Chapter 70: Chapter 65 Capturing Batu
Main City Zone, inside the experimental factory.
Steel machinery was everywhere, producing and transporting various types of weapons and armor, and people!
At this time, a group of people walked on the steel bridges inside the factory, the middle-aged man leading them surveyed his surroundings as machines operated nonstop.
This was the true Core Land of the Underworld.
As they moved forward, there were heavily armed guards on the other side of the steel bridge, as well as formidable armor—like a moat in the sky—making it impossible to force their way through.
Ahead, there was “the only” passage to the world above.
After crossing the steel bridge, they continued forward and came to a stop at a certain location.
In front of them, there were many sealed elevators transporting goods.
This area was heavily guarded; it was the true secret place of the Underworld.
The passage between the surface world and the Underworld.
Both people and “goods” were transported from here.
Those who controlled this place, controlled all the lifelines of the Underworld.
Among the many elevators, there was one, in front of which the group stood quietly waiting.
After a moment, the elevator began to move.
“Ding…”
With the sound, the spacious elevator doors opened, and a line of figures appeared within.
“Doctor.” The group walked straight out of the elevator and spoke to the person receiving them.
“Welcome to the factory.” The doctor responded with a smile, extending his hand to shake with the person in the lead.
Besides the leader, the rest of the people who arrived were quite young.
“These are the company’s young elites. They’ve come down for a tour,” the leader introduced to the doctor.
The young people were all extraordinary, both men and women, each with a distinct aura.
The doctor naturally knew that these were young family members from the controlling company, here to “experience” the Underworld.
“Welcome, everyone.” The doctor stretched out his hand.
The young people also extended their hands one by one, their faces marked with pride but still maintaining humility and politeness.
A woman looked forward at the moving machinery with some surprise, “This is my first time coming down here to see the factory in operation; it’s quite miraculous.”
“Indeed, it’s miraculous, but I’m even more interested in the Arena,” a blond man beside her said, eyes gleaming with excitement. Those who had been to the Arena seemed very interested.
“Bullying the factory workers down here isn’t very interesting,” another person spoke up.
In the Underworld, Source Power was scarce, and energy was in short supply. Source Power Blocks were rare commodities of high value.
Weapons and equipment were all limited to Class C to prevent the underworld from threatening the surface.
“I hear there are some difficulties that need our help to resolve?”
“A minor issue. If it’s convenient for you, then I would trouble you to assist,” said the doctor. “It’s quite noisy here; let’s go outside.”
“Alright.” Everyone nodded and left the area.
……
In the Underground City, the Council was still in pursuit of Thugs.
However, they found that the Thugs had extremely strong counter-surveillance capabilities, and many of the secret lookouts ambushed in the City had been eradicated.
The Thugs seemed to have surveillance devices on them, making them very difficult to track.
The bigwigs in the Council were all fearful for their safety, not even daring to venture out openly anymore.
No one knew when the Thugs might appear.
In the suburban villa area.
Master Batu had been feeling a little restless these days.
Recently, with the Main City Zone not at peace, and a search for Thugs happening everywhere, their area had also been visited a few times.
It was as if they were being watched.
He had a sense that something was not right.
For years, he had been hiding.
Several times he had nearly been discovered during searches, narrowly escaping.
After more than a decade, having searched the outskirts thoroughly, he had only recently come to the Main City Zone.
Moreover, his body had already transformed, no longer resembling his former self, and Mia had grown up, unlikely to recognize him.
If he was careful, everything should be flawless.
Master Batu didn’t know what could go wrong, but to be safe, he still wanted to take precautions.
“Mia, we may have to move houses again,” Master Batu spoke to Mia.
Mia froze, another move?
But she had just met Xu Mo.
And Xu Mo had become a wanted criminal, his portrait posted all over the Main City Zone.
“But what about Xu Mo?” Mia murmured softly, worried.
“That kid is smarter than I am, he won’t be caught that easily,” Master Batu said.
He previously thought Mia was just speculating wildly, but it turned out it really was Xu Mo, it seems Mia’s sixth sense is strong.
That guy, causing such a stir, had already killed two Councilmen.
With that strength, he was catching up to him, wasn’t he?
It appeared the events of a year ago had been a significant blow to Xu Mo.
In the Main City Zone, he made a huge uproar and seemed to have no intention of backing down.
Just then, the Housekeeper came running over.
Master Batu furrowed his brow and looked towards the Housekeeper.
He saw a few people following directly behind the Housekeeper.
The person in the lead seemed to be a woman, draped in a cape and wearing a mask, her face obscured.
Master Batu rose from his chair and stared at the newcomers.
Had his feeling been correct?
“Who are you?” Master Batu stepped forward and asked.
“Mr. Baron,” the woman addressed Master Batu.
Master Batu’s narrowed eyes suddenly changed, becoming sharp as he stared intently at the other party.
He had almost forgotten this title.
Once the captain of the City State Guard, Master Xu Mo!
“The laboratory has grown suspicious and is about to initiate a capture operation.” The woman handed a photo to Master Batu, on which were his family of three.
Master Batu couldn’t figure out how he had been exposed.
Although Mia had some changes, they were not drastic enough to be noticed by others.
“Who are you?” Master Batu’s voice turned cold, and he took a step forward.
“Miss Mia, hello.” The woman turned to Mia, pulled down her mask, and revealed a pair of eyes that made Mia pause in surprise.
“You…” Clearly, Mia had not expected it to be her.
“If Mr. Xu Mo trusts me, I will take Miss Mia and the others away,” the woman interrupted Mia, then donned her mask again and whispered.
“Why should I trust you?” Master Batu said coldly. Did Mia know her?
“If I were with the laboratory, I would just wait for their people to come.” The woman continued, “Mr. Xu Mo should be aware that if the laboratory’s people arrive, even if Mr. Xu Mo is lucky enough to escape, what will become of Miss Mia and the others?”
Master Batu knew she made sense. If she were on the same side as the laboratory, she would have just waited for the laboratory to act.
But, there might be other motives.
“What is your purpose?” Master Batu asked, still unconvinced by her.
“To help Miss Mia,” the woman continued. “I know it’s hard for Mr. Xu Mo to believe, but now he has only one choice. If Mr. Xu Mo can leave with Miss Mia on his own, I will leave right now.”
Master Batu hesitated.
If he fought, he would be unable to protect anyone.
Moreover, if the laboratory was coming for him, he doubted he could escape on his own.
“Can you take my father with us?” Mia asked.
The woman shook her head, “Mr. Xu Mo is too conspicuous a target.”
Mia was disappointed.
“Mr. Xu Mo, there’s no time left,” the woman said.
Master Batu looked at her, and then at Mia, offering an inquiring look.
Mia knew Master Batu was asking her, and she nodded slightly.
Mia now possessed a strong sense of perception, especially face to face. She could sense the emotions of others, at least the malice was perceptible.
Of course, this didn’t rule out the possibility that the woman was very good at disguising her intentions.
But now, indeed, there was no other choice.
Both of them were clear. Should anything happen, Mia and the others would be a burden, only dragging Master Batu down.
And Bai Wei and Yaoer would be left unprotected.
A sure death awaited.
“I have cleared the surveillance personnel, Mr. Xu Mo needs to make a decision now,” the woman said, seeing that Master Batu was still hesitating.
“Alright,” Master Batu nodded, keeping his eyes on her.
He had no choice.
The woman told Mia and the others, “Let’s go.”
Mia nodded, and Bai Wei, holding Yaoer, came over without even packing any belongings.
“Dad, you must be careful,” Mia said to Master Batu, her eyes filled with intense concern.
“Don’t worry, you be careful too,” Master Batu instructed.
The group turned and left, but one person stayed behind. He pulled out a gun and aimed it at the head of the housekeeper.
“Pfft…”
The silencer gun shot directly through the housekeeper’s head, and the person departed.
Master Batu narrowed his eyes, a surge of anger within him, but it seemed that all of them had no choice.
If the woman was truly here for Mia, no risks could be left unmitigated.
Dragging the housekeeper’s body to the side, Master Batu took out some tools, dug a grave, and buried him. Then he sat on a chair outside the villa, waiting quietly.
Had the day finally arrived?
Over the years, if it weren’t for protecting Mia, he might have come back long ago.
It was better that Mia had left, even though he was unclear about the stranger’s motives. He hoped she hadn’t deceived him.
Time passed slowly, and soon footsteps approached from outside the villa.
Master Batu knew, they had arrived.
Outside the villa, a group of City State Guard members appeared along with the laboratory’s personnel. They barged into the villa.
The many gun muzzles were aimed directly at Master Batu, who was sitting there. The commander looked inside the villa but did not see anyone else.
There should have been another woman. Was she moved?
The surveillance personnel had been dealt with.
The commander was a middle-aged man, an elder of the City State Guard named Kale.
Kale stared at Master Batu, seemingly trying to read clues from him.
But no matter how much he looked, it didn’t seem likely.
Mr. Xu Mo was a handsome man.
“Kale, you’ve become the commander,” said the sitting Master Batu suddenly.
Kale was taken aback, staring at Master Batu.
“Mr. Xu Mo?” he said, somewhat dubious.
“You remember me?” Master Batu asked.
Kale’s heart trembled slightly, of course, he remembered.
Back in the day, Mr. Xu Mo was called Master Xu Mo, a powerful combatant who became the captain of the City State Guard at the age of thirty.
At that time, he was just an ordinary member.
He had not expected that after so many years, Master Xu Mo would have become so corpulent.
“Do you want to know why I became a traitor?” Master Batu continued.
Kale’s pupils contracted. Was there a backstory?
“Take him,” said the laboratory personnel, stepping forward.
Kale grimly fixated on Master Batu.
Though he once admired Master Xu Mo, they now had opposing stances, and there was no choice.
He waved his hand, and the City State Guard personnel opened fire!