Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 94 - 84 Where is the Way?

Chapter 94: Chapter 84 Where is the Way?

It sounded very reasonable, yet something seemed amiss.

But upon closer inspection, it was clear—it must mean proactive defense.

The car came to a stop, at least a hundred meters away from the line of luxury cars, far enough to ensure faces couldn’t be made out clearly, so even if the "trash dog" came out of the house, he wouldn’t be able to distinguish which one was him.

Luca turned around and said, "Let’s wait here for a bit, if the target decides to leave, we can spot him in time."

"Leave, and then what, chase him down and kill him?"

Luca thought for a moment, shook his head, and said, "I don’t know, you decide, what do you think of my suggestion?"

"Kill the employer?"

"Yes."

Gao Yi was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "It’s feasible."

The Dark Web won’t disclose the identity of the employer, which meant Gao Yi didn’t know who the employer was. Since he didn’t know the employer’s identity, killing Walter was just to relieve boredom, no problem.

It never occurred to him that both the employer and the target were rappers. These guys could depict the murder process in complete lyrics sung out. In other words, these folks really had no filter.

He didn’t understand why the Dark Web would accept orders from such people, but since there were lapses, Gao Yi and the others would have to plug the potential leaks themselves.

Luca sighed lightly and said, "Since it’s feasible, should we figure out Walter’s address?"

"It should be easy to look up, you check it."

"Sure."

Since the target didn’t make an appearance, they were just killing time, when suddenly, a black woman stormed out of the neighboring house toward Gao Yi and his companion.

"Hey, what are you doing stopping here? Move along, move along!"

Intermixed with slang and totally unwarranted obscenities, the tall and hefty woman began mouthing off.

Gao Yi was fuming internally, but Luca didn’t say a word, started the car, and drove another two hundred meters forward, parking at a street corner.

After turning the car around, only the vehicles where the target was located could be seen in the distance.

"Do all the people here have problems?"

"Paranoia, but they also can’t help being cautious. Who knows what two strangers stopping at their doorstep would do? If a shootout was about to take place at her doorstep, she’d be in a bad situation."

Gao Yi briefly explained. His and Luca’s perspectives about Los Angeles were focused on different things; both had some knowledge gaps.

After about ten minutes of waiting, two Caucasians got out of a car behind them.

Gao Yi was the first to notice someone approaching; he immediately said, "Something’s not right, they’re coming towards us!"

Two Caucasians, one wearing a jacket, the other a T-shirt. But the confident and fearless look on their faces indicated they were looking for trouble.

Luca helplessly said, "What the hell, can’t we even park here?"

One Caucasian stayed at the rear of the car, while a black man came forward and tapped on the window, gesturing for them to roll it down. Holding a badge in one hand, he lowered his voice, "Police! Keep your hands where I can see them."

Not in uniform and with no police car, these weren’t regular patrol officers, likely detectives or narcotics officers.

Calmly, Luca placed his hands on the steering wheel and asked, "Officer, is there a problem?"

The black officer glanced at Luca, then at Gao Yi’s Asian face, his stern expression slightly relaxed, "You’ve been here quite some time, why is that?"

"We’re just looking at the map, officer."

Luca nodded while Gao Yi lifted his smartphone, "We just wanted to stop and properly check the navigation, we might have missed our destination."

The black officer visibly relaxed. He didn’t even ask Luca for a driver’s license, but whispered, "Leave this place! Right now, this isn’t where you should be."

"Okay officer, thank you, we will leave right away."

The black officer stepped back, and Luca started the car, slowly steering out of the parking spot.

Gao Yi exhaled softly, "What’s this, even stopping by the roadside triggers the police? When did Los Angeles’s police get so idle?"

"They’re watching. If I’m not mistaken, the Los Angeles police are already monitoring ’trash dog’ and it’s semi-public. A drug-dealing rapper and another rapper insulting each other, a confrontation could really break out, and the police would likely act."

Gao Yi puzzled, "Why bother monitoring from this distance in secret then? Are they looking for evidence against ’trash dog’?"

"It’s possible, but by doing so, the police are essentially providing protection for ’trash dog’."

Luca seemed worried, his face helpless, "This is a serious problem. It was just two police officers checking on us, but there are certainly more watching. Do you want to eliminate the target under police surveillance?"

That was indeed a problem.

Gao Yi hadn’t intended to mess in his own backyard, but now he had to act in Los Angeles, right under the police’s nose.

Just thinking about it gave him a headache.

"Why are dealers who are meant to be hiding out acting like rappers and throwing parties under police watch, attracting a horde of luxury cars?"

What was going on with the United States?

As Gao Yi’s frustration mounted, the car once more drove past the ’trash dog’s’ house.

Looking at the lineup of luxury cars, Gao Yi suddenly said, "Hold on, if they are really monitoring, why chase us away? It doesn’t make sense. If they suspect we’re connected to ’trash dog’, wouldn’t they monitor us as well? If they think we’re unrelated, why reveal themselves?"

Gao Yi couldn’t figure it out, Luca couldn’t either.

After pondering for a while, Luca suddenly said, "Is it possible that these officers aren’t monitoring but are preparing to act?"

Gao Yi paused, "Possible, but still feels off, it doesn’t seem like they’re ready to move, maybe... they’re just monitoring the neighborhood? Unrelated to our target?"

Luca gave a wry smile, "Stop guessing. We won’t figure it out on our own, how about we just buy some information?"

Gao Yi’s eyes shifted, "Buy information? Why buy it, let’s ask Walter directly. You ask the employer why there are police near the target’s house. I think he should know and would definitely tell you."

Luca shook his head, "No, that’s not good. The reason is simple. We’re eliminating the employer because they withheld critical information that could have gotten us killed. If we take the initiative by asking too much, and the employer tells us, then they wouldn’t be considered as withholding critical information..."

"I get it."

Gao Yi sighed, "Then let’s not ask. To rightfully take out the employer, let’s spend some money where we can."

While neither was particularly experienced, discussing it made the task seem manageable.

They drove out of the hazardous area and away from the black neighborhood before Luca stopped the car again and accessed the Dark Web on his phone.

Buying information wasn’t always straightforward. If it was valuable, informers might already have it in hand, ready to sell once someone named the right price.

But there were too many drug dealers in Los Angeles, too many to count, so information about one specific dealer might not be readily available from the information brokers of the Dark Web.

If no immediate information was available, it had to be collected from scratch, which was slower and riskier.

Luca spoke to Gao Yi, "There’s a knack to buying information; it can’t be openly requested since the act of requesting information itself is information. Thus, unlike assassins and mercenaries who have public assignments, buying information works best through a reputable and capable broker."

"Can information be guaranteed by the Dark Web?"

"Information can’t be guaranteed, so info trade is a sideline of the Dark Web. Only if both parties request Dark Web escrow and the seller agrees to it can an escrow transaction occur. Otherwise, it’s done privately. That’s why reputation is vital in the information business."

Luca found a number on the Dark Web, different from others in that info brokers would have their contacts visibly published—though not for everyone, only registered service providers could access it.

"This Los Angeles info broker is trustworthy. Although he only operates around Los Angeles, what we need fits."

Luca showed Gao Yi the contact he found, then dialed, and soon the call connected. A brisk voice answered, "Hello, what would you like to know?"

"I need information on ’trash dog’, do you have it?"

"Who?"

Apparently, the info broker hadn’t heard the name ’trash dog’, judging by his tone.

Luca explained in a low voice, "Trash dog, the dealer, also a rapper."

"Oh, oh, I got it. You need information on him, buddy? I never lie. I’ve got a good reputation, hard-earned. So I gotta tell you, I don’t have any info on this guy. Give me three days, I’ll find out for you. How about that?"

"How much?"

"Uh, thirty thousand, the surge pricing is really high."

"What if I need the detail tonight? Everything, detailed, able to track him anytime?"

"That would be expensive, buddy, a lot more expensive. We’re talking a hundred thousand."

"Alright, I’ll think about it."

Gao Yi knew he wouldn’t buy the information; it was too pricey. However, the info dealer said over the phone, "Buddy, regardless of whether this deal goes through, keep my number. Different situations, different prices. It’s expensive this time, but you won’t go wrong asking me first for information."

Luca spoke grimly, "Sure, I’ll contact you if needed."

After hanging up, Luca remarked to Gao Yi, "This guy knows how to do business. He knew I wasn’t going to buy but made the terms clear for future cooperation."

Gao Yi nodded, having the same feeling. He thought for a moment, "Buying information is too expensive. What do you think about asking the police directly?"

Luca spread his hands, "Good idea, but do you have any connections?"

Gao Yi pondered, "Not with the police, but I could ask the FBI."