Wasteland Hideout: Upgrading from the Sewers

Chapter 287: Hogg's Test and Probe, Carmen's Response

Talent — Insight (makes it easier to notice things and read people that others overlook)

This is Carmen’s talent. It was precisely because of this unique ability that he survived through repeated crises and made it this far.

Although he had decided to trust Carmen’s judgment,

Yu Yuan still sent a message to Alpha, telling them to prepare a rescue for Carmen.

But the moment his message was sent, he immediately ordered Alpha to halt, to show no abnormal moves.

Through Carmen’s vision, which was gradually darkening, he saw a faint, hardly noticeable surprise flash through Hogg’s cold eyes.

The next moment, Hogg threw Carmen to the ground.

Carmen, finally breathing fresh air again, clutched his neck and gasped for breath.

His oxygen-starved, groggy mind slowly cleared.

"Ch... Chief..."At this moment, Carmen’s expression was pitch-perfect, a mixture of fear, confusion, and shock all plastered across his face.

But Hogg had already stepped forward, one boot pressing down hard on his chest.

Carmen felt as if his ribs were about to crack. Under that powerful compression his heart’s room to move had been constricted; the sensation of near-death washed over him again.

"Carmen, why, when we were at the zoo, did Zoe suddenly tell you to go collect the remains of the mechanically modified? What is your relationship with her?"

Hogg bent down, his lupine gaze fixed on Carmen’s eyes as he asked seriously.

Carmen pushed against the pressure of Hogg’s boot with both hands, struggling to explain, "Chief, I have no relationship with her! I only met her once, right in this office, you were there!"

Hogg of course knew the things Carmen was saying, but that wasn’t what he wanted to hear.

"Then among all those people present, why would she single you out?"

"I don’t know! Chief, I don’t know why she told me to go. It was my first time entering the zoo today, and I didn’t even speak to her..."

"Chief... I owe my position to you. Why would I deceive you? You trusted me. She must be trying to sow discord between us..."

Carmen’s innocence, pleading, and desperate explanations were on full display, and Hogg watched his expressions closely as he spoke.

But...

There were no signs of deceit; everything matched the current situation perfectly.

Hogg eased the pressure from his boot slightly.

"That attack by the Mechanical Vanguard Society was noticed by the Black Rock Caravan, and they informed you immediately... Why are they so invested in your commission?"

Hogg’s voice was no longer as icy as before.

With the pressure on his heart reduced, Carmen finally felt some life return. Hearing Hogg’s question, he did not hesitate and replied:

"Chief, ever since I encountered that mechanically modified attacker last time, several other factions have been curious about this sudden super combat force appearing at the Thug Prison.

I was sure the Black Rock Caravan wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to profit from this. They would dig into the intelligence behind the Thug Prison. I only issued a commission to them to push things along..."

This explanation was plausible. Hogg understood the Black Rock Caravan’s character — they would certainly pry into the Thug Prison’s secrets; that’s how they made their money.

After all, such intelligence could be sold at a high price.

And indeed, that intelligence had once been traded at the Black Shield Police Department for a large amount of supplies.

It could only be that Carmen had anticipated the Black Rock Caravan’s actions and got a line to them ahead of time.

But Carmen hadn’t finished speaking yet.

"Chief, it’s not just the Thug Prison. I have people gathering any intelligence that might threaten us — I’ve been investigating the Western District, the Southern District, the Central District, and even the Black Rock Caravan…"

"I also commissioned the scavengers to collect information about the internal strife at the Burning Fortress... and that strange guy who showed up in District 13, I had some scavengers acting as lookouts there..."

Before Carmen finished, Hogg suddenly turned to him.

"What strange guy?"

"Uh..." Carmen hesitated for a moment, then quickly answered;

"It’s the guy we killed in District 13 last time — completely bloodless, with four sharp fangs. I noticed you seemed interested in his teeth, thought they might be useful to you, so I took it upon myself to look for them..."

As he said this, Carmen seemed to suddenly realize the implications, a flash of panic crossing his face at having overstepped.

"Chi... Chief, I didn't mean to second-guess you. You once stopped Loris from threatening me, and promoted me to Commander. I only wanted to repay you... I know I was wrong. I’ll have those scavengers taken care of right away..."

Unexpectedly, Hogg removed his boot from Carmen’s chest.

"Get up."

Hogg turned and walked to his desk.

Carmen rubbed his chest, slowly rose, and looked at Hogg.

"Ch... Chief..."

Hogg pulled from a drawer the small pouch that contained the four teeth of a Blood Slave.

"I didn’t expect you to have noticed this..."

"Carmen, now that Lao Ke is dead, my situation isn’t great."

"Chief, I... my subordinates swear to follow you to the death!" Carmen’s face showed determined loyalty.

Hogg waved a hand.

"Relax, although my situation is difficult, it’s not about to collapse just yet. But I suspect that Zoe will approach you in the near future... Remember what happened with Loris?"

"Chief, you mean... they’ll try to tempt me to betray you like Loris did?"

Hogg regarded Carmen with a half-smile, half-smirk.

"That might be a good option for them, wouldn’t it?"

Carmen thought for two seconds, then gave a self-mocking smile and shook his head slightly.

"Chief, siding with them would only make me their dog. You gave me status, life, and respect. Why don’t we turn the tables instead?"

Resoluteness flashed in Carmen’s eyes.

"It just so happens the zoo suffered huge losses; all those mutated creatures are dead. With our current force, if we were on the defensive alone, we could definitely hold."

Hogg’s eyes showed another flicker of surprise when he heard Carmen’s words.

Then he pointed at Carmen and actually laughed softly.

"Heh... interesting! Very interesting!"

A few seconds later he strode to Carmen’s side.

"Relax, we aren’t at that point yet. I’m pleased with your performance just now — you passed my test." He slapped Carmen’s shoulder heavily, his gaze deep.

"Remember what you just said."

"Chief..." Carmen was about to say more.

Hogg shook his head slightly.

"Go. From now on, you take Lao Ke’s position. Help me manage those brats."

Seriousness and solemnity crossed Carmen’s face as he saluted Hogg.

"I won’t disappoint you!"

He started to walk out. Just as he was about to leave the room, Hogg’s voice sounded from behind him.

"Carmen, you did well on that matter. If you find another of those strange creatures, inform me immediately!"

Carmen paused, turned, and nodded.

"Understood, Chief!"

When the room door closed again, the smile on Hogg’s face faded. He continued to stare toward the doorway, his gaze deep and lingering.

"Car... men..."