The country entrusted me to buy an aircraft carrier, Hou Liangping, do you dare to investigate?

Huang Feipeng paused for a moment, then instantly took the note, his sharp gaze sweeping over his surroundings. People came and went, the boy quickly disappearing into the crowd, while the note contained only a few words—"See you at the old dock." The handwriting was neat and cold, so familiar that it made him frown. This was Phantom's distinctive style; she never wasted words, always getting straight to the point. She clearly wasn't planning to give up in this contest.

"They've come after all." Huang Feipeng held the note in his hand, gradually feeling a chill spread from his fingertips. He realized that this might be a test from Youying, or even a planned ambush. Yet, a strange excitement rose within him, as if the moment of duel had finally arrived.

The wind was even more biting in the darkness. He clenched his fists, quickly passed through several alleys, and finally disappeared into the night.

The old dock was filled with the salty sea breeze of the night. The damp ground was littered with seaweed remnants and discarded fishing gear. The dilapidated warehouses and rusty tin sheds stood silently like ghosts. Huang Feipeng squinted slightly, gazing at this familiar yet unfamiliar scene before him.

There was no one on the dock. He cautiously observed from the shadows for a moment, making sure there were no obvious ambushes before slowly approaching. Calmness was his guiding principle. The warehouse door was ajar, and footprints were faintly visible at the entrance. Huang Feipeng knew in his heart that they were meant for him.

He entered the warehouse with light, silent steps, his body almost blending into the darkness. All was quiet. He glanced around, then lowered his head slightly and cautiously moved forward. Suddenly, a faint light flickered in a corner at the far end of the warehouse, as if guiding him.

He walked slowly towards it, trying to remain calm, but his heart was pounding uncontrollably. He realized this might be a trap set by the Phantom, but at the same time, he also knew this was a crucial opportunity to obtain information from within the Phantom. The greater the danger, the more likely it was to hide the answers he sought.

“Huang Feipeng,” a cold voice rang out in the darkness, and the figure of the phantom slowly emerged. She wore a black trench coat, her expression was stern, and her eyes were like frost in the dead of winter. She leaned against a pillar in the warehouse, her arms crossed, a cold smile on her lips.

“Phantom.” Huang Feipeng stood still, his eyes showing no sign of backing down, but rather a subtle provocation.

"You're brave to come alone." The Phantom's voice was laced with sarcasm, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "But do you really think you can get anything from us all by yourself?"

Huang Feipeng snorted coldly, his tone carrying a hint of determination: "I know that since you lured me here tonight, you must want me to know something. If you have something to say, just say it."

Phantom's eyes darkened, and she lightly clapped her hands. Several men in black emerged from the shadows and stood behind her, staring expressionlessly at Huang Feipeng. She slowly approached, her eyes coldly scrutinizing him, as if admiring prey. Huang Feipeng's nerves were on edge, his gaze fixed on her, maintaining a high level of vigilance.

“Huang Feipeng, you’re nothing but a washed-up spy. It’s surprising that you’ve managed to hold out all this time all by yourself.” Phantom’s voice carried a hint of sarcasm as she slowly took out a sharp dagger from her pocket and toyed with it in her hand. “But the more you know, the faster you’ll die.”

Huang Feipeng stood in the deserted warehouse, a dazed look in his eyes. The dark and oppressive space before him seemed to have plunged him into some distant memory. Those days of bloodshed, pursuit, and undercurrents seemed to stretch on and on, making his thoughts drift back to his most carefree childhood.

Childhood memories, like warm beams of light, dispelled a trace of chill in the cold darkness. He remembered running along the riverbank, the cicadas chirping on summer afternoons, and that old, almost torn straw mat. At dusk, he would always play with his friends in the yard, the setting sun shining on them, and the adults smiling under the trees, teacups in hand. Back then, his biggest worry was how to steal a few green apples from the neighbor's orchard without getting caught. When his mother saw him covered in dust, she would often pretend to be angry, pinching his ear and muttering, "You little rascal, what trouble have you gotten yourself into again?"

"I really don't know how those days have become so far away." He smiled bitterly to himself, feeling a slight tightness in his chest. He had almost stopped thinking about such memories after he became an adult, but tonight on this cold dock, a long-lost softness and helplessness suddenly welled up in his heart.

However, the Phantom's cold laughter suddenly interrupted his thoughts, yanking him back to reality. Her eyes remained icy, filled with undisguised contempt; she had clearly seen through his momentary confusion.

"What's wrong, Huang Feipeng? Are you scared?" Phantom's voice was contemptuous with a hint of mockery. "You look really amusing. Were you ever this confused before?" She smiled sarcastically and waved her hand lightly. The men in black immediately moved closer, their eyes as cold as hunting dogs.

Huang Feipeng stared back at her coldly, his eyes regaining their sharp light, as if his earlier daze had been merely an illusion. He knew he had no way out, and these people would not give him a moment's respite. Just as he braced himself for a bloody battle, the Phantom suddenly approached slowly, a deep, unfathomable smile appearing on her face.

"Do you know what? Your so-called obsession is really meaningless." Phantom's voice was light and airy, but it grated on Huang Feipeng's ears. "There is no pure justice or evil in the world, just some pointless entanglements. Your persistent pursuit is nothing but futile."

“Phantom,” Huang Feipeng interrupted her calmly, his voice low but full of determination, “Perhaps you will never understand that people live in pursuit, not compromise. What we did in the past, and what you did, will one day be settled.”

"Oh? What a touching idea." Phantom's eyes remained unwavering; she merely smiled coldly. "Huang Feipeng, perhaps you should learn to let go of the past. You have no chance of winning, understand? Continuing to struggle is just courting death."

Huang Feipeng didn't answer. He just stood there, seemingly recalling the carefree days of his childhood. Back then, he always felt the world was bright and vast, that he could do countless things, and that anything was possible. However, reality had ruthlessly pushed him to this point—dark, dangerous, and full of killing intent, making even survival incredibly difficult. Those innocent childhood fantasies had long been crushed by time, replaced by a life of constant, treacherous maneuvering.