Chapter 89: Guan Shan’s Weakness |
Three hours ago, at the pet store.
Lin Shuman squatted on the ground, speechless as she looked at the smug tabby cat.
To cover up the humiliating and laughable things the enemy had done to him, which could be laughed at for a lifetime, Li Li decided to kill everyone who knew his true identity? It sounded exactly like something a madman from the “Death Hive” would do.
But Lin Shuman remained vigilant, suspecting Li Li might be lying to mislead her.
As someone who could turn invisible, she had seen all sorts of people’s true faces. Even seemingly good people couldn’t be trusted, let alone Li Li, who had killed countless people.
“I know you won’t believe me,” Li Li sat upright in the cage. “What I’m about to say, you must report to your superior. But please make sure he doesn’t report it to his superior.”
Hearing this strange request, Lin Shuman remained silent.
Li Li didn’t mind, knowing everything he said would eventually be reported to Xia Lei. The important part was the second half of his statement.
“‘Death Hive’ has long known all your Youhao team’s information. They know who is in each squad, their levels, abilities, the intelligence you’ve obtained, and your actions. It’s all under their control.”
That was true…
Lin Shuman frowned inwardly. She had heard how dangerous the siege at the iron foundry had been. The Esper who could control molten iron was extremely hazardous.
Moreover, there had been no prior intelligence indicating his presence, leaving them unprepared.
Afterward, several intelligence officers were punished, but such a serious mistake was abnormal. The specifics were unclear, but it was definitely covered up.
Li Li continued in a persuasive tone, “Do you know why this is happening?”
Lin Shuman gave him a condescending look, “If I knew, why would I be here listening to you?”
Li Li: “…”
Is this person looking down on me? Forget it. I, the great Li Li, will not stoop to your level.
Li Li pretended not to hear, coldly stating, “Because you have a mole in the Special Security Group.”
Lin Shuman: “Oh.”
“….” Li Li waited, realizing Lin Shuman had no further reaction, and couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you going to refute me?”
Lin Shuman was puzzled, “Didn’t you just say there is one? Why would I refute?”
That makes sense, actually.
Li Li felt like an idiot. After a few seconds of contemplating cat life, he decided to forgo suspense with her: “I don’t know who the mole is. Only ‘Drone Bee One’ and the queen know, which is why ‘Death Hive’ has been able to stay hidden for so long.”
Lin Shuman said, “So you don’t know who the mole is…”
Li Li felt slighted again, but he no longer cared, “Do you know why they’ve been more active in Hangzhou recently? It’s because your Youhao team is the weakest.”
“You just completed the transition of the first echelon combat power. The newcomers have ability but no experience. Your instructor is a retiree. Here, ‘Death Hive’ can operate with maximum freedom.”
“But Guan Shan’s appearance completely disrupted their plans.”
“They don’t care about losing hundreds or thousands of Worker Bees. In the hive, they’re just tools. Using the ‘Ascension Candy,’ they can mass-produce this level of Esper… Do you understand what that means?”
Hearing such an exaggerated claim, Lin Shuman was stunned, “Mass-produce?”
Li Li licked his paws, “You’ve found clues, right? The mountain village, the children, they’re the raw materials. Zhao Hong’s son was also a randomly chosen experiment… Thinking that since the parents succeeded, the child had a high chance of success too.”
Lin Shuman felt a chill. Just because of one thought, a family was torn apart.
Or perhaps… many more.
Lin Shuman couldn’t help but ask, “Do you know where the village is?”
Li Li shook his head, “I don’t. ‘Drone Bee One’ is in charge of the experiments. Our only role was to provide our genes.”
He glanced at Lin Shuman and continued, “Don’t be in a hurry. It’s not time to panic yet.”
“As far as I know, they have two ongoing plans. First, using intelligence gaps to trap Xia Lei again. Second, it involves Guan Shan.”
“Hmm, from what I know, the former will take some time, but the latter should be soon.”
“Guan Shan?” Lin Shuman couldn’t believe it, “You’ve already lost Drone Bees, and you still want to target him? Is the queen coming this time?”
“Even if the queen comes, it might not work…”
Li Li muttered quietly, then snorted, “Because the Drone Bees are dead, this plan is likely to advance.”
“They don’t care about losing Worker Bees, but losing a Drone Bee is different for them.”
“That means the ‘sample’ is reduced.”
Lin Shuman realized, “Reduced, so they need to replenish? Use Guan Shan?”
She couldn’t help but comment, “But do you have any self-awareness? You’re almost wiped out by him, and still sending people?”
“…”
Li Li felt a tinge of embarrassment for his former colleagues and sighed, “They did have self-awareness…”
“Since they couldn’t win, they wouldn’t send more to die, but they wouldn’t give up either.”
Li Li’s expression turned complex, “So, they had a backup plan, to use Guan Shan’s weakness to threaten him.”
Lin Shuman blinked, “Guan Shan’s… weakness?”
This man, does he really have a weakness? Though he had no power level, he seemed nearly unbeatable below B-level.
Then her face changed. Could it be…
Li Li, looking pained, said, “Guan Shan’s weakness isn’t himself, it’s… that girl named Shen Dinghua. At least, that’s what they think.”
In a daze, Lin Shuman recalled Shen Dinghua’s smiling face and said, “So… they might be acting now?”
Li Li scratched his head, “Most likely. Ask Guan Shan if he’s been living with Shen Dinghua recently. If not, then they’ve probably acted.”
Recently… Guan Shan had indeed been separated from Shen Dinghua! Lin Shuman’s earpiece suddenly came to life. The rear team, monitoring Guan Shan from a distance, reported, “Guan Shan left for Yulan Apartments.”
Oh dear.
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