Master of Time

Chapter 183: Attack of a Clone

I cast a glance at each person in the room, trying to gauge their reaction as well as reading their micro-expression. Both feats are fairly easy on my own as I am quite observant, but with Selene helping me, I can see things that I would have missed otherwise.

"And is there a reason not to, Lu Bu?"

Xi Shi speaks up and breaks the silence, not to mention getting my undivided attention.

With a glance, I already know what she is thinking. Not exactly what is on her mind as I haven't infested her brain my micromachines, but it is a very good guess on my part.

I am getting good at reading other as I truly want to know why humanity do the things they do.

Hence, I wonder if I am giving Xi Shi too much credits solely based on her codename as one of the four great beauties of ancient China, but I suppose I will find out sooner or later.

Probably sooner if Xi Shi continues to ask stupid question.

I do hope that she is not a beauty without a brain, but hey, I have been wrong before.

As for her rather youthful appearance, it is too suspicious given that she is a Hybrid. Chimera actually, but still, she should be in her mid-thirty considering her actual age.

I will learn why she isn't eventually.

And what kind of Hybrid Xi Shi is, Legion will tell me soon enough.

The air is infested with micromachines, and since Hybrid is a product of biological science, they should not be able to detect the micromachines. They might sense something is in the air, but they probably will assume it is some kind of bacteria.

I would if I am in the dark about all the advance technologies available.

Since I didn't answer her question immediately, Xi Shi decides to take a seat across the table from me alongside with Sun Xiao, who is probably her boytoy.

Or maybe it is the other way around.

I really don't need to know what kind of relationship they have behind closed doors, honestly.

Maybe I do, considering that Xi Shi just crosses her very visible legs thanks to the split in her dress. My eyes drop slightly just to have a look because last I check, I still have a penis. Yes. I do have one at the moment, just in case I decide to take my avatar out for a night of boozes and sleezy sex.

Seems like a good waste of time.

Xi Shi notices my perving due to the smirk on her face. She is probably thinking to herself that all men are the same, having dealt with so many in the past. Well, she isn't really wrong, and the men that she dealt are no longer amongst the living.

Femme fatale.

Still, beauties are there to be ogled at. Otherwise, why would anyone spend so much time and money as well as effort to look beautiful? I should experiment with that, considering that beauty is subjective, mostly based on popular view, culture and environment.

What the western world considers beautiful isn't necessary the same as the eastern world.

In any case, Legion tells me that their relationship isn't sexual form all the surveillance that he is doing on the building and everyone within thus far. He has also infested all their computers, phones and so on.

With that, I can disable anything electronics without resorting to EMP.

That is electromagnetic pulse, capable of frying any unshielded electronic systems. It is actually a more effective weapon against me than most modern weapons, considering what I am currently.

I smile and look directly at Xi Shi. I also note that Yang didn't bother to take a seat. He prefers to stand with his back against the wall. His eyes are paying at lot of attention to the serums that I have brought for everyone.

They are actually quite interested in the serum, but none really show it. The Party uses this to blackmail the Triad into doing their bidding.

In fact, those in powers use the serum to keep everyone in line within their organization. Xi Shi is also included, as she does need those serum to keep her cells from degenerating.

I sometimes resort to such blackmailing tactic, but not so blatantly as the Party is doing. Most people are not really aware that I am blackmailing them. People such as Jennifer Aniston for example.

"Yes, Xi Shi. It is generally not a good idea to antagonize an organization that we do not know anything about, especially one that rivals or even exceeding the Party in term of manpower and resources."

I decide to answer her question instead of leaving her out to dry. Like I have said, it is a stupid question and I am expecting better of her.

Anyone with a working brain would know that you don't start a war with an enemy that you have no fucking clue about, and I am sure that the Party has no clue how powerful the Syndicate actually is.

Xi Shi snorts.

"We know everything that we need to know about them, and it is time for them to know about us. Or are you too afraid to face them, Lu Bu? I didn't expect the Three Kingdoms faction to this cowardly."

Ignoring the subtle insult directed at me and another faction within the Party, she is actually thinking about going to war with another criminal organization simply to prove that they are not match for the Party.

Honestly, that is dumb, but then again, it is the kind of war that I want to happen.

I just didn't think it will be this easy, considering that no one really want an all-out war, at least at the moment when there isn't anything to gain aside from territory. Grabbing too much territory might not be a good thing, considering the Triad doesn't have the manpower to hold those territories.

"It is not cowardice, or shall I prove it to you?"

I response and relax against the cushion of the sofa while maintaining eye contact with Xi Shi. It is just a form of challenge, and I wonder whether she is stupid enough to take it. It would give me a chance to teach her a lesson under the pretense of proving to her that the Three Kingdoms faction is definitely powerful.

A faction that I certainly do not belong to. I technically do not belong to any faction, including Hydra.

In any case, the Three Kingdoms faction of the Party should be quite powerful without Legion needing to infiltrate their complexes and headquarter in China. He did fail to infiltrate them in the future, but it is mostly because the drones aren't aggressive enough.

It is reasonable to assume so, considering that the Three Kingdoms is one of three factions that control the Party.

The Chinese just like the number 3. It is considered very lucky. It also signifies a lot of things in Chinese culture. In contrast, the number 4 is quite unlucky. To the point that most building skips it all together.

Good thing there are 5 people in the room at the moment since 5 is a lucky number.

Did I just ramble about China and superstition numbers? This is mostly because my mind is very active, thinking about a bunch of stuff before people could even say anything.

"I think what Miss Xi Shi is trying to say, Mr. Lu Bu, is that it is perhaps time for us to stop being fearful of the Syndicate."

Mo Shu meditates. He is the smartest person in the room, not including me. I am always the exception simply due to what and who I am, and if someone is smarter than me, I can always cheat with a bit of time manipulation.

There is no need to play fair, especially against criminals.

"We are not fearful of them. We are just being cautious because we do not know what kind of backing that they have."

I response thoughtfully and keep my eye on Xi Shi. She rolls her eyes dismissively, but she didn't speak up. Instead, she sends subtle signal to Sun Xiao, who is obviously on her side.

"It is true that they have a strong backing, a backing that are still unable to learn anything about after all of this time, and frankly, there is still no tangible evidence such a backing exists either."

Sun Xiao points out and casts a glance at Mo Shu, who nods in agreement.

"I agree, but until there is evidence stating otherwise, they should be treated with caution. For them to rise to prominent within a couple of decades, it is safer to assume that the Syndicate do have such powerful connections."

I argue and wonder why I bother to, considering that I want an actual war to keep them fully occupy, but I suppose I am a bit annoyed at their reasoning.

"If that is the case then why aren't their backers helping them currently? They are being investigated, and most of their business are being seized."

Sun Xiao retorts, and he does have a point. Jimmy and Johnson did request some help from Hydra and Shield on this matter, but it is way too hot right now. As much as their friends want to help them, the cause is more important.

Until I say so, Hydra is a myth. A myth that scares most powerful people shitless. A global organization that is centuries ahead technologically and has dabbled in almost everything, from human experiment to biological warfare? That would give anyone nightmares.

"Maybe they do not have any federal connections?"

Mo Shu interjects.

"Or perhaps they do and are waiting to see who take the first bite?"

He adds, making me smile inwardly. I like people who use their brain and think of every plausible angle to a problem.

I nod at Mo Shu, showing my agreement with his analysis. It isn't really far from the truth since I could actually make the problem go away and everyone who is involved with the taskforce are buried in so much shit that they won't be able to see the sunlight.

But like Mo Shu has speculated, I want to see which shark dares to take a bite. Also, I want to test one of my daughters. She is pretty good to connect me to the Syndicate with the tiniest evidence, but she is in way over her head.

Jimmy and Johnson might have her killed once they figure out who is actually responsible, and I cannot have that since she is psionically gifted.

"That is logical, and besides, thanks to your little stunt, he is on the move."

I continue the pronoun game because it is fun.

"He?"

Xi Shi questions. She seems to be out of the loop in regard to the Syndicate. If she wasn't, she wouldn't be thinking about waging war. It would be foolish to.

And unlike her, Sun Xiao and Mo Shu both frowned. They know that there is a big boss behind Jimmy and Johnson. Everyone who is anyone in the criminal underworld does, but who the big boss actually is, no one really knows.

It is kind of ironic that they are talking to the big boss right now.

Sun Xiao eventually sighs and smiles weakly.

"Nothing is ever done around here without Dong Bao says so. He wishes to eliminate the competition as they are cornered."

Sun Xiao finally reveals that he is the culprit, and he is right about nothing ever done within the Triad without the agreement of everyone. While he is the culprit that piss off Jimmy and Johnson by trying to murder them and their family, he is just a trigger man.

The real culprit is someone else. Someone who isn't in this room.

"And Dong Bao will pay dearly for it."

I response, making everyone looks at me, pondering what I mean. Everyone except Xi Shi, as she is still stuck on the big boss of the Syndicate part.

"I don't know what everyone is actually talking about, but whoever he is, we will deal with him like we always have."

Yang decides to join in the conversation, speaking what Xi Shi actually wants to say.

"And you are forgetting who our leader is. He is fucking Dong Bao."

Yang continues and disrupts my flow afterwards. I suppose it is time to make them truly fear whoever they are up against. It isn't complicated, and it is almost time anyway.

"Boss! Boss!"

Someone outside the door shouts in agitation. His voice seems to be frightened.

"What is it? Can't you see that we are having a conversation right now?"

Sun Xiao questions and gets off the seat. He is the closest to the door alongside with Xi Shi, but she is not going to open the door considering her status and gender. Maybe more of the gender thing.

"We are being attacked."

The goon calls out. He looks incredibly bloodied.

"Attacked? It's not those stupid kids again, is it?"

Sun Xiao responses, referring to Melvin and his siblings, thus demonstrating that he was watching the camera feeds. That mean Xi Shi was watching too, yet she did not come and greet me personally until I call for a meeting.

Does that mean she doesn't think much of my ability and power? Granted, I didn't reveal anything but my incredible speed. I didn't stop time to cut up Melvin since I want the camera to record everything.

It is also unnecessary as everyone is so fucking slow. I actually miss fighting with Zeus, at least he can match me blow for blow in a melee.

"No. It's… a ninja."

The goon answers, pausing in between as if he couldn't believe it himself. And no one in the room did either because it is kind of absurd.

"A ninja? The Japs? I didn't expect the Syndicate to send someone like that, but just one? They really don't think much of us, do they?"

I question before leaving my seat and heading out. My casual comment makes everyone think, and it didn't take long for Mo Shu, Xi Shi and Sun Xiao to join me.

The bloodied goon that has come to inform us about the attack as well.

Yang didn't since I purposely left the serum on the table.

Once in the lobby of the building, we are greeted with a bloodied sight. Most of the people are either dead or dying due to the numerous wounds on their body. All of them have their limbs severed cleanly by an extremely sharp blade.

"How did this happen!? We were only gone for a few minutes."

Mo Shu calls out before rushing forwards to check on his men.

"Boss… get… away…!"

One of the men calls out and points towards us, making Sun Xiao narrows his eyes. His hands clench tightly before turning swinging across the air, sending the blooding goon that follows us skidding back several steps.

"How did you know? My disguise is perfect."

I question and lower my guard arms. It feels kind of strange controlling two avatars at the same time, but there is the first time for everything. Besides, I want to be in more than one place at the same time.

And if I cannot do with my power, at least not yet, then I will do it with technology!

Whichever works.

"Yes. It is perfect. Too perfect. To the point that you do not make a single sound when you walk."

Sun Xiao points out, making me realize my mistake. I was found out because I was too powerful. That is kind of funny, but his hearing is pretty acute to notice something like that.

"Come to think of it, Lu Bu doesn't make any noise when he walks either."

Xi Shi points out, and I really want to slap her for being stupid. I don't think I am the only one who do.

Luckily, no one takes her seriously because of course I don't make any noise since I am obviously a lot more powerful than ordinary goons.

In any case, I decide to humor her.

"Oh? Are you as fast as me?"

I question as the ninja before a puff of white smokes surround me before flooding the rooms, making everyone defensive.

Powerful clashes reverberate the air, and once the while smoke is cleared, I am on the floor, bleeding and unconsciousness. I mean Lu Bu.

I basically take out myself, so my consciousness isn't being divided between two avatars. Besides, Lu Bu avatar has served its purpose for now.

"Guess I am faster."

I comment before looking at Mo Shu, Sun Xiao and Xi Shi. More at Xi Shi actually, and it is not because she is a beauty. I want to see if she can backup what she has claimed in the room.