Chen Chuan drove into the market. Since it was the outermost layer of the gang’s territory, it was so distance away from its main territory. The gang mbers in charge of guarding the place only gave his car a few cursory glances instead of coming over to ask any questions.
After driving deeper into the territory, the security started getting tighter. Thick walls were up ahead, and beyond them were buildings resembling small forts.
Traps and trenches were dug around the main road. A suspension bridge and collapsible planks were used to connect the outer and inner territories. Beside the bridge were road blocks that had been moved to the side.
They were ant to prevent armored vehicles from barging straight in. There were even electrified fences on the walls against certain bioweapons.
Though setting aside the bioweapons that Photon Nest created, the electrified fences were only going to block up to three mass-produced bioweapons. If dozens or hundreds of them were sent, the fences would be torn in an instant. Then, the Elephant Gang could only rely on the buildings themselves.
Scattered on the higher ground on either side of the road were sentry posts. Gang mbers held crossbows and had pistols strapped to their waists while standing guard.
Since Chen Chuan had good eyesight, he noticed that most of the weapons were new, as if they hadn’t been used much.
This ant that soone was providing the gang with weapons. Based on recent events, it was most likely that United Might was supporting them.
Due to the pressure from the governnt, United Might and Ferris Wheel stopped fighting, but United Might didn’t seem to have stopped supporting the Elephant Gang. It remained an organization that could threaten Ferris Wheel’s work in Glowing Dew District.
However, the Swordfish Gang was made up of foreigners and had close ties with Ferris Wheel. anwhile, the Elephant Gang was made up of Sheni Peninsula workers and their descendants, so they should only be business partners with United Might.
A’lie put a hand on his neck and said sothing. The gang mbers who were about to co forward to ask questions stopped, and they were given permission to continue on.
When A’lie got into the car, Chen Chuan had noticed that there were a few bumps in A’lie’s ponytail. It was a sign of an implant. Based on where it was located, A’lie was a resonator.
“A’lie, you seem close with Deng Xin. Are you two relatives?” he asked.
“Nope, but we’re closer than family. I might be Shenian, but I’ve been working with Deng Xin all my life. She taught how to be a resonator and even brought into the gang. Right now, I’m in charge of taking care of her and helping her do things,” A’lie answered.
Chen Chuan nodded. It seed like Deng Xin was also a resonator.
Once they got on the suspension bridge, they entered a pretty lively internal comrcial area. Pubs, teahouses, dance clubs, and other establishnts were on both sides of the street. Further ahead was a Sheni Peninsula-style religious tower.
Most of the pedestrians had the tattoos of the Elephant Gang and cheap implants. They were normal gang mbers.
“Just park over here,” A’lie said when they arrived in front of a teahouse. “Don’t worry. No one would dare steal a car here.”
Chen Chuan parked his car and followed A’lie into the teahouse. They went to a private room that had been booked ahead of ti.
A’lie sent a ssage through his Realm Pass. “One mont, Mr. Chen. Deng Xin will be here soon.”
After around ten minutes, there were whispers outside, and a red-haired woman entered the private room. She appeared to be in her early twenties, had rather pale skin, delicate makeup, and large earrings. Her tank top showed her healthy, fair shoulders and well-shaped arms, while her legs were covered by a long, white, satin dress.
The mont she saw Chen Chuan, she relaxed and sat down in a graceful, dignified manner. “I’m sorry, Mr. Chen. This is the only place I can et you.”
“I can understand,” Chen Chuan reassured her.
If they t at the outermost layer, they might be overheard by informants from the Swordfish Gang and Ferris Wheel. If Deng Xin was really who she claid to be, eting there would be dangerous for her.
A gray-white cat entered the room and ran over to Deng Xin. She imdiately bent down to pick it up, comforted it a little, and set it aside.
Chen Chuan cast a glance at the cat. It was no ordinary pet. Its movents showed that it was generating power in a unique fashion.
An attendant ca in to serve the sweet tea Shenians loved. Brown sugar and milk were added before being brewed with a special thod. After taking the cup with both hands, Deng Xin handed it to Chen Chuan.
“Please have so tea, Mr. Chen.”
Chen Chuan thanked her and took the cup.
“Are you a foreigner, Miss Deng?” Chen Chuan observed her face.
Deng Xin caressed her hair. “My father is from the Great Shun Republic, while my mother is from Huihe Island. Both my sister and I grew up there, so I suppose we’re both Huihe Islanders.”
Chen Chuan nodded. “You ntioned that you worked at Ferris Wheel’s Intelligence Departnt?”
“Yes. So years ago, Ferris Wheel allocated a lot of funds to the schools of the island nations. My sister and I were good students and got sponsored. Later on, we were both recruited into Ferris Wheel,” Deng Xin answered softly.
“We joined the Intelligence Departnt, but we didn’t belong to the sa unit. I was an assistant, and I worked there for four years.”
Since she was still young, it ant that she joined the company when she was a teenager. This ant that Deng Xin and her sister had been outstanding students.
Deng Xin continued, “My sister was even more talented than I am and a more serious student. She ca into contact with so company secrets and was forced to receive an implant that put her under the company’s control.”
The cat owed under the table and jumped on her knees. Deng Xin hugged it again and patted it slowly while saying, “I thought that I would continue working there and beco the director so day.”
Then, fear and panic shone in her eyes. “But I rember my sister running back into our house one day, all drenched. It was raining, and the sea was raging. She told that she saw my na on the plan and asked to run...”
“Plan?” Chen Chuan asked.
Deng Xin nodded. “I only learned about it then too. My sister told that Ferris Wheel has an extermination plan. It’s a list created by Wu Qi, the company’s active biosentient entity, of people who are harmful to the company.
“It regularly creates a new list, and the company kills the people on it.”
Upon hearing this, all of Chen Chuan’s questions were answered. He nodded to himself. Everything made sense now. If an active biosentient entity provided the list, then Ferris Wheel’s actions were logical.
He pondered it for a while before asking, “Is it just a list?”
There were plenty of people who shared the sa nas in the world. A na alone wouldn’t be effective for finding their targets.
“I don’t know the details. My sister only ntioned a list, but Wu Qi might have other ways of identifying the targets,” Deng Xin said after so thinking.
Chen Chuan considered it for a while before focusing on her again. “I have a question. Since you’re on the list, it ans that your sister can’t be the only one who saw it. How could they let your sister run away and tell you about it? They could have captured both of you imdiately.”
After so hesitation, Deng Xin answered, “That’s because we have a special ability. My sister could see certain images related to herself half a day or a day ahead, while I can foresee danger.
“Because of this ability, we have been able to avoid danger multiple tis and do what we want. On the day my sister ca back, I felt a strong chill...”
Chen Chuan said nothing.
As if worried that he wouldn’t believe her, Deng Xin said seriously, “I’m not lying, Mr. Chen. Please believe .”
“I do,” Chen Chuan said with a nod.
Just like there were naturally gifted people, there were also people born with unique sensory abilities. Chen Chuan believed that this was due to the impending Great Crash. The two worlds getting closer triggered anomalies. Perhaps more people like that would show up in the future.
“How did you leave?” he asked.
“My sister was able to plan things far ahead, so when we joined Ferris Wheel, she thought about how to leave and took several years to plan out our retreat. No one knew about the list yet, so we didn’t have a hard ti running away.
“But if we left together, we would’ve painted gigantic targets on our backs, so my sister asked to leave first. She promised that she’d follow , then send a ssage after she reached a safe place. But I never got the ssage.”
Deng Xin’s shoulders slumped in dejection.
Chen Chuan thought about it. Deng Xin’s sister held a higher position, which ant that it would have been difficult for her to escape. She must have said that so that Deng Xin could run away safely.
He t Deng Xin’s gaze and said, “Your ability is really important to you. Why are you telling about it?”
“I hesitated before, but if I didn’t tell you, you wouldn’t believe . After I asked A’lie to contact you, I didn’t sense any danger or feel nervous, so I decided to try my luck,” Deng Xin answered.
Chen Chuan nodded at that. This was how Deng Xin had stayed alive until now. “Did you co straight to the Elephant Gang after leaving Ferris Wheel?”
“I hid outside for a ti. Later on, due to a coincidence, I got to know Tonai and told him about my situation. He didn’t think I was a burden and brought to the Elephant Gang. I never left after that.”
“The Elephant Gang should be relatively safe. If you suddenly sought out, is it because you sensed sothing and think that the gang is no longer safe?”
“Yes. I have a feeling that the situation has changed. Today, the chills ca to again.”
Fear was on Deng Xin’s face.
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