Role Playing the Dark Horse Character

Chapter 76: The Necessity of Cross-Dressing

Meanwhile, in District 1 of Ranmu City, at the stronghold of the 'White Rat' organization.

Because their leader had once been a subordinate of the Lin clan’s nobility, they were far more 'prestigious' than the backgroundless thugs in District 3.

They owned a high-rise building, which served as an office during the day.

But when night fell, the employees in this building would change into lighter uniforms, becoming hunters in the Eternal Night.

At the top floor of the high-rise, the leader of 'White Rat,' Shu Du, sat behind an expensive desk, lighting a cigarette.

He spun his chair, gazing at the city darkening beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The lights twinkled faintly.

Apart from public facilities, the residential areas had all turned off their lights, replacing them with heavy protective doors and windows.

The night seemed to quiet down, but it hadn’t really.

The thugs, suppressed all day, cheered, decorating the night with firelight and screams.

But none of this concerned Shu Du.

Day or night, he stood at the pinnacle of this city’s pyramid.

As he admired the splendid night, his private phone suddenly rang.

Without turning his chair, still gazing at the night sky beyond the windows, he picked up the phone.

"Shu Du," he said.

"Been doing well lately?" came a very familiar voice from the other end.

It was the noble young master he had once protected as a bodyguard and servant, now his most valuable connection.

Shu Du’s tone immediately became respectful. "Thanks to your care."

The nights in Ranmu City were different from those in other cities—plenty of people came alive after dark.

It wasn’t surprising for Lin Ruye to call in the middle of the night.

Based on Shu Du’s understanding of Lin Ruye, he was probably after money again.

As expected, he heard Lin Ruye recount a tale: 'His subordinate had promised to give him money, but the subordinate was taken out. To prevent defaulting, he was kindly reminding Shu Du.'

"That squinting girl said she’s after your 'White Rat,'" Lin Ruye said. "This tip-off deserves a bit extra, right? Add ten percent, no objections?"

Always seizing any chance to extort money.

Shu Du knew Lin Ruye was just trying to squeeze him, but he couldn’t lash out.

He certainly didn’t think this trivial piece of information was worth paying extra for, especially since his ability was considered near S-rank.

"You haven’t changed," Shu Du said.

He wouldn’t defy Lin Ruye—not because he was a noble, not because he was high-rank, but because he sheltered 'White Rat.'

But that didn’t stop him from privately cursing Lin Ruye as a leech.

Without hanging up, he used an intercom to instruct a subordinate to make the transfer, ensuring Lin Ruye could hear clearly.

After giving the order, his subordinate reported on tonight’s operations and results.

"Out of ten little white rats, three were duds," the subordinate said, using their internal code for prey.

"Kill them and toss them out. Someone will handle the bodies," Shu Du said, as usual.

Somehow, Lin Ruye always managed it—every morning, the city’s state and the bodies on the streets would be pristine.

A knock came at the door, and his subordinate’s voice called from outside.

Shu Du quickly opened the door.

He looked up at the doorway.

His subordinates stood on either side, and between them were two tall women.

One had long red hair, her face shadowed by a hood.

The 'woman' clutched her cloak, looking somewhat reserved.

The faint outline of a tightly pressed jaw was visible, and as she walked, glimpses of black stockings and slender legs peeked from under the cloak.

The other had short black hair, head lowered with bangs covering her eyes, but her posture was elegant.

Her high-slit long skirt revealed high heels, her steps decisive and carrying a hint of sharpness.

"These two, please review first, boss," Shu Du’s subordinate said.

This was common.

If subordinates captured 'little white rats' too valuable to be sold with the bulk, they’d bring them up for Shu Du to decide.

Shu Du first addressed Lin Ruye: "You’ll receive the payment in a few minutes."

Lin Ruye seemed pleased. "Of course, I don’t think anything will happen to you, but money’s safer in hand."

Seeing that he seemed ready to keep talking, unlikely to stop anytime soon, Shu Du placed the phone on the desk and looked up at the two who had entered the room.

His gaze lingered on the black-haired girl whose face he couldn’t quite make out.

Then, with a hint of irritation, he left his seat, walked over, and said in a low voice, frowning, “Lift your head.”

The black-haired girl seemed to tremble, as if startled by Shu Du’s words.

In the society of ability users, the strength of one’s ability was everything, just as Lin Ran, the lord of Ranmu City, was a woman.

They never underestimated anyone based on gender.

But at that moment, Shu Du genuinely felt that this “white rat” before him was frail.

Just speaking to her had scared her?

Then he saw the frail “white rat” obediently lift her head.

Her eyes were curved, almost squinted, and she smiled, the red wing-like pattern at the corner of her eye half-hidden in her black hair.

That wasn’t trembling, nor was it fear—it was laughter.

A very excited laugh.

“Ah, finding you was no easy task,” she said.

In an instant, a long blade slid from an invisible sheath, and the wing-like pattern at her eye seemed to unfurl, becoming enchantingly beautiful.

As her curved eyes revealed a smile, the long blade pierced his chest.

...

An Heyu, draped in a red hooded cloak, raised a hand, and his ability activated, enveloping the entire White Rat in his domain.

The suppression of similar abilities almost instantly blocked any chance for Shu Du to use his own.

Golden waves spread, and an illusion blanketed the area, shielding it from the prying eyes of S-rank ability users outside.

Li Li stepped forward, her high heels clicking lightly on the marble floor.

Behind her, An Heyu had completely eliminated the A-rank domain-type ability user.

At the same time, golden light particles emerged as An Heyu directly analyzed the soul.

Wind swirled around him, lifting his cloak to reveal the short skirt and black stockings hidden beneath.

As he used his ability, his golden eyes gently closed.

Meanwhile, Li Li stood with her back to An Heyu, as if occupied with something else, not deliberately avoiding him.

She picked up the phone Shu Du had left on the table, glanced at the ongoing call on the screen, and brought it to her ear.

“Good evening,” she said to Lin Ruye on the other end, her squinted eyes opening to reveal crimson pupils.

“The money belongs to the boss now,” she said.

A faint glimmer seemed to flicker and vanish in her deep red eyes.

To Lin Ruye, standing in a high-rise building, it was as if the squinted-eyed girl holding the phone under the illusion looked through the floor-to-ceiling window and met his gaze.

That agile, decisive squinted-eyed girl was smiling at him.

It was both a challenge and a simple declaration that she’d done what she said she would.

“Hahaha, you’re really interesting,” Lin Ruye laughed.

Not many dared to snatch money from him.

“But the money—I’ll take it back, Miss Boss,” he said.

Because those who tried would soon go bankrupt, compensating him for the trifling loss.

And he got a response.

“Welcome.”

Her smiling face showed not the slightest ripple.

Only the wing-like pattern at the corner of her eye seemed to grow even more vivid red.

...

Earlier, Li Li had only launched a surprise attack before going to make the call.

The finishing blow and cleanup were still handled by An Heyu.

S-rank against A-rank was an absolute crush.

As long as they didn’t face the top-tier forces of the Lin clan, their operations in Ranmu City were seamless.

By the time he finished, Li Li had just hung up the phone.

They didn’t know where the White Rat’s boss was, so under Li Li’s decision, they simply played the role of “prey” for once.

Perhaps because he wasn’t used to it, An Heyu subtly tugged at his cloak, covering his long legs in black stockings.

He looked up to see Li Li, dressed in a long gown, half-sitting on the desk, tilting her head with mild amusement as she watched his discomfort.

“You’re really good at disguising,” An Heyu couldn’t help but say.

If he hadn’t known about the connection between Heige and Li, he wouldn’t have linked Li Baige from the Ability Guild to Heige and now, wearing a skirt and high heels so nonchalantly—An Heyu admitted this was a realm he couldn’t reach.

“Can I take this off now?” he asked.

Li Li’s eyes curved as she smiled. “No.”

She stood and walked over. “You’ll keep this look from now on,” she said, sounding perfectly reasonable. “Lin Ruye has already noticed us. We can’t let him realize you look exactly like the former An clan leader.”

So it’s not just for fun, she seemed to imply.

“But wasn’t it your plan to make Lin Ruye notice us...?” The words rolled in his throat but ultimately stayed unsaid.

An Heyu pulled his cloak tighter and sighed.

This must be part of the training.

For the sake of protecting An Huyu and the An clan, he’d endure it!

And indeed, in women’s clothing, no one would suspect Red Crane was An Heyu.

After some thought, he admitted it was a clever move.

After briefly discussing the disguise, they moved to the main topic.

While delivering the finishing blow, An Heyu had already analyzed Shu Du’s soul.

Now, he said directly, “This person was involved in the events six years ago.”

At that, Li Li straightened slightly, clearly attentive to what An Heyu would say next.

She was indeed very interested, as this was her purpose here.

Both Heige and Li Li cared deeply about what had happened six years ago.

But discussing this inevitably cast a heavy atmosphere.

An Heyu paused, as if organizing his words, then continued, “In this person’s eyes, a traitor lured the Prophet away, the nobles acted, and the Former Ability Guild fell. After that, the nobles used the guild’s remnants as bait to draw out the Prophet, who willingly became a prisoner.”

Willingly...

Li Li’s squinted smile faltered.

She opened her eyes, and the curve of her lips flattened.

This was an unexpected gain. She finally understood what had happened back then.

"The prophet seemed only able to foresee things nearby, unable to prevent the nobles’ massacre after being taken by the traitor." An Heyu originally wanted to mind his wording, but seeing Li Li’s smile fade, he continued objectively.

"After the nobles openly lured him out, he was imprisoned here, in what was not yet Ranmu City, under Lin Ran’s custody."

"There’s another fragment in this person’s mind." An Heyu said, lowering his eyes, his golden pupils glancing at the person on the ground, "Before the prophet was executed, he had a conversation with Lin Ruye, and then Lin Ruye fell out with Lin Ran."

"After that, Lin Ran moved to Ranmu City, merging several city-states into thirteen districts."

"The Capital of Order emerged."

It was as if the events six years ago were deeply tied to the founding of Ranmu City.

Lin Ran, like other noble clan leaders, originally resided in Floating City.

The events six years ago became a catalyst for her to come here, consolidate territories, and establish Ranmu City.

For now, it was impossible to analyze the connection between the prophet and Ranmu City’s founding, but the prophet’s final moments were already clear.

Li Li sighed inwardly.

He was lured away, missing the chance to save his companions.

Then, drawn out by the nobles in an attempt to save the remaining ones, he willingly walked toward death.

Truly a tragedy, she thought.

As his fake adopted son, she wouldn’t mention it, but if Little Corgi knew, he’d surely be heartbroken.

At this moment, having finished recounting the memories he saw, An Heyu kept watching Li Li’s expression.

Her unsmiling look quickly shifted back to that squinting, smiling face, as if the prophet’s final days didn’t affect her.

But An Heyu clearly didn’t think so.

He couldn’t help but see his past self in her—a night where everything was lost, only to learn the culprits were nobles they’d often dealt with amicably.

From that smile, An Heyu sensed a storm raging beneath the calm.

After leaving the White Rat’s building, Li Li casually snapped her fingers, and instantly, a massive explosion obliterated the entire structure.

The captured ordinary people had long been released, so the building was now just an empty shell.

In the night, raging flames consumed the structure, engulfing it in fire and black smoke.

With his back to the firelight, An Heyu’s golden pupils seemed to trace the edges of the flames. He said, "You don’t like this place, do you?"

Of course, the person in front didn’t answer.

The answer was already obvious.

Heige wouldn’t like this city that forced the prophet to his death, just as An Heyu didn’t like Floating City.

And Li Li truly didn’t like it here.

What kind of person was the prophet? She pondered.

A righteous person, a merciful person, a person with humanity?

She felt she was gradually touching the truth.

It wouldn’t be long before she could confidently tell Yiming what kind of person his foster father was.

[Opening the channel for you...]

[Welcome back to reality.]

It was time for the manga update, along with the conclusion of the first popularity poll.