176 Employer Cao and Hitman Ma (2/2)
Instead of stopping Ma Moxi's counterattack, Cao Mao boldly provoked him.
Ma Moxi reappeared 5 meters behind Cao Mao. He kept his distance in wary, ”Who are you?”
Cao Mao shrugged and pointed his thump at the giant brothel, ”Let's talk. There's a lot that a newbie reincarnator like you needs to know about this world.”
”…”
Cao Mao intentionally leaked a lot of information to attract Ma Moxi's attention.
And it worked. Ma Moxi couldn't afford to kill Cao Mao now as he would miss vital information about this mysterious cultivation world.
Both men entered the 10-story building brothel. Although Cao Mao didn't want to be here, he needed a crowded place as self-protection against this unpredictable protagonist. Since the latter was keeping a low-profile, he could never reveal his combat skill here.
On the other hand, Ma Moxi had several jobs to do with this brothel other than completing Cao Mao's request. Coming here was like killing two birds with one stone.
An unspoken truce treaty had been formed.
.
VVIP Room, 10th floor
The entire floor was reserved for Cao Mao and Ma Moxie. Both men sat on a lounge area in the grand suite where two half-circle sofas were arranged around a glass table at the center. A classic marble teapot was on the table and four small cups were on marble trays.
This was not a part of Cao Mao's plan. He wanted to talk in a crowded place, but Ma Moxi brought him here.
”Gentlemen, please wait in this room. I'll call our best girls to serve you.”
The mama of this brothel was a middle-aged woman with a thick white makeup powder. Her white face contrasted with her natural tanned skin, which made her appearance funny.
Ma Moxi remembered this woman. The owner of his body visited here several times a week, and he banged almost every prostitute here already. He didn't like it, though, since he was afraid of STD.
Still, as a former hitman, his expressionless pokerface never changed even though he was nervous.
On the other hand, Cao Mao was used to this type of environment. He leaned back on the leather sofa without trying to cover his openings.
”Thanks, mama. Also, give us the best spirit whiskey,” Cao Mao waved his hands and chased the mama away.
The mama was grinning from ear to ear. She rubbed her hands, ”Sir, the room service and the wine will cost you 20 refined stones. The best girls here will cost you two refined stones per person per night. How many of them do you want to summon?”
Cao Mao put a small bag with 100 refined stones on the table, showing off his wealth and shutting the mama's mouth.
”Eh, just call them all here. But don't let them come yet. I have something to talk with this gentleman.”
”Oh?” The mama's eyes beam in bright light when she saw the sparkling refined stones. Then, she glanced at her regular customer, Ma Moxi. She grinned and retreated, ”Right away.”
The mama left the two men alone.
Seeing that nobody could hear their conversation, Ma Moxi glared at Cao Mao, ”Start talking. Who are you?”
”Is that the tone you speak with your senior, Ma Moxi?”
”… Fine. sEnIoR, mAy i kNoW YoUr iNtEnTiOn?” Ma Moxi shrugged and spoke in a sarcastic tone.
”Relax. Haiz,” Cao Mao shook his head in disappointment. He reached out for the teapot and pour some spirit tea to drink. ”Calm down, son. I've come in peace. Had I really planned to kill you, you would have been dead on the street.”
Ma Moxi stared at Cao Mao for a moment. He retracted his killing intent and decided to compromise. He sat on the sofa on the opposite side of Cao Mao and crossed his legs, ”Alright. I know we have a bad start. How do you know that I was a hitman?”
Cao Mao sipped his tea. He glanced at the hitman, who crossed his arms and legs, showing the hint of insecurity mentality.
”You can say that I'm currently working in a similar business as you have done in the previous life. My employer gave me the details of several reincarnators and transmigrators in this world. Right now, I've accepted a job that I need to hunt someone down.”
”So, Am I one of your targets?”
Ma Moxi was sharp. He found fault in Cao Mao's words right away.
”No,” Cao Mao laughed. ”My target is Liu Bian.”
”Oh?” Ma Moxi nodded. He got the picture now why Cao Mao hired his clan to spread an ill rumor about Liu Bian. Also, he figured that this employer might know something about Liu Bian as well, ”Do you mind if I can have the intel on all reincarnators and transmigrators?”
”That depends on your first job. Help me kill Liu Bian, and I'll share the information.”
Ma Moxi snorted, ”You know. Professional problem solvers don't outsource to kill their targets. It affects their reputation.”
”That's a naïve way of thinking. Oh well,” Cao Mao shrugged and ignored Ma Moxi's ridicule. He sipped some more tea, ”Will you cooperate with me, or will you continue to be a lone wolf? It's your choice. I can only tell you this much at the moment. The Liu Clan is your family's nemesis, so there's nothing to lose in this job, no?”
”Ah, but I can't trust you,” Ma Moxi glared at Cao Mao. ”Unless you tell me about yourself, I won't work for you.”
”A professional hitman doesn't question for the employer's motive or his businesses. You only have one job. Will you do it, or will you decline it? I only need one answer. Don't answer me with a question.”
”…”
Ma Moxi was at a disadvantage in this negotiation as Cao Mao was pressuring him with the superior presence, demeanor, and information. He didn't know anything about Cao Mao, but the latter seemed to know everything about him.
The difference in information power intimidated the former hitman.
In the end, Ma Moxi chose to bend.
”Fine. But my service won't be cheap since it's the crown prince.”
”Don't worry. I have the money. For now, complete the first assignment and spread the rumor first. When I'm done with my preparation, I'll tell you what to do next.”
”Alright. But tell me one more thing. Is the rumor legit? Can Liu Bian really use necromancy?”
Cao Mao sneered, ”If I have that information, do you think it's fake?”
Then, Cao Mao leaned forward and gave Ma Moxi a stern look, ”If you doubt my intel, go investigate it yourself. This job has no time limit, so you can do it at your pace. As I said before, you only have one job. Don't question your employer.”
”…”
The two men glared into each other's eyes. No one could tell what they were thinking.
That day was the first confrontation between Cao Mao and Ma Moxi. It would also change the fate of this protagonist forever.