Chapter 3: Got a Problem? Call the Model Worker
Jangxia Tongzhi calmly walked up to the black Porsche under Gin's cold, watchful gaze and handed over Miyano Shiho's wallet.
As he pulled his hand back, his fingers casually curled in a tiny hook—just enough to snag a wisp of the murderous aura swirling around Gin.
If it were up to him, Jangxia would've liked to grab more.
But murderous aura isn't something you can just scoop up by the handful. If you want to absorb it all, you need the right conditions. Otherwise, you're stuck with whatever spills out naturally.
In this case, a sneaky fingertip hook was just as effective as a full-on grab—and far less likely to get you shot in the head by an overly suspicious Gin. Not worth the risk.
…
Gin glanced at the wallet and caught Jangxia's finger-hook move out of the corner of his eye—but didn't react.
He'd seen Jangxia do that every time he handed something over. At first, Gin had been quietly on edge, ready for treachery.
But after the fifth or sixth time, he'd decided it was probably some involuntary twitch, like a limp person relying on a cane. Jangxia had, after all, once driven a deep cut through his left wrist. With damage that delicate, it's hard to ever fully recover.
Gin gave the wallet a quick check, passed it into the car, and gestured for the owner to verify the contents. Miyano Shiho had already rolled down her window when she spotted Jangxia earlier.
She was, of course, the organization's genius scientist—codename "Sherry."
Soon, after a little poisoning and shrinking, she'd probably go by the name Haibara Ai.
Normally cold and aloof, Sherry didn't want to play hard-to-get this time. But that was only because she'd sprained her ankle when the bag thief shoved her over. Climbing out of the car was not an option.
Her bodyguard had been standing a bit too far away and proved to be as reliable as any expendable NPC. By the time he even registered what had happened, the thief had already vanished with the goods.
The money wasn't the issue—Sherry's wallet contained IDs, credentials, and most importantly, her security pass for the research facility. That could not fall into the wrong hands.
Fortunately, the organization lost classified material every three to five business days. The bodyguards were veterans in this kind of panic. Without missing a beat, one of them whipped out his phone and called Gin.
When in doubt, always call the model worker.
Gin heard the report, recalled that Jangxia knew this neighborhood well, and came to him for help.
What he didn't expect was for Jangxia to solve the case in minutes.
That saved a whole lot of trouble—and was way more efficient than squatting behind a bush for hours trying to find the guy.
…
While Sherry flipped through her retrieved documents, Jangxia subtly tightened his grip on the fresh murderous aura he'd just snatched, making sure it didn't drift back to its original owner.
Outwardly, he reported with professional seriousness:
"The thief's name is Tomada Yamada. No proper job—floats between odd gigs and small-time crime. Two years ago, he rented out a haunted house nearby, so he's been operating around here ever since. I don't think he was targeting you specifically. Looked like a regular money grab."
It sounded suspiciously like he was trying to defend the guy.
But Jangxia clarified quickly:
"He's currently unconscious in Room 305, Block 2, Number 21—around thirty minutes from here. He's kinda heavy and carrying him all the way here would've been super conspicuous, so I left him there. If you're worried, you can swing by and pick him up for questioning when you leave."
Gin gave him a silent nod—half approval, half critique.
At least Jangxia hadn't killed the guy on the spot. Since Yamada was a known crook in the area, any witnesses might recognize him. If he turned up dead right after robbing someone, people might start connecting dots—especially since "Sherry" was a strikingly beautiful half-European with a memorable face.
Gin thought grimly, Still… anyone who touches the Organization's secrets has to die.
He turned to Jangxia and issued the assignment:
"Keep an eye on him. He's gotta die 'accidentally' within a week."
"Ahem."
Sherry cleared her throat inside the car.
The expression on her face was mild, but the meaning was clear: Pick someone else.
"..." Gin frowned, clenching the cigarette butt at the corner of his mouth.
Jangxia could almost hear Gin muttering 'Women… too much trouble' under his breath.
But in the end, the model worker swallowed the words.
After all, the opinion of a genius scientist like Sherry was worth considering. And it wasn't like it was that big of a deal.
Gin pulled out his phone, sent a message, and reassigned the job to another expendable tool.
Then he looked at Jangxia. "That's all. You can go."
"Got it." Jangxia nodded and turned to leave.
Just then, Sherry stopped him and held out a small bag from inside the car.
Jangxia recognized it immediately.
A tonic.
Brain booster. Bitter as death.
Only Sherry would carry this stuff around in her car. She'd even tried to mail it to him before—multiple times. He'd refused every single one.
——
Truthfully, Jangxia didn't hate Miyano Shiho.
Judging from the scraps of memory he'd analyzed, even the original Jangxia Tongzhi didn't harbor any real resentment toward her.
During the car crash that killed his parents, she'd been in the car with them. As the truck bore down on them, Jangxia's parents had shoved Sherry out of the way at the last second, buying her enough time to escape.
But honestly, based on the dashcam footage, they wouldn't have survived even if they hadn't helped her. It was less an accident and more of a… carefully orchestrated hit.
So, no—he didn't blame her.
But just because he didn't blame her didn't mean he had to build some warm relationship with her either. From what he could recall, before the accident, the two barely spoke.
That was fine by him.
Sherry was a high-level member of the Organization, surrounded by danger and drama. Jangxia was just a poor psychic with no ghosts. All he wanted now was a nice, quiet life.
He looked down at the beautiful, doll-like girl in her luxury car, holding out the bag of beautiful-but-not-so-doll-like supplements. He didn't take it.
He smiled politely. "You're too kind. I can't accept that."
Sherry's hand holding the bag froze for a beat.
Then, expressionless, she tossed the tonic back onto the seat, folded her arms, and turned her head away.
…Only to turn back quickly.
Her eyes landed on the bandage wrapped around Jangxia's left wrist. She looked away again just as fast and said coldly:
"I heard from Dr. Kazuto that you missed your follow-up appointment. The next one's on the 23rd. Don't forget."
"Dr. Kazuto" was a cardiologist at Beika Hospital.
Gin, overhearing this, flicked his gaze between the two of them.
He'd never thought Jangxia had health issues. Now hearing about "a doctor," it hit him: this valuable peripheral member(tool person) wasn't fully recovered yet.
Gin's voice darkened. "We don't need a walking time bomb. If your condition ever causes you to screw up a mission… Well, we're always short on human test subjects."
"…Noted," Jangxia replied calmly, eyeing the faint swirl of murderous aura around Gin.
Gin didn't press further.
Jangxia was useful, yes. But not irreplaceable. One warning was enough.
…
With Sherry's wallet recovered, Gin and Vodka climbed back into the Porsche and drove off.
Jangxia watched the car disappear around the corner, then turned toward his parked motorcycle.
In the past, he might've lingered to search for more residual murderous aura around the scene.
But lately, Gin wasn't his only source of power anymore.
That's right. Jangxia had a new target now.
The latest youth idol on the rise—a triple-threat entertainer…
Yoko Kinoshita. (TN: Not mis-translated, explanation in the next chapter. Some names are different in this universe according to the author.)
Today, he'd actually gone out looking for Yoko. But halfway through, Gin had roped him into this side quest.
…Luckily, it was a quick job. No need to delay the main quest.
…
It all started last week.
Jangxia had just finished school and was passing by an electronics store when he glanced at a TV playing in the window and came to a sudden halt.
On screen was a cooking show starring none other than Yoko Kinoshita.
And on her wrist… she was wearing a translucent, crystal bracelet.
It was squirming slightly. Inside it, you could just barely make out a human-shaped figure.
Jangxia recognized it immediately.
A ghost child.
The one he'd been hunting for ages.
…Though smaller than normal, probably because it had died as an embryo.
Still. Not bad.
Ghost children were the ideal medium for psychics to channel their power. In his past life, they were rare and highly sought after. Without one, a psychic was like a summoner with no summons—tragic.
But with one…
For the first time in a year, Jangxia felt relief and hope. His eyes misted up.
Lady Luck had not abandoned him.
He was still… the handsome, cunning, invincible European Emperor.
…
As he thought of the ghost child, Jangxia reached his motorcycle.
Just then, his phone rang.
Technology in this world was weirdly inconsistent—sometimes advanced, sometimes decades behind.
Right now, Jangxia was using a very average 3G flip phone.
He picked it up while straddling his bike. "Sorry, something came up. I'm on my way now."
An excited voice replied, "Okay, big bro!"
Jangxia didn't say another word. He ended the call, snapped on his helmet, and drove off.
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Glossary
European / European Emperor: Tongue-in-cheek nickname for someone absurdly lucky—based on superstition that "Europeans" are favored by RNG.
Tool person: Someone used to carry out missions or chores; essentially an expendable lackey.
Ghost child: A powerful supernatural medium in this world, essential for psychics to use their powers.