Chapter 76: Familiar Stranger

Looking at the familiar figure before them, hearing the unfamiliar voice, the three felt an unsettling strangeness.

“Why don’t you dare recognize me? Aren’t you happy to see me?” Zhao Zeyi gazed at their expressions of disdain, indifferent to their attitude, and continued to tease them in a feigned feminine voice.

“Happy! Of course we’re happy! Absolutely thrilled! Who would’ve thought we’d spent so much time coexisting with the henchman of our enemy…” Brother Long was furious, seeing this person still impersonating Zhao Nana.

“No need to be so harsh, is there? I didn’t do anything! If you must blame someone, blame your female teammate for being too delicate—she simply couldn’t endure Professor Wu’s torment. I only took her place because I couldn’t bear to see you all so heartbroken,” Zhao Zeyi replied in a saccharine tone.

“So, we should thank you, is that it?” Zhang Xingmin, normally calm, felt his teeth grind with hatred at such shameless words.

“Of course! It’s not easy for a grown man to end up like this!” The Young Master’s tone even carried a girlish shyness.

The repulsive Falcon Trio couldn’t stand it.

“He’s really a man?” Gangzi could hardly believe his eyes.

Xiaofeng nodded, handing Gangzi the investigative report sent from the Ministry of National Security. Gangzi glanced it over and nearly dropped his jaw. This Young Master’s background was truly astonishing…

It turned out that, based on reports from the Falcon Investigation Team, the Ministry of National Security had conducted a thorough inquiry into the traitor Zhao Nana. First, they confirmed that the current Zhao Nana was indeed an impostor. Comparing samples taken from the Jiang City Special Operations Bureau and the latest ones from the Ministry, they found the genetic profiles didn’t match—not even the gender. Clearly, this fake Zhao Nana had gone to great lengths.

They interrogated captured enemy operatives and, following up on their testimony, discovered that within the Dark Organization, there was indeed a person known as the Young Master—rumored to be the illegitimate son of the organization’s leader. For reasons unknown, he had disappeared two years ago, only to resurface in this bizarre guise. Likely, there had been internal strife, perhaps factional conflict. The details remained elusive.

The Falcon Investigation Team trusted these findings. What they observed at Golden Rooster Ridge hinted at internal discord; it was only natural, given the allure of power, that loyalty would fracture. Perhaps this Young Master was just another casualty of those factional battles.

Still, they felt no sympathy. The Ministry’s branch in Shazhou City had confirmed that the unidentified female corpse found in the Great Wilderness Mountain was indeed the original Zhao Nana, her death coinciding roughly with the mountain’s liberation. Ping’an was handling the aftermath.

The person before them was most likely the murderer—their enemy.

After learning all this, Gangzi harbored a deep hatred for this person, who exuded an air of dominance. Though he’d never met Zhao Nana, if Brother Long and Damin said this was a villain, he believed it without question.

Facing the four glaring men, Young Master Zhao Zeyi remained calm. He’d seen all manner of horrors, and these small fry hardly frightened him.

“No need for such fierce expressions. I came here today in good faith,” Zhao Zeyi said unhurriedly.

“You? Days ago you wanted to silence us, now you’re here to talk about cooperation? Why should we trust you?” Brother Long sneered.

“Let’s hear what he has to say,” Damin quietly suggested, cautioning Brother Long against rashness.

Zhao Zeyi continued pacing the room for several minutes before slowly explaining his purpose.

He was here to recruit them.

Having thought it through, he realized that if he couldn’t eliminate them, the only way to keep his identity secret was to bring them under his control. Now, at a time when he needed loyal people, these “old partners” would be ideal, and if the authorities came knocking, they could serve as hostages.

Of course, he wouldn’t say this outright. He’d appeal to their emotions and reason, discuss dreams, life, his own tragic past, and the suffering masses.

Hearing this key figure from the Dark Organization propose an alliance to resist that same organization, the Falcon Trio found it laughable. Was the Young Master deliberately provoking them, or had he simply lost his mind? To attempt overturning the empire built by his own father—it was as if the Dragon King’s temple had been flooded, and the family forgot their own kin.

There had to be a scheme behind this.

The three held firm, refusing to give in; they weren’t foolish enough to join this impostor.

Zhao Zeyi didn’t dare force them. After all, this was still someone else’s territory; every move he made was under surveillance, so he couldn’t openly recruit followers. Moreover, he’d heard that his half-brother would soon arrive.

Although his brother was officially coming for an inspection, Zhao Zeyi knew the real target was himself. To eradicate a threat, his brother would go to any lengths.

The reunion of old partners ended in discord. Young Master Zhao Zeyi returned, frustrated.

The Falcon Investigation Team and Shao Gang went back to their little hideout in the no-man’s land.

The outcome pleased most of the parties watching from the sidelines.

Professor Wu and the city lord concluded that Zhao Zeyi was still young, resorting to this foolish move of recruiting old friends—proof he had no one else to rely on.

The Falcon Investigation Team confirmed that the enemy’s internal discord was real, a valuable opportunity to exploit and undermine their strength.

Young Master Zhao Zeyi had basically achieved his goal; he knew the three would never accept, but his real intention was to make the conflict with his brother public. By letting everyone know of their rivalry, he hoped his brother would hesitate, giving him an extra card for survival.

Often, when alone, he wanted to cry. Despite everything, his brother could not forgive him.

If possible, he truly wished he were still Zhao Nana…