While Shang Jianyao identified the unconscious people, the soldiers weren’t idle. Wearing gas masks, they guarded the surroundings to prevent any accidents or carefully searched every corner of the basement.
At this moment, a soldier shouted, “There’s a door here!”
In the corner to the right of the basement stood a human statue made of marble. Behind it hid a door that almost blended into the wall.
The soldiers tried to push the statue, but they realized that it was very easy because there were wheels and hidden rails at the bottom of the statue.
As the door opened, a dark passage appeared in front of everyone. There was an electric lamp inside, but it seemed like there was only one at long, fixed distances, making it appear dim.
“Flashbangs, incapacitating rounds,” the muscular commander, Ducas, ordered again.
After another clearing, he and Cassiel led a number of soldiers in gas masks and rushed into the passage.
Jiang Baimian curiously followed while Shang Jianyao was faster than her.
The tunnel was rather long. After a few minutes, the pursuers saw the exit and found themselves back at ground level.
This area was already outside the Zhao family manor, near the Taiwei River, and in a hidden spot on a hill.
“There are tire tracks—fresh ones.” The short, dark-yellow-haired Cassiel squatted down and examined them carefully.
Ducas nodded. “There’s no rush.”
He raised his walkie-talkie and reported the matter to Phocas, seeking his permission to send soldiers over with transportation.
Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and Genava ‘shrank’ a little further away and quietly watched everything.
Jiang Baimian pursed her lips and thoughtfully said, “I feel like something is being strung together.”
“Fishing line?” Shang Jianyao asked with a smile.
“Maybe.” Jiang Baimian nodded slightly.
Genava joined their discussion. “Meng Gang and Zhao Yixue are bait? Which fish does the Anti-intellectualism Church want?”
“That depends on the subsequent development.” Jiang Baimian smiled. “Maybe it’s not a fishing line but a manipulative string from the Old World’s marionette shows.”
As they spoke, the soldiers in charge of surrounding the Zhao family manor drove military vehicles over. The Old Task Force’s military-green jeep clearly wasn’t included.
Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and Genava could only squeeze into a military vehicle’s trailer. They propped their hands over the partition and allowed the wind to blow through their hair.
“The countryside here is quite beautiful; the buildings are also very unique.” Jiang Baimian observed the local customs and admired the surrounding scenery.
This beautiful scene had a large number of slaves scattered across the fields as they did all kinds of work.
As there weren’t many cars coming and going at this time, and the roads outside the city were filled with mud, it was relatively easy for Ducas, Cassiel, and the others to follow the car tracks. They halted and continued repeatedly.
About ten minutes later, the military vehicles stopped outside another manor. Not only were wheat, oats, and rye planted here, but there was also a vineyard.
Cassiel got out of his vehicle, squatted down, and examined it before saying in a deep voice, “It’s the vehicle from before. It entered the manor.”
Ducas, Jiang Baimian, and the others approached one after another and used their own methods to confirm it.
After Zhao Yixue and Meng Gang’s car disappeared at the manor entrance, Ducas looked up and said with a solemn expression, “This is Elder Varro’s favorite manor. He often stays here.”
Elder Varro… Jiang Baimian silently repeated the name and looked at Shang Jianyao. She mouthed: “It’s strung together.”
The Elder named Varro was one of those who wielded power in First City. He was the deputy of consul and commander-in-chief, Beulis.
They had a large number of supporters in the Senate. Their philosophy was to keep the status quo as much as possible, provided that there were no major disasters. They were called Conservatives by Pangu Biology’s intelligence system.
The new Senate members yearned for reform and gathered around Gaius under the banner of ‘rebuilding First City and returning land to the citizens.’ He was also a general, the commander of First City’s Eastern Army. Pangu Biology’s intelligence system called them Reformists.
In addition, many generals and Elders of the inspectorate chose to remain neutral and not participate in the disputes between the two factions. They were known as the Centrist faction. Phocas—the old fellow in his semi-retired state—was one of them.
This was no secret. The other large factions knew this, and Jiang Baimian learned of it from the information provided by the company.
After reading Jiang Baimian’s lips, Shang Jianyao nodded seriously.
As for whether he really interpreted her meaning, Jiang Baimian didn’t know.
“We can’t make a decision ourselves when it involves Elder Varro. We have to consult the General,” Cassiel reminded her colleague.
Although Ducas was a muscular man, he still had brains. He didn’t act on impulse and informed Phocas of the tracking results via walkie-talkie.
After hearing his report, Phocas calmly said, “Cease all operations and wait for me to come over.”
Upon seeing this, Jiang Baimian took a few steps back and distanced herself from Ducas and the others.
After Shang Jianyao and Genava walked over, she suppressed her voice and said, “I wonder what drama will play out later. Let’s just watch and not get involved.”
“Sigh, I really want to join this production and perform.” Shang Jianyao had a look of regret.
Jiang Baimian chuckled. “Determine your priorities.”
After a while, the soldiers and combat robots—who had originally surrounded the Zhao family manor—rushed over with Phocas’s armored command vehicle.
Phocas summoned the two majors and communicated with them for a few minutes to be kept abreast of the situation. He then sat in the armored vehicle for a while.
After an unknown period of time, he finally opened the armored vehicle’s door and stood at the edge of the vehicle. He looked around and said loudly, “Soldiers, heed my order.”
His expression was abnormally serious, and his sparse, earthen-yellow hair no longer stood out.
After the soldiers looked over, Phocas loudly said, “You should know very well that we are investigating a heretic of the Anti-intellectualism Church. They once assassinated Elder Sols and brought us chaos.
“They are dangerous; they want to subvert us. They want all citizens to be their puppets—to never think and only know how to comply. For the sake of all citizens’ safety and First City’s future, we have to capture those key members as soon as possible and eliminate this organization. During this process, we mustn’t falter no matter who or what obstacles stand in the way. I’ll bear all the consequences. Besides, we have the consul’s warrant. Everything adheres to First City’s laws.”
After hearing Phocas’s speech, many soldiers raised their weapons and shouted, “General! General!”
The other soldiers were inspired by this atmosphere and cheered as well.
After the shouting subsided, Phocas pointed at Varro’s manor. “Soldiers, I order you to take over the compound. Fire at will!!”
At this moment, he was like an old lion that had regained its former might.
“Yes, General!” the soldiers replied in unison.
Phocas nodded in satisfaction and methodically assigned the missions.
Just like before, a portion of the soldiers spread out with a portion of the combat bots and surrounded the manor. The remaining soldiers and combat bots followed the two majors—Ducas and Cassiel—and rushed toward the entrance of Varro’s manor.
When they passed by Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and Genava, Ducas stopped and asked, “Are you guys coming?”
Jiang Baimian shook her head without hesitation. “We’ll identify the targets after you take over the compound.”
Ducas didn’t persuade her and left the hidden spot.
After watching them approach the manor, disarm the guards at the door, and march in, Jiang Baimian retracted her gaze and looked at Phocas—who was protected by many soldiers.
The general sat in the passenger seat of the armored command vehicle and focused on Varro’s manor, silent and dignified.
Suddenly, a loud boom echoed through the clouds.
An explosion happened in Elder Varro’s manor. Following that, concentrated gunshots sounded, mixed with different rumbles.
Upon seeing this, Jiang Baimian couldn’t help but chuckle because this was something she had expected.
“Something really will happen…” She sighed at Shang Jianyao and Genava.
“What a lack of creativity,” Shang Jianyao criticized.
The intense battle only lasted for a short period of time before silence returned to Varro’s manor.
After a while, a military vehicle that entered the manor drove out.
Ducas and Cassiel jumped out of the car one after another and saluted Phocas from afar. “General, mission accomplished. All targets have been captured!”
In the armored command vehicle, Phocas nodded and asked loudly, “Why didn’t you report it through the walkie-talkie?”
Ducas and Cassiel looked at each other and hesitated for two seconds before shouting in the same loud voice. “General, apart from the Anti-intellectualism Church’s members, there are also Varro’s trusted aides, as well as members of the Salvation Army!”
His voice spread across the entire area, allowing many soldiers to hear him clearly.
Salvation Army… Jiang Baimian raised her eyebrows.
To First City, the Salvation Army was always their number one enemy.