Chapter 548: Deception
“We only have a limited amount of time. I’ll give you three seconds to make a choice between two options.” Meng Chao continued sc.r.a.ping the blade against the leader’s neck artery and coughing. “First, quietly pee and come with me so that we can talk, then help me. Second, do your best to scream, and I’ll cut off your trachea, neck artery, and voice box. I’ll then drag you away quietly so that we can talk, and you will still help me a little.
“Of course, when it comes to the second choice, you will no longer be able to make any sound, so you will only make gestures and write, so it’ll be very troublesome.
“So-cough-I hope that you make the first choice. What do you think?”
The leader’s eyes roved about, and he saw the glint of the blade on his neck.
He shuddered and raised one finger.
“Very good. You can continue peeing. Holding it back isn’t good, after all.”
Meng Chao patiently waited for the leader to clean himself before he brought him back to the building where he originally was through an empty alley.
Since he kept coughing on his way back, the blade left around eight b.l.o.o.d.y gashes on the leader’s neck, scaring the leader so much that his eyeb.a.l.l.s nearly popped out. He did not dare to make even a single sound.
And the “wound” on Meng Chao’s stomach kept “bleeding” and releasing “tissue fluid” while he coughed, dirtying the leader’s urban camouflage fighting suit.
“Sit.”
Once they entered the room, Meng Chao found that A’Ji and Su Mulian had already hidden.
Meng Chao sat down while leaning against the door. He gasped and used his saber to make a few random gestures, as if he was exhausted.
The gunpowder and crystal powder he ate earlier started showing their effects. At that moment, his eyes were sunken and he was drenched in sweat. He looked like he needed to use all his strength to do even the slightest thing.
The leader was very observant. When he saw this, his eyes started sparkling with who knew what thoughts hiding behind them.
“You’re from Poison Scorpion?” Meng Chao saw the poison scorpion tattoo on the back of his hand.
“Poison Scorpion’s Dong Sibao.” The leader touched the b.l.o.o.d.y gashes on his neck.
His voice box was already injured by Meng Chao’s killing intent, and his voice was really hoa.r.s.e.
“Sorry, the situation was unique. I could only use the worst plan possible.” Meng Chao looked at Dong Sibao. “Do you know me?”
The gangs in the lair had received support from the mega corporations in secret.
Poison Scorpion was a gang second only to Golden Tooth in the lair, and their support was Sky Pillar Corporation.
The first time Meng Chao entered the lair was to look for clues about the murderous pets with Lu Siya. At that time, they looked for a leader from Poison Scorpion to be their guide.
Meng Chao had fought beside Lu Siya during the n.o.ble Descent Hotel Ambush as well and killed the Demonic Abyss Eye.
Sky Pillar Corporation packaged this matter nicely and turned it into Lu Siya’s glorious achievement. After the social media platforms and promotional organizations repeatedly spoke about it, everyone in Dragon City knew about it and were very familiar with the whole thing.
Of course, Lu Siya did not forget Meng Chao.
It did not matter whether she valued her relationship with him, had high regard for his potential, or hoped to get into the vast low-end and middle-tier market that Meng Chao represented, in her promotions, she always lumped herself together with Meng Chao.
Even if he was training in the wild and did not have the time to join the promotion of certain brands, she often mentioned his name to set up the image that she was someone who valued her friendship.
Besides, Meng Chao’s Superstar was working closely with Sky Pillar Corporation through Lu Siya and her father.
In the eyes of Poison Scorpion, Meng Chao should be somewhat of a strategic partner with Sky Pillar Corporation. Hence, when he noticed that the leader was from Poison Scorpion, Meng Chao sighed slightly in relief.
Just as he expected, Dong Sibao nodded and answered honestly. “I know, you’re Meng Chao.”
“Good, then do you know that I’m an off-site member of the abnormal beast research department and stopped the scheme of an abnormal beast in n.o.ble Descent Hotel half a year ago?”
“I know.”
“Then, do you know that this morning a group of hunters entered the lair to catch the abnormal beast related to the Deification Capsules? That the members were all veteran hunters who came from mega corporations and I was one of them? This hunting squad had the support from various gangs in the lair. Even Saber Jin Wanhao gave us the green light and let us do whatever we wanted.”
“I know. This morning, our gang leader personally gave the order to work unconditionally with you in whatever operation you cooked up.”
“That’s good.” Meng Chao heaved a long sigh. “Then, you should believe what I say, right?”
“Of course.” Dong Sibao touched his neck and smiled wanly. “Mr. Meng Chao, I know that you’re friends with Ms. Lu Siya. Honestly, you didn’t have to use this method to bring me over. You could have just talked to me if you wanted to know something. I wouldn’t have dared to disobey you.”
“Sorry, you know that many things happened in Golden Tooth Lair today. Once everything has settled, I’ll personally set up a banquet to apologize to you.” Meng Chao tilted his chin in the direction outside the window. “But even if there are monsters lurking in Leprosy Village, there is no need for such a grand lineup, is there? You guys look like you want to mobilize heavy weapons and level Leprosy Village to the ground. Mr. Dong, what on earth is going on?”
“I don’t know either,” Dong Sibao said. “Right now, there is a shocking pitched battle at the borders of Dragon City and there are monsters lurking in the lair. They might cause major destruction at any moment. Our communications are facing major interference, and our leaders’ expressions are each darker than the last.
“The government asked all of us to come here and be ready for combat. We didn’t dare say anything about it and just carried out orders.”
“Alright, if you don’t know, then I’ll tell you,” Meng Chao said. “There is indeed a smart abnormal beast lurking in Leprosy Village, but its goal isn’t just Leprosy Village. It wants the entire lair.
“I’ve figured the general gist of the abnormal beast’s scheme, so I need to tell Saber Jin Wanhao everything and have him spread the information around.
“I know that you wouldn’t be able to meet Saber Jin Wanhao directly, but I still have to ask you to tell what I just told you to the highest-ranking person-in-charge you can find so that he can come and find me as soon as possible. Can you do that?”
Dong Sibao stared at the wound on the left side of Meng Chao abdomen and nodded. “Sure. I’ll have someone notify the vice gang leader now and have him come here with a doctor.”
“No. The information I brought is of utmost importance. It might decide Golden Tooth Lair’s survival. Right now, I don’t know who I can trust. Mr. Dong, could you personally head to your headquarters and tell your vice gang leader?” Meng Chao asked earnestly. “I’m begging you!”
Dong Sibao hesitated for a moment before he nodded. “Alright, I’ll immediately head to the headquarters!”
“Thank you.” Meng Chao smiled. He looked at the messy gashes on the man’s neck and felt a little embarra.s.sed. After a moment’s consideration, he decided to flip over his saber and presented it then hilt first. “I’m really sorry for what happened just now. Do you want to stab me a few times to vent your anger?”
Dong Sibao smiled as well. “You must be joking, Mr. Meng.”
He removed his thigh bag, unzipped it, and revealed the medicine and battlefield suturing kit inside. “I’ll go now. I’ll leave this emergency medicine and tools inside for you. Please treat your wounds. You must persevere, Mr. Meng!”
“Thanks. Go on ahead, Mr. Dong.” Meng Chao took the medical bag with a tight grip and gave a weak smile.
Dong Sibao hurriedly left the building, and A’Ji as well as Su Mulian immediately came out.
“Big Brother Chao, can that person be trusted?” A’Ji asked with a frown. Clearly, he disapproved of Meng Chao’s method.
“Of course not.” Meng Chao instantly regained a sharp look.
He narrowed his eyes and poured out all the contents of the medical bag Dong Sibao left for him. He gathered spirit energy on his fingers and carefully pressed and squashed the medical bag, especially the flaps and hidden pockets. He checked the bag repeatedly for faint b.u.mps and st.i.tches.
Just as he expected, the moment he picked at one spot with his harvesting blade, it tore open the flap, and with his fingertip, Meng Chao brought out a chip that was not bigger than one-quarter of a fingernail.
“What is that?” Su Mulian asked in shock.
“A locating chip,” Meng Chao said coldly. “If I take this medical bag with me, no matter where I go, I’ll be within the gangs’ radar.”
He did not seem surprised that Dong Sibao would leave a locating chip behind.
He threw the medical bag to the side and brought out the items from the military-grade backpack he got in Leprosy Village. He started swiftly making arrangements.
He first used the Seven-star Spider Wolf threads to set up a few tripwires at the door and the sides of the window.
Then, he set the smoke bombs and flash bombs to their most sensitive setting and carefully tied them to the strings.
He also placed a few inflammable monster materials in the room. After being ignited, they would release a pungent scent that would make it seem like they were poisonous, but in truth, they posed no threat to the human body.
After a short five minutes, the room turned into a trap filled with all sorts of dangers. It did not matter whether the enemy attacked from the windows, door, ceiling, or floor, they would definitely experience something they would have a hard time forgetting.
Meng Chao nodded in satisfaction once he saw that the threads, smoke bombs, and flash bombs covered every inch of the room. “Let’s go. You should have investigated the terrain nearby, right? Is there any place that will allow us to see this room easily from the distance and is open in all directions so that it’s easy for us to run?”
A’Ji then proved that he was indeed a professional “wealth transferer”.
He knew of a high spot Meng Chao wanted two streets away.
But he could not understand what they were doing. “Big Brother Chao, you didn’t trust that person from the start?”
Meng Chao swept A’Ji a glance. “That’s right. The situation is very complicated, so I don’t trust anyone.”
“Then, why did you bring him here and tell him that you’ll wait here for them?” A’Ji could not understand it.
“I’ll understand what att.i.tude the gangs have toward me based on what people he brings. Then, from there, I can tell whether the ranks of the gangs have been completely infiltrated and controlled by the abnormal beast,” Meng Chao explained. “If he only brings a small number of people and a doctor, it means that he has no ill will toward me and I can keep him alive as well as trust him.
“But if he only agreed to my request on the surface and mobilizes a large number of elites to surround the building or even charges straight in without another word, then we will need to reset our plan.”