Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 799: Chapter 43: We’ll Make You Feel Right at Home!

After careful searching and investigation, the agents on the street finally came to a shocking conclusion: they lost track, allowing Bucky to escape right under their noses.

The news was like a lit fuse, instantly igniting the command group of this operation and finally blowing up the leader in charge of the team.

This leader believed he had exhausted all the curse words he accumulated over the decades, yet he still couldn’t vent his anger.

It wasn’t until after he drank two glasses of ice water in a row that he regained a bit of composure—but still looked like a defeated rooster.

“Fifteen people in the action team, including four senior agents, ambushes all around, and informant-provided intelligence…” The group leader pounded the table fiercely, “And the final report I get is we caught the wrong person?!”

The leader’s eyes widened… After Jose died, his position became vacant, attracting many eager contenders.

It was supposed to be a golden opportunity for him to earn merits and prove his abilities as the commander of this operation, but unexpectedly, it ended in failure at the most critical moment.

Because of this, the ambitious team leader glared angrily at a man in the meeting room who was relishing takeout and said discontentedly, “Bucky got away, and you’re not surprised at all?”

The man casually picked up the napkin beside him to wipe his mouth, his manners impeccable. If it weren’t for knowing his identity, the team would think this guy was some Aristocrat’s descendant.

“I’ve already helped you and done my duty. So, regardless of whether he was caught or not… it seems unrelated to me, right?”

“Doflamingo!” The action team leader gritted his teeth.

“Who are you calling?” The man slightly raised his head, showing a strange smile, “I am now Saint Fran, a Doctor graduated from Yale University.”

“You…” The action team leader glared at this leisurely man with intense fury but found himself helpless.

He knew he couldn’t order this guy—otherwise, this fellow who was a top criminal involved in the hostage crisis last night wouldn’t be sitting here openly today, observing their operation.

More precisely, he was a person associated with the national big shot whom the team leader relied on, or a collaborator with that prominent figure, merely here under the guise of assistance.

But even with that, the action team leader was still… furious!

“Doctor Saint Fran!” The leader emphasized his pronunciation sternly, “Bucky has already escaped. What do you think about it?”

Dofla… Saint Fran replied calmly: “No wonder Bucky, he has a sort of luck that’s hard for ordinary people to comprehend. Or rather, during such a capture operation, he can leave unscathed, which doesn’t surprise me at all.”

The action team leader tapped the table, “I’m asking, how can we lure him out next?”

Saint Fran shook his head and said: “No more. This capture has already exposed the fact that someone under Bucky has betrayed him. Bucky is a timid guy, but also very suspicious. He never feels secure at any moment, so once there’s danger, he never intends to leave. Similarly, knowing that the person who picked him up betrayed him, he would never trust any subordinate again—unless one day, he believes all those who betrayed him or the hidden traitors are cleared out.”

“Then who am I to watch him get away scot-free?”

“That’s your business.” Saint Fran shrugged, “This defection among Bucky’s people has exposed the pawn I’ve long planted by his side. In the future, he might trace it back to me as the one calculating against him.”

Saint Fran stood up, “Even though I’m not afraid of Bucky, once he triggers that strange luck of his, it might cause me some trouble—so from now on, you’re on your own.”

Saying that, Saint Fran directly pushed the door and left—the door opened, and a blond lady in a professional suit immediately came up: she appeared as Saint Fran’s secretary.

In less than half a day, Saint Fran, a graduate of a prestigious school with significant achievements in multiple fields, quietly emerged in the political structure of this country.

His next move was to run for a seat as a member of parliament.

The meeting room door had closed, and the action team leader swept all the documents off the table in frustration, finally sitting down with complicated feelings.

Is this a joke?

Such a ruthless means, killing countless top criminals, turning in less than a day into a candidate for Senator, and perhaps stepping into the country’s power center in the future?

“Has this country… fallen to such an extent already?”

The action team leader let out a long sigh, looked at the makeshift screen, and eventually felt his energy spent, picking up the microphone with difficulty, lifelessly saying: “Call off the team, we’ll redeploy for the next capture plan…”

…

…

——Maybe you’re a four-limbed, bloodthirsty monster!

——Maybe you’re a decayed zombie with only a few strands of hair!

Such voices echoed in the hall as if blessed by some mighty cosmic will, though it was purely an illusion.

Come to think of it, due to leaving his homeland, Boss Luo never brings the specially prepared mask. Of course, now he doesn’t need that mask as a disguise—even if he encounters acquaintances.

Even though Bucky saw Boss and the Maid with his own eyes last night, at this moment, in the club’s lobby, Bucky’s recognition faded as if it had never happened.

This ability to temporarily seal off one’s awareness of him seems to have gradually manifested, without Luo Qiu even considering when it exactly appeared—overall, besides being an energy-efficient person, the boss is also a go-with-the-flow type.

However… What kind of rich imagination does it take to imagine oneself as a monster?

And how much resentment towards women must one have to compare them to pretty skeletons, akin to zombies?

Luo Qiu has never experienced narcissism, being the type who doesn’t even bother to glance at his reflection in shop windows on the street—it’s not to the point of being so hideous you could call him a monster, is it?

“Seems the guest experienced something… uh, rather extraordinary before this.” The reason why Boss is the boss is because he possesses excellent temper and patience even now.

But Bucky didn’t seem to think so.

Because he really felt too clever, seeing through this young pair—though he didn’t know where they came from.

Yet, with someone like Lucifer existing, encountering similar ones isn’t so surprising.

At this point, seeing the shocked expressions on this young pair, Bucky sneered coldly: “Stop pretending, show your true form! Maintaining such a shape is strenuous for both of you, right? I, Bucky, am not someone unaware of the world. Even if you indeed are monsters or decayed zombies, I can still converse with you nicely. In fact, that would make me feel you have at least a little bit of sincerity.”

Monster*2. Zombie*2.

Boss Luo stayed silent, while the Maid kept a charming smile before her master would speak, smiling, smiling.

“Why aren’t you speaking?”

Bucky furrowed his eyebrows: “Aren’t you monsters or zombies? Some other disgusting thing? Fine, I don’t mind! Even if you’re octopus monsters, I’ve seen them before and won’t look down on you. Just not mud monsters, I can’t stand the stench… Oh, you, the female, fine, let’s say female, the perfume is quite nice, is it to cover the odor? Where’d you get it? I’ll bring some to a few folks. I can’t handle their stench, or, by the way, their breath!

Monster*3. Zombie*3. Octopus monster*1. Mud monster*1. Female*1. Stench*1. Breath*1.

Seeing the silent pair, Bucky shrugged then pulled back the stool that automatically moved to him, and sat down.

His hand rested on the chair back, body slightly tilted, carrying a trace of roguish flair.

He said in a relaxed tone, “Relax, even if you’re found out, it’s not a big deal. But if you’re looking to make a deal with me, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. I’ve heard from Lucifer that every so often, some rookies from her home world come to this place. These rookies aren’t capable of much, don’t have the skill to tempt humans, and can’t even see the truth clearly. Sometimes, they foolishly go after prey already marked by advanced devils, and in the end, they don’t even know how they died.”

Saying this, Bucky casually exposed his collar—the button at the neckline opened at some point, revealing a faint black tattoo.

It seemed to be a skull, with black wings surrounding it on both sides.

It seemed to say—I’m the one marked by an advanced devil!

“We truly are newcomers to this place… thanks so much for the reminder, esteemed guest.” Boss Luo said with a slight smile.

Bucky waved his hand, appearing like an experienced person, “It’s alright. I’ve been through this a few times myself and have some experience. You two are rookie devils, right? How are you finding this place? Are you familiar with it? If you need anything, just let me know. After all, Lucifer and I are good friends. Guests from her homeland, I definitely have to help take care of them. Moreover, you helped me evade those guys’ pursuit… right, I’ve said so much, my mouth is a bit dry, someone, get me something to drink!”

That someone*1.

Bam—!

Something dropped onto the floor with a crash—the sound seemed to come from a staircase at the side of the lobby.

Bucky looked over curiously and saw an old man with a gigantic afro, dressed like from the 1960s-70s, and couldn’t help but be amazed.

The old man with the afro quickly bent down to pick up a vinyl record, then nervously said, “Uh… I, I, I… I forgot a few songs for a moment, couldn’t create them, so I came down to find this record to add BGM to the game back there… I, I heard nothing, really nothing!! I’ll, I’ll just roll back to work!!!!”

With that, the old man with the afro bolted away, creating a long afterimage, disappearing at the end of the stairs in the blink of an eye.

A warrior!! A true warrior!!!

A real warrior dares to confront life’s bleakness…

A model for our generation!!

Isn’t living better…?

Warrior, at this time next year, I’ll come to your tomb to clear the grass and burn incense for you…

The old man with the afro, holding the found vinyl record, crashed straight into a machine installed in a room on the second floor and disappeared.

…

It was a few seconds after the old man with the afro disappeared that Bucky rubbed his eyes, thinking he hadn’t seen wrong—an afterimage?

But if it’s a devil, it doesn’t seem like such a surprising thing.

Bucky looked at Boss Luo, curiously asking, “Your employees here are quite unique, huh? Why use such an old man with a bizarre sense of aesthetics? Are you guys accommodating the elderly and cherishing the young? By the way, there’s been no welcome drink all this while? You’re really lacking!”

“Sorry, we overlooked it.” Luo Qiu slightly bowed, showing an apologetic expression, “We really didn’t notice the needs of our guest or your habits.”

Bucky magnanimously said, “It’s okay! After all, rookies don’t know much, need training, it’ll get better gradually!”

“You’re right.” Boss Luo became even more humble, “We indeed need to reflect and improve.”

Bucky squinted his eyes at the moment… yes, it seems these newcomers are quite sensible, completely unlike the fools from a few years ago who kept trying to attack me before finally crying and pleading after seeing Lucifer’s mark.

Since they’re so sensible, might as well bring them to Lucifer later—after all, at the Flaming Red Lips Bar, besides Lucifer’s own ’employees’, several people were brought over by Bucky.

For instance, the Banshee that gave Cage a good chase last night.

“No need to reflect so deeply.” Bucky said kindly, “I’m quite magnanimous.”

“No no no.” Boss Luo shook his head, insisting, “To make our guest feel at home, I think it’s necessary to make a slight change to the layout here… For this meeting to proceed pleasantly, providing an environment our guest is familiar with is an important aspect.”

“Oh, there’s no need to go to such trouble.” Bucky chuckled, “Actually, I have one advantage, which is that I like mentoring rookies, especially those as understanding as you… huh, why does it feel like it’s getting hotter? Is the air conditioning off?”

“It is indeed warming up, esteemed guest.” Suddenly, Boss Luo snapped his fingers, “Shall we continue our conversation in Hell?”

“Oh, okay… what?” Bucky blinked.

Then, he saw the floor of the lobby—tiles began to flip, piece by piece—and as the floor lifted like a puzzle being taken apart, orange-red light filled the surroundings, accompanied by rolling waves of heat.

The floor tiles eventually disappeared entirely, and looking down, Bucky saw orange-red glowing liquid flowing slowly beneath the chair, bubbling from time to time.

The air was filled with a sharp sulfur smell almost instantaneously, making Bucky feel like he was suffocating from the acrid sulfur odor.

He forced his stiff neck to look up, only to see a young man whose skin suddenly cracked all over, eventually transforming into a massive monster.

As for the woman, who was even more perfect than Charlotte and seemed to surpass her by miles, she suddenly placed her hands on her hair and slowly tore it apart.

She emerged like a butterfly breaking out of a cocoon—a head, flesh and blood, emerging from the split scalp.

The originally pleasant voice turned into a rusty, gear-grinding sound mixed with the noise of a glass board being scratched—it offered a special drink.

The drink was contained in a blood-smeared skull serving as a vessel, filled with a purple, bubbling, and smoking liquid.

“It’s a special drink made from lizard, ogre brain, and sulfur, adjusted with rat hemolymph. I hope you like it…”

Watching the ‘vessel’ slowly approaching, Bucky covered his mouth in shock, feeling worse than a hangover.

At this moment, a roar came from above, “Customer, don’t you like it? I can have my servant bring you something else.”

Bucky subconsciously looked up, seeing above him three identical heads—connected to a huge body—this body opened up with numerous round, toothed mouths.

Stream after stream of saliva dripped from the monster’s mouths, falling onto Bucky—drenching him as if he was doused with buckets of water—moreover, it was a green, stomach-acid-like viscous substance.

Bucky dazedly wiped the sticky stuff off his face, took a deep breath, and suddenly screamed, “Help me!!!!!!!!!”

He instinctively stood up, but once the body left the chair, gravity immediately vanished, and he began to fall. Almost instantly, Bucky tightly grasped the foot of the chair to keep himself suspended in mid-air.

“Customer, forgot to tell you, below is real magma.”

The giant monster above made a deafening sound at this moment.

As if to prove this, the ‘vessel’ containing the weird special drink suddenly fell from the hands of the blood-covered Maid.

Splash—!

It fell into the magma, melting instantly.

“Help… help!!!! I want to go back to prison!!!!!!!”

Spit and snot flying, Bucky clung tremblingly with his legs to the sole chair floating over the magma.