What the hell is the "kill line" when you're in America?

"Help him?"

Victor looked like a fat pig whose tail had been stepped on by a 300-pound man.

His voice instantly rose eight octaves, becoming so sharp it could almost pierce the noisy music in the bar.

He darted to Li Ang's side.

That face, flushed from alcohol and cigars, was now filled with disbelief.

Every wrinkle on his face was filled with terror.

"Li, are you fucking insane?"

"That's Gordon!"

"It's the cops!"

His voice was extremely low, like a snake being strangled.

It was hissing as it emitted cool air.

"What are we for?"

"We're gangsters, vermin who can't stand the light of day!"

"We're natural enemies, sworn enemies!"

Victor pointed at Gordon's face on the TV screen, his spittle almost spraying onto Leon's face with his excitement.

His face was unsmiling, as if the whole world owed him money.

"And didn't you hear what the news said?"

"This guy's a lunatic, he's completely unreasonable!"

"It's like a rock from a latrine, smelly and hard!"

"His taking on this case now is clearly a sign that someone wants him dead!"

"They just want to find a scapegoat to take the fall!"

"We're trying to avoid him right now, and you're going to willingly put your neck on his knife's edge?"

"Aren't you afraid he'll follow the trail and find us?"

"Don't forget, we started that fire that turned to charcoal at the cannery!"

Victor became more and more excited as he spoke, feeling as if his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

During the time he spent with Li Ang, he experienced more thrills than he had in the previous decades combined.

He thought he had gotten used to this kind of life.

A life of dancing on the edge of a knife, where you could fall into a vat of boiling oil at any moment.

But Li Ang's latest decision still filled him with a deep-seated fear.

A fear that seeps into your very bones.

Go help a police officer who's investigating you?

What the hell is this joke?

Li Ang ignored Victor's near-collapse roar.

It should be said that he had gotten used to Victor's easily startled personality.

Even now, Li Ang is still wondering why Victor was able to become the second-in-command.

He calmly picked up a glass of untouched whiskey from the bar.

Until Victor was breathing heavily, until he had completely calmed down.

He was genuinely scared.

He feared that this illogical young man would lead them all to their deaths by crashing their heads against the south wall.

He was afraid of this young man who was so powerful that he inspired despair.

He then asked Li Ang, "What do you want to do?"

"Gift."

Li Ang said.

"We need to give Detective Gordon a gift."

"A bait that will keep him hooked, but won't make him choke on it immediately."

The document about "Project Nightingale" flashed through Li Ang's mind in an instant.

It was the one found in the ammunition box.

Those documents were simply too deadly.

If they were all thrown out now, Gordon's "weapon" would be rendered useless instantly.

They might even draw fire directly onto themselves.

He needs a more subtle approach.

"Victor."

Do you remember Project Nightingale?

Victor's face paled even more.

Of course he remembers.

How could he possibly forget?

Every page of that document reeked of sulfur and blood.

It is enough to drag anyone who sees it into an abyss of no return.

Victor nodded, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

"Find a page from those documents."

"I want that page, the one that records how several homeless people disappeared after being sent to the Sacred Heart Charity Home."

"Remove some of the key information above, such as the specific date and signature."

"Burn it with fire, or corrode it with chemical reagents."

"Make it look like a tattered report that was salvaged from a fire."

"Remember, it must be processed realistically enough that no trace of modern technology is left."

Victor's mind went blank; he could only listen subconsciously.

Try your best to understand every detail in Li Ang's words.

"Then, find someone who is absolutely reliable."

Li Ang continued to give instructions.

"Someone you've used, and someone you can control with both money and life."

"Deliver this gift to Detective Gordon."

"It could be his office mailbox, or it could be the newspaper box outside his house."

"It could even be left unintentionally on the seat next to him in his favorite coffee shop."

"The method doesn't matter, the result does."

"You need to make him feel that this is some kind of mysterious force of justice guiding him from the shadows."

Sacred Heart Charitable Asylum.

Victor was no stranger to this name.

That is one of Seattle’s largest and most reputable charities.

It is directly under the jurisdiction of the church.

They host countless charity galas every year.

They raised astronomical sums of money from the wealthy and politicians.

Then use that money to help the homeless in the city.

In the public's perception, that place is synonymous with kindness and light.

Victor instantly understood Li Ang's intention.

If Gordon investigates, it will inevitably affect the interests of the church.

Given the hypocritical and vindictive nature of those in the church, their retaliation is inevitable.

At that time, one of them will be a reckless, mad dog detective.

One is a behemoth with deep roots, operating in Seattle for over a century.

No matter how their fight turns out, it's a sure-fire deal for Li Ang.

He could even use the church as a tool to complete that previously unresolved system task.

The quest called "The Feast of Demonic Path".

This is a brilliant plan that kills two birds with one stone.

"I...I understand."

Victor swallowed hard.

He looked at Li Ang, wondering what was going on in this young man's head.

"Remember, Victor."

Victor was startled and quickly turned around.

"We want to help him, but we can't let him know we're helping him."

"We want him to feel that he is following the guidance of justice and moving step by step toward the truth."

"We want to make him the fiercest hound, to tear apart those big guys for us."

Victor nodded emphatically.

He picked up the whiskey from the bar and took a big gulp.

The pungent liquor burned his esophagus, bringing a little warmth back to his cold heart.

He needs to get this done immediately.

Because he knew that if he didn't handle things well, he might become the first nut to crack when Li Ang threw him out.

Leon watched Victor's disappearing figure and slowly picked up the whiskey in front of him.

He raised the glass to his eyes, peering through the amber liquid.

Looking at the noisy, decadent, and numb faces of people in the bar.

Instead of reacting passively, it's better to take the initiative.

Li Ang took the last sip of whiskey.