I Am Not a Mastermind, But They Think I Planned Everything

Chapter 5: A Den of Wolves

Jian walked alongside Lian and Wei, his mind still spinning from what had just happened.

He had survived. Somehow.

The loot—gold coins, silks, rare spices—was slung over Wei and Lian's shoulders, wrapped in burlap sacks. The rest of the gang moved like shadows, slipping back through the winding alleys without a trace.

Jian was trying very hard to look just as casual.

He was still gripping the dagger in his hand—his knuckles white around the handle.

Wei noticed.

"Relax, Shen," Wei smirked. "You're holding that thing like it's a lover who's about to leave you."

Jian forced himself to laugh and twirled the dagger around his fingers, trying to look as natural as possible. "Nah, just… thinking about something."

Lian, who had been silent most of the way, suddenly spoke. "That was sloppier than usual."

Jian almost choked.

Wei raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? It went fine."

Lian's sharp gaze flickered to Jian. "Shen hesitated."

Jian felt a cold sweat forming on his back.

Wei waved a hand dismissively. "C'mon, he still got the job done. Besides, maybe he was testing a new tactic. You saw how he scared that guy off."

Jian internally sighed in relief. Yes. Yes, go with that.

He shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. "Yeah, just… mixing things up a bit."

Lian didn't look convinced. But she didn't press the issue either.

Jian wanted to breathe easy, but then Wei nudged him with an elbow.

"By the way," Wei grinned, "you do know what happens now, right?"

Jian blinked. "What?"

Wei grinned wider.

"We celebrate!"

---

The Hideout

The gang's hideout was deep in the city slums—tucked beneath an old abandoned building. A maze of tunnels and underground rooms, filled with the faint smell of damp wood and burning oil lamps.

Jian had expected pure chaos, like in the crime movies he had seen back home. A bunch of drunk, wild criminals throwing money around.

Instead, what he got was… organized chaos.

Kids counting coins with practiced precision. Others sorting stolen goods like trained merchants. Some were stitching torn clothes, while a few were sharpening daggers on whetstones.

This wasn't just a street gang. This was a system.

Jian watched as Wei dumped one of the sacks onto a table, the contents spilling out—jewelry, rare silks, gold coins.

A kid—maybe 12 years old—picked up a necklace, examined the metal, and immediately said, "Fake gold, real rubies."

Another girl weighed a bag of spices in her hand and nodded. "This one's from the Southern Isles. High value, but only if we find the right buyer."

Jian swallowed.

How the hell were a bunch of street kids this efficient?

Wei stretched his arms and flopped into a chair. "Ahhh, easy money."

Lian ignored him and walked toward a side door. "I'll report to Boss Zhan."

Jian tensed.

The boss.

The one who thought he was a capable fighter.

The one who might notice if something was off.

Wei kicked his feet up on the table, completely at ease. "You coming, Shen?"

Jian hesitated. "Uh… I think I'll just—"

"Get moving," Lian cut in. "Boss wants to see you too."

Jian internally screamed.

---

A Meeting With the Wolf

Jian stood before Boss Zhan.

The man's sharp eyes studied him like a butcher examines meat.

Behind him, a map of the city was spread across a table. Red markings covered certain districts—trade routes, noble houses, secret pathways. Jian didn't know what they meant, but it wasn't random.

Zhan finally spoke. "Heard you handled yourself well today."

Jian forced a humble smile. "Just doing my part."

Zhan didn't smile back.

"Good," he said. "You've been… observed lately."

Jian's stomach tightened.

Observed? By who? Why?

Zhan leaned forward slightly. "You weren't originally from this gang."

Jian's blood ran cold.

Zhan continued. "You were brought in because of your potential. Because of your… usefulness."

Jian forced himself to nod, even though he had no idea what the hell Zhan was talking about.

Zhan tapped a finger against the table. "And you know what happens to those who stop being useful?"

Jian already knew the answer.

Zhan didn't wait for a reply. He simply said, "Don't make me regret keeping you alive."

Then he turned away.

Dismissed.

Jian's legs felt like jelly as he walked out of the room.

Wei clapped a hand on his shoulder. "See? That wasn't so bad!"

Jian almost strangled him.

Instead, he forced out a weak laugh. "Yeah. Not bad at all."

He was so screwed