CNS | Chapter 11

Chapter 11, Rosha

In the brightly lit elevator lobby, the elevator was rising smoothly.

After hearing that frightening name from the mouths of the Sting Gang members, Jade’s already barely human face turned even gloomier.

She kept gnawing at her own original hand, and within just a few minutes, the fingernails on her once intact fingers had been bitten until they were bloody.

“Are you scared?” Shen Run stood beside her, his face just as grim.

Jade said nothing, only silently gnawing at her fingers.

“Don’t be nervous, Xiaoyu. They’re after the chip, it has nothing to do with you.” Shen Run comforted her in a gentle voice. “And I already said it, with me here, no one can hurt you or Leon.”

But Jade looked as if she could not hear him at all, her eyes dull and lifeless.

Ding——

The elevator doors opened, and they returned to the ground floor.

A man in a leather jacket was waiting outside the elevator. When he saw Shen Run come out, he hurriedly spoke up.

“Brother Shen, Mr. Rosha is here, he wants to see you.”

“Rosha?”

A smiling face surfaced in his mind.

Shen Run raised a brow, not understanding why this broker active in White Tower District would come looking for him at this time.

He first turned back to look at Jade behind him. “You’re in this state now, so don’t go running around alone. Wait here for me a moment, I’ll take you back to Eden later.”

After saying that, under the leather jacket man’s lead, he passed through an automatic door and, after making several turns, entered a private room bathed in red light.

A silver-haired man in a suit was sitting on the leather sofa inside. When he saw Shen Run come in, he smiled toward him. “Mr. Shen, long time no see.”

Looking at his smiling face, Shen Run felt a chill rise from the bottom of his heart.

There were not many people in this world who could make Shen Run feel fear, Rosha was one of them.

This man always wore that smiling, easygoing expression, but Shen Run had a very poor impression of him, always feeling that beneath that skin of an Eastern classical beauty was a soul constantly oozing poison.

On top of that, his right eye had undergone cyber-eye augmentation, fitted with a man-made electronic golden vertical pupil, making him look even more like a dangerous poisonous snake.

As for Rosha’s information, even Shen Run, the “Saint Grange Information King,” knew very little. He only knew that this man came from one of the Four Great Families in the Huameng Nine Provinces region, and which one exactly was unknown.

The name “Rosha,” like Sleeve Blade, was only a codename, his real name unknown.

White Tower District was the political heart of Saint Grange, and to do broker work there, one either had to be truly capable or have powerful connections. Rosha was both.

Over the years, Shen Run had worked with Rosha plenty. Setting aside their inner thoughts, purely in terms of relationship, the two could be considered friends.

“Mr. Rosha, a rare visitor.” Shen Run gave a brief greeting and sat on the sofa on the other side, casually crossing his long legs. “What do you need with me?”

He was in a hurry to get back to Eden, so he got straight to the point.

The silver-haired man with his hair tied into a low ponytail let out a few low laughs, not in any hurry to answer Shen Run’s question.

He took out the cigarette case from the inside pocket of his coat, handed Shen Run a cigarette, and lit it for him.

The room’s holographic projection device was not on, and only the television on the wall was playing Saint Grange Evening News.

“——Yesterday, the final ruling was delivered by the Saint Grange Supreme Court in the SGPD officer malicious injury resulting in death case spanning ten years. Former SGPD officer Richard Duller was found guilty of second-degree involuntary murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree negligent homicide, and will soon face a twelve-year prison sentence……”

“——Multiple protest events have broken out near the Saint Grange Supreme Court, SGPD headquarters, and various branch offices. Protesters are demanding that the court retry the murder case of former officer Richard, and sentence Richard Duller to death……”

Rosha stared at the television screen and, for no apparent reason, sighed. “Shen, I really admire your business ability. You can dig up something from ten years ago and turn it into a huge spectacle. Suzuki Heavy Industries went down so fast, Heimdall made an indispensable contribution.”

“I take money to do a job, everything was just to satisfy the employer’s needs.” Shen Run shrugged. “Besides, I only relayed what Suzuki Heavy Industries had done to the public, they dug their own grave.”

He shifted his gaze from the screen to Rosha. “Speaking of which, Suzuki Heavy Industries is a Huameng company. With them going under, as a Huameng citizen, Mr. Rosha, you seem pretty happy?”

Rosha let out two hearty laughs. “You grew up in Yalan, so you definitely don’t know this. There wasn’t a single person from the Nine Provinces who didn’t hate Liu Island people. There was a period when shops all over the streets and alleys of the Nine Provinces hung signs reading, ‘Liu Island people and dogs not allowed.’”

“But I don’t really have any prejudice against Liu Island people.” He said carelessly, “Just a few days ago, I even had a meal with Mr. Sakai Kazuya of Suzuki Heavy Industries.”

Shen Run raised a brow, understanding that the other man was about to get to the point.

“Sakai Kazuya, that top figure in the Yamata no Orochi Mobile Unit?”

The Yamata no Orochi Mobile Unit, Suzuki Heavy Industries’ special operations department, all of its members were cyber samurai who had undergone massive cybernetic augmentation. The only difference between them and cyberpsychos was that they had official positions.

“That’s him.” Rosha nodded. “Mr. Sakai told me that Suzuki Heavy Industries headquarters had already issued an internal transfer order, and they would withdraw from Saint Grange next month.”

He paused, then looked at Shen Run with a smile in his eyes. “Heimdall has eyes and ears all over the city, Shen. You must have already known this news.”

Shen Run said nothing, tacitly agreeing with him.

“Hahaha, I knew it. Now Suzuki’s firewall is practically being punched into a sieve by you.”

Shen Run could not stand this man’s roundabout way of speaking, and a trace of impatience appeared on his face.

Rosha noticed the change in his expression and changed the subject. “Besides that, Mr. Sakai also asked me to help him find someone.”

“The person he wants to find is in Emerald Bay District, and I don’t have many friends over here, so the first person I thought of was you, the famed Sleeve Blade.”

Looking for someone, again looking for someone.

Shen Run’s brows knitted tightly together. Was Heimdall some kind of missing persons agency?

“What person?” he asked.

Rosha picked up the wineglass on the table and took a sip. “Shen, don’t be too anxious. About this person, Mr. Sakai mentioned a past event to me.”

His pace was not fast or slow, as if he were telling a story.

“The Sakai family, as vassals of the Suzuki family, have served their ‘lord’ from generation to generation, and that was no exception in Kazuya’s generation. He was selected into the Yamata no Orochi Mobile Unit from a young age, guarding the youngest heir of the Suzuki family, Suzuki Hiko.”

“Mr. Kazuya is the strongest cyber samurai in this generation’s Yamata no Orochi Mobile Unit. In order to become stronger, he underwent cybernetic augmentation almost all over his body. Mr. Kazuya told me that he has never known defeat in his life, no one could escape alive from under his hands, with one exception.”

At this point, Rosha gave Shen Run a meaningful look.

Shen Run remained silent, using his eyes to signal him to continue.

“That happened seven years ago. Suzuki Hiko came to work at Suzuki Heavy Industries’ Saint Grange branch, and died unexpectedly in a hotel under his own name.”

The smile on Rosha’s face became even more obvious. “Mr. Kazuya said that person broke through the layers of blockades from the Yamata no Orochi Mobile Unit and rescued the murderer from a hotel full of Suzuki agents.”

Shen Run stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, his tone calm. “Is that so? Then that person really is remarkable.”

Rosha laughed again. “These are all things everyone knows, nothing unusual. Regarding that assassination case that shocked the world back then, Mr. Kazuya also revealed some secrets that only Suzuki Heavy Industries’ upper management would know.”

Shen Run showed no change in expression. Like a loyal listener, he quietly waited for Rosha to continue.

“On the night Suzuki Hiko was killed, he held a ‘banquet’ in his own room, and the guests were all girls around twelve or thirteen years old.” Rosha rarely put away the smile on his face. “Suzuki Hiko was vicious by nature and took pleasure in tormenting people. Calling it a banquet was just a polite way of saying it, it should really have been called a ‘hunt.’”

Shen Run imperceptibly furrowed his brow, still saying nothing.

“Coincidentally, an agent from the Yalan Security Bureau had mixed in at the scene. After witnessing Suzuki Hiko’s brutality, the Security Bureau agent, also a woman, could not suppress her emotions and accidentally killed the youngest heir of the Suzuki family.”

Dark memories surged up from the corner of his mind, and Shen Run recalled Jade’s face before the heavy smoky makeup had covered it.

“The Yalan Security Bureau, ah, what a terrifying name.” Rosha let out a sigh, but there was no fear in his eyes.

“After Suzuki Hiko’s life signs disappeared, the Yamata no Orochi Mobile Unit immediately sealed off the scene and the entire Oak District. SGPD and Suzuki Heavy Industries’ cyber samurai poured out in full force. Under such tremendous pressure, another agent, also from the Yalan Security Bureau, descended like heavenly reinforcements, broke through the firepower blockade, not only rescued her companion, but even took away the surviving little girl.”

By this point, Rosha could not help letting out a sigh. “Mr. Kazuya said that Security Bureau agent was the stain on his life.”

“That night, he led the people of the Yamata no Orochi Mobile Unit in relentless pursuit. That agent took seven bullets and still managed to drag her badly wounded body into Emerald Bay District.”

“Emerald Bay District was the only place in Saint Grange that Suzuki Heavy Industries could not touch. We all know it belongs to the Phoenix family. Mr. Kazuya tried to negotiate with General Sam, wanting to enter Emerald Bay to find the person, but was rejected by the Phoenix heir, Mr. Joshua.”

“So, Mr. Kazuya has always firmly believed that that agent did not die, and that with the help of the Phoenix family, she has been hiding in Emerald Bay District all along.”

Rosha finished his story and looked up at Shen Run, seeming to want to hear his opinion.

“Heimdall is also part of Phoenix. I make my living off this, I can’t go against the employer, sorry, I can’t help you with this matter.” Shen Run forced out a slightly apologetic smile.

Rosha seemed to have already guessed he would answer like that, and said unhurriedly, “After receiving the employer’s commission, I also tried to investigate what happened back then myself, and during the process, I accidentally discovered a very interesting coincidence.”

“Not long after the night Suzuki Hiko was killed, an intelligence organization called ‘Heimdall’ appeared in Emerald Bay.”

Rosha touched his chin and looked at Shen Run thoughtfully. “Boss Shen, I remember, you also came to Saint Grange seven years ago, right?”

Pain like a corrosive wound climbed up his forehead again, and Shen Run confirmed that he really did not like this poisonous snake who looked harmless.

A trace of coldness appeared on his face. “Did Mr. Rosha come here today just to discuss Heimdall’s founding history with me?”

“No no no, of course not. You know, I’m a broker. Just like you, I do whatever the employer asks me to do.”

Rosha hurriedly waved his hands. “Mr. Kazuya hopes that before leaving Saint Grange, he can find this rival he has unilaterally identified, but with Phoenix and Suzuki Heavy Industries now at each other’s throats, he doesn’t dare take the risk of entering Emerald Bay District to look for someone, so he entrusted me with this. I’m just taking money to do a job.”

Without a second thought, Shen Run said coldly, “You can directly tell him what you found out, no need to notify me.”

Rosha chuckled twice. “No, Shen, you misunderstood. I said before, there isn’t a single person from the Nine Provinces who doesn’t hate Liu Island people, and besides, I understand the current situation in Saint Grange. Being able to sell a favor to the future king of the city, why not?”

“If Joshua knows you’re calling him that, he should be pretty happy.” Shen Run’s expression did not change. “What do you want to know from me?”

Shen Run understood this poisonous snake. Rosha’s business principle was to put the employer’s interests first, and betraying friends was as ordinary to him as breathing.

For him to ignore the employer’s interests and run to Nirvana to “give a warning”, it absolutely could not have been for some so-called friendship.

It was just that, with that Sting Gang friend earlier, Shen Run had already roughly guessed what news Rosha wanted to learn through him.

“Hahaha, Shen, that’s the part I like about you.” Rosha bent down, interlacing his fingers in front of his knees. “As far as I know, seven years ago, letting Suzuki Hiko parachute into Saint Grange was not Suzuki Masao’s spur-of-the-moment whim.”

“At that time, Yalan and the New Alliance were fighting fiercely on the southern battlefield. Suzuki Heavy Industries internally believed that the war would sooner or later spread to Saint Grange. In order to reduce the risk, they decided to transfer a batch of the results of secret experimental projects being carried out in Saint Grange.”

“Among them, the most important was Suzuki Heavy Industries’ collaboration project with the Ark Research Institute. Suzuki Hiko came here to take away the research results of this top-secret project……”

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Run cut him off. “I don’t know where Prometheus is.”

Rosha’s smile froze for a moment, then immediately returned to normal. “Shen, so you had already guessed it.”

At this moment, Lucius’s voice came through the communication chip into Shen Run’s ear.

– Brother Shen, the intrusion on the other side has stopped, I’m bringing people over now.

Shen Run stood up from the sofa and glanced at Rosha. “I don’t know where you, or rather all of you, heard that I have clues to Prometheus, but I can make it very clear now, I don’t know where Prometheus is.”

“As for Sakai Kazuya, you can tell him the truth directly, seven years ago he couldn’t kill that person, and now he certainly can’t either.”

Rosha also stood up from the sofa, his face still wearing that infuriating smile. “Shen, Sakai Kazuya can’t kill that agent, but as far as I know, Emerald Bay still has two of her teammates, including the real culprit who killed Suzuki Hiko.”

Shen Run stared dead at Rosha’s face, murderous intent in his eyes. “You can let him try.”

Because he had more important things to do, Shen Run no longer wanted to keep dealing with this poisonous snake here.

Before leaving the private room, he looked at Rosha. “As a friend, I have one piece of advice, you’d better not try to find out anything about Prometheus.”

“That thing is a curse, everyone who gets involved with it will come to no good end.”

After saying that, he quickly left Nirvana and rushed to the second floor of the mall across the way.