The two people talked for a little longer, but Kaito realised that the man did not know more about the operations at the port. Moreover, he was already drunk, so he was just rumbling without giving Kaito any actionable information.

When Kaito finally left the dingy bar, he felt more confused.

However, he now had a clue.

Unfortunately, the new information was not as useful as he hoped. He knew the world quite well and had travelled quite extensively over the years. However, he had never heard of a place called Martial Island.

And again, as the man said, that name might be fake or a code name to conceal the actual name of the place.

He switched on the simple phone. It was not the usual phone he used on normal days, but an untraceable burner phone he acquired earlier in the day for temporary use. When he was dealing with important cases, he never carried personal items on him in case his operations went south, and someone attempted to track him.

He knew he was being impatient, but he still dialled a number.

"Hello." A cold voice spoke in Mandarin.

"I want to talk to Hu Lei," Kaito responded.

"Then, why didn't you call her?" Zhong Feng asked.

Kaito had called Zhong Feng's phone directly instead of Hu Lei's. In the past, Zhong Feng would not have suggested such a thing, but he had come to accept Kaito as Hu Lei's godbrother.

"It is early in the morning in Supreme City. I will ruin my chances of getting help if I wake her up." Kaito chuckled.

Anyone who knew Hu Lei understood that she was not a morning person. And if she woke up before she was willing, she would become grumpy. And she could be a little petty when she was grouchy.

"What do you want? I will pass along the message." Zhong Feng said.

"Are you also afraid of her?" Kaito laughed.

"Do you want my help? Since you are calling from an untraceable line, I assume the matter is important and urgent." Zhong Feng responded threateningly.

Kaito became serious. "Do you know a place called Martial Island? I thought Hu Lei might have heard of such a place since she has travelled more, and she knows a lot of clandestine places."

"I have not heard of it. I will ask Hu Lei later."

"Call me if you find out anything," Kaito added.

"Don't you have your own information sources?" Zhong Feng asked with some curiosity.

"That is a story for another day."

After the call, Kaito walked around the red light district instead of leaving directly to cover his tracks. He did not suspect that someone was tailing him, but he never made assumptions. He believed in taking precautions instead of allowing things to fall apart due to carelessness.

When he was ready to leave, he passed through a dark alley instead of following the brightly lit streets. He walked in slow and uneven steps that would make one believe that he was slightly tipsy. He never dropped his cover, even when he thought he was alone.

Finally, he walked to the public parking lot where he had left his nondescript white car. The parking lot was almost empty, with only a few other vehicles in addition to his.

Just as he was about to unlock his car, he felt a presence behind him. He stumbled away as if afraid before turning to look at the person behind him.

The man behind him was tall and dressed in a black robe. He had an austere calm on his face that made him seem like he was removed from the world. He did not wield any weapon, but Kaito felt a sense of danger from him.

The most shocking thing was that he had not noticed when that person appeared. He only discovered another presence when the man stepped right behind him. He had no presence as he walked, and there were no footsteps or other sounds.

That level of stealth was terrifying.

"Why are you scaring people like a ghost? What do you want?" Kaito asked with the aggressive but fearful tone of a drunk man.

The man did not show a change in expression. "Takahashi Kaito. You have been interfering with the matters of the Martial Island."

Kaito realised that the person was targeting him because of the investigation involving the port. He was not sure how he had found him. Perhaps, he followed him from the bar. Or maybe, he had been watching from the shadows for a while, and that meeting was a setup.

But one thing was clear. This person did not come in peace.

Kaito dropped his act and looked coldly at the man. "I am not interested in this so-called Martial Island. I am only looking to find evidence of Takahashi Senzo's crimes. If you do not interfere with my business, I will not interfere with yours."

"You sound like you are a hero of justice. But you are also a criminal, according to your laws." The man responded.

"I have never denied that I am a criminal. But I do not kill senselessly. And in any case, this is a personal matter, not a job." Kaito responded.

"I admire you. You are indeed worthy of being a top assassin that receives protection from the government. If you were born on Martial Island, you would have risen to the top of the world. What a waste!" The man lamented.

"Is that so?" Kaito smiled.

"Yes."

There was silence.

"What do you intend to do?" Kaito asked.

He did not think that this man from the unknown island he had just learned existed followed him for a casual chat about his condition.

"I plan to take you to Martial Island."

"How do you plan to do that? I do not intend to cooperate with your plan." Kaito had a devious smile.

"I will use force if necessary." The response was calm.

"Does that mean you have a plan that does not involve the use of force?"

"I do."

Kaito was frustrated by the man's manner of talking. He felt like he was coaxing him.

"Well, proceed."

"If you were any other person, I would have killed you to avoid future problems. Do not think that we are unaware of the tracker you placed in our shipment. But you have a relationship with Martial Island. Therefore, taking you there is the best solution."

"A relationship with Martial Island? I only learnt about that place a few minutes ago." Kaito did not buy the words.

"Your mother was born on Martial Island. Are you not curious about who is in charge of your trust fund? You should know that your grandfather and your uncle have been looking for the remaining shares as well as your parents' other precious assets without success."

Kaito looked at the contradictory person with suspicion. He was cooperating with his uncle, but he did not want to help Senzo take his parents' assets. Of course, that was presuming that the strange man was telling the truth.

"If my mother was from the Martial Island, why are you cooperating with her murderer?"