Uncle Kaize (II)

"You are right. But what does it has to do with you? Believe me, when I say it kid, the Dark Guild isn't someone you can play with. They are extremely dangerous."

"I don't think we have a choice on this matter. Even if we try to avoid them, they will come for us. So the only choice is being proactive," Nie calmly stated.

"Listen, if you want to get killed it's your choice," Zhang Kaize said resignedly. "But don't involve my nephew in this insanity."

"I won't. He is not strong enough yet." Nie Li replied.

"Yet!?" Kaiza angrily exclaimed. "Let me make one thing clear to you…" but his tirade was interrupted.

Nie Li pressed some only seen to him illusionary buttons on his bracer. A holographic image appeared between them. Kaize recoiled thinking it was an attack. He jumped back and motioned for his hidden guards to attack. But then he remembered that they couldn't see or hear him. Fu**. The kid was too dangerous. Even his hidden crossbow was out of his reach. He had only his dagger he was gripping hard right now. He was planning to merge with his demon spirit when he was interrupted again.

"What do you think of this picture?" Nie Li asked him calmly as if he hadn't noticed his actions.

"Picture?" Now Kaize could see that the sudden glow that appeared over his desk wasn't actually an attack, but an image. Extremely detailed glowing image. 'Very interesting artifact' Zhang Kaize thought also calming down. He again wondered about the background of this kid. The Heavenly Marks family couldn't afford such artifacts in the hands of their youngsters.

Kaize calmly walked up to his chair and sit down acting as if all of that shameful display didn't happen. Good thing his guards didn't see that. Or he would have lost all his face. And the kid must have done that on purpose. Kids nowadays have no respect for elders. One thing is his nephew, he spoiled him too much, another thing is some unknown kid playing tricks on him. He must have gone soft in the last years. Also, he didn't want to act recklessly before he learned this kid's real background.

"Star Restaurant?" He said looking at the picture closely. "It's one of the high-class restaurants. Belongs to the Sacred family." He wondered why he was showing him the picture of some restaurant.

"And do you know this person?" Nie Li said and closed in on one of the faces in the picture and enlarged it.

"The manager of the restaurant? The name's Yun Hua I think." He was still puzzled why Nie Li was asking him such questions. You don't need to be a leader of a smuggling ring to recognize such public people.

"What if I say that he has another half-time job as a deacon of the Dark Guild?" Nie Li said.

Now Kaize became serious "Are you sure?"

"Yes, and he also acts as a contact between the Dark Guild and Sacred Family."

"But that means…" Kaize paused in thought. "It actually explains some things."

"Like?" Nie Li asked. Any information about the Dark Guild and the Sacred family could be useful. It will also show how well-informed Kaize is actually.

Kaize looked at him doubtfully for a moment then spoke, "The Sacred Family is pressuring the gangs and taking over some while leaving alone some groups I long suspected as being connected to the Dark Guild."

"They want to take over the entire criminal underground?" Nie asked thoughtfully. Why would they do that? If they are planning to destroy Glory City anyway. Well, whatever, he will find out about it later.

"Anyway. As you can understand my offer to you is related to them." Nie Li returned to the main matter.

"You want me to spy on them for you. Why would I do that?" asked Zhang Kaize.

"There are two reasons. The first one," Nie Li slid a plastic card-shaped storage device towards Kaize. "There are 500 thousand demon spirit coins inside."

Kaize was shocked. This was the quarter of what they made in a year.

"It will be your monthly payment." Nie Li continued making Kaize even more shocked. "Of course, it will depend on the information you provide. If the information is good I will raise your payment. And if the information is not satisfactory I will cut your pay."

This was completely understandable to the leader of one of the most successful smuggling gangs in the city.

"And the second reason?" he asked curiously.

"You, I, our families, and many other people will die when they attack and destroy Glory City," simply answered Nie Li.

"That's ominous. Are you sure that they will attack?" Kaize asked.

"Yes, I have other sources as well. According to them, we have three or four years, but likely less than that."

Kaize frowned. This was not good news. The kid could be mistaken, but with the resources, he is throwing around, he must have some powerful backers that wouldn't usually make such mistakes. Okay, he is going to investigate it himself anyway.

"So kid, let's say I agree to your offer. What's your eventual plan?"

"It will depend on the information I get. It's too early to speak about plans yet. But the end goal is the safety of Glory City and its residents. And possible destruction of those who threaten it."

Zhang Kaize was now sure. There are some great forces behind this kid's back. No ordinary person can so easily talk about the destruction of the Dark Guild who had been threatening the city for more than a hundred years.

"Okay kid. Your name was Nie Li, wasn't it? Okay, Nie Li how are we going organize everything?"

"I'm not going to tell you how to organize your spies. You know about it more than I do. I will tell you what kind of information I need and you will decide how to gather it," Nie Li said.

After Kaize nodded he continued. "Right now I am interested in any kind of information about the Dark Guild and the Sacred family. Even if they are just baseless rumors. But be careful. I don't want them to become alert. It's best to miss some information than to make them aware that we are unto them."

"How are we going to contact you?"

"I advise you to appoint someone to combine the information and make daily reports to me. Through this." Nie Li took out a bulky device "This is a telefax. You can send both written and verbal reports through it."

It was deliberately made bulky and was a combination of a scanner, printer, and a phone. The printer was based on text copying techniques and was monochromatic. Nie Li showed the excited Kaize how to use it. He played with it some more and asked:

"Can we get a couple of these devices? It could be very useful for information gathering as well."

"Maybe in the future." He could make them a couple of simplified cell phone versions.

"So we are in agreement?" Nie asked.

"Yes, we are. You are going to get your reports starting from tomorrow" Zhang Kaize replied still staring at the 'telefax'.

"Thank you. Then I will take my leave," said Nie Li. He stood up and took away his armchair into his interspatial ring.

"You forgot your privacy device," said Kaize seeing Nie Li leaving.

"Keep it. If you press on top of it the field will shut down," Nie Li explained. He had dozens of those. And it was very useful for Kaize.

Zhang Ming was waiting for Nie Li in the reception room talking with 'old Zhao'.

"So how did it go?"

"Good. Let's return to the academy" Nie Li replied.

And they said their farewells to 'old Zhao' before leaving the bar.

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When Nie Li returned to his room, he activated his phone and entered his Cloud Memory crystal. There he found the correct information and activated it.

Over his bracer phone, a holographic scene appeared. It looked like Zhang Kaize's room where Nie Li was earlier. It was a record from the 'telefax'. Yes, 'telefax' had some undocumented capabilities. Everything is in the style of Robert's world. It could record 3D video and audio of its surroundings and send it to the Cloud Memory Crystal.

Nie Li started the video from the point a bit later than he left Kaize's office.

'Old Zhao' entered the room.

"So how was it?" he asked Kaize.

"Monsters. I don't remember us being this bold. He talked as if he didn't care that I am the boss of a very dangerous gang."

"So the kid is arrogant. This is not something surprising." 'old' Zhao concluded.

"No Zhao. It wasn't empty arrogance. He was sure that I wasn't a threat to him. And all of the artifacts he carried with him indicate that he has very powerful backers."

"Okay tell me from the beginning," asked Zhao.

And they talked about the meeting. Nie Li fast-forwarded a bit. He wanted to know will Kaize stay true to his words or will he plot against him? That was what interested him most. That was the main reason why he bugged the 'telefax'.

"Well, my friend, this was not an ordinary boy." 'old Zhao' said after the discussion ended.

"Hm, by the way, did you send people to investigate his background as I asked?" Kaize asked

"Yes."

"Call them back. I don't want to anger those people behind him."

"That would be wise. And it looks like your nephew understands it as well. He was very tight-lipped about his friend."

"Yeah, my nephew. I don't know if it's luck or misfortune that my nephew became friends with him."

"What's the matter. You said he already reached the Bronze rank. If he advances this fast he may accomplish your dream and become a noble."

"Yes, you're right. It's their path now," said Kaize sighing. "I have never felt so old before."

"We are not old yet," Zhao exclaimed. "So what do you think about this Dark Guild and the Sacred Family matter?"

"I don't even know. But it makes some sense. We will learn more when we get some people to investigate it."

"And if it proves true?"

"Let those people deal with them. They are completely out of our league."

Then they talked more about the Dark Guild and the Sacred family. Nie Li stopped the video. He learned what he needed.

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