Chapter 114: Overpowering Chu Xuan, Outsmarting Zheng Zha
When Ren Arakawa found the North Arctic Team, there were only twenty-five seconds left before they could move freely.
In the blink of an eye, twenty-five seconds passed. Ren Arakawa was ready to counterattack, as his bounty watch's appearance was extremely deceptive.
If Ninjutsu was used at a critical moment, it could play a huge role.
Besides, with his skills, if he didn't want to fight and just wanted to escape, it would be very difficult for anyone to stop him.
He waited and waited, then suddenly realized...
"Damn it! How did they get away!?"
In the distance, three Green Goblin gliders flew side-by-side, carrying five people as they gradually vanished from Ren Arakawa's view.
This Green Goblin glider can reach speeds of up to 1000 km/h and carry a ton of weight!
When the Green Goblin glider was at full speed, even while carrying people, it was far beyond what Ren Arakawa could catch up to just by using his wings.
The fierce wind blasted into the mouth of the non-mainstream white youth, Alexia, who was holding an ice spear, causing his cheeks to flap wildly. Even so, he still laughed heartily.
"Hahahaha! Even though Devil Team made us suffer heavy losses and killed our old captain last time, this Green Goblin glider is really useful! The Farming Team can't catch up to us now!"
The North Arctic Team's captain, Gunnar, had a grim expression. "Don't celebrate too soon. Our mission is to help the Ghostface killers kill twenty targets, and we can't let them get caught before we return. This mission will definitely conflict with Team China."
He stared at the numbers on his watch, the flesh on the side of his nose twitching wildly. "If the mission fails, each person loses three thousand reward points plus a C-rank side story. Fuck! After that deduction, everything we earned in the last horror movie will be for nothing!"
The crowd's previously relaxed expressions instantly clouded over.
Albert Ellen, the skinny, student-like boy who had been silent while being carried by Gunnar's foot, suddenly spoke up with a question: "Since Team China is so much stronger than us, how did they manage to get free to act before we did?"
The large talking dog barked twice. "I already told you, they're a Farming Team! The whole point of a Farming Team is to funnel resources into one person to make them the main combatant! Because the team's overall score is too low, the entire team's rating is low, but you'll feel the pain once a fight breaks out!"
Albert Ellen's expression grew serious as he looked in the direction of the abandoned factory, which had now completely disappeared from view. "Then we'd better get out of here faster."
---
The town police station.
When Ren Arakawa arrived at the police station, Chu Xuan had already used his superb hacking skills to forge the identity of the late police chief.
With a quick transformation, he became the highest-ranking official within a three-hundred-kilometer radius and took control of the police station.
Seeing Ren Arakawa return to the station so quickly, Chu Xuan, who was rapidly scanning surveillance footage like the protagonist in *Detective Chinatown*, glanced at Ren Arakawa before continuing to review the files.
"You're back so soon. I imagine there must be details I'm unaware of, such as some historical issue with Team China that led the North Arctic Team to mistakenly believe their strength is far inferior to ours."
"Or," Chu Xuan adjusted his glasses slightly, "you got scared, went for a stroll, and came back."
Ren Arakawa laughed in exasperation. "And what is that judgment based on? Kant? That human nature is complex and unprovable?"
Chu Xuan continued reviewing the files and concluded, "Then it must be the historical issue I'm unaware of."
Ren Arakawa clenched his fists. "You're really infuriating!"
Walking out of the records room, the thirteen members of Team China looked lost. Some were pacing on the spot, some were sitting in a daze, and others had their eyes closed, feigning sleep.
Seeing Ren Arakawa come out, Zhang Jie anxiously asked, "Ren Arakawa, what should we do now? Just wait?"
"Yeah." Ren Arakawa nodded. "We don't have to do anything. Just wait for Chu Xuan."
Zhan Lan sensed the surrounding atmosphere. "I don't sense any enemies nearby. Is the North Arctic Team not going to fight us this time?"
Just as she finished speaking, Chu Xuan walked out of the records room. "They will definitely fight us. And there's a high probability it will be at dawn."
Zheng Zha felt this newcomer, Chu Xuan, was a bit too cryptic and couldn't help asking, "How do you know they'll ambush us at dawn?"
"Because these police files tell me that solving the murder cases in this town and catching the real killer is extremely simple. Given that premise, the North Arctic Team's mission can't possibly be the same as ours. I analyze that their mission is the complete opposite of ours: to help the killers escape justice."
Chu Xuan continued, "The fact they ran when they first saw Ren Arakawa shows they miscalculated his strength. This kind of mistake won't last long. Under the Main God's influence, we will inevitably confront them at dawn at the latest."
Everyone was completely baffled. They didn't understand what Chu Xuan was saying, but he spoke with such certainty that they had to seriously consider what to do when they encountered the North Arctic Team that night.
Chu Xuan walked to the desk, skillfully opened a locked cabinet, and took out the town map from inside.
Hanging the map on a blackboard, Chu Xuan said, "This town's residential area is concentrated here." He pointed toward the abandoned factory. "Seventy percent of the crime scenes are in this area."
Ren Arakawa couldn't help but interrupt, "Cut the crap and get to the point."
Chu Xuan adjusted his glasses, not annoyed by the interruption. "I surmise they'll send out a lure to draw you away. Then, their remaining forces will storm our position with maximum speed and kill the rest of us!"
"At that point..."
Chu Xuan, intending to frighten them, let out a dry chuckle. "Even you, with the highest combat power, will be forced onto the defensive!"
"With Team China's score being so deep in the negatives, the North Arctic Team only needs to complete their mission and return early. You, however, will be obliterated for being unable to pay the fine."
Hearing this, Zhang Jie broke out in a cold sweat. "You... how did you figure all that out?"
Chu Xuan raised his eyelids slightly. "I merely suppressed my intellect to the level of an ordinary person. At this level, the optimal plan a mortal could devise would be to take advantage of our being busy catching Ghostface on the first day, launch a surprise attack, and seize the initiative."
Ren Arakawa contained his temper and lightly nudged Zheng Zha, who was standing beside him, with his elbow. "Is this guy always so damn annoying when he talks?"
Zheng Zha replied, "How would I know? I don't know him."
---
In the dense forest, a group of six people leaped and zipped between the tall tree trunks.
The leader, Kimimaro, glanced to the side. While leaping, he muttered softly to Uchiha Ren, who was practicing the hand signs for Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, "Konoha isn't far ahead. Once we reach the Valley of the End, we'll head back."
Uchiha Ren made a grabbing motion in the air, and a thick, powerful snake was summoned. It snapped at the air before vanishing in an instant.
After finishing the motion, Uchiha Ren smiled at Kimimaro. "Sorry to trouble you all with this special trip. With the six of us, after we gather enough hearts for Kakuzu, he can take five and still have one to spare for cold storage! So considerate!"
The words had barely left his mouth when a bolt of lightning shot toward the group!
Seeing this jutsu, Uchiha Ren's playful demeanor instantly changed to an expression of someone who had seen a ghost.
This is...
Lightning Release: False Darkness!
(Two more chapters coming later, my keyboard is smoking!)
(end of chapter)