He stared in bewilderment at the child in front of him because he genuinely didn't expect the master would send someone so seemingly insignificant.
In his eyes, what remarkable abilities could a child of six or seven possibly have?—If such a child truly existed, the master would surely treat them like a precious jewel and never send them on this mission with someone like him, a fringe character.
The child turned around, looking disdainfully at the famously renowned officer.
"Can't you talk less? Do you even know how annoying your voice sounds?"
The officer glanced at this child, his eyebrows slightly raised.
To be honest, if it weren't for the fact that he and his group were still under the master's surveillance, he wouldn't have tolerated this child until now.
Weak yet arrogant, ignorant yet presumptuous.
Just as the man was filled with resentment and thinking these thoughts, the child suddenly screamed.
"Quick...escape for your life! I feel something terrible is coming!"
That voice was filled with deep-seated fear, possessing a strong contagious effect.
Even a man who enjoyed killing was moved by the fear conveyed in those words, even shivering involuntarily for a moment.
Annoyed, he glared at the child in front of him and rebuked, "What are you screaming about here! What's there to be afraid of? Aren't I here to protect you?"
Confident in his own abilities, he didn't believe the child's felt fear would pose any threat to him.
He couldn't hide the sinister look on his face any longer, his dangerous gaze sizing up the boy.
"Seems like Li Qiao was right..."
A voice suddenly sounded, followed by a figure slowly emerging from behind a nearby fake tree.
It was Number Five!
Unbeknownst to all, he had quietly hidden behind the tree.
He seemed to have been waiting for someone to discover this base, which was supposed to be unknown except to Joseph and his group.
"Those engineers have really loose lips," he cracked his knuckles, moving his muscles, his gaze shifting between the child and the man.
He regrettably sighed, "I should have said earlier, master Joseph should've eliminated all those engineers."
"That way, people like these little pests, this human trash wouldn't easily stumble in here," he added with a smirk, fixing his gaze on the desperate-looking child and the man whose sinister expression remained unchanged.
Number Five laughed inwardly, seems the child has a clear understanding of his own abilities.
Such talents are both capable and easy to control, who wouldn't want a few more of them?
Just as Number Five made up his mind, the man with the scowling face had already drawn his gun.
Number Five sneered, disdaining the fool in front of him who was ignorant of the bigger world.
After all... the next second, this fool would meet King Yama.
He didn't even bother to look at the bullet.
Because he believed there was no need to dodge.
"Do you want to live?" At this moment, Number Five had shed his previous arrogant and prideful stance, forcing a smile that looked more painful than crying.
The little boy hurriedly nodded at the uncle who seemed dangerous but was offering him a way out.
The man with the scowling face stared fixedly at Number Five.
He didn't understand why the bullet hadn't hit Number Five.
"There's always been a large magnet hidden here, in other words—this is a gun-free zone," Number Five felt annoyed by the man's scowling gaze and malice, so he stood up and explained.
After explaining, he gently flicked out a wooden bead.
Then the man with the scowling face fell to the ground, motionless.
Siphet looked at Asilia and softly spoke, "It's best you don't get involved in today's matters."
Even though Asilia still harbors slight grudges against Siphet and Asia, as quite some time has passed, she's nearly moved on.
Besides, she knows full well that neither Siphet nor Asia are cold-hearted.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to find Siphet.
"Why? You know very well you're not my match." Asilia's sole pair of discerning eyes fixed on Siphet.
Siphet didn't care; she simply fell silent for a moment.
Suddenly, she tossed Watanabe Misan's earrings onto the ground, followed by removing her own outerwear.
She stomped on these items fiercely, as if venting endless resentment.
Asilia stood by watching silently, without asking.
She profoundly understood the destined fate of all those who pursued formidable power, herself excluded.
Being manipulated, liberty forever beyond reach...
Sometimes Asilia asked herself: did her wounds save her in some way?
After a long while, Siphet's expression gradually returned to calm. She looked at Asilia and slowly began, "The one behind me has always known about my ties with Joseph and them, so he's used every method to monitor me. To ensure our forthcoming conversation remains undisclosed...you understand."
Siphet gave Asilia a helpless look, shrugged and spread her hands.
For a moment, Asilia seemed to be nostalgically transported back to their happy days pursuing power together.
She gave Siphet a gentle smile, indicating understanding.
Siphet continued, "He sent me this time, thinking that due to my ties with Joseph and them, he can greatly enhance the odds of taking over this base. But..."
Asilia looked calmly at Siphet, knowing she was about to disclose the genuine secret she knew.
"But in fact, precisely because I've long had ties with Joseph and them, I know this operation is doomed to fail. And after failure, I'll either flee for my life or face a dead end."
Siphet's words enclosed no intensity of emotion; she resembled someone slightly drunk spilling out her grievances and complaints to a friend at a pub.
Merely simple complaints.
Asilia fell silent, listening to Siphet continue.
"They will all fail, whether it's the scheme of the one behind me or the plan of Li Congjing's foolish father." Siphet said seriously, looking into Asilia's eyes, and repeated, "They will all fail."
Asilia perceived the tone of resigned helplessness and despair in Siphet's voice and detected a trace of nonchalance and liberation.
For Siphet, who lacked the courage to face death, maybe this was liberation.
"The world calls Joseph insane, but they don't know the extent of Joseph's madness." Siphet returned to her calm tone, resembling a poor speaker simply reading from a script, "Joseph is a crazy man vividly aware of his end but never seeks to evade."
"Perhaps to him, death is liberation?" Siphet murmured, seemingly talking to herself.
...
At the same time, in another place, Lin Beichen was observing the handsome man in front of him and Flying Eagle and others seated at the table feasting.
Wild Ox saw Xia Luyao and Lin Beichen's arrival, swallowed his food delightedly, and warmly greeted them, "Captain, Lin Beichen, come join us! These things are delicious!" With that, he stuffed another pig's trotter in his mouth.
Xia Luyao watched Wild Ox's behavior, murderous intent rising in his heart.
This Wild Ox absolutely cannot be left, sooner or later he will ruin their Venomous Snake Squad's reputation.