Chapter 214

Chapter 214: The Boundless Dark Realm 69

The power of the Popov Clan was much greater than that of the Shu and Meng families in Hei Hai City. According to Amber, there were Awakened individuals among the bodyguards around Abrak.

All of Abrak’s bodyguards were trained by a private security company owned by the Popov Clan. Clearly, the purpose of this company was to safeguard the family members. However, it was also a form of surveillance, given that the current head of the clan was Polina, who needed to ensure that Abrak was obedient.

Polina had eliminated capable and ambitious family members, leaving behind only those who were sufficiently submissive or utterly useless. As Amber mentioned, Abrak’s greatest virtue was his obedience. However, this obedience seemed superficial, just a facade to deceive Polina. If he were truly obedient and loyal to the family, he wouldn’t have joined the Resistance Army, for Abrak sought to use them to topple Polina.

“Has the Resistance Army always been good at making promises?” Gui Xin mocked. “They promise this and that, but I haven’t seen them keep many.”

“No, actually, the Resistance Army plans to honor their promises to Abrak. They’re looking for an opportunity. Though Ghost didn’t explicitly say it, I inferred from his words that the plan is to control the Popov Clan.”

“In that case, Abrak seems quite valuable to the Resistance Army.” Gui Xin pondered. “I wonder what their ultimate goal is… Their slogan of freedom and equality sounds great, yet they don’t seem that free or equal in practice.”

“They probably want to overthrow the Federation and take its place,” Amber calmly replied. “Do you know? The Resistance Army originally had political backing. This party’s main aim was to disband the financial conglomerates…”

“I know. Later, this party was banned by the Federation, and the organization was labeled as a terrorist group.” Gui Xin recounted what Augus had once told her.

“This happened twenty-five years ago,” Amber said. “Whenever power gets involved, there are endless dark dealings. Even if the earlier parties of the Resistance Army claimed to dissolve the financial conglomerates, their intentions may not have been entirely pure. Twenty-five years ago, when the Federation elected its leader through democratic elections, whoever shouted the loudest and aligned closest with the public’s wishes would win more votes. It was a period of high human rights movements; ordinary people, suffocated by the financial conglomerates, went on strike daily. The precursor of the Resistance Army seized that opportunity and started shouting slogans.”

“Meaning the Resistance Army earned support from the common people back then?” Gui Xin asked.

“Yes, the commoners voted to support the Resistance Army, but some manipulated the votes, putting in leaders still aligned with the conglomerates’ interests. Once the new leader came to power, he immediately abolished the Resistance Army’s party by decree,” Amber continued. “But they did not give up; they gradually regathered their strength and went underground. That event caused a huge upheaval; all the public’s discontent was quashed and censored by public opinion. Over time, this was forgotten.”

“So, the Resistance Army resorted to illegality when legal means failed?”Gui Xin thought for a moment, “But their opponents don’t seem any more lawful; manipulating votes is definitely illegal…”

“It doesn’t matter; what counts is the result.” Amber smiled, “No one cares about procedural justice; the fruits of victory have already been harvested… I learned these details after joining; Ghost narrated a rather sanitized version.”

To this day, the Resistance Army’s slogans remained those of freedom and equality. Under this current situation, however, their declarations seemed even more hollow.

They cared less about the public than their own interests.

“The people behind the Resistance Army aren’t simple.” Amber pointed upwards. “Those supporting them might be the elite at the top of our world.”

Perhaps the position of the Resistance Army bore some signs.

Gui Xin frowned faintly, recalling that upon entering the game, the faction displayed was “Federation · Resistance Army.” The prefix “Federation” clearly indicated that the Resistance Army originated from a political faction within the Federation! This meant that the Resistance Army was effectively a product of internal strife within Federation politics.

Gui Xin had speculated this before, but Amber’s words shed new light on the mystique of the Resistance Army, deepening her understanding.

She felt a heavy heart, sensing the entire Second World was like a deep, enigmatic pond.

Every organization fought for their own interests, scheming, killing each other, opposing one another, disregarding the rules. The upper echelon manipulates power, their faces hidden behind curtains, their eyes dark and inscrutable, viewing the world as a stage and a chessboard.

They arrived beneath the Diamond Heart Building. With multiple entrances and exits, the main ones were reserved for dignitaries, while regular staff entered through side entrances.

Gui Xin and Amber circled the building as they conversed, she used electronic eyes to gather building data, while Augus provided internal structural plans, aiding in coordinate determination.

This building was incredibly complex with numerous rooms, making coordinates sensitive. They couldn’t afford mistakes, especially since the teleportation portals could be misaligned, risking exposure.

Gui Xin took out an optical camouflage button and attached it to Amber: “Technology from Mechanized Dawn—Optical Camouflage.”

With a press of the button, her appearance blended seamlessly into the background.

Amber wore the button too, slightly surprised.

“You’ve acquired quite advanced equipment…” a voice whispered from the air beside Gui Xin. “But shadows cannot be completely eliminated; light still casts shadows on the ground.”

“At night, shadows are less noticeable. It’s better to remain hidden,” Gui Xin replied and moved forward.

A small spatial vortex appeared under her foot, extending a hand-held camera into it, capturing the other side.

Augus said, “Coordinates correct, ready to proceed.”

Gui Xin sighed in relief; the vortex rapidly expanded. She stepped inside followed soon by Amber, landing silently.

Gui Xin scanned the area.

This was a storage room for cleaning robots, unmonitored and the perfect spot for infiltration.

“We’re on the 235th floor,” Gui Xin closed the vortex. “The 236th floor is Abrak’s reception room. He isn’t here or in the rest area; he’s on the rooftop. Servants are attending him while swimming, and his bodyguards are nearby. Oh, look—he has several beautiful actresses with him.”

Amber nodded silently, remembering she had the chameleon button. Gui Xin couldn’t see her actions, so she made a sound to acknowledge.

Gui Xin checked the image transmitted by Augus. Abrak was indeed luxurious, refusing robot servants for personal attendants…

“Let’s go upstairs. We’ll wait in hiding and try not to alert the bodyguards or servants,” Gui Xin decided to set coordinates on Abrak’s bedroom. Quiet movements were crucial today.

Abrak’s bedroom was empty, and the security system was under Augus’s control. With boldness, she opened a spatial vortex right inside his bedroom.

The luxury stunned her; a four-poster bed for ten people, fur rugs of animal pelts, and three walls lined with antique cabinets.

Abrak collected gems and gold; in the most prominent cabinet was a glittering crown brimming with rubies, including one larger than a pigeon egg.

“Typical of a local tycoon.” Gui Xin swore silently.

She pushed open a side closet door, revealing a dressing room filled with watches and brooches. The room’s expanse was astonishing, extending into a corridor filled with custom-made footwear and another area for suits and casual clothing.

“Is this a wardrobe or a palace?” Gui Xin muttered ironically.

She activated her handheld camera, asking, “Do all rich people live like this?”

“Exactly. He uses them once and discards them. Each item costs millions; taking them solves your funds issues,” Augus explained, “Especially since there are limited edition items he can sell for profit. I’ve disabled any alarm in here.”

“Insecure mindset,” Gui Xin said dismissively.

“What do you mean?” Augus inquired.

“A hundred million was too little. A bastard son has this kind of wealth. Think of the others in the Popov Clan!”

Amber noticed Gui Xin standing motionless at the wardrobe door and said, “What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing, let’s keep moving.”

Before entering the wardrobe, Gui Xin stuck a small device under the bed—a silent hypnotic gas bomb. Activated, it would release gas causing unconsciousness within seconds.

Later, a maid tried to enter the room, but was controlled by Amber, sent away.

Half an hour later, Abrak and his companions finished swimming and descended to the second floor, entering the bedroom.

Abrak kicked the door shut, leaving bodyguards outside.

Gui Xin timed it perfectly and detonated the bomb, waiting patiently for twenty seconds.

Opening the wardrobe, she found Abrak and his female companions unconscious. The scanner confirmed a tracker on Abrak’s necklace and wristwatch. Another tracker was embedded in a dental filling, which the scanner detected.

She injected him with a strong sedative, breaking teeth, then stepped out carrying him.

“Let’s go, mission accomplished.” Amber pointed to the jewelry. “Shouldn’t we take any?”

After a mental struggle, “No, it’s too risky.”

She had to avoid appearing like a thief, which would hurt their reputation. But keeping the wealth would expose them as greedy.

Gui Xin finally turned away, activating the vortex portal for transport.