Chapter 546: Mystery of the Tattoo
Meng Chao stared at A’Ji in slight shock. “Why do you want to join the mess, kid?”
“Hmph, don’t look down on me! I’m useful!” A’Ji puffed out his thin chest. “While working for Boss Feng, I went out many times. I know where everything is at. I know the streets and alleys in the lair, the headquarters of the gangs, the coliseums, illegal gambling sites, and most importantly, I know the headquarters of Golden Tooth Lair. I also know how to sneak through the messy underground tunnels without anyone noticing.
“Take me with you, Big Brother Chao. The lair is already fully fortified. You can’t just waltz into Golden Tooth Lair through the streets, right?”
“Well…” Meng Chao fell into deep thought and hesitated. “You’re right. Ms. Mulian and I are both unfamiliar with the layout of the lair, and we do need a guide.
“But you’re still young. What are you going to do if we run into danger?”
“I’m not scared! I’m not scared of any danger!” A’Ji might have been young, but he was cunning and filled with a strong sense of righteousness. He slapped his chest and said, “Don’t look down on me! I’m also from Leprosy Village! I have to work to protect my village!
“Besides, I’ve worked for Boss Feng for years. I’ve seen plenty of things. If I really run into danger and can’t win, I’ll know how to run.
“Please, Big Brother Chao, take me with you. What Ms. Mulian said just now is right. If you really fail, I’m most probably going to die while charging out with the crowd, since I’m so small. It would be better to go out and fight with you while I still have the chance. This way, I an at least be in control of my own fate.
“Ms. Mulian, please take me with you. You healed my hands, and you also healed me today, so you already saved me twice! I’m not some good person, but I still know that I need to repay kindness. I can’t just watch you take risks. I have to protect you!”
Meng Chao seemed amused by A’Ji when he said this with apparent earnestness.
“Alright!” Meng Chao swung his arm. “We’ll take you along!”
“YES!” A’Ji was delighted. Then, he stood at attention and gave Meng Chao and Su Mulian a messy salute before he said loudly, “Don’t worry! I won’t hold you back! I promise that I’ll complete my mission!”
“Alright.” Meng Chao nodded. Then, he said to Wild Wolf, “Well then, please ask the Wild Wolves to provide us with some equipment.
“No, I don’t need any powerful weapons. I’m not going out to slaughter people. And if we end up needing to spill blood, the other side will have weapons of ma.s.s destruction for me to plunder, and I can use my pistol too.
“I need some materials and drugs. Since Leprosy Village tests drugs and makes unique weapons, you should have all sorts of monster materials and top-notch gene medicine.
“Let me think. I need ten spider threads from Seven-star Spider Wolves, one hundred grams of poison from Poison Arrow frogs, two sets of manes from b.l.o.o.d.y Feather Arrow Pigs, one solid block of glue from the swim bladder of a Yellow Marlin because it has the strongest adhesive properties…
“Alright, I’ll just write a list. Please get me everything on the list. If you don’t have a certain material, I’ll be fine with something similar too.
“As for weapons, I just need some smoke bombs, tear bombs, and flash grenades. What’s important is Ms. Mulian and A’Ji. Please get two sets of lightweight bulletproof vests for them.”
The items in Meng Chao’s list were not completely out of the ordinary, so Wild Wolves had most of them in store.
They lacked some of the items, like the swim bladders of Yellow Marlins, but they could replace them with slightly inferior materials, like the swim bladders from Blue Marlins.
Soon, the Wild Wolves packed three military-grade backpacks full of materials and weapons.
They also prepared three large cloaks with drawstrings at the sides of the hoods. Once the group put on the goggles and tightened the drawstrings, their skin would be completely covered.
Su Mulian and A’Ji were not as built as Strong Arm Zhang Tie, and they were not especially large either. Once they disguised themselves, they were no different from normal lair citizens.
“Ms. Mulian, take the account book I just gave you,” Wild Wolf said. “I’m not sure whether that thing will be useful, but it might turn out to be an important bargaining chip. I believe that the gangs won’t bother about where all the money and test results in the account book went, but the mega corporations won’t want the truth of Leprosy Village to be revealed.
“But I don’t know how to use it so that this bargaining chip will show its maximum value. Perhaps Meng Chao will be able to think of something for you.”
Su Mulian tightened her grip around the fang pendant that had the data storage chip in it. She carefully hung it around her neck.
“Alright, let’s go.” Meng Chao squinted and scanned the other side of the river. “The river surrounds the entire village, but it’s impossible for each part to be defended heavily. We’ll find a spot with the thickest smoke and swim over.”
“There’s no need for so much trouble,” Wild Wolf said. “Come with me. I’ll take you to the secret tunnel.”
“Secret tunnel?” Meng Chao was slightly stunned.
“Leprosy Village can’t be completely isolated from the world. The underground ventilation pipes, drainage pipes, maintenance tunnels, and all sorts of complicated underground cracks lead to the world outside.” Wild Wolf smiled. “Over the past few decades, the gangs have always served as the mega corporations’ puppets and tried to lock us up in an attempt to monopolize survival resources and make endless demands from us.
“Unfortunately, the gangs aren’t completely united. For example, the Underground Emperor clearly shares different interests compared to the hooligans of the other gangs.
“As long as Jin Wanhao focuses on working with the mega corporations, he will be able to gain success and live a lavish life, but the hooligans won’t get anything, so they make use of underground tunnels to conduct small businesses with the village and earn a living.”
As he spoke, he brought Meng Chao, A’Ji, and Su Mulian behind a building that was far from the river.
They were in an alley filled with trash.
It was guarded by a few Wild Wolves in motorized armor.
When they saw Wild Wolf, they quickly used thick crowbars and special tools to pry open a few stainless steel trash cans that seemed to be fixed to the ground. They quickly moved them to the side.
A manhole appeared under the trash cans.
“If you crawl through this place, you’ll pa.s.s under the river and reach the outside world,” Wild Wolf said. “But this tunnel hasn’t been in use for a long time. We don’t know what’s the situation at the exit. Based on the direction and distance, when you crawl out, you should be behind the armed gang members. I can’t guarantee what is going to happen if you’re discovered, though.
“Remember this, you only have twelve hours. If you’re by even one second, I can’t guarantee that I will be able to control the situation, not when it’s about to explode.”
“Got it,” Meng Chao said. “But since there are so many secret tunnels that are connected to the outside world, this means that no matter what, Leprosy Village is still part of Golden Tooth Lair, and by extension, Dragon City, right? In fact, you can say that you’re part of a whole that can’t be separated, no?”
Wild Wolf smiled. “Perhaps.” He looked at Meng Chao and said, “I hope… that you’ll really be able to bring back good news.”
“I will,” Meng Chao stated firmly.
At that moment, more gunshots sounded near the river once again.
Meng Chao c.o.c.ked an eyebrow.
“I asked them to intentionally fire a few more shots to attract the attention of the gang members across the river so that it’ll be easier for you to sneak out of the tunnel,” Wild Wolf explained. “Once you get inside, I will have everyone retreat and stop getting into contact with the other side of the river.”
“Thank you, Wild Wolf.” Meng Chao opened the manhole cover and said to Su Mulian and A’Ji, “Time’s running out. We must go immediately. A’Ji, you’re the smallest, so you take point.”
“Got it!” There was no fear on A’Ji’s face. He crawled into the tunnel like an ape-type monster.
Su Mulian crawled in as well.
Meng Chao peeked in and asked, “What’s the situation inside?”
“It’s a bit stuffy. There’s also the smell of rotten eggs. If you breathe in too much, you’ll feel dizzy.” A’Ji’s m.u.f.fled voice came from the darkness.
“Wear a mask with poison filtration in it. Persevere for a while. If you can’t hold on, ask Ms. Mulian to heal you. You just need to continue crawling forward. I’ll have Wild Wolf get some medicine!”
Meng Chao stared at the darkness. His eyes sparkled and shone with a mysterious light.
It was only when A’Ji and Su Mulian’s thermal images became incredibly small and they disappeared behind a corner that he turned his head around and rearranged the contents of his backpack at a leisurely pace.
“By the way, are you familiar with Boss Feng, Wild Wolf?” he asked in a seemingly casual manner. “I’m talking about Three Fingers Feng, the one who said that he can steal everything in the lair with just three fingers.”
Wild Wolf was a little taken aback by the question, but he still answered. “I only knew him somewhat. I wasn’t very close to him. Three Fingers Feng took care of a group of children, and their main task was to work outside Leprosy Village. They didn’t bother Wild Wolves.
“That guy knew that he shouldn’t steal from his own villagers and was somewhat respectful to Wild Wolves. Is there a problem?”
“No. I just wanted to ask whether Three Fingers Feng and the children he took care of have any special tattoos?” Meng Chao probed.
“Special tattoo?” Wild Wolf thought about it and shook his head. “I don’t remember seeing any tattoo on Three Fingers Feng. And I don’t think it’s a good idea to put any tattoos on the kids either.”
“Oh? And why is that?” Meng Chao asked.
“Three Fingers Feng was a thief, and he took care of a group of thieves. What’s the most important thing for thieves? To be as ordinary as possible and not stand out, of course. Even if they were caught, they must pretend to be innocent,” Wild Wolf said. “There are plenty of times when one thief steals then pa.s.ses the stolen goods to someone in cahoots with them. Even if they’re caught red handed after that, as long as they don’t have any stolen goods on them, the victim can’t do anything to them.
“But if the entire gang of thieves has the same tattoo, while it looks cool, it’d be the same as confessing without there even being a need for an interrogation whenever they’re caught. It’s the same as writing the word ‘thief’ on your own body.
“The Wild Wolves like getting all sorts of tattoos, but I don’t think that Three Fingers Feng and the rest did the same.”
“Makes sense.” Meng Chao’s mind raced, and he mumbled to himself. “For a professional wealth transferer, there’s really no reason to make everyone get the same tattoo. Then, do any of the Wild Wolves have special tattoos?”
“What sort of tattoo are you looking for?” Wild Wolf asked.
“An X-shaped eye.” Meng Chao raised two fingers and crossed them. “It looks like this. It’s a tattoo that looks like two eyes overlapping with each other to form an X.”