Spy-x-War Showdown
Chapter 264 - 263: A Dog of a Lost House

Chapter 264: Chapter 263: A Dog of a Lost House

No one following made things easier, the operation was much more convenient, but what rendered Yang Yi speechless was that although Zhang Yong seemed much more alert, his steps were still somewhat unsteady.

Zhang Yong was at most sober due to a natural reaction to danger, but the effects of alcohol couldn’t just vanish instantly, so his head was still dizzy, and his footsteps were still slightly staggering.

This time, Yang Yi chose to steal a car rather than hijack one; however, to steal a car, he needed to find one without electronic theft protection. If it were one of the modern cars with electronic anti-theft systems, it wouldn’t be impossible to steal, just that it required the right tools, which Yang Yi didn’t have on hand.

Fortunately, car culture was well-developed in the United States, where many old clunkers existed, as did well-maintained vintage cars deemed collectibles.

Privately resolved to acquire a set of professional car theft tools for himself once this was over, Yang Yi finally opened the door of an old Cadillac.

"Stealing a car and you couldn’t pick a better one?"

Zhang Yong murmured in a low voice, to which Yang Yi replied annoyedly, "Can I even start a good car? We’re lucky to have a car at all, let’s go."

After making sure no one was around, the two got into the car and started driving toward the place where Xiao Ran and the others were hiding.

Yang Yi made a phone call to Xiao Ran, who answered after a short while, whispering, "How’s it going?"

"Picked up the person, where are you guys?"

"We’re hiding in a roadside ditch. I destroyed your phone and threw it away, so we should be safe for now. After you get to our drop-off location, just continue straight along the road for about five hundred meters, then flash your headlights a few times, and we’ll come out."

"Alright, that works."

After hanging up, Yang Yi turned to Zhang Yong sitting beside him and whispered, "They’re alright, we’re heading there now, Brother Yong?"

Zhang Yong’s head was leaning against the car seat, and low snores were already emanating from his mouth.

"Damn it!"

With an exasperated curse, Yang Yi drove the car at a normal speed toward the location where Xiao Ran and the others were left.

Everything went as planned, and Yang Yi picked up Xiao Ran and Boer.

With Zhang Yong soundly asleep in the passenger seat, Xiao Ran and Boer had no choice but to sit in the back of the car. Once they were in, Xiao Ran frowned and said, "This is the expert you talked about?"

Yang Yi replied helplessly, "He drank too much. Hey, Brother Yong! Wake up, stop sleeping."

Zhang Yong immediately woke up, looked around, then closed his eyes again but impatiently said, "Go to Los Angeles."

"Can we only go to Los Angeles?"

"Mmh."

With a vague reply, Zhang Yong fell asleep again.

From the back seat, Xiao Ran frowned, "We’ve just come from Los Angeles, and now we’re going back to Los Angeles?"

Yang Yi whispered, "He knows a way to get us out of the United States. Does any of you have a plan? If you don’t, we’ll have to head to Los Angeles first."

Xiao Ran seemed about to say something but ultimately shook his head, while Boer urgently said, "As long as we can leave, that’s fine. Let’s set off quickly!"

Yang Yi cautiously got the car back on the highway.

Although there was no trouble for the moment and it seemed there wouldn’t be any, Yang Yi’s heart was filled with confusion and tension.

Ever since he left prison, he hadn’t had a single day of peace, skirting the edge of danger had become his daily bread, with assassins constantly on his tail, time and again. For the first time, Yang Yi felt that the path he had chosen was indeed not an easy one to walk. The thrill was exhilarating, but too much excitement could be lethal.

Yang Yi had envisioned a spy life where he lurked in the shadows, silently stealing information, hitting one target after another without anyone knowing it was him, taking a life with a flick of his sleeve, leaving no trace behind.

But the reality was a series of pursuits, running scared like a stray dog, which was Yang Yi’s biggest feeling at the moment.

Overall, he was in pretty bad shape, but it was his choice, and he had to finish the journey, even on his knees.

The few people in the car were all silent. Boer was the most dangerous, but he was practically incapable of doing anything. However, after being scared for a long time, a temporary lull soon put him into a drowsy sleep.

Only Xiao Ran stayed alert. As they were about to leave the city, Xiao Ran suddenly whispered, "Be careful."

There had been several big incidents in Las Vegas these last couple of days, and Yang Yi feared they would find the roads blocked when leaving the city. However, he drove smoothly out of the city, taking the nearest Interstate 15 towards Los Angeles, without encountering anyone intercepting them.

Yang Yi just drove in silence. He was very tired, but he couldn’t rest until he was out of danger.

Two-thirds of the road from Las Vegas to Los Angeles ran through the desert. Yang Yi had been driving until he left Nevada and reached California’s grounds, and it was around two o’clock in the morning when Zhang Yong, who had been sleeping soundly all this time, woke up.

Opening his eyes and rubbing his face, Zhang Yong asked in a low voice, "Where are we?"

"Just reached California’s grounds."

"No interception?"

"None."

Zhang Yong yawned and said, "Give me a cell phone, I need to make a call."

Yang Yi had thrown away his phone, now only Xiao Ran still had one. Without waiting for Yang Yi to speak, Xiao Ran handed his phone over.

After getting the phone, Zhang Yong thought for a moment and then dialed a number.

After a long wait, when the call finally connected, Zhang Yong yawned again before loudly saying, "Buddy, it’s Landmine here. Got any gigs for me now?"

It was unclear what the person on the other end said, but Zhang Yong impatiently replied, "Yes, yes, I’ve been off the grid for a while, which is why I’m broke and I’m asking if you’ve got any jobs for me, looking for a quick buck. Oh, I’m in Los Angeles."

After speaking, Zhang Yong turned on the speakerphone, and then Yang Yi heard a man’s voice on the phone saying, "You’re in luck. There’s an uninsured open job right now if you’re considering it, a big gig!"

"Uninsured, huh? How much, and what’s your cut?"

"Twenty percent, but this job’s worth thirty million US dollars."

Zhang Yong took a deep breath, incredulous, "How much?"

"Thirty million US dollars, cash on delivery of proof. If you capture the target alive, the bounty is fifty million US dollars."

Zhang Yong spoke with amazement, "This is a sky-high bounty, what’s the job exactly?"

"To kill someone. The client provides the intel, pays upon seeing the corpse; photos or videos won’t suffice. The most critical thing is the target is now in Las Vegas, very close to you. If you can get there now, you might just make this money."

Zhang Yong chuckled, "Might as well give it a shot. Buddy, can you tell me if others are on this job? How great is the risk? Tell me everything you know, I’ll give you thirty percent as information fee. How about that?"

After a moment of silence, the man on the phone spoke in a grave tone, "Thirty percent, it’s settled. Listen carefully, this job is to kill a banker. The risk would have been substantial because it has to be done in Las Vegas, and the target is surrounded by a strong security force, but now the risk isn’t great because the target’s guards are all dead. What you need to consider is how to extricate yourself from Las Vegas after completing the task."