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墨書 Inktalez
Hero City is not large; the sewer system was built based on a standard of four hundred residents, so there are not many exits. In addition to the fifteen manhole covers within Hero City, there are two exits outside the city. One is a sluice gate upstream on the Hero River, which can be used to flush the sewers, but workers are currently repairing it. The second exit is located ten kilometers downstream along the Hero River.
For practitioners, leaving the city is sufficient. Using their powerful abilities to break through the sewer and emerge from the ground is relatively simple. However, this would create quite a commotion, and with the alarm sounding in Hero City, all practitioners within the city would be mobilized to capture any intruders. Thus, leaving quietly is the best option.
Cui Ming and Wei Wei were in the main hall. Cui Ming had been promoted to commander, while Wei Wei assisted him. Before them lay a hand-drawn map of the sewer from hundreds of years ago. Cui Ming studied the map and then looked at Wei Wei, who shook his head helplessly. "This is all we have."
Cui Ming asked, "Have both exits been monitored?"
"Yes," Wei Wei pointed at the map but felt something was off, so he turned around and pointed again.
"This rat is quite cunning. I don't know if this was premeditated; if it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision to use misdirection to fool me, then he definitely wouldn't go through the sewers," Cui Ming said. "I even suspect he never entered the sewers at all but merely moved a manhole cover to draw my attention. However, if it was premeditated, he must have planned his escape route carefully and wouldn't easily change it; he would surely appear at one of the two exits."
Wei Wei replied, "Both exits have guards, which suggests it’s unlikely that this was premeditated."
"If it wasn't premeditated, he would still be inside Hero City. If I'm not mistaken, he should have eliminated Force. There are only eighteen of us in total; we need some to guard the exits and others to send teams into the sewers while also watching over the manhole covers. It would be easy for him to leave. If it were me, after using the manhole cover trick, I would leave immediately because that would be the most chaotic time. But I consider myself smarter than most people..."
Wei Wei interjected, "Cui Ming, let's focus on the matter at hand... Why do I feel like your tone is very similar to that despicable person from three years ago?" The grudge from three years ago still lingered in Wei Wei's mind.
Cui Ming felt ashamed and self-reflected before continuing, "As an assassin, it's essential to observe before acting; assassins are not impulsive; they are cautious and dislike taking risks. This applies to professional assassins. Therefore, I believe he hasn't left yet. One possibility is that he has someone waiting for him; this is typical for professional assassin groups who have logistical support—he might be waiting for instructions from his accomplice. The second possibility is that he does have an accomplice but has abandoned them because he is clever enough to realize that whatever escape plan his accomplice can think of, our alliance can also anticipate. After alerting our alliance, escaping along his accomplice's route wouldn’t be wise."
"What about the third possibility?"
"The third possibility is either 100% or 0%. This requires understanding of assassins," Cui Ming explained. "I am fairly certain he has an accomplice because as a rat, his appearance stands out too much. Hero Town is three hundred kilometers away; having an accomplice fits well with the current situation. The key point lies in the relationship between the rat and his accomplice and whether the rat has a ruthless heart. If their relationship is merely average and the accomplice isn't important while the rat is ruthless, then he might sacrifice his accomplice to draw our attention and execute another trick to lead us away before making a calm escape. The accomplice's position should be near one of the two water outlets five to ten kilometers away. We have already dispatched people; now we just need to see if the accomplice will flee."
Cui Ming pondered for a moment. "The other possibilities may not hold much significance. We should set up as best as we can and see if we can find him. It all depends on luck. Therefore, I believe we should pay attention to the possibility of his guaranteed victory, which is the third possibility: using the sacrifice of the rescuer to draw the tiger away from its mountain lair."
Half an hour later, news came in. A volunteer inside the city answered a mobile phone and reported via walkie-talkie, "A suspicious individual has been captured at the downstream outlet. It's a cleaner, just an ordinary person."
Cui Ming said, "Ask him if he has any pork. Give him a taste." Wei Wei had already dispatched someone.
The volunteer was taken aback. "What?"
"I am the commander appointed by Wandering and President. Just do it," Cui Ming replied.
The volunteer contacted them and quickly responded, "He is very disgusted."
Cui Ming was astonished. "Where did the pig come from?" It was so fast.
The volunteer answered, "Wild boar is still pork. Since you need it, Commander, we must fulfill your wishes." There was a hint of sarcasm in their tone.
Cui Ming didn't mind. "Everyone, listen up! I am Commander Cui Ming. Except for Li Qing and Mi Xiaonan who will stay behind, everyone else is to head to the downstream outlet and conduct a search centered around the captured individual. Our opponent resembles a rat; he is a Fire Cult Practitioner, and this cleaner is most likely also a Fire Cult Practitioner. If they come looking for trouble, eliminate them."
Cui Ming placed the walkie-talkie down on the table and leaned back against the sofa in the lobby. At the entrance, Li Qing and Mi Xiaonan stood together. Li Qing glanced back at Cui Ming and said to Mi Xiaonan, "See? This is what it means for a petty person to gain power; he treats us like bodyguards."
Mi Xiaonan whispered, "He can hear you."
"I want him to hear it."
Cui Ming said lightly, "Brother, I know that people made me the commander, and you're not happy about it. Why isn't it you? Actually, who among us brothers is better than the other, right?"
"Junior Brother, I've been near Hero City for many years; I know it better than the President does. I know you're smart; you could be my advisor."
Cui Ming grinned and asked, "Are you trying to show off in front of Sister Wei Wei?"
"I'm not telling you."
At that moment, the intercom crackled with Wei Wei's voice: "We've captured a mouse at the cliff."
Cui Ming jumped up. "She’s showing off for you."
Li Qing thought for a moment and then exploded with anger. "You ungrateful brat! What do I have to do with you? What does Wei Wei have to do with you? How could you let her go after the spoils?"
Cui Ming was taken aback; that accusation made a lot of sense. Wei Wei had Eagle Eye, while Li Qing had True Sight Guardian. He immediately lowered his voice. "Weren't you just not here?"
There were several exits from Hero City, and they didn't need to consider the main gate. The cliff wasn't a road; it was a place about seven hundred meters from Alliance Headquarters where the Hero River created a waterfall of average height. The cliff and the exit of Hero City were opposite each other. When Cui Ming directed everyone to support the downstream exit, it effectively left the rear guard unprotected.
This was like inviting someone into a trap. Yes, you're clever, but you definitely wouldn't expect that I'm clever too. So you wouldn't think I'd anticipate your move to the cliff. Many smart people fall into a misconception, believing that what they can think of as clever tricks are beyond others' imagination. Originally, they were two sides unaware of each other, but the mouse's wall-banging tactic drew attention away from its true intentions, allowing Cui Ming to gain insight into the mouse's plans. Coupled with Mi Xiaonan's intelligence and information, Cui Ming understood the mouse far better than the mouse understood him. Cui Ming believed that the mouse would definitely have an intercom and would know his troop movements; thus, he decided to turn the tables and swallow the mouse whole.
Assassins are common yet unique practitioners. They possess formidable attacking power, capable of delivering fatal blows even to those specialized in enhancement techniques. Among assassins, there are soft assassins and hard assassins. Soft assassins, like Eva, control their opponents before eliminating them, while hard assassins, such as Joker Jack, strike with a single lethal blow.
Which category does Mouse belong to? If armed with only a single crossbow bolt, Mouse would fit the second type. However, Mouse can rapidly fire off dozens of powerful bolts in quick succession, suggesting he belongs to the first type. As a Half-Beast, Mouse has already demonstrated abilities that surpass those of human assassins.
Except for Bufon, anyone else—be it Li Qing or even the enhancement specialist Yellen—would struggle to withstand this barrage of crossbow bolts. But not Bufon. Having specialized in enhancement techniques for fifty years, Bufon carved out his own path within this discipline. What appears to be a shield is actually the strongest defense born from Bufon's profound understanding of enhancement techniques.
In a paradoxical tale, a merchant claims to possess a shield that no spear can pierce. If such a shield truly exists, it is in Bufon's hands.
Mouse was captured by Wei Wei and brought to Hunter Headquarters. Cui Ming was fortunate enough to be invited to the interrogation. In truth, Cui Ming was reluctant to attend because he knew Mouse would say nothing and would never admit to being part of the Fire Cult. If Wandering had been killed, that would have been one thing; but with Wandering unharmed, Mouse could only endure.
Hunter Headquarters is simple and unadorned. Although outsiders—including workers—are prohibited from entering, the hygiene is commendable. The headquarters consists of only two floors and occupies a modest area. The square building features a central green space and a small lake fed by underground water. During the development of Hero City, an oversight led to the discovery of a cavern; groundwater surged upward, forming a natural lake. Rather than rectify the mistake, they built a two-story structure around this underground lake.
The greenery consists mainly of wildflowers and weeds, with a small dock featuring a wooden boat. During dull shifts, one can row out to the center of the lake for fishing. Though the lake spans only three hundred square meters, it teems with various fish species.
Due to Vlad undergoing internal testing and needing no disturbances, the interrogation took place on a patch of grass twelve meters from the dock.
Mouse was bound by Force crystal chains and sat silently on a chair while others gathered several meters away around an improvised table. As the lead interrogator, Wandering posed questions that Mouse refused to answer. Eventually, Wandering grew frustrated and declared, "If you remain silent, I have the right to execute you on the spot."
Mouse continued to remain mute and expressionless, lost in thought.
Cui Ming was positioned in the room making phone calls to contact the overseer of Hero City—the appointed manager of Hero City. About ten minutes later, the overseer arrived in haste. Cui Ming received some items and changed clothes before heading toward the interrogation site with Mi Xiaonan. (To be continued.)
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