No Where To Run: Trapped With My Archenemy

The moment the name "White Tiger" fell from Bing Wen's mouth, the entire room looked at him in surprise. However, Jiu Shao looked at Bing Wen in shock as if he was not expecting the young man to know about the ruthless mafia that has spread over their influence on the entire sub-continent. 'White Tiger' was a name that was erased from existence fifteen years ago when they received multiple heavy backlashes in the past from their people as well as the governments across the continent. Almost every man at the top of the mafia clans, the godfathers who gave worked as the pillars of these groups, was captured and killed in the collaborative encounter mission held by the Imperial police force and Daisun armed forces to ensure peace and security in both countries.

There was peace, but it was short-lived.

Unlike the imperial city where the government applied strict measures to eradicate the social injustices and ensure the people's peace and well being, Daisun couldn't cope with the growing numbers of rebels and vigilante groups that were hidden under the masks of innocent citizens. 

It didn't take much time for the clans that were once believed to be eliminated from the country to raise in power and handled the plummeting economy from the claws of corrupt governments.

Daisun needed those mafia clans to sustain.

However, none of the news went outside the country until the clans grew bigger enough to withstand any external attempt to eradicate their existence. So it was nearly shocking for Jiu Shao to realize that the Imperial police force had already intercepted a piece of information that was kept confidential for years.

"How do you know?"  Jiu Shao unknowingly responded to Bing Wen's declaration, forgetting the fact that he was standing in the middle of a bunch of policemen. It almost felt that he was digging his own grave.

"We are living in the era of supercomputers, Mr Jiu. As long as one was connected to the technology, to the internet, you can gather their details within seconds."  Bing Wen casually replied as if it was no big deal. Like the rest of the world, the mafia clans got their fair share of participation in the internet revolution that happened in the country. However, the White tiger stayed different from everyone else due to their expertise in wiping out their traces from the global web that was continuously checked by the security forces in various countries.

Even if Bing Wen doesn't wish to acknowledge it, he couldn't disagree with the fact that the mastermind behind the White tiger was an absolute genius. 

"I don't know how you got to know about the white tiger, but going against them is not a good idea at all, even if you are the best officers in the entire imperial." Jiu Shao warned when he felt that these police officers would never stay idle after knowing about the growing threats from the mafia clans in Daisun.

"Have you ever met the man who is the head of the White Tiger?" Han Ze Min, who sat silently till the moment, opened his mouth to ask about something that churned his mind. 

"Man?" Jiu Shao's mouth curled up into a scoff as soon as he heard the question. "There no man in the top tier of White Tiger, officer." His words struck like a lightning in the room, 

"It's a woman?" Wan Yi Jun asked the question that boiled in everyone's mind. Well, it was unbelievable for them to even expect to see a woman at the top of the power system that rules over the subcontinent, the apex predator who is on the top of the food chain.

"To be honest, the White Tiger is only a branch of ancient clan that was once everyone believed to be eradicated without any single soul alive. It got revived and currently it is run by a council of men instead of a single leader." He paused for a moment and glanced at the men who were all ears to him, "But the one who was supposed to give the last word in white tiger, it is a woman. So you are right officer, it is more or less a streak led by a tigress."  Jiu Shao wiped the sweat drops rolled down his forehead,

"Have you seen her?" Han Ze Min repeated his question but with more enthusiasm when he heard an unexpected twist in the story. His brown eyes, glowed like burning coal as if he was very much interested in the woman who leads a deadly mafia clan that was rooted in a country that still thrives on patriarchal values.

"No outsider has seen white witch so far," Jiu Shao explained with a tinge of respect as well as fear as he spoke about the woman he had only heard while he took refuge in Daisun years ago. "I really wanted to see her, though."

"White witch?" The eagle team simultaneously asked when they heard that name in bewilderment. Every word that they have heard from Jiu Shao was so enthralling to hear as if they were a bunch of kindergarten students who were enthusiastic to question every single thing.

"Hmm, that's the name  by which everyone knows her. It was rumored that she got that name because of her hair." Jiu Shao added with a smile. However, right at that moment, Han Ze Min mocking laughter echoed in the four walls of the room, breaking the story's flow.

"It must be some old lady with a head full of white hairs." He somehow managed to comment while trying hard to hold his laughter.

"She is young and...strangely beautiful...It wouldn't be lie if I say that she is gorgeous than any woman in this world, maybe." Jiu Shao stated as if he got annoyed by Han Ze Min's condescending remark.

"Didn't you say earlier that you haven't seen her?"

"Just like her beauty, white witch's stories are pretty famous, officer. An enchantress who bewitches men and women and ruthlessly carve out their eyes and pluck out the tongues to keep her identity secret from everyone. I even heard that she washes her hair in her enemies blood." Shrugging down his shoulder, Jiu Shao went ahead with sharing the stories he had heard in Daisun.

"Good lord, these are called fairy tales, Jiu Shao. I would have believed you if heard about this witch when I was a toddler." Han Ze Min almost fell from the chair as if he continued to laugh out loud as if he heard some joke.

"Laugh as much you want, officer." Jiu Shao unknowingly gritted his teeth and turned to face Wan Yi Jun who seemed more calm and collected," But it is the truth. Just because she is a woman, we foolish men expect her to be soft and gentle like a flower. However, she got no humane feelings, let alone have a woman's heart. It is better that you won't go won't go after the white tiger."

"Jiu Shao, you are speaking to the wrong person, man. He is the most rebellious person you will ever meet in your lifetime. " Han Ze Min pointed at his cousin without any hesitation, "He is someone who does the exact opposite of what you asks him to do and unfortunately, he is the captain of this group. All these men, they are his blind followers, well I'm an exception, but if we work as a team, we will make sure to go to any end to find the truth."

The moment Han Ze Min concluded the words, the eagle team surprisingly exchanged their glances and looked at the two who were supposed to be rivals, in disbelief.

"She is doom." Jiu Shao declared in a cold voice, just to scare off this annoying officer.

"Then I'm more interested to jump right away into the middle of the doom. And, for some reason, even the thought of meeting a beautiful woman makes me enthralled more than anything else." He grinningly said and leaned on the chair as if he was unaffected by any of this scary story.

"You got any info regarding Yan Zi Hao?" Wan Yi Jun asked as he decided to put an end this interrogation that has turned into a story telling session, 

"No...I only know that he is somewhere in Daisun. To be honest, I'm not even sure that he is protected by white tiger."

"You are scared, right? Don't tell us then." Han Ze Min sniggered and stood up from the seat as if he was done talking.

"Unlike you, I have no death wish to get into bad blood with white tiger and Yan Zi Hao, officer. I still got a life to live. So please leave me out of this mess. Whatever, I knew about Qin Kai and Yan Zi Hao, I have shared with you." Jiu Shao requested to Wan Yi Jun to which the captain agreed without no fail. Since they got nothing else to ask, he suggested to retreat. However, the eagle team began to walk away from their seats, Han Ze Min went towards Jiu Shao and stopped him from standing up,

"Wait a minute, show me your license and the age proofs of all the "hostages" in your bar." He reminded something that everyone has forgotten,

"Officer, all of them are majors and willingly signed the contract to get into the business. Most of the girls came here because they got no other way to feed their families. So please understand their situations, sir." Jiu Shao politely asked and looked at the Wan Yi Jun for help.

"Oh please, whatever you runs here its not just a hostess bar, but something illegal."

"The men and....women, who comes to these hostess clubs have only thing in their mind...If the girls are willing to please their customers, then what can I do? I'm at no position to refuse extra money at this moment." Jiu Shao unknowingly opened his bundle of burden,

"Money is not everything, Jiu Shao." Han Ze Min argued back,

"No sir. People like me and those girls who makes living by doing something they can never be proud of...we can't afford to say that...Money is everything for us." Even Jiu Shao didn't refrain from himself. However, Wan Yi Jun who wasn't in a mood to hear their argument, walked towards the door, along with the other members.

"But it is wicked to hear it from you, the supporter of silver witch." Han Ze Min said and followed his captain's suits

"Ah, since you are so interested to know about white witch, I will tell you something interesting, the regions that comes under white tiger's rule no one dare to lay a hand on women or treat them anything lesser than a man. If someone like her existed in imperial, I would have never got into this business." Jiu Shao who wasn't ready to give up, followed Han Ze Min and stepped out of the room, while arguing with the police officer.

"So are you saying that this White Witch a social reformist and not a bad, heartless, ruthless-?" 

"Good and bad, who defines it, officer?"

The moment those word's left Jiu Shao's words, Wan Yi Jun who was already reached the entrance, stumbled upon his steps as if he someone has tied his legs,

However, it wasn't because of the question, but the person who reminded him of this question.

Ming Yue, the same woman who stood in the darkest alley near the entrance of the last place he wanted to see her- A brothel.