Chapter 126: The Science of Explosions

Xiao Bai’s evaluation hit Mo Fei right in the chest.

He clutched his heart, looking thoroughly wounded. "At the very least, I’m the one who introduced you to each other. Is that really how you see me?"

He might lack luck, but his character, he felt, was common knowledge!

"Do you honestly think you have good luck?" A look of impatience crossed Xiao Bai’s face. "If you’re done looking around here, go back. The boss is still waiting for your answer."

"Hold on. Since your boss is thinking about getting into the arms trade, he must have a place to store explosives, right?" Mo Fei called out to him. "Take me to see it?"

Xiao Bai’s expression grew complicated. "Wait here."

He pulled out his phone and walked away, presumably to ask for permission.

"You really want to help him make explosives?" Long Si whispered, standing beside Mo Fei.

"Do I look like that kind of person to you?" Mo Fei lowered his voice as well. "I’m just going to check his reserves."

If there was only a small stockpile, it meant Bai Yingxiong didn't have high hopes for this venture, which meant they still had a chance to talk their way out of it. But if the reserves were vast, it meant Bai Yingxiong had been eyeing this piece of meat for a long time and wouldn't give it up easily; the chances of talking their way out would be slim. Furthermore, if he could manage to memorize the location of their armory, it would be a nice bonus to report them if he managed to escape.

"Checking the reserves?" Long Si shook his head. "Just don't get yourself trapped in there."

Xiao Bai returned after his call and pointed at Long Er and Long Si. "The boss says you can go, but they can't come with you."

"Fine by me," Mo Fei agreed readily. "Then you two head back and wait for my news? I’m going to take a look at what might become my future workstation."

Long Er and Long Si exchanged a glance, neither saying anything more. They were in a passive position now, but as long as Bai Yingxiong knew Mo Fei was their target, he wouldn't make any rash moves before the point of no return. Long Er had an international reputation; though mixed, people in this business—regardless of their appearance or fame—were essentially mad dogs. If Bai Yingxiong could take all three of them out at once, it would be one thing, but otherwise, as long as one of them was left breathing, it would be a vendetta to the death. They didn't have a massive power base, but as the saying goes, it’s easy to appease the King of Hell but hard to deal with the little devils—and they were exactly those kind of troublesome little devils.

Long Er glanced at his watch. "I hope you make it back in time for dinner."

"That goes without saying." Mo Fei smiled and patted Xiao Bai on the shoulder. "Let’s go."

Xiao Bai’s face darkened further and further until, finally, he walked off in front with a sour expression, not even bothering to acknowledge Mo Fei.

***

"I have a feeling that one day, Xiao Bai is going to snap and stab Mo Fei twice," Long Si said, watching them walk away.

Long Er touched his belt and chuckled. "Or maybe Mo Fei will take him down with him."

After getting into the car, Xiao Bai threw a garment over Mo Fei’s head before telling the driver to start. Mo Fei understood the gesture—it was to keep him from memorizing the route. But sitting there in silence without being able to see out the window was quite boring.

Mo Fei thought for a moment and asked, "Xiao Bai, your name is Xiao Bai, and your boss is Bai Yingxiong. Doesn't it feel awkward every time he calls your name?"

Xiao Bai ignored him.

Mo Fei continued, "You said your boss is Bai Yingxiong. If you break that down, wouldn't it mean 'Little Bai is the Hero'? Does your boss really not find that awkward?"

Xiao Bai’s fists slowly tightened.

"And when we first met, your attitude toward me was so warm and friendly. Why has it changed now?" Mo Fei asked, puzzled.

Xiao Bai sank into the chair, staring out the window with a sour face, refusing to answer.

"And Xiao Bai, you look so young. You should still be in college back home, right? How did you become the boss’s right-hand man? Any special experience?"

"This is my first time seeing a legendary crime boss and his lackey. Does your boss really get severely injured and collapse in an alleyway only to be rescued by a beautiful woman?"

"As a young, handsome lackey, do you feel any pressure? I mean, the kind of pressure where the boss might be jealous or wary of you?"

"Does your boss really have a family doctor who’s a close friend? Does he come over every afternoon to give your boss a check-up?"

Once Mo Fei started, he was like a machine gun, firing off words non-stop. He spoke more than a crosstalk performer, and he didn't even need a partner to feed him lines; he was perfectly happy talking to himself.

Xiao Bai covered his ears with his fingers, glaring with murderous intent at Mo Fei, whose head was still covered by the garment. Heaven knew he truly wanted to smash Mo Fei’s head in—he had never felt such genuine, heartfelt desire. But the boss still needed to use this man; he couldn't do it. He hoped Mo Fei would refuse the boss’s offer, because then he would have the perfect excuse to bash his skull in.

The car wove through the streets for a while, making several turns before pulling into a factory building. Xiao Bai dragged Mo Fei out of the car and into the interior before letting him remove the garment from his head.

"Be gentle. We might be colleagues in the future, you know," Mo Fei said, rubbing his wrists. "My ability to whip up explosives depends on these hands and my brilliant brain. Don’t go breaking them."

***

Xiao Bai couldn't be bothered to reply and walked over to the wall to turn on the lights.

A cold, bright light instantly illuminated the entire factory floor. Mo Fei scanned the room; all the lights were embedded in the walls, with not a single wire exposed. The factory floor was made of concrete, with glass-topped concrete tables and neatly arranged shelves marked with labels of the chemical contents. In the four corners, there were four machines bolted down with iron grates.

"Those are dehumidifiers, right?" Mo Fei observed. "Potassium nitrate loses its potency easily if it gets damp. You really wouldn't be able to manage without those machines."

Xiao Bai grunted, confirming his statement.

"Generally speaking, gunpowder is easily affected by moisture," Mo Fei said, stating the obvious before stepping forward to inspect the items on the shelves. Diatomaceous earth, nitroglycerin, lead azide, pre-mixed black powder, and a small quantity of TNT.

Mo Fei looked them over and turned to ask, "You don't intend to make the detonators yourselves too, do you?"

Xiao Bai curled his lips in a mocking, mirthless smile. Until Mo Fei officially joined the fold, he wouldn't say a single extra word.

Mo Fei didn't get angry at the lack of response. A detonator itself is a small explosive; when dealing with large quantities of gunpowder, the maker tries to stabilize it to avoid accidental injury. Once the gunpowder is stabilized, it requires a small ignition source to trigger it, and that’s what the detonator is. There are many types—electric detonators, fuse detonators, trigger detonators, and so on. If he had to make them by hand, Mo Fei thought electric detonators would be a good choice.

But if he were to use them against an enemy, he still thought white phosphorus incendiaries would be more intimidating. Once it sticks to you, it’s like a maggot in the bone—no one sees that and doesn't tremble with fear.