "What I need isn't a dog; the people who want to be my dogs in this world could line up all the way to the Salween River. What I need is a sharp blade that knows how ruthless and dirty its former master was. And you, this blade is well-sharpened, fast enough, and ruthless enough, but it's a pity that the person holding the blade is a blind man and a piece of trash."

"Shut up! You are not allowed to insult the organization!" "Phantom" growled. This was her final bottom line, the faith she relied on to survive.

"The organization? Are you talking about 'Blood Moon'?" Zhang Cheng leaned back in his chair, his tone becoming playful, even carrying a trace of mockery. "Or are you trying to defend that 'Council of Elders' in the West, which hides in the sewers, claims to be the master of the world, and treats you as a disposable consumable?"

"Phantom's" pupils instantly shrank to the size of needle points! Her entire body trembled violently!

The three words "Council of Elders" were an absolute taboo within the organization. Only the highest-level "Guides" knew about it; even she had only heard it mentioned by chance while executing a top-level mission. How could this warlord in Northern Myanmar, this man hiding in a mountain ravine, possibly know this?!

"Surprised?" Zhang Cheng looked at her expression and nodded with satisfaction. "It seems you know quite a bit. Then do you know how much your so-called 'loyalty' is worth in their eyes? Or rather, what are they willing to pay for you?"

He took a micro-player out of his pocket and pressed the play button casually.

A conversation filled with electrical static noise came out.

"...That woman failed? What a piece of trash... Tell the cleanup team to initiate the 'Elimination Procedure'... She must not fall into the hands of the Dragon Country people... Deal with her together with her family... Do it cleanly, don't leave any tails behind..."

This voice, "Phantom" would never forget it even in death! That was her direct handler, the "Instructor" who had once taught her like a father and promised to take care of her family!

"No... This is impossible! This is fake! It's synthesized!" "Phantom" shook her head desperately, her face as pale as paper, but her trembling voice had already betrayed the collapse of her inner world. She wanted to cover her ears, but that cold voice was drilling into her brain like a poisonous snake.

"Whether it's fake or not, you know in your heart. As a top-tier assassin, distinguishing the authenticity of audio should be a basic skill, right?" Zhang Cheng turned off the player, his voice suddenly turning cold, every word striking at her heart. "You think you are special? You think you are their trump card? Wake up! In their eyes, you are just a consumable! When you are broken, or when there is a risk of exposure, you are destroyed immediately! Just like used toilet paper!"

He stood up, walked in front of "Phantom," and looked down at her from above. His eyes were like knives, peeling away the scars in her heart layer by layer:

"Do you want to know where the children who trained with you but didn't become 'Blades' went? Do you want to know why there are always comrades in the organization who disappear for no reason?"

Zhang Cheng said word by word, like a heavy hammer striking "Phantom's" heart: "Their organs—hearts, livers, kidneys... all became parts for those old immortals to prolong their lives! They all became commodities traded for dirty money! These hands of yours are not executing justice; they are handing knives to a group of man-eating demons! And your family is the hostage in their hands. When you are useless, the hostage is also useless!"

"Ah—!!"

"Phantom" finally collapsed. She covered her ears and let out a shrill scream. The collapse of faith was more terrifying than death. She thought of those missing comrades, thought of that inexplicable emptiness she felt after every mission, thought of... her younger sister, who was still under the organization's control and whom she relied on for survival.

For a long time, the screaming turned into low sobs. She curled up on the ground like an abandoned child.

Zhang Cheng watched her quietly until she lifted her head again. In those blue eyes, the cold arrogance had shattered into pieces, and in its place was monstrous hatred and the determination that comes after despair. It was the flame of revenge.

"What do you want me to do?" Her voice was hoarse, as if she were chewing on broken glass, carrying the scent of blood.

Zhang Cheng reached out his hand, palm up.

"It's very simple. Turn the hatred in your heart into the blade in your hand. Tell me everything you know about 'Blood Moon' and that damn 'Council of Elders'."

"Then," Zhang Cheng's mouth hooked into a bloodthirsty arc, which was a demon's temptation and a promise of redemption, "I will give you a chance, a chance to personally exact blood debts from those who treated you as a tool and trash. I will help you save your family, as long as you nod."

"Phantom" looked at that hand, a hand that wasn't broad but seemed to contain infinite power.

She trembled and placed her cold hand on it, gripping it tightly.

"My name is... Erica."