Zhang Wanyi and Zhang Mei

In the early morning light at 5 am, the trio found themselves gathered in the center of the hall, surrounded by an array of items laid out by Kun Ming.

"Why do we need all this stuff?"

Han Wei scratched his head, puzzled by Kun Ming's thorough preparations.

Ming Chen, sharing Han Wei's confusion, chimed in.

"Yeah, Kun, it's just a short 50 km escort mission. We can finish it and grab a meal afterward."

Kun Ming, unswayed by their skepticism, snorted.

"I know what you're thinking, but I'm preparing for any unexpected problems we might face."

Ignoring their raised eyebrows, Kun Ming ordered.

"Alright, no more talking. Change into these."

He divided the items into sets for each of them, including a hooded jacket, shirt, pants, belt, shoes, gloves, and a shiny 10 to 12-inch dagger. Everything, except the dagger, was in plain black.

Impressed, Ming Chen asked.

"When did you get all this, Old Kun?"

"Well, I made a bunch of calls to have them delivered this morning. Don't worr—"

Kun Ming's proud explanation was cut short by Han Wei's complaint.

"Why everything in black? Are we trying to look like shady characters in video games?"

Han Wei headed inside to change, leaving Kun Ming stunned. Ming Chen, echoing the sentiment, shot Kun Ming a questioning look before following suit.

Staring blankly at their departing figures, Kun Ming shook his head and muttered curses as he too went in to change.

"How much for this car?"

Ming Chen inquired, eyeing the Nissan Sentry parked about ten meters away.

"Forty dollars a day. We've got to return it by 8 am tomorrow."

Kun Ming replied, inspecting the car. He had hastily booked it, making negotiations challenging. Plus, he felt a need for their own vehicle, considering the personal details he had to provide during the rental process.

"Hmm, not bad. But where's the client?"

Han Wei, not sharing Kun Ming's concerns, was more interested in the task at hand. They had been waiting for the client for nearly half an hour at the pickup spot.

"Patience, Han Wei. It's not our agreed-upon time yet. We're the early birds here..."

Kun Ming responded with a touch of annoyance. Ming Chen's eagerness had led them to arrive at 6:15 am, whereas the client had requested them to be there by 7 am.

"Better early than late."

Ming Chen tried to justify himself but stopped short as he caught the sharp look Kun Ming shot his way.

Ring, ring...

The sudden interruption of a ringing phone diverted their attention, signalling the possible arrival of the awaited client. 

"Hello? Yes, it's us... You can come now."

Kun Ming raised his hand at Ming Chen and Han Wei, signalling them to remain silent while he took the call.

"They are nearby and coming to us now. Make sure to be professional."

Kun Ming soon disconnected the call and then instructed both Ming Chen and Han Wei to maintain discipline. Both of them nodded in agreement.

In just thirty seconds, they spotted a middle-aged man and a girl, around eighteen or nineteen years old, walking towards them.

Without further explanation, they observed the middle-aged man's vigilance while escorting the young girl.

"Hello, Mister! I didn't expect that you would come by yourself."

Ming Chen stepped forward, noticing the girl wearing a red mask and a black dress. They could see that she was vigilant and uneasy from her dodging eyes.

The three of them looked at her for a moment before turning their attention to the middle-aged man, their client for the mission.

According to the initial agreement, only the girl was supposed to come, so the middle-aged man's presence surprised them.

"Hello, Mister..."

The middle-aged man took a step forward, covering the girl, as he shook hands with Ming Chen. While shaking hands, he observed the three of them. From their attire, confidence, and arrangements, the middle-aged man felt a bit relieved.

"My apologies, my code name is Demon King, and this is Ghost King. The one you contacted through mobile is Bear King."

Seeing the difficulty on the middle-aged man's face, Ming Chen introduced themselves, easing the man's expression.

"Hello, Mister Demon! I'm glad that you took this mission. My name is Zhang Wanyi, and this is my daughter Zhang Mei. Two days ago..."

Zhang Wanyi quickly explained the situation. Two days ago, there was a fight in the college where Zhang Mei studied. The fight was between two male students, one defending Zhang Mei without her knowledge.

Towards the end of the fight, the boy emerged victorious, breaking his opponent's leg. Later that evening, the opponent's father, an influential figure in Taiwan, discovered the incident.

Fuelled by anger, he sought revenge by planning to break the leg of the boy who harmed his son.

However, upon realising that the boy came from a powerful family, the father hesitated to confront him directly. This frustration was redirected towards Zhang Mei, as he believed she was the cause of the entire situation.

In an attempt to vent his anger, he employed some thugs to harm Zhang Mei. Fortunately, she managed to escape with the help of the same 'good' boy who had intervened in the earlier fight.

After learning the full extent of the danger from Zhang Mei, her father, Zhang Wanyi, decided to send her to her mother's place until the situation calmed down.

Over the past two days, they endured a challenging time, staying near a police station under protection.

Realising the limitations of the police in handling such situations, Zhang Wanyi acknowledged the influence of powerful individuals. In response, he made the decision to hire a mercenary group.

Prior to this incident, Zhang Wanyi was unaware of the existence of such organisations. A sympathetic police officer guided him through the process and recommended seeking assistance from a newly established group known as 'Mystic Shadows.'

The police officer understood that well-established organisations might not take on simple missions like this, leading to the selection of the more flexible Mystic Shadows for their unique situation.

Zhang Wanyi hired Mystic Shadows after the police officer recommended them for such sensitive situations. The organisation was new, and he hoped they could handle the mission professionally.

"We are glad you provided all the information truthfully. Don't worry, we won't raise the mission level unless firearms are involved. Also, we understand the presence of the police officer. Hopefully, he won't be a problem."

Ming Chen reassured Zhang Wanyi, feeling empathy for the father and daughter.

"Yes, he is around the corner. Don't worry about him; he is a very good person."

Zhang Wanyi pointed towards the edge of the street.

"Please avoid involving the police in such matters in the future when working with us. Consider this mission a success, Mr. Zhang."

Ming Chen warned Zhang Wanyi about police involvement, causing Kun Ming and Han Wei to tense briefly. Zhang Wanyi, however, felt relief, realising Mystic Shadows had a moral code, when Ming Chen promised to not raise the mission level.

"I hope I don't have to contact you for another mission."

Zhang Wanyi chuckled wryly, expressing his wish to avoid such situations.

"We hope the same. But, our services extend beyond escort missions. We can help you clear troubles in Taipei for a peaceful life. Hope you understand what I mean. Anyway, take a minute, and then we'll start our journey."

Ming Chen returned to the car with his team, leaving Zhang Wanyi staring blankly at them. Ming Chen's words about clearing troubles echoed in his mind.

"Dad, what are you thinking? Why don't you come with me too? We can't live in this city anymore. They won't let us live peacefully."

Zhang Mei tugged at her father's sleeve, tears in her eyes.

Zhang Mei's words intensified Ming Chen's lingering suggestion. Zhang Wanyi looked at his daughter and then at Taipei, pondering something.

"I can't leave here yet, Mei. You know how much I've invested. But don't worry; I'll ensure we can live here peacefully soon."

The more he spoke, the more he felt the need to act on Ming Chen's words.

"Alright, make sure not to cause any trouble for your mother. Be careful with them; even though they seem genuine, stay vigilant. Call me as soon as you reach or if there's any trouble."

Zhang Wanyi warned Zhang Mei before sending her away.

Ming Chen drove the car with Han Wei in the front passenger seat, while Kun Ming and Zhang Mei sat in the back.