Chapter 8: Infernal Affairs

Shen Ji’s pupils constricted violently.

Ever since he had arrived in this world, he realized the original owner of this body had just finished his final dose of the medication.

‘Is it possible that the original owner was supposed to die, but my arrival changed everything?’

“Shen Ji, are you interested in joining us?”

Doctor Bai made no effort to hide the fanatical look in his eyes as he pressed his hands firmly onto Shen Ji’s shoulders.

“Why?”

“Right now, you are a living medical miracle. I hope you can cooperate with us for some research.”

“I…”

“Have you heard of the Midnight Society?”

Shen Ji’s eyelid twitched.

Was this not the organization Liu Yao had mentioned — the one behind the Blood Race trade?

He had not expected to stumble upon them here by accident.

“The Midnight Society is the largest supplier behind the Nanjiang Black Market. We even have our people planted within the Black Market’s management.”

Shen Ji opened his mouth to speak, but Doctor Bai interrupted him.

“Rest assured, I certainly won’t hurt you. More than anyone, I want you to stay alive.”

“Doctor Bai, more than that, I want to know what exactly this Type 1030 Reagent is.”

A flash of caution crossed Doctor Bai’s eyes.

“Only after you formally become one of us will you have the right to know such things.”

Shen Ji rubbed his chin.

Although he felt no abnormalities in the original owner’s body for now, there was no guarantee that nothing would go wrong later.

If he chose to join, he could not only figure out the potential issues within himself but also get in touch with the Midnight Society.

Most importantly, he could use Liu Yao to connect with the Official side.

The Official might not necessarily help him, but they would definitely be at odds with the Midnight Society.

When that time came, he could even reap benefits from both sides.

“Doctor Bai, I can join. But I need a large sum of money right now.”

“Good. Shen Ji, I knew I wasn’t wrong about you. Next Sunday at midnight, right here, we will hold an initiation ceremony for you.”

“There’s really no need to be so formal.”

Doctor Bai sneered.

“Shen Ji, do you think we’re just welcoming a new classmate?”

“A new member’s entry into the Midnight Society requires the consent of over half of the members. However, I believe they will all be very interested in you.”

Shen Ji was slightly taken aback, and then he thought of something.

“What happens if I don’t succeed?”

Doctor Bai rubbed the bridge of his nose and leaned back slightly, murmuring, “If it’s not a success… you’ll probably be killed.”

As expected, any organization capable of controlling the majority of resources in the Black Market was not benevolent.

Whether it was testing drugs with zero regard for others’ lives or their indifference toward death, everything spoke of the cruelty of this underground world.

Only by becoming strong — strong enough — could one win a slim chance of survival in this world.

Shen Ji silently made up his mind.

Trying to stay under the radar was no longer realistic; he had to get stronger, by any means necessary.

***

At the entrance of the pharmacy, Liu Yao was waiting impatiently.

Suddenly, she sensed the aura of one of her own kind behind her.

She turned and stared for a long time but found nothing out of the ordinary, causing her to frown deeply.

Just then, Liu Yao felt someone tap her on the shoulder.

Subconsciously, she grabbed the person’s wrist and twisted it into a grapple.

“Ow, ow, ow! Sister Liu, what are you doing?”

Once Liu Yao realized who it was, she let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, it’s just you.”

“Hmm? Is something wrong?”

“I just sensed the aura of another of our kind, but it disappeared in an instant.”

A sense of doubt rose in Shen Ji’s mind.

He couldn’t help but think of the third Blood Race member the system had mentioned when he first arrived.

Was someone following him?

But what did he have that would attract the attention of his own kind?

After a moment of thought, Shen Ji decided to deal with the immediate trouble first.

He told Liu Yao everything that had happened inside the pharmacy.

He had considered hiding key information — such as the fact that all the other test subjects had died while he survived — but without that point, it would be hard to believe the Midnight Society would invite a nobody like him.

“You’re saying that if you don’t successfully join the Midnight Society, you’ll die?”

Shen Ji nodded.

“Yes. I can help you steal information, but the prerequisite is that I catch their attention.”

Liu Yao was stunned.

She never expected it would be this easy to gather critical information about the Midnight Society.

However, the price was the unprecedented risk this young man would have to shoulder.

This made her doubt Shen Ji’s capabilities.

“Shen Ji, I still hope you won’t involve yourself in this matter. Even though we are of the same kind, you are still a student. You don’t understand the outside world yet, let alone the lawless underground world.”

Shen Ji saw Liu Yao’s concerns and patted his chest.

“Sister Liu, don’t worry. I’ve watched Infernal Affairs over 800 times. No one understands being an undercover agent better than I do.”

“What is Infernal Affairs?”

“Um… it’s just an obscure movie. Don’t worry about the details for now. Just trust me, I can definitely blend in.”

“Have you really thought this through?”

Shen Ji gave a bitter smile.

Whether he had thought it through or not wasn’t up to him.

Both the potential risks to his body and his identity as a member of the Blood Race were forcing him to make a choice.

“How about this? Take this bottle of blood plasma as well. If you’re lucky, it might help you achieve your Second Evolution.”

Shen Ji didn’t hesitate and took it frankly.

After all, he had earned this.

Working as an undercover agent for the Midnight Society to gather intelligence and exchange it for resources from the Official side was the first step of his plan.

“One more thing. I hope you can keep my identity a secret. It’s best if we only maintain a single-line contact between the two of us. I can’t be sure if the Midnight Society has planted any spies within your organization.”

Liu Yao looked at the meticulous young man in front of her with disbelief.

When she was his age, she was probably still following her seniors on missions and doing whatever she was told.

Yet, the Shen Ji before her was not only laying out a plan himself but even considering the potential risks within the Official side.

This was somewhat hard to believe, and she began to wonder if the boy before her had another true identity.

Shen Ji saw Liu Yao staring blankly and waved his hand in front of her.

Snapping out of it, Liu Yao shook her head, amused by her own naive thoughts.

Regardless, the boy’s nature wasn’t bad.

As for his nearly perfect plan, it was likely just a result of his natural talent.

“Shen Ji, I have high hopes for you.”

Shen Ji felt like he had heard those words somewhere before.

He grinned and said, “To tell you the truth, the people who have high hopes for me could form a line from here all the way to France.”

Liu Yao let out a chuckle before saying seriously, “After the business with the Midnight Society is over, I hope you can formally join us. We need talent like yours.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

Seeing Shen Ji’s selective deafness, Liu Yao could only let it go.

She would have to see if she could gradually influence him to show him what it meant to be a member of the Blood Race under the Official’s background.

Just then, Shen Ji’s phone chimed with a notification.

He picked it up and saw an avatar of an anime girl.

The contact name was “Younger Sister.”

‘My foolish elder brother, I, the Lord of the Night, the Wandering Silver-haired Princess, am coming tomorrow. Be ready to welcome me.’