FACE ME DIRECTLY LIKE A MAN

Hu Lei did not head to the international airport after leaving Supreme City. Her destination was a small country in the northwest. Under normal circumstances, she would have used the most direct route to the location she suspected her father was in.

She did not dare take the easy way out because she felt that there was something strange about this entire matter. Her intuition told her that if she was careless, she would fall into a trap. Rushing to rescue her father without precautions would only result in danger for both of them. Also… she did not want a certain person to follow in case he wanted to.

When she reached the border, she was able to cross without complications. With her years of experience, she would not fall into patterns that would draw unnecessary attention. Moreover, that small country did not have numerous restrictions. If she did draw unwanted notice, she could use a little money to make it all go away.

After crossing the border, she did not stop until she reached a prosperous town named Babylon. This town was not originally known as Babylon. However, over the years, people had forgotten the former name, forcing an official change.

This metropolis was a place for hedonism, including gambling, prostitution, drugs and illegal weaponry. In simple terms, it was the navel of hell. If one wanted to indulge in filthy activities while avoiding the law, it was the place to be.

Like any other town, Babylon did have police and other government officials. However, the true rulers were not civil servants. It was the gangs who controlled the different turfs of the township. Somehow, the government and these organised criminals co-existed. Well, the latter forced the former to cooperate by offering benefits and threatening as needed.

Hu Lei rode into the town and bypassed the brightly lit parts of town. These areas were reserved for tourists who wanted the sin city experience without being involved in the darkness that plagued Babylon. She was not a sightseer.

Finally, she reached the boundary between the figurative bright and dark parts of the city. She found a cheap motel and rented a room. If she had been her other self, she would have stuck out like a beacon in this place. However, this Hu Lei wore dirty faded jeans and an old leather jacket. She blended in perfectly.

She walked into the shower immediately after entering the room. She hoped that the cold water would not only cleanse the fifteen hours of dust. It would also numb her aching muscles and keep her awake. It seemed that her restful days in Supreme City had softened her considerably.

She put on her spare clothes, a pair of black jeans and a fitting black top. She tied up her hair in a tight bun, padded her body with some items from her collection and left the motel quietly. It was time to hunt.

Blending into the shadows left by the disappearing sun, she studied her environment and listened in on conversations. When she did not want to be seen, she would be nothing, a phantom. This allowed her to learn quite a lot in a short period.

Three hours of walking around and learning helped her understand the dynamics of the current Babylon. Fortunately, not much had changed since she had been here three years ago on another matter. She was certain that she could get the help she needed.

Equipped with new knowledge, she settled on the roof of a local restaurant that was built like an ancient style courtyard. Inside, she could hear rowdy people laughing while partying. Her cold demeanour was not affected by the clamour. She remained perfectly still, waiting for her moment to take action.

Shortly after the clock struck ten in the night, she heard the loud voice of the person that she had been waiting for. She listened to his heavy steps get closer and closer. Then, with a flick of her arms, she released a few small balls from her sleeve holsters. Her hands twirled these soft-shelled poison bombs almost sensually.

With incredible speed, she tossed the balls in different areas of the large courtyard. The little bombs landed almost at the same time, releasing smoke into the entire establishment. There were short-lived shouts and screams of surprise before there was complete silence.

"Who dares attack this grandfather's property? Come out if you dare and face me directly like a man." A vulgar voice shouted when the restaurant became completely silent.

Hu Lei jumped smoothly from the roof and landed a few metres from the loud man. She looked him and down with a look of disdain. It seemed that this man was still living the fatuous life of a gang leader. At least, he could withstand her formula. Otherwise, she would have had to drag him out.

The surprised man who was about to attack the assailant determined the identity of the intruder with a single look. He felt a cold sweat flow along his back as he looked at her. What the hell was she doing here? From what he had heard, she had disappeared.

"Oh Jane, I did not know that you had come to visit. If you had informed me, I would have prepared a banquet." He laughed awkwardly.

Hearing that name, Hu Lei tensed for a moment before relaxing. She reminded herself that right now, she was Jane. It was ironic to her that she had chosen such an innocuous name to represent an identity which had been involved in the darkest parts of the world. However, it suited her because she did not want a memorable name. This identity would eventually need to disappear.

"I need someone to get me to Russia." She spoke directly.

The loud man who hated Hu Lei but owed her a favour hated himself at that moment. If he had the power, he would kick this little woman to another galaxy. Unfortunately for him, he could not hit her. Physically, he might be bigger and stronger. However, he did not forget that she could take out his entire group permanently with her creative concoctions.

"What about these people?" he indicated to the collapsed individuals around the courtyard.

"Can you get me to Russia?" the woman countered with her cold eyes.

He could only relent before her and nod emphatically. When he remembered what had happened to his turf predecessor after he had tried funny business with Jane, he did not dare take chances. She had proved to him that one could kill and leave no corpse.

"I will make arrangements for three days later." He spoke in a defeated tone.

"Tomorrow night, Leonean Airstrip." Her response was curt.

She stared down at him for a long moment though he was taller. Then, she flicked her arms and tossed a couple of balls. Before he could speak, she had already disappeared into the night. The wide man to whom she had been speaking felt a cold shiver as he realised that these bombs contained the antidote to the poison. She was warning him that these people could have slept forever. It seemed that Jane had not changed.