Chapter 102: Artificial Soul 29
Kui Xin saw the footage coming back from the invisible drones, her serious expression fixed on the two people in the picture.
Only Red and Silverface were present. The others were nowhere to be seen. Why?
Initially, when Kui Haidong talked about the escort team’s distribution, it clearly wasn’t like this. Red should be with Thorn Rose and Ambereye, but now, the team’s distribution was different.
Could it be that Kui Haidong had changed the team members temporarily?
How much truth was there in that evacuation plan? Or was this entire affair a deception from start to finish?
In the surveillance footage, Red suddenly pulled out his gun, turned, and shot upward, blowing up the drone with one bullet, causing the screen to go static.
“The opponent discovered and shot down the drone, and they’re sending another one to track us,” Augus reported in real-time.
“That’s a marksman,” Wang Feichi commented.
Red’s extraordinary abilities weren’t combat-oriented; it didn’t mean he lacked fighting capabilities. It was precisely because he knew the limitations of his own extraordinary abilities that he never missed any training, unlike Night Cicada, who couldn’t improve despite his weak body.
Meanwhile, Red was frantically calling out to Night Cicada: “Damn it, answer me quickly! If we wait much longer, both you and Silverface will be done for!”
A few seconds later, Night Cicada finally responded. His voice was weak and tired: “Just hold on a little longer. I’ve depleted my power and am recovering—it’ll take five more minutes.”
Red sensed something amiss, “What task did the boss have you carry out?”
“Don’t ask, I can’t talk about it,” Night Cicada said. “We’ve been friends for long, Red. I’ll save you, but the boss’s orders come first. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. There’s just a small unforeseen problem on our end.”
“Shit!” Red cursed under his breath.
“Once the pursuers catch up, confirm their identities. If they’re regular security officers, you surely have the means to dispose of them,” Night Cicada added, “If they’re someone unusual, report.”
Red’s mind raced.
Unlike Night Cicada, who played an irreplaceable role within the organization, Red was beneath him. Night Cicada answered directly to the “boss,” whereas Red managed part of the Awakened individuals within the group.
From a value standpoint, Red believed that though he fell short of Night Cicada, he wouldn’t be discarded. He remained loyal, never having thoughts of betraying the organization. How could he be discarded?
If he was discarded, it would only mean that the boss saw his value as less than what the boss desired.
“No… Something’s wrong…” Cold fear spread over Red’s skin. “Could it be… they know I’ve found out about their existence? How could they? I never showed it, acting deaf and dumb. They shouldn’t have noticed. There must be some other reason. Why?!”
Silverface asked, “When will they pick us up?”
“Optimistically speaking, in five minutes,” Red replied grimly.
“What if it’s not ideal?”
“If things go badly, we’ll all go to hell.”
Silverface’s pink eyes brimmed with determination. “Before they capture me, I’ll commit suicide. All for the Dawn.”
Red looked at Silverface in despair, “You little punk… Tsk, forget it.”
The core members of Mechanized Dawn knew that “All for the Dawn” was merely lip service. They would always say it at each meeting, often repeated by Kui Haidong, yet no one took it seriously—except Silverface.
Everyone within the group harbored different motives.
Ambereye Black Obsidian’s intentions remained inscrutable. Red was unaware of the background of these twins. Thorn Rose was originally a mercenary killer but was later recruited. Her loyalty to Mechanized Dawn was low, but she worked hard for the organization due to the hefty pay.
The bartender was preoccupied with his personal interests. He and Red had met at a bar and had a good rapport. Red had brought him into the organization.
Regarding Night Cicada, his cunning was the deepest. He repeatedly called Kui Haidong the “boss,” appearing loyal, but he actually followed “it”’s commands.
Red felt weary. People in the organization said “All for the Dawn” to blend in, but no one truly bought into it—except Silverface.
Silverface truly embraced the slogan. He worked earnestly towards the goal, his sights set on the grand plan of the organization, killing or selling his life as required, like a obedient though foolish dog, following even the most ridiculous and impractical instructions.
Sometimes Red pitied Silverface, who was naive and ignorant. But he thought that perhaps ignorance could also bring happiness.
Mechanized Dawn was deep with hidden meanings. Everyone was a piece on a chessboard, facing the risk of being discarded at any moment. Being a simpleton seemed better, free from fear and worry.
Above, thunder rumbled as a heavy rain approached, hiding the sky with dark clouds.
The checkpoint ahead was sealed off, preventing any vehicles from passing. The radio broadcasted warnings to clear the highway. There were already few vehicles during this time, and now the road was completely deserted. On both sides of the highway were barren wastelands with no structures.
“There’s no running away now; two legs can’t outrun a helicopter. With no cover around, they’ve cornered us,” Red resigned himself. “Prepare to fight.”
Silverface nodded, “Alright.”
He ran with Red into the building for shelter.
The helicopter hovered slightly further, cautious of powerful weapons that might shoot it down.
Wang Feichi exited first, followed by Kui Xin and Wei Zhi.
“Can you immobilize the target so they can’t move?” Wang Feichi asked Wei Zhi.
Wei Zhi hesitated: “Yes, but my ability has a range limit. When I immobilize space, neither attacks from enemies nor ours can penetrate. Neither my teammates nor I can escape the effect.”
“Then forget it; we’ll end up constrained ourselves,” Wang Feichi said. “I’ll handle it myself. Just stay a bit farther away.”
So Wei Zhi’s ability limitations were indeed as described… Kui Xin silently noted.
Each extraordinary ability came with its unique usage rules, and even abilities of the same type behaved differently depending on the user. Investigative Eyes didn’t show all details; exploration was necessary.
Kui Xin raised her gun, scanning the surroundings. She suspected that Night Cicada might use a spatial vortex for a surprise attack.
However, since Night Cicada hadn’t yet picked up Red and Silverface, it suggested he was busy with something else, unable to intercept them.
Red hid behind a barricade, then suddenly emerged to shoot Wang Feichi. The silenced gun made a small sound, and the bullet flew silently.
Wang Feichi’s eyebrows twitched. A layer of black flames appeared on his skin, melting the bullet into a puddle as it touched the fire.
The ground beneath his feet started melting due to the high temperature. The air was warped, and Wei Zhi and Kui Xin retreated several steps back, the heat even penetrating their excellent insulated combat gear.
A loud thunderclap heralded the onset of the storm as dark clouds poured rain down. The raindrops grew larger and wet the ground.
Wang Feichi’s palm sparked with black flames as he approached the checkpoint casually, even chewing bubble gum.
He formed a small ball with his black fire and flicked it, making it spin and dart into the building. The structure burst into flames.
“I lowered the fire’s intensity; it won’t be lethal, just severe burns,” Wang Feichi laughed, “Still, we’ll bring back the suspects for questioning…”
As he spoke, two figures emerged from the burning building, surrounded by translucent water, unharmed.
Kui Xin acted fastest, stepping forward and firing her gun at them. The bullets were blocked by Silverface’s water wall.
Silverface sent water whips at Wang Feichi, which evaporated into steam before reaching him.
Silverface clenched his palms, creating a misty barrier to obscure vision, while Red tossed his grenade. It exploded in the mist.
Flames colored the steam orangish, but the mist solidified due to Wei Zhi’s second space lockdown, allowing them to retreat safely.
“Wow, versatile abilities indeed. Proper development could be promising. Manipulating steam? Familiar extraordinary skill,” Wang Feichi frowned.
The control of water made him recall an early fallen comrade with similar versatility.
Red caught his breath: “Night Cicada, the opposing side has fire powers. It’s that S Rank. If you don’t respond soon, we’re dead. Killing us would be easy for someone in that state!”
He recognized “Lady Fortune” among them but kept silent, exchanging glances instead with Silverface. Words exchanged at this distance could be monitored, exposing her identity.
Red dismissed the possibility of Lady Fortune leaking information. First, the exact evacuation plan was unknown to her. Second, Kui Haidong mentioned that Kui Xin became the Secretary’s assistant, fitting her appearance here logically.
“S Rank?” Nigt Cicada paused, “So it’s this team then.”
“Our team?” Red’s tone grew grave, “A traitor among us?”
He looked fiercely at the bewildered Silverface, assuming what appeared docile was a traitor.
“Think again. A naive person can’t be a traitor,” Night Cicada said. “The boss’s plan works as the portal opens.”
Black flames engulfed the highway, encircling Red and Silverface in an inferno.
Flames cleared the mist, burning the rain droplets before they reached the ground. Wet surfaces dried rapidly, melting and bubbling with sticky asphalt.
Walking through the flames, Wang Feichi smiled amicably, “The water-using fella, can I see your face by taking off your mask?”
Silverface defended, but no water condensed. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead, evaporating instantly.
His hood combusted, turning to ashes, and he recoiled, his white hair singed.
Wang Feichi froze, “You… Also have albinism? My late comrade couldn’t have fathered someone like you…”
The metal mask heated up, forcing Silverface to remove it to prevent his face from being burned.
Seeing Silverface’s face, Wang Feichi widened his eyes in shocked disbelief, “How identical?! Even a biological son wouldn’t resemble so closely!”
Amazed beyond words, Wang Feichi stepped forward intending to grab Silverface.
At this moment, a large blue vortex expanded abruptly, and several silhouettes emerged, all clad in silver masks, white-haired, and startlingly similar in height and stance.
More than a dozen “Silverfaces” emerged!
Red was stunned too, prodding Silverface, “You’re a twin like Ambereye Black Obsidian?!”
Silverface scratched his head: “Yeah, we’re twins… The boss forbade me from mentioning it, so I didn’t.”
Deep-seated suspicion flickered in Red’s eyes. These twins were no ordinary “twins”…
The origins of Silverface and Ambereye Black Obsidian were shady!