Chapter Twelve: Five Billion

“Congratulations, you answered correctly, but there’s no prize for that,” Smoky Moon of the Four Palaces said, her face adorned with the most adorable smile. Yet, to Parini, this youthful sweetness appeared terrifying and sinister.

But now, Parini had no choice but to swallow his fear and respectfully ask, “May I inquire, Mr. Phantom Butterfly, what brings you to my humble Skull territory? If there’s anything I, Parini, can do for you, I shall not hesitate.”

Suddenly remembering something, he quickly turned his gaze to Smoky Moon. “Miss, I apologize for my earlier rudeness. I hope you can forgive me.”

“It was bad enough that you made me witness such disgusting things, but now you’re still not dressed, and that naked woman—can’t you leave? Is there any business here for you now?” Xue Tianai remained silent, but Smoky Moon chirped incessantly.

“Yes, yes, I’ll put my clothes on right away. Sorry, Miss, for letting you see such filth.” Parini hastily grabbed a nearby shirt and clumsily slipped it on.

He then noticed the woman who had just shared his bed, crouched naked by the bedside. His face twisted in fury. “Get out! Didn’t you hear the lady? Why are you still standing there?”

The naked woman, startled, scrambled out without bothering to dress. Parini, now wearing a strained smile, turned to Xue Tianai. “Mr. Phantom Butterfly, perhaps you’re weary from your journey. That woman’s quite skilled. Why not let her—”

Before he could finish, Smoky Moon interrupted, “Are you insulting Phantom Butterfly, offering a woman you’ve already used?”

Smoky Moon’s expression turned icy, her eyes blazing. Parini’s words had crossed her bottom line—Phantom Butterfly was her boundary.

“Enough, let’s get down to business,” Xue Tianai broke his silence, gently stroking Smoky Moon’s head to comfort her.

“Yes, yes, sorry for my reckless words. May I ask what brings Phantom Butterfly here?” Parini’s mind raced at lightning speed. He couldn’t recall Skull offending Butterfly, let alone threatening their interests. How could his small-time operation ever touch Butterfly’s domain? The arrival of Phantom Butterfly—leader of Butterfly Organization and the god of assassins—was unfathomable.

“Hmm, it’s simple. I’ve come to fetch something,” Xue Tianai said calmly.

“Oh? May I ask what you wish to take, Mr. Phantom Butterfly? Anything I have is yours.”

“Well then, may I take your life?” Xue Tianai smiled lightly, but a chilling aura instantly filled the room.

As soon as the words left his lips, Parini’s face contorted with terror. He racked his brain, unable to fathom what had displeased Phantom Butterfly to the point of wanting his death. As he felt the air grow colder, he forced himself to remain composed.

“Surely you jest, Mr. Phantom Butterfly. We have no grudge, and you’re not one to kill without reason.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Xue Tianai’s smile remained.

“What have I done to offend you? If so, I’ll change.”

Sensing Xue Tianai’s resolute tone, Parini realized this was no joke. He tried to stall, his hand reaching under the pillow.

“It’s nothing much. Did you recently accept a bounty from China?”

“No—”

“I advise you not to lie to me. Otherwise, I’ll butcher you right now. Killing you is as easy as slaughtering a chicken,” Xue Tianai snapped, cutting him off.

“Yes, I’m sorry, I meant no deception. If taking this bounty offends you, I’ll withdraw immediately.” Parini’s hand touched the pistol under the pillow, his eyes growing wild.

“Oh? You’re willing to forgo such a lucrative bounty?”

“Of course—for my life—” Suddenly, Parini’s expression twisted. He whipped out the pistol, aiming it at Xue Tianai with manic fury. “I can do even that! People say Phantom Butterfly is a legend, but I don’t believe you can dodge a bullet!”

“You think a gun is your trump card? You believe such a worthless firearm can kill me?” Xue Tianai’s tone was disdainful and arrogant.

“This guy must be an idiot,” Smoky Moon remarked nonchalantly, as if Parini’s gun were nothing but a toy in her eyes.

“Phantom Butterfly, you’ll pay for this! After you’re dead, I’ll have fun with that woman beside you—and then throw her to my men!” Unable to suppress his rage, Parini pulled the trigger.

Bang! The bullet flew from the chamber.

Xue Tianai stood perfectly still, making no attempt to dodge.

Seeing his target unmoving, Parini’s lips curled into a triumphant grin. In his mind, Phantom Butterfly was already dead—and he would make his name today.

The bullet sliced through the air, about to strike Xue Tianai, but in a flash, a figure shot forward like a cannonball, blocking the path.

When Parini saw the figure, his expression darkened. Beneath the mask, Xue Tianai simply smiled.

The figure hit by the bullet collapsed to the floor—it was the naked woman who had just fled the room. Now a gaping wound marred her chest, her expression frozen in terror.

“Ah, I’m exhausted. Boss, after finishing off those men outside, I saw this woman sprint out naked. Boss, what were you doing in here? Group activities?” Wes stretched his shoulders as he walked up to Xue Tianai and Smoky Moon.

“She wasn’t heavy, but good enough to block a bullet, hehe.”

“Oh, and you—didn’t your mother teach you not to play with guns?” As he spoke, Wes flicked his hand, sending a playing card spinning through the air, knocking the pistol from Parini’s grasp.

Seeing the three together, and his gun gone, Parini was filled with terror, his body trembling uncontrollably. “Don’t kill me! I’ll cancel the bounty, right now!”

“Do you think that’s possible?” Smoky Moon, the only one with her face uncovered, sneered.

“I have money! All my money is yours! Weapons—yes! I have weapons, too! All yours, just spare me!”

“Oh? You have money? How much?” Xue Tianai asked, feigning interest.

“Three billion—I have three billion dollars! It’s all yours!” Parini was nearly on his knees. He had committed countless crimes, but faced with death, he found it overwhelmingly terrifying.

“Heh, is your life worth only three billion? My patience is thin—I don’t want to hear nonsense,” Xue Tianai’s tone suddenly sharpened, killing intent surging once more.

“Five billion! I have five billion in US dollars! Truly no more, that’s everything!” Parini, unable to resist the cold aura from Xue Tianai, finally gave up all his secrets.

“Five billion, huh? Barely acceptable. Transfer it to me now,” Xue Tianai said lazily, slumping onto the sofa.

“But—”

“No more chatter! When the boss says transfer, you transfer. What’s the holdup?” Wes barked impatiently. “The boss’s Swiss account is 2850*******, hurry up!”

“Yes, yes, right away.” Parini scrambled from the bed to the computer desk, quickly opened his laptop, and painfully transferred his entire balance to the account Wes provided. Then he looked pitifully at Xue Tianai.

“Boss Phantom Butterfly, can you spare me now? I’ve sent all my money.”

Xue Tianai said nothing, simply pulling out his phone and staring at the screen. Wes and Smoky Moon stood silently at his sides.

Parini, surrounded by silence, could only pray to God, begging for salvation.

Ten minutes later, Xue Tianai’s phone chimed with a message from the Swiss bank—five billion dollars received. A smile curled beneath his mask. “Very good, I’ve got the money. Now, let’s talk business.”

“I gave you all my money! Why won’t you let me go?” Parini, hearing Xue Tianai’s words, began to panic uncontrollably.

“Pfft, our boss never said giving money would spare you. That was all your own assumption,” Smoky Moon gazed at Parini’s twisted face, finding it amusing and satisfying.

“You’re all demons! Demons!” Under the relentless pressure and mockery, Parini finally snapped, ready to fight to the death. He lunged at Phantom Butterfly, hands clawed, desperate.

A cornered dog will leap a wall, a desperate rabbit will bite, and for the leader of an assassin syndicate, all the more so.

Parini, as the leader of Black Skull, wasn’t weak. In a blink, he was at Xue Tianai’s side, claw poised. He felt a rush of hope.

But in the next instant, Xue Tianai vanished from the sofa as a shadow, and Parini crashed headfirst into the cushions, landing in a humiliating heap. Glancing over, he saw Xue Tianai now perched atop the computer desk, quietly watching him.

“With your skills, you dare challenge me?” Xue Tianai looked down at Parini, his tone laden with the intimidating aura of the assassin god.

“Boss, you needn’t trouble yourself with the likes of him. For you to step in would be beneath your dignity,” Wes bowed respectfully to Xue Tianai.

“I said, leave this one to me. Step back, both of you.” Smoky Moon pouted, glaring in disgust at Parini sprawled on the sofa.

Humiliation, resentment, and helplessness—poor Parini could only watch as the three toyed with him. “Is this Butterfly’s way? So base, so—”

Slap! Before he could finish, a palm struck him, imprinting a delicate handprint on his brutish face.

“Who said you could speak?” Smoky Moon rubbed her hand, scolding fiercely.

“Bitch, I’ll take you down!” Parini swung a fist at Smoky Moon.

Though sharp-tongued, Smoky Moon was utterly serious now. She flipped backward, dodging Parini’s savage punch, then sprang up, darting at him like a phantom.

Seeing his punch miss and Smoky Moon charging, Parini hurriedly raised his arms to defend.

But Smoky Moon seemed to anticipate his defense—her right leg swept out, crashing into Parini’s lower body.

Caught off guard, Parini never expected such a kick—she struck him squarely in his groin, the infamous leg of extinction.

“Aaargh!” The searing pain from his manhood made Parini howl.

Even Wes and Xue Tianai winced in sympathy, their own groins aching. Xue Tianai inwardly mused, never provoke this little girl—if she ever tried that move on him, it would be quite the experience.

Smoky Moon didn’t stop for Parini’s scream. She moved again, swift as a whirlwind, her fingers fused like a serpent darting, like an arrowhead plunging toward Parini’s throat.

Ignoring the pain, Parini raised his arms to block.

Bang!

Smoky Moon’s strike slammed into Parini’s arm, sending numbness through his limb. Sensing resistance, her fingers suddenly splayed, grabbing Parini’s arm and using it as a pivot. In a classic move, she flipped upside down, delivering a fierce kick to Parini’s chin.

Crack!

“Ahh!”

The fracture in his jawbone made Parini scream in agony.

Seizing the moment, Smoky Moon landed and, without pause, unleashed another vicious kick to Parini’s chest.

Bang! Splutter! With a muffled thud, Parini spat blood, his body flung uncontrollably into the wall.

In just a few moves, the leader of Black Skull was beaten like a dead dog by Smoky Moon.