Genius Club

After an exhaustive search, the trio finally located an oxy-acetylene cutting torch at an advertising store.

With a cylinder each of liquid acetylene and liquid oxygen, Lin Xian and Big Cat Face made two trips to load the heavy tanks into their van. Meanwhile, CC gathered the gas hoses and the torch, managing to nab three welding masks from a neighboring store to ensure clear visibility during the cutting and prevent any retinal damage.

“I grabbed a lighter too. We’re all set,” she announced.

Lin Xian checked his watch, noting the time they had lost. “Let’s head to the bank!”

He, Big Cat Face, and CC climbed back into the van, fastening their seatbelts. Everything was proceeding smoothly.

Boom—

The van vibrated as it restarted.

During the drive, Lin Xian reminded Big Cat Face of an important detail: “Cat Face, remember, there’s no cash in that bank vault. Hold off on taking out your three guys. We need them alive for now. We can’t lug these cylinders by ourselves. We need your guys to help carry them.”

Big Cat Face nodded, his hands steady on the steering wheel. “Everything’s arranged. Don’t worry. But keep it under wraps that the vault’s empty. They’re here for a payday. If they suspect there’s no loot, they won’t stick their necks out for us. Just follow the plan, and I’ll manage my crew.”

Soon, they pulled up at the familiar bank entrance. Checking his watch again, Lin Xian frowned at the late hour caused by their equipment hunt. He swung the van door open. Three masked accomplices were already there, waiting.

Two of them grabbed the acetylene cylinder while Big Cat Face and another hoisted the oxygen cylinder. Lin Xian juggled three welding masks in one hand and the torch and hose in the other. CC, carrying only the password-cracking computer, appeared travel-light by comparison.

The six of them stood ready at the bank’s entrance.

“Go!” Big Cat Face commanded.

The hastily formed eclectic group marched into the bank. They reached the vault door without issue, the silver keypad ominously illuminated.

The three masked men chattered excitedly:

“Once this job’s done, I’m heading straight home to get hitched!”

“Face, you got an escape plan for us? Are we sticking around?”

“Focus, you two! Whether it’s gold or cash, laundering’s the tricky part, but I’ve got that figured out. I’ll move the money.”

Lin Xian chuckled to himself listening to them. Always thinking about the next step! Each harbored their selfish desires… Big Cat Face’s team was a handful. That was also Big Cat Face’s doing. As their leader, he hadn’t set a strong example.

With a chuckle, Big Cat Face moved forward. He playfully tousled one underling’s hair and slung his arms around the others.

“Life’s been tough with me, hasn’t it? If there’s a next life, let’s skip the danger. We’ll just wander the streets, carefree, living simple lives like when we were young punks. It wasn’t so bad then.”

Tears welled up in the underlings’ eyes as they embraced their boss.

“Alright, set up those cylinders by the wall. We’ll celebrate properly once this is over!” Big Cat Face’s laughter echoed as he directed them towards the wall.

“The best is yet to come! Hahaha!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As the underlings turned, Big Cat Face swiftly drew his gun and executed each with a shot to the head!

Thud, thud, thud…

Their bodies collapsed, blood pooling around them, their eyes vacant.

Click!

CC recoiled, pointing her gun at Big Cat Face, her stance tense and eyes alert.

“Take it easy,” he said calmly. Spinning the gun, he holstered it again. Removing his mask, he took out a cigarette and lit it, exhaling a stream of smoke.

“House rules. Just keeping my guys in line. It doesn’t change our plans.”

CC’s grip on her gun relaxed slightly as she glanced at Lin Xian. He gestured reassuringly, “It’s okay, CC. Go work on the vault door. A wise man doesn’t get involved in family matters. His crew, his rules.”

CC paused, then holstered her weapon and turned to the vault door, her computer in hand. Lin Xian observed Big Cat Face, who was flicking ash off his cigarette.

Kicking at a corpse, he finally asked the big man: “Have you always been this hard? Or did it start after your daughter died?”

“I can’t recall…” Big Cat Face bit his cigarette, grinning wryly. “I wasn’t like this as a kid. Neither were they.”

He gestured towards the dead men. “Back in our village, we were brothers. Sure, we weren’t saints, but we weren’t heartless either. But the world changes people. Money complicates loyalties. When we were broke, we were brothers; with money, everyone’s motives emerged.”

He paused, looking at Lin Xian. “Perhaps you’re right. If my daughter were still here, maybe things would be different. If she were alive, I’d live a decent life, be there for her school meetings.”

“But there are no ‘ifs’ in life. It’s just this—living for revenge. Nothing else matters.”

Lin Xian stayed silent as Big Cat Face snuffed out his cigarette. Life can change.

With Professor Xu Yun’s paper poised to advance hibernation technology significantly, the future and reality might shift dramatically. When the butterfly effect in time and space activates, not just for Big Cat Face, but For CC, everyone in this heist, the future six centuries ahead, even the entire dream world, things will be radically different.

Will Big Cat Face remain a merciless criminal? Will CC still be a code cracker? Will the Otter Brothers keep dueling in the square as usual?

Uncertainty reigns. But change is inevitable.

…

Beep, beep.

The vault door beeped twice, then clicked as the lock indicator turned from red to green, swinging the heavy door open.

CC looked back at the men. “The door’s open!”

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