Chapter 46 – The Red Kite's Trail
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It took less than a day for the Phoenix Court's net to tighten.
With Meng Zhihao tracking dark web channels and Lin Nuo intercepting encrypted traffic across City C's digital infrastructure, it didn't take long before a name surfaced—He Jun—an art dealer by day, a ghost broker by night. And more importantly, the contact for Red Kite.
"He's slippery," Meng muttered, scrolling through photos of He Jun taken by facial recognition AI. "No fixed address. Moves every 72 hours. But he's making a drop tonight at a gallery in District 7. Something about antique jade."
Xueqing's lips curled. "Perfect. We crash the party."
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Night fell over District 7 like a velvet curtain laced with tension.
Dressed in a sleek black jumpsuit with her hair pinned high, Xueqing walked through the exhibition's glass doors like she belonged there. Mo Chen followed a few paces behind, hands in his pockets, a picture of dangerous elegance in a tailored navy suit.
"I see him," she murmured, tapping her earpiece. "Left corner, next to the koi installation."
He Jun was short, almost forgettable, but his nervous glances and frequent checks of his phone made him stand out like a blinking beacon to trained eyes.
"I'm going in," she said.
Mo Chen grabbed her wrist. "You're not bait this time."
Her eyes met his. "You said we bait the flame."
He didn't let go. "And I meant we. Not just you."
Before she could argue, a sharp buzz came through Lin Nuo's voice in the comms. "Red Kite's en route. Black SUV, tinted windows. ETA—two minutes."
Mo Chen's demeanor shifted instantly. "We intercept before they make contact."
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Xueqing rounded the display, bumping into He Jun with deliberate force. "Oops. Clumsy me."
He blinked at her, stunned by her sudden appearance and the elegance of her features. "Ah, no, I—it's fine."
She smiled. "Jade? Or do you only deal in more... explosive pieces?"
His eyes widened. "I don't know what you're—"
She slid a flash drive into his jacket pocket. "That contains proof of your latest delivery. To Red Kite. Confess, or I'll leak it."
"You're bluffing."
"No," came Mo Chen's voice from behind. "She's bait. I'm the hammer."
He Jun's knees buckled.
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Back in the SUV later that night, Xueqing stared at the flash drive's decrypted data. "Coordinates. Shipment numbers. Orders from someone codenamed 'Mistress K'."
Mo Chen said quietly, "K for Kite?"
"Or for Killer," Xueqing whispered. "She's already here."