novelraw Chapter 286: Yu Yuan’s Assessment of the Situation, Carmen’s Intuition
Chapter 286: Yu Yuan’s Assessment of the Situation, Carmen’s Intuition
“So that means all the Mechanical Vanguard Society’s augmented humans are dead, leaving only two Executors alive, one who escaped and one captured by the Aurora Animal Assistance Association...”
Yu Yuan checked all the intelligence in his hands.
“The Humpback Whale’s six Ascetics are all dead. Without those super combatants, they’ll probably lay low for a while.”
“Only...” Yu Yuan tapped the name Aurora Animal Assistance Association on the whiteboard a few times.
“With the high-end forces of the Mechanical Vanguard Society and the Humpback Whale wiped out, the Aurora Animal Assistance Association becomes the single dominant power again!”
But this change was actually good for Yuan.
With Mona alive, the stronger the Aurora Animal Assistance Association became, the more it helped him.
The same logic applied to the Black Shield Police Department. With Lao Ke dead, Carmen’s influence within the department had only grown.
Only one obstacle remained in front of Carmen, and that was Hogg.
At the thought of Hogg, Yu Yuan’s thoughts paused briefly.“The deaths of the four Cold Crow operatives hurt Hogg the most. He used to be Green Robe’s student, naturally aligned with Cold Crow and his people. Now Green Robe is dead, and the four Cold Crows are dead too.”
“Hogg is now isolated within the Aurora Animal Assistance Association. He must be feeling immense pressure. Previously, Lao Ke suddenly beat Carmen to seizing Bloodbone’s corpse—that must have been on Hogg’s orders...”
Yu Yuan’s thoughts gradually cleared in his mind.
“That must be it. Hogg told Lao Ke to go. If Bloodbone had any high-value leads about augmentation tech, Lao Ke would be the first to come into contact with them.”
All the clues connected, and the whole thread of events fell into place for Yu Yuan.
The only variable left was Blackfire, the one who escaped.
But Blackfire was badly wounded, and this operation had cost them so many augmented humans and even Bloodbone.
The transport convoy in the Feed Factory was also completely destroyed.
Even if Blackfire returned to the Mechanical Vanguard Society, he would be in no good shape. As for whether the Mechanical Vanguard Society would send more people...
Yu Yuan thought for a moment and dismissed the idea.
The Mechanical Vanguard Society had already ordered Blackfire and the others to withdraw, which showed they were contracting their sphere of influence.
Plus, EDEN’s containment of the Mechanical Vanguard Society on the Terra Continent made large-scale support unlikely.
After all, the Super Storm Clusters were about to form!
One thing, however, was certain.
Green Forest City would now be a focus of the Mechanical Vanguard Society.
A force capable of wiping out one Enforcer and a squad of seven augmented humans would not be ignored.
Moreover, EDEN’s Ascetics had appeared here...
That would make the Mechanical Vanguard Society even more wary. They would likely sit on their hands until they understood the connection here with EDEN.
The Humpback Whale faced the same logic. The deaths of six Ascetics would definitely alert EDEN and even the Orthodox Church behind them.
But even if they planned something, the impending Endless Cold Wave would force them to postpone those plans.
“If that’s the case... this cold wave is the perfect opportunity for me to take Green Forest City and rapidly expand,” Yu Yuan already understood the key.
And the key to occupying Green Forest City... Yu Yuan’s gaze fixed on the Aurora Animal Assistance Association.
“That said, it’s not without options...”
With that thought, Yu Yuan immediately informed Mona about the control chip found in Bloodbone’s skull.
Mona quickly replied with an “Understood.”
——————————
Black Shield Police Department.
A huge convoy returned to the police station courtyard.
Hogg entered his office expressionless and shut the door.
He walked to the window, his face as dark as water.
“Fool, what a fool...”
Hogg cursed Lao Ke’s stupidity in his heart, but he also knew this was not the time for complaints.
His situation was extremely dangerous now.
Although his philosophy had long diverged from Cold Crow’s, their shared interests had allowed them to barely resist Miller’s covetous interference with the Black Shield Police Department.
Hogg had planned to use the time bought by Cold Crow and his people to accelerate his development of the wild project, thereby gaining enough clout.
He also hoped to obtain augmentation technology to prepare for future augmentations.
But now that all four Cold Crow operatives were killed, his support within the Aurora Animal Assistance Association had vanished.
He would inevitably face Miller’s squeeze.
At the thought of this, a violent look flashed in Hogg’s eyes.
If it came to that, he had no other choices.
Letting go of the Black Shield Police Department was absolutely out of the question.
At that moment, Hogg’s gaze dropped to Carmen, who had just gotten out of a car downstairs, and his eyes wavered.
“Commander Carmen, come to my office...”
The voice came through the walkie-talkie on Carmen’s chest.
Looking up at Hogg’s office window and meeting Hogg’s stare, Carmen nodded lightly to show he understood.
He turned to Er Xiao.
“Have our guys build defensive works as soon as possible. Watch for attacks from other factions.”
“Got it, boss!”
Er Xiao replied and left. Carmen glanced at the Alpha who had just jumped down from a nearby vehicle and felt slightly relieved.
Without delay, he walked up the stairs.
He also sent a message to Yu Yuan.
[Lone Wolf: Hogg asked to see me. Purpose unclear for now...]
Yu Yuan soon sent a Synchronization request, which Carmen immediately accepted.
Yu Yuan’s voice appeared in Carmen’s mind.
“Don’t worry. It’s probably because Lao Ke’s death pushed him. See what he says first!”
“Alright!” Carmen replied and steadied himself.
Outside Hogg’s office, he knocked twice.
“Come in!” Hogg’s voice came from inside.
Carmen pushed the door open, but as soon as he closed it behind him, a large hand clamped around his neck.
Like a chick snatched by the scruff, Carmen was lifted off the ground by Hogg.
“Ugh...” Carmen’s face instantly went liver-colored, his eyes bulging as he stared at Hogg in disbelief.
“Cha...ief...”
He said with difficulty.
Hogg’s eyes had turned ice-blue, narrow and blade-like, pupils slit into vertical lines.
Cold, cruel, feral.
Those inhuman eyes revealed everything.
“Carmen, whose man are you?” Hogg’s mouth twitched into a smile, revealing sharp teeth beneath his lips.
Carmen was already struggling for breath, but still tried to speak.
“Chi...ef...”
Carmen was at the brink of suffocation.
In his mind, Yu Yuan asked.
“Are you sure about this?”
Carmen’s dull voice came through.
“Trust me, I trust my instinct. He doesn’t want to kill me...”
Through Carmen’s vision, already smeared red with blood, Yu Yuan looked at Hogg’s cold face and chose to believe Carmen’s judgment.
The reason was simple: Carmen possessed the talent of Insight—an ability to discern people’s hearts.