novelraw Chapter 271: Nightside Talk, Intelligence and Leaks, Dangerous Giss
Chapter 271: Nightside Talk, Intelligence and Leaks, Dangerous Giss
Inside the Black Rock Caravan, in President Yuan Lang’s room.
President Yuan Lang, Vice President Zhou Yuan, and Yuan Lang’s son Yuan Huai sat around together, a secret meeting of just the three of them taking place.
Smoke curled through the room.
“Old Zhou, are you sure this so-called organization is reliable?” Yuan Lang exhaled a cloud of smoke, frowned at Zhou Yuan, worry flickering across his face.
“Yes! Uncle Zhou!”
Zhou Yuan had expected them to ask that. He pointed at the rum bottle on the table and smiled as he spoke, “I know your doubts. Before yesterday, if I’d encountered what I did, I probably would’ve been suspicious too.”
“But the liquor doesn’t lie, my experience doesn’t lie, and this time we don’t need to provide anything. We only need to pass the information to the Humpback Whale and nudge things along.”
“Isn’t that exactly giving us a chance to confirm things? If this operation succeeds according to that person’s plan, what do you think that would mean, Old Yuan?”
Yuan Lang stared at the rum before him, his eyes narrowing.
“If everything tomorrow plays out the way you said, then that person’s capability is terrifying. They could directly manipulate three factions, and all three are top-tier. With that background and those methods, Green Forest City might be in for a huge upheaval very soon!”Yuan Huai looked at his father in shock; he hadn’t expected such high praise from him.
Zhou Yuan nodded seriously.
“That’s what I thought. And judging from the climate changes over the past month, the person’s warning about the Endless Cold Wave disaster coming is very likely true.
We have no other choices or opportunities. We must seize this one.”
Yuan Lang was not a hesitant man; he trusted Zhou Yuan deeply.
“All right, Old Zhou, if you hadn’t always made choices at critical moments, we would’ve been dead long ago! Do as you say. Use all the caravan’s resources.”
Zhou Yuan shook his head slightly.
“I already said, we don’t need to provide any combat forces or supplies this time. I’ll contact the Humpback Whale’s people now, just coordinate with me...”
Soon, at the Humpback Whale stronghold in Green Forest City’s southern district, Giss, who had been sleeping soundly, was abruptly woken by a knock on the door.
He rose and looked toward the door.
“What’s going on?”
“Lord Giss, we just received an urgent radio from the Black Rock Caravan. They need to meet with you immediately to discuss something in detail, it’s very urgent!”
Giss’s heart skipped a beat. He checked the time—it was already past midnight.
He had only heard about the Mechanical Vanguard Society from Zhou Yuan during the day, and now an urgent message had suddenly come through.
And they insisted on meeting in person to discuss details.
“Something’s happened, and it’s important!” he concluded at once.
He put on his clothes and headed out. Two Ascetics quickly followed behind him.
Not long after, a few combat vehicles appeared on the distant street and slowly came to a stop as they neared the Humpback Whale stronghold.
Zhou Yuan stepped out of one of the vehicles. After Giss confirmed it was Zhou Yuan, he immediately led the Ascetics forward.
“Brother Zhou, have you found any clues about the Mechanical Vanguard Society convoy?”
Zhou Yuan looked intently at the Ascetics trailing behind Giss.
“Come in and talk. If it wasn’t important I wouldn’t be making a fuss this late, but it’s urgent. I came as soon as I got the news.”
Hearing Zhou Yuan’s words, a look of “just as I thought” flashed across Giss’s face.
Without hesitation, he followed Zhou Yuan into the combat vehicle.
“Mr. Giss, our intelligence just confirmed that the convoy is from the Mechanical Vanguard Society. We saw five humans who had been fully mechanically augmented, and there was also one person wearing a silver cloak.”
Zhou Yuan’s first sentence made Giss’s expression stiffen.
“Five mechanical augmented humans, and even an Executor. What are the Mechanical Vanguard Society planning?”
Giss had assumed it was only a small unit, at most one or two augmented humans. But this result meant not only were there five, the most troublesome part was that Executor.
As a mortal enemy of the Mechanical Vanguard Society, he knew better than anyone how crucial an Executor was to a battle.
Zhou Yuan saw the change in his expression and continued,
“However, they seem to have hit some problems. Dozens of supply vehicles stopped at a feed factory in the Northern Wilderness.
Just now, the person in the silver cloak, with three of those mechanically augmented humans, entered Green Forest City. The others stayed at that feed factory.”
“Hmm? They split up?” Giss was stunned and hurriedly asked, “Where did the four go?”
Zhou Yuan shook his head.
“That can’t be confirmed. Tracking is too dangerous, but their last known disappearance direction was toward the eastern city. I have a guess.”
Giss’s attention was drawn in by Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan said slowly, “Do you think they’re targeting the Aurora Animal Assistance Association?”
“After all, what other faction in this city would be worth deploying such strong combat units against, besides the Aurora Animal Assistance Association?”
Under Zhou Yuan’s prompting, Giss began to weigh that possibility. He knew the Mechanical Vanguard Society better than Zhou Yuan did and understood that the technology the Aurora Animal Assistance Association controlled—tech that could mutate animals—would absolutely be something the Mechanical Vanguard Society wanted to recover.
Zhou Yuan’s guess was likely the truth.
But suddenly Giss thought of another question.
“Brother Zhou, how many mechanically augmented humans did you say came in total, and how many entered Green Forest City?”
“Five augmented humans in total, three entered Green Forest City... oh, and that silver-cloaked person as well.”
Giss’s eyes lit up unnaturally.
“So that means only two augmented humans are left at that feed factory?”
“And quite a few black-armored soldiers and supply trucks are still there,” Zhou Yuan added.
But Giss’s eyes grew even brighter. He seized Zhou Yuan’s arm.
“Brother Zhou, I have an idea, but I need your intelligence network to back me up!”
“Mr. Giss, are you planning to seize the Mechanical Vanguard Society’s convoy by surprise?”
“But they still have two augmented humans guarding it!”
“And even if we ambush them, what if the augmented humans who left get the news and return?” Zhou Yuan asked cautiously.
Giss laughed loudly instead.
“Don’t worry, brother. We’ll handle the guards left behind. You won’t need to lift a finger. Just feed me real-time intelligence on the Mechanical Vanguard Society. When it’s done, I’ll give you the thirty-five percent I promised yesterday, not a cent less.”
Those words made Zhou Yuan’s eyes flash with temptation. He confirmed,
“You only need me to provide intelligence? Thirty-five percent after it’s done?”
“I confirm!” Giss nodded emphatically.
With that, Zhou Yuan no longer hesitated.
“All right, I agree.”
Giss nodded eagerly, but the wheels in his eyes kept turning as he looked at Zhou Yuan and gave a sly smile.
“Also, Brother Zhou, I think the Aurora Animal Assistance Association needs to know this news! Only they would be prepared and not be crushed by the Mechanical Vanguard Society in one blow. If they act, they can better hold back the Mechanical Vanguard Society while we operate, right?”
Seeing Giss’s expression, Zhou Yuan smiled too.
“Good minds think alike. I’ll handle that. If there’s any leak, we’ll do it with skill.”
As Zhou Yuan’s convoy left, the smile in Giss’s eyes faded.
Staring at the disappearing taillights, he showed a dangerous grin.
“Thirty-five percent of the supplies can stay with you for now. My things aren’t that easy to take...”
“However... his intelligence network can be taken over later...”