Chapter 387: The Ultimatum (2/2)
Upon catching a whiff of the scent, he realized that it made him faint. He used to be a swindler and knew that sedating incense existed in the Jianghu. So he quietly put his sock over his crotch, pissed himself and covered his face with the soiled sock so he wouldn’t pass out.
The others inhaled the incense and slept like logs.
Heart jumping wildly, he immediately assumed the guy had sinister motives and wanted to hurt everyone. However, the man pulled out a small tube and blew it, aiming at the Imitator. A needle pierced the Imitator's neck, and he woke up.
The man outside whispered his name, ”Yi Qianren, come over here. I have something to say to you!”
The Imitator walked to the cell doors slowly. Hiding in the quilt and eavesdropping, his cellmate couldn't hear their conversation very well. But the gist of it was inviting the Imitator to join an organization, claiming that they had taken fancy to his skills. And if he agreed, he would be rescued from prison within a month at most.
When the Imitator refused, the man sneered, ”You can think about it carefully. I’ll give you till tomorrow afternoon. If you agree, pull off the top button of your uniform, otherwise...”
The Imitator’s cellmate failed to catch the man’s last words. Then, the man left.
Because he didn’t usually speak to the Imitator, he was afraid to ask him any questions. Besides, he was a prisoner. Why involve himself in any intrigue? It was best he stayed away from the affairs of others.
The Imitator never took off his button and was killed during leisure time the next day.
”Did the man say anything about this organization?” I asked.
The inmate shook his head, ”No, he only mentioned that this organization is very powerful! He assured him they would be able to get him out of prison and even boasted of an inmate they freed a month ago. Apparently he’s done a lot outside.”
The realization dawned upon me–the late-night visitor was a member of the Jiangbei Daggers. It seemed that they planted an inside man within the prisons so they could bring over outstanding criminals to their side. And if they refused, they would kill them.
Xiaotao excused the inmate who repeatedly reminded us not to break our promise before he left.
”This organization is everywhere,” sighed Xiaotao. “How formidable!”
Though I didn’t feel anything for the Imitator, I had never put him on the side of the wicked. He was a man, neither good nor evil, just like a ghost drifting through the earth.
His death at the hands of the Jiangbei Daggers was a great pity. But at the same time, I was glad that he hadn’t become an enemy.
”Let’s round up all the prisoners so we can try and narrow down our guy!” suggested Xiaotao.
”No,” I disagreed. “There are thousands of inmates here. I’m sure the organization has placed more than one man on the inside. If we make any rash moves, it’ll attract their attention.”
”Are we supposed to just let it go then?”
”If we meet criminals with special skills in the future, we must place them in solitary confinement without contact from anyone.”
”I feel a deep sense of powerlessness,” lamented Xiaotao. “The organization succeeds with all their evil plans every time. Until now, we’re not even sure of the full extent of this organization.”
”Don't underestimate yourself,” I comforted. “Haven't we managed to undermine them several times?”