There were three things Ren Xiaosu and Yang Xiaojin needed to do.
The first was to kill the current intelligence director.
The second was to break into the secret prison and release Wang Yun and the Great Hoodwinker. With their strength combined, those two would definitely be a great help to them. Moreover, the Great Hoodwinker already wrote in his letter that he would try to persuade several other supernatural beings in the secret prison to join them in the Prosperous Northwest.
And the third task would be to rescue Wang Yun’s 200-odd subordinates with the newly recruited personnel.
After listening to Ren Xiaosu’s analysis, Yang Xiaojin asked, “Can the Great Hoodwinker convince the other supernatural beings in the secret prison?”
Ren Xiaosu thought for a while and replied, “I think it should be quite difficult. But judging by how confident he sounded in the intel that he relayed to me, we’ll believe him this one time. And even if those people do not want to join the Prosperous Northwest, they’ll still create chaos so that they can escape from here. Having the stronghold in chaos is much better than not.”
“Mhm.” Yang Xiaojin nodded. “Then we’ll do it according to your plan.”
At this moment, the Great Hoodwinker was saying to the supernatural being in the next cell over, “Listen to me, bro, do you believe in fate…”
The supernatural being in the next cell said in a low voice, “No.”
The Great Hoodwinker was stumped. He thought for a moment before saying, “Let’s restart the conversation. Do you believe in destiny…”
“No.”
The Great Hoodwinker was getting a little frustrated. “Why is it that you don’t believe in anything? Let me tell you this, you’ll get into trouble if you’re like this!”
However, the other party said slowly, “We’re all in the intelligence field, so I already know about you. Great Hoodwinker, you’ve persuaded quite a lot of people to join the Northwest over the years, so it’s not like you really need me.”
“You’re different.” The Great Hoodwinker said, “I came here specifically for you this time!”
On the other side of the prisoner, Wang Yun suddenly said, “Don’t believe him. He actually came here for me.”
The Great Hoodwinker was dumbfounded by Wang Yun’s sudden rebuttal. “If you don’t wanna help me, so be it. But can you not mess things up for me?”
The supernatural beings were all locked up in the same row of special holding cells. The entire cell was made of metal, and it was extremely strong.
Wang Yun had tried to escape before, but he could not get out with his powers.
However, there were still some flaws in the design of the cells. By locking the supernatural beings next to one another, it could eventually lead to potential trouble. Back when the secret prison was built, the supernatural beings were not as powerful as they were now.
Later the Kong Consortium wanted to remodel the secret prison so they could isolate the supernatural beings from one another. But when they realized the supernatural beings were living together peacefully and that the cells were really sturdy, they dropped the plans.
The Great Hoodwinker explained patiently, “I came here for the two of you this time. Your name is Ji Zi’ang, right? You’re the former director of the Zhou Consortium’s 2nd Military Intelligence Division. Later, you were transferred to the 3rd Division to handle field operations after killing a merchant who took advantage of a woman in the stronghold. Following that, the Zhou Consortium member who was backing that merchant wanted to ensure there wouldn’t be any further trouble, so he sold information of your operation to the Kong Consortium which eventually led to your arrest. Am I right?”
The man named Ji Zi’ang fell silent. He ignored the Great Hoodwinker.
The Great Hoodwinker said in a slightly arrogant tone, “Not just anyone can join the Northwest as they like. However, I admire you and feel that you’re a suitable talent for the Northwest. That’s why I made the trip here! If you follow me back to the Prosperous Northwest, you won’t have to work in the intelligence agency anymore. You can just serve on the Discipline Supervision Committee. Take charge of whatever cases there might be if you come across any injustice. If I don’t keep my word, you can cut off my son, Zhang Xiaoman’s, head and kick it like a ball!”
Ji Zi’ang stayed silent again for a long time as he looked at the cold and emotionless prison he was in.
As this place was underground, there was no sunlight here all day. He seemed to have nearly forgotten what it felt like when the sun touched his skin. When the cold wind in the prison grazed him, it felt like an ant or a spider crawling on his skin. It was a feeling that would make anyone feel uncomfortable.
Every second he lived, he wanted to get out of this place. But how? The secret prison was a hell that confined him within it.
Ji Zi’ang said dejectedly, “It’s useless no matter what you say. Let me tell you this: Once you’re in here, don’t even think about getting out. We can’t get out even if the three of us work together.”
The Great Hoodwinker’s voice came from the next cell over. “My calculations predict that someone will definitely break in and get us out within three days. If I’m correct, you’ll come with me, alright?”
Ji Zi’ang did not answer.
The Great Hoodwinker said again, “I’ve already killed that Zhou Consortium member who set you up on your behalf. Your wife and child are still alive, and I’ve already brought them to the Northwest. Ji Zi’ang, let me ask you again. If someone comes and saves us within three days, will you leave with me?”
Ji Zi’ang was taken aback. “They’re still alive?”
Wang Yun and the Great Hoodwinker suddenly heard Ji Zi’ang start pounding on the metallic walls crazily in the neighboring cell. It was so violent the entire secret prison seemed to be shaking. Ji Zi’ang said in a loud voice, “Great Hoodwinker, you better not be lying to me. If I find out you lied to me, we’re gonna have some fun here in the prison for the rest of our lives!”
The Great Hoodwinker sneered, “Your son placed first in his class this year, and your wife is working in a factory at Fortress 178. I heard that your wife has quite a lot of suitors, but she rejected them all and said that she’ll wait for you to find her. I guess it’ll still be fine in the short term, but in the long run, a widow and her son…”
Although the Great Hoodwinker said something provoking to Ji Zi’ang, Ji Zi’ang did not get angry. He slowly calmed down and asked, “You said someone will come and rescue us within three days?”
“Hehe.” The Great Hoodwinker lay on his cold and hard bed using his arms as a pillow and said with a laugh, “It might not even take three days.”
…
Scenes of chaos played outside the Kong Consortium’s intelligence agency as people constantly walked in and out of it. Stronghold 31 was in a state of chaos. The sound of gunfire and explosions rang out as though the flames of war had arrived.
Residents were everywhere in the streets fleeing from their homes. Apart from the north, a large number of residents had gathered at the south, east, and west gates. All of them wanted to escape before the Pyro Company arrived.
At this moment, the ones who were the busiest were the intelligence agency and the garrison troops. The garrison troops would have to fight the battle, while the intelligence agency was being held accountable for the breach.
The current intelligence director, Wang Ziyang, walked out of the building in a hurry, with a dozen-odd subordinates following behind him. Someone eagerly put on his trench coat for him and asked, “Sir, where are you going at this time?”
Wang Ziyang barked, “Where am I going? I’m going to see the boss and clean up the mess for you idiots! The Pyro Company’s troops snuck into the stronghold, yet we were totally unaware of it. The boss even called me to ask if I’ve teamed up with the Pyro Company!”
The group of people from the intelligence agency fell silent. Everyone knew that after this incident, there would probably be a major shake-up in the intelligence agency.
Wang Ziyang stared coldly at the group of people in front of him before getting into the car without saying a word.
But not long after his car drove out, the driver stepped hard on the brakes. When Wang Ziyang was about to curse out loud, he saw through the windshield a young man and a young woman walking towards them from the end of the long street. The young man was even carrying a black saber with a smile on his face. “This license plate is correct.”
The young man looked at Wang Ziyang’s stunned expression through the windshield and said with a smile, “The photo matches as well. It’s him alright!”
