RPAGF Chapter 526 Raise Your Hands
Chapter 526 Raise Your Hands
The man leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and looked directly at Su Ming: "Maybe I know, maybe I don't. It depends on what you can give me."
"All I can give you is the truth." Su Ming's voice was calm and firm. "All you have to do is tell me how to find 'Shadow'."
The man was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, "The Shadow isn't a person, but a symbol. It represents a hidden power, a power that can change the situation. If you want to find it, you must first ask yourself if you are truly prepared to face the consequences."
Su Ming's heart skipped a beat. He had never imagined things would become so complicated. Shadow wasn't a person, but a mystery, a mystery that could overturn everything.
"Consequences?" Su Ming repeated the word in a low voice, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.
The man smiled slightly and stood up: "When you really find the answer, you will understand what the consequences are."
After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Su Ming sitting alone at the table, lost in deep thought.
As the night deepened, Su Ming emerged from the café. A cool breeze mingled with moisture hit him, forcing him to wrap his windbreaker tighter. His stomach ached, a sign of hunger. He hadn't had a proper meal in ages. The pressure of the mission and the strange encounter had strained his nerves, and acid churned in his empty stomach.
He walked slowly down the street, his eyes unconsciously scanning the shops on both sides. Finally, he saw a bakery. The orange light shone through the glass windows, giving people a warm feeling. Su Ming's pace could not help but quicken a little, and he pushed open the door and walked in.
The shop was quiet, save for the middle-aged female owner, busy behind the counter. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread, mingled with the sweet scent of butter and cream, bringing a sense of comfort. Su Ming stood at the counter, his eyes scanning the rows of neatly arranged bread.
"What can I do for you?" the female owner looked up and asked, her voice soft but slightly tired.
Su Ming gave a polite smile: "A piece of whole wheat bread and a cup of hot milk, thank you."
The shopkeeper nodded, expertly packed the bread into a paper bag, and turned to pour the milk. Su Ming's gaze unconsciously drifted to the window. He saw a man across the street, dressed in dark clothes, leaning against a streetlight, seemingly lighting a cigarette. He looked ordinary, but Su Ming felt a sense of alarm.
"Is he looking at me?" This thought flashed through Su Ming's mind. He quickly lowered his head and pretended to take out the change from his pocket, but his peripheral vision remained fixed on the man.
"Your bread and milk." The female shopkeeper's voice brought Su Ming back from his thoughts.
"Thank you." Su Ming took the paper bag, paid, and turned to the door. The moment he pushed the door open, he paused for a moment, taking the opportunity to quickly glance at the man across the street. The man's movements were natural, seemingly just an ordinary passerby, but Su Ming couldn't shake the vague uneasiness in his heart.
He walked to the corner, pretending to stop casually, took a sip of milk, and looked behind him with his peripheral vision. Sure enough, the man also began to move, keeping a distance from him, like a silent hound.
"Someone's following me." Su Ming's heart suddenly rose to his throat. His mind raced, analyzing the other party's intentions and possible identities. He wasn't sure if the other party was an enemy, or an ally hidden in the shadows, sent to monitor him.
"Can't look back, and can't expose myself." Su Ming made a quick decision. He continued walking down the street, his steps maintaining a steady rhythm, but his mind was already planning his next move. He had to confirm the other party's identity while ensuring he wouldn't be put in danger.
He walked into a secluded alley, lined with trash cans and discarded wooden boxes. The air was filled with the smell of dampness and decay. Su Ming's pace gradually slowed, and his hand quietly reached inside his windbreaker, touching the small dagger hidden inside.
At the end of the alley was a high wall with an iron ladder leading to a second-floor balcony. Su Ming walked to the ladder, suddenly stopped, turned around and leaned against the wall, pretending to adjust his clothes while pricking up his ears to catch any movement behind him.
Sure enough, light footsteps echoed from the alley entrance. The other party seemed unhurried, their steps slow and steady. Su Ming's heartbeat began to accelerate, but his expression remained calm. He knew that the real battle would begin at this moment.
As the footsteps got closer, Su Ming suddenly raised his head and said coldly: "Come out, you have followed me for so long, what do you want?"
The man slowly emerged from the shadows at the alley entrance. His face was hidden by the brim of his hat, making his expression unclear, but his voice was tinged with a hint of a deep smile. "You're more alert than I thought."
"Don't talk nonsense." Su Ming's hand had already clenched the dagger, and there was a hint of threat in his tone, "Who are you? Why are you following me?"
The man didn't answer directly. Instead, he raised his hands and made a gesture to indicate that he was unarmed. "Don't be nervous. I don't mean any harm. I just want to see if you are qualified to complete your mission."
Su Ming's brows furrowed slightly, his mind rapidly analyzing the meaning of this sentence: "What do you mean? Who sent you?"
The man chuckled, a hint of mystery in his tone. "There are some questions you don't need to know the answers to yet. However, I can tell you one thing—the 'Shadow' you're looking for doesn't actually want to be found."
These words were like a stone dropped into Su Ming's heart, stirring up countless ripples. Countless possibilities flashed through his mind, but none could explain the situation before him.
"Who are you?" Su Ming asked again, with a hint of coldness in his voice.
The man didn't answer, but turned and walked into the shadows at the alley entrance, disappearing into the night. His footsteps gradually faded away, and finally disappeared completely.
Su Ming stood there, the dagger still tightly gripped in his hand, a layer of cold sweat on his forehead. His emotions were extremely complicated, a mixture of fear of the unknown and a desire for the truth. He knew that everything that happened tonight was just the beginning of a larger mystery. And every word left by that man was like a key, pointing to a deeper secret.
By the time Su Ming returned to his temporary shelter, the night had deepened, with only the occasional rustle of the wind and the distant barking of dogs outside the window to illuminate the room. The lights in the room were dim and soft. The teacup on the table still held some lingering tea, and the air was filled with a faint tea fragrance. Yet, this tranquility couldn't mask an eerie stillness.