281: Did the master sell himself out?

The killing intent on Ye Chen's body slowly converged, and he looked at Jessica thoughtfully: "So, you are not here to kill me now?"

Jessica snorted coldly.

"When I, Jessica, accept a mission, it depends on my mood and the cost."

"You have my silly apprentice so infatuated, painting such a flowery picture, so I came to take a look myself..."

She paused, looking at Ye Chen with a complex gaze.

"I have to admit, you little monster, you truly have the qualifications to make me re-evaluate the cost."

"The Black Prison's Dark Order is troublesome, and the bounty is tempting enough."

"But to completely offend a guy whose depth I cannot fathom for a task that might not even be completed, and who might also make my only silly apprentice hate me for the rest of her life..."

Jessica put down her wine glass, spread her hands, and struck a pose that was slightly lazy yet full of charm.

"This deal, looking at it now, seems a bit of a loss."

Ye Chen understood: "So, you are not a member of the Black Prison? You just accepted the mission?"

"Of course not."

Jessica's tone carried a hint of disdain.

"Black Prison? A nest of rats that hide their heads and show their tails, with rules dirtier than a sewer!"

"I, Jessica, am used to being a lone wolf; I have no interest in finding myself a master."

"I am just a craftsman who takes money to do things, and the Dark Web is just my platform for accepting orders."

Back then, if she hadn't been tied up with matters, she would never have let her apprentice enter the Black Prison.

Now that Night Owl has rebelled and come out on her own, it is actually a good thing.

Ye Chen nodded and pressed: "Tell me about the mission."

Jessica relaxed a bit and a smile appeared on her face.

"The public mission description on the Dark Web is very simple—take your life."

"The requirement is: the sooner the better. The reward is paid in stages based on the completion of the Dark Order, and the highest-tier reward..."

"One billion!"

A cold light flashed in Ye Chen's eyes, "I am only worth one billion?"

Both women were stunned.

No...

Why does it sound like he thinks the price is a bit low?

Jessica snorted indignantly: "Don't complain that it's low. That's one billion US dollars. Even Trump in the USA doesn't have a bounty as high as yours."

"Besides you, who else accepted it?" Ye Chen asked again, displeased.

Jessica smiled playfully.

"The money on your head is too tempting."

"At least half of the top ten assassins on the Dark Web have been tempted."

"A few lone wolves might already be on their way, and some might form teams."

She looked at Ye Chen, her tone carrying a hint of a warning.

"Your limelight is too bright. Your popularity on the Dark Web is currently higher than those international politicians. There won't just be one wave of lunatics who want to take your head for the bounty and fame."

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen was not nervous at all; instead, he laughed.

"The more, the better."

"It's just right to wipe them all out at once, saving me future trouble."

The confidence and fearless dominance in his tone made Jessica's eyes flicker.

Night Owl breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed that Master and Ye Chen would not be fighting for the time being.

"Master."

Night Owl looked at Jessica and asked cautiously, "Then... does this mean you have given up on the mission?"

Jessica glanced at her and smiled sweetly.

"Give up?"

"Who said I was going to give up?"

Night Owl's face turned pale.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow and looked at her.

Jessica explained calmly.

"I just said that, for now, a deal involving direct action is a bit of a loss."

"But I didn't say... we couldn't change to a different way of cooperating."

"Ye Chen, little monster."

"Are you interested in turning things around and making a deal with me?"

Hearing this, Ye Chen asked with great interest.

"Oh? A deal?"

"Tell me, why should I make a deal with you?"

Jessica was not surprised by his reaction, her red lips curving slightly.

"First, intelligence."

"The habits, methods, common bases, and even possible entry times and disguised identities of every assassin in the top ten of the Dark Web..."

"As long as I want to investigate, I can always dig something up."

"No matter how strong you are alone, you are still in the open."

"They are in the dark, watching you like vipers, along with those delicate women by your side..."

"With my help, you can at least know in advance which snakes have already slipped into Xiamen City and where they are preparing to strike."

Ye Chen's eyes flickered, but he didn't speak, signaling her to continue.

Jessica held up her second finger, her smile charming, but a trace of hatred flashed in her eyes.

"Second, borrow your hand to kill someone for me."

"Who?"

"Ranked third on the Dark Web, 'poison fang' Hawke."

Jessica's tone turned a bit colder, "A monster who specializes in poison and assassination, Heaven Realm mid-stage. His poisoning methods are insidious and tricky; they are impossible to guard against."

Ye Chen was curious: "Did he kill your whole family?"

"That's right." Jessica nodded without hesitation, "He killed my whole family. For thirty years, I have lived only for revenge."

Ye Chen was embarrassed: "Sorry."

"No need to apologize."

Jessica looked at Ye Chen calmly.

"According to the information I received, Hawke is also tempted by the bounty on you, and he will sneak into Xiamen City by tomorrow night at the latest."

"He is good at poisoning while mingling in crowds, his methods are covert, and his targets often die inexplicably."

"The people around you, especially those without martial arts cultivation, are very likely to fall victim."

Ye Chen understood: "You want me to take him out before Hawke makes a move on me?"

"That's right."

Jessica nodded, "For you, it's just eliminating a potential threat early; for me, it's fulfilling a long-cherished wish."

"It sounds like I'm working for you." Ye Chen sneered, "What about my benefits? Just knowing some intelligence in advance?"

Jessica leaned forward slightly, the neckline of her slip dress falling, revealing a breathtaking curve.

"Benefits? Yes!"

"After Hawke dies, I will help you sell all of his assets abroad for cash, and it will all belong to you."

"The value is not less than five hundred million US dollars; if it's short, I'll make up for it myself!"

"Besides..."

She paused, her smile becoming more enchanting, "I, Jessica, the Dark Web's number one female killing god 'Blood Rose', from today on, will work for you. The time limit is up to you: one year, three years, or..."

Her eyes danced, "Whenever you feel I'm useless, you can tell me to get lost at any time."

Night Owl, who was on the side, listened in astonishment.

Is Master... selling herself out?

And.

She is selling herself more thoroughly than I did.

After all.

She was forced, and only submitted in the end.

But Master is not...

She is throwing herself into the game!

Ye Chen, however, suddenly laughed.

"Work for me?"

"Do I look like I'm short of muscle?"

Jessica was not discouraged; instead, she blinked.

"You might not be short of muscle."

"But someone who is proficient in assassination, intelligence, poisoning, disguise, and can handle dirty work that is inconvenient for you to deal with personally at critical moments..."

"Do you have a second all-around subordinate like this?"

Ye Chen thought for a moment and shook his head very honestly: "No."

Strictly speaking.

Neither the Hidden Sect nor Black Blind Man counts.

Although Jessica is only at the Peak Earth Realm, she can indeed handle many things.

And if the connections are used well, he can save himself a lot of trouble.

After pondering for a few seconds, Ye Chen raised his eyes to look at Jessica.

"Give me the intelligence on the first-class assassin Hawke by this morning at the latest."

"If the intelligence you provide is incorrect, or if you deliberately omit key information..."

Ye Chen's tone was calm, but it made Jessica's spine feel a little cold, "Then I don't mind taking a little extra effort to pluck the 'Blood Rose' as well."

Jessica took a deep breath, and a charming smile bloomed on her face again.

"Deal."

She raised the wine glass in front of her.

Ye Chen, however, did not move; he just stood up.

"Forget the drink."

"When you put Hawke's intelligence and the benefits you promised right in front of me, we can talk about the rest."

He glanced at Night Owl.

"I'll take her back first. I want to see the intelligence by noon tomorrow."

After saying this.

Ye Chen did not linger and turned to walk out of the bar.

Night Owl hurriedly got up, nodded quickly to Jessica, and followed closely.

Jessica sat alone in the booth, watching their backs disappear into the chaotic lights, slowly swirling the amber wine in her glass, the corners of her lips curling into a complex arc.

"Ye Chen..."

"What an interesting little monster."

She drank the wine in her glass in one gulp, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes, "Hawke... this time, you won't be able to escape."