The Interrogation Chamber
In a dark, damp underground warehouse, the light from a fluorescent lamp, refracted by its cover, formed a wedge-shaped beam. The beam swung back and forth with a chain, faintly illuminating rows of variously shaped torture tools, which appeared like predators hiding in the shadows, quietly baring their fangs.
Luke sat on a sofa in the middle of the warehouse, curiously examining the two items in his hands: the Green Lantern Corps' power battery and the Green Lantern Ring.
He had already seen and personally handled the Violet Lantern Ring, but this was his first time with the Green Lantern Ring. Frankly, both in terms of appearance and aura, it was a step below the Violet Lantern Ring.
As for the abilities, that was hard to say.
Luke grasped the ring and slid it onto his finger. The ring began to resist, but without its master's command, it was merely an accessory, and resistance was useless. It was eventually forced onto his middle finger.
The expected scene did not occur; the ring remained a ring, and Luke remained Luke. He did not transform into a maniac glowing all over with green light.
"It seems I don't have the aptitude to become a Green Lantern."
Luke shrugged. "Ava, can you seal it?"
"The ring's structure is too complex for me to determine its source code. However, I have detected a potent energy within it and a special psychic signature. This signature is connected to Hal Jordan."
"Based on my deduction, the ring will become very dangerous if Hal Jordan wakes up."
Luke nodded knowingly. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Is there any way to weaken the energy inside the ring, to put it into a completely depleted state?"
"There is no relevant information in the database."
This was trouble!
Once Hal Jordan woke up, the ring would become a ticking time bomb. If Luke killed Hal Jordan, the ring would automatically leave and seek out its next owner.
Luke rested his chin in his hand, considering information related to the Lantern Rings.
The Seven Lantern Corps all had weaknesses. The Green Lantern Ring's weakness was the yellow impurity (fear). It was rumored that when facing a yellow object, the Green Lantern Ring's power would be weakened, with the degree of weakening dependent on the wielder's willpower.
Perhaps he could try it.
"Ava, isolate the yellow spectrum from the sunlight."
"Understood, Young Master."
The briefcase next to the sofa automatically disassembled. A gap appeared in the casing, and white light poured out, gradually separating into seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The other six colors began to fade, leaving only the yellow light.
Luke placed the ring into the yellow light.
Initiating analysis...
Analyzing...
The psychic signature emanating from the ring is decaying. Decay level: 25%. Energy: No change.
Luke said gravely, "Increase the light intensity!"
"Light intensity increased by 100%..."
"Psychic signature continues to decay..."
"Decay level: 37%..."
"Continue to increase the light intensity."
The yellow light grew stronger: one-fold, two-fold, three-fold... The light source almost solidified into a brilliant spot. Unfortunately, past the eight-fold increase, the psychic signature on the ring's surface stopped changing, settling at a level of 28%.
"28%! That should be enough."
"Adam, put the ring in the vault at Base No. 2."
"Understood, Young Master."
The tall Adam walked out of the shadows, carrying the briefcase containing the ring, and turned to leave.
Luke poured a glass of red wine, quietly watching the prison cell in front of him.
By now, he should be awake.
The Hunter and the Hunted
Hal Jordan had a terrible dream. In it, his best friend knocked him unconscious with a baseball bat. When he woke up, he discovered that it was actually true! Not only had he been knocked out, but he was also chained and suspended from a crossbeam.
Could it be the Young Master's Gang?
A look of fear flashed in Hal's eyes. He struggled fiercely, simultaneously trying to summon the ring.
Strangely, a barrier had appeared between him and the ring, which was closely linked to his mind. He could sense the ring's approximate location but couldn't summon it; it seemed to be restricted by something.
"Damn it!"
Hal cursed, swinging his body back and forth, attempting to hook his legs onto the overhead chain to break free.
"You have 18 hours."
A deep voice came from the side. Hal quickly turned his head. In the dim light, a handsome white young man with a cold expression sat quietly in a chair.
He remembered this person: a core member of the Young Master's Gang, known for his formidable throwing knife skills.
"Y-Y-You're that guy from the Young Master's Gang."
Perhaps due to fear of what was to come, Hal's voice was unusually shaky.
"I am Dio Clay. I am here by the Young Master's orders to tell you one thing: In eighteen hours, at 6:10 AM tomorrow, I will release you. At that time, everyone you injured last night will be informed of your identity. They will use every means to hunt you down. The time limit is forty-eight hours."
With that, Dio stood up to leave. He paused at the doorway, a hint of cruel satisfaction in the slight curve of his lips, like a predator eager to pounce on new prey.
"I will also join the hunt."
"Hal Jordan, survive well. Don't disappoint us. We haven't played a game like this in three years."
Cackle, cackle, cackle!
Accompanied by a bone-chilling laugh, the footsteps faded away, and the room descended into an unsettling silence.
Hal didn't dare to breathe deeply. His pupils contracted to pinpricks. After only a dozen seconds, a layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
The Young Master's Gang?
A forty-eight-hour pursuit order?
Remembering the local rumors, his heart felt gripped by something, and his whole body began to tremble uncontrollably.
The Chase Begins
Time ticked by slowly. Hal slept and woke, woke and slept, crying and cursing countless times. Only when footsteps approached did he grit his teeth and force himself to calm down.
Dio scrutinized him, then smiled.
"Good. That's the expression I like: unyielding, defiant. Hal Jordan, you are much better than the shivering rats before you."
Dio unlocked the chains, walked up to Hal, and knocked him unconscious with a swift blow to the neck. When Hal woke up again, the scene before him had changed to an abandoned parking lot.
An old-fashioned clock sat in front of him, next to two hamburgers and a bottle of water.
The clock showed the time was 5:45 AM. That meant the pursuit would begin in only twenty-five minutes.
Hal sucked in a cold breath. He grabbed the water and food and ran out. After leaving the parking lot, he realized he wasn't in Coast City, but in a nearly abandoned small village.
The village was nestled among hills and forests. To the east were large fields of wheat, and to the west were dense woods.
Damn it!
Hal cursed anxiously. He searched door-to-door, looking for a phone or any means of communication. If he could just call the police, he might survive.
Unfortunately, after searching more than a dozen houses with no luck, Hal was forced to stop, standing desperately in the middle of the village street.
The time reached 6:10 AM.
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