Act.14 Gimme Shelter · Keep Me Safe

Foreword:

Anger begins foolishly and ends in regret.

[Part 1: The Warlords]

The death of the Fly Man is a minor but troublesome matter.

Xue Ming didn't think much of it; it had been a very long time since she had used serotonin to control her inner anger.

Starting from Hedland and continuing to White Dragon County and Clearwater Bay, these days of visits and investigations have almost exhausted everyone's mental energy. The Big Sister's Madness Index was originally maintained at [C-], and the original statement that "intelligence has decreased by 50 percent" was just a joke.

Now that she had ended Fly Man's life with a single shot, she felt a sense of regret and anger afterwards.

She wrapped the two corpses tightly in a large plastic bag, carried the Fly Man and the kitchen helper back to her room, and then sat down on the sofa without saying a word.

When she finally saw the light sword in the Fly Man's hand, her heart nearly leaped into her throat; Meteor was likely already defeated.

--This means the Cult Leader is about to take action against S272; the venomous snake has finally unleashed its sharp fangs and red tongue.

Without hesitation, she blasted the Fly Man's head to pieces. She had no intention of testing the blood-soaked monster's soul power with her own body; there were too many unforeseen circumstances and too many variables involved.

What will be the outcome of this simple and straightforward approach?

The death of White Paper Fan could perhaps be dismissed by simply labeling him a "traitor."

Even if Lawrence Madison were stupid enough to accuse the Fly Man of being a traitor, he wouldn't believe Glory's nonsense.

This matter is very complicated, extremely complicated.

Xue Ming's original plan was to use White Paper Fan to force Lawrence to reveal the location of the Rabbit Hole, thereby causing Lawrence to abandon the original escape route and plan a new Rabbit Hole. After all, given White Paper Fan's inherently rebellious nature, Lawrence would not tell this agent all the secrets.

When this silent and powerful God begins to get anxious and wants to replace all the final insurance policies and replan the escape routes, he will inevitably have to mobilize the power of [Heaven's Gate] to shuttle between the three districts of Eleventh District, District 18, and Forty-Eight District to select suitable shelters. Xue Ming will also have time to contact the Guangling Zhixi War Group and other militias one by one to carry out the cleanup of drug factories and various retailers.

But Fly Man, the angel who served God, died, no one knew where the new [Rabbit Hole] had opened.

To capture Lawrence Madison, this information is essential; otherwise, the Nameless Man and Quick-Knife's companions will have made a wasted trip.

--If the Cult Leader escapes, [Heaven's Gate] will become a paradise for criminals; the loss of his followers and property will be nothing to him.

This terrifying superpower can both imprison criminals in Hedland and help them escape. In less than a month, this Little Brotherhood Cult Leader can reinvent himself and rise again at another Zero Platform.

A Xing watched as the Big Sister's face grew increasingly gloomy, and she felt she had made a mistake.

If she had been just a little more clever and a little stronger when facing the Fly Man's poisoning attempt, things probably wouldn't have been so difficult.

Feeling resentful and guilty, she suddenly started to cry.

"Ming Ge! I'm so useless!"

All she could do was keep wiping away her tears; her face, which had just been washed, was now covered in grime from the dirt on her prison clothes, turning her into a little cat's head.

"I was too weak! It's my fault. It's all my fault! If that old beast gets away because of this, how many more people will he kill? All these people died because of me, didn't they!?"

Xue Ming: "Don't rush."

Hasben clenched his fists, feeling a strange and unsettling sensation when he heard S272 utter the words "Ming Ge." But there was no time to think about it anymore.

The hotel receptionist called the police when they discovered the power outage. The kitchen helper has gone missing, and militiamen will be coming to investigate soon. With so many people around, news of the Fly Man's death will soon reach the Cult Leader.

Hasben demanded sharply, "What do we do now?!"

Xue Ming: "Don't rush."

The repeated phrase "Don't worry" was meant to soothe the two young men's anxious feelings.

The Big Sister's mind is working at high speed, dealing with many, many problems simultaneously.

--Lena Van Persie's promise has begun to be fulfilled, and the rapid reaction forces distributed throughout the Guangling Zhixi Department have arrived at Clearwater Bay.

The advance team consisted of 87 men, two squads of combat personnel. They were unarmed, dressed in civilian clothes, and checked into the hotel like ordinary travelers. The remaining 723 men would arrive at Clearwater Bay Bus Station and Sanhe Town Freight Station in batches over the next two days, infiltrating in without leaving any trace.

The first batch only had a little over 800 people, which was different from the 1,800 people Lena had promised.

These Yellowstone People would readily agree to anything, but when it came time to fulfill their promises, they would always write an IOU.

As for the second and third batches that follow, by the time they arrive, Lawrence will probably be popping champagne on the other side of the world.

Putting aside these tactical deployment priorities, how should we dispose of the Fly Man's corpses?

Before the final battle, if they wanted to eliminate evil completely, they absolutely could not give Lawrence Madison any time to escape. Finding the [Rabbit Hole] became a new problem.

At this very moment--

Xue Ming's phone rang.

The sudden ringing of the phone startled A Xing and Hasben. Xue Ming simply hung up.

A Xing pressed on, "Who called!?"

Xue Ming: "Advertising and sales."

After saying that, she put down her phone and went to the bathroom, deciding to find a quiet place to clear her mind.

A Xing scratched his head, watching the Big Sister light a cigarette, looking rather helpless.

She picked up Ming Ge's phone and looked at it again and again, when suddenly a brilliant idea struck her.

"Hasben! That phone call wasn't a sales pitch!"

Hasben asked in confusion, "What is it?"

A Xing emphasized, "Neither Big Sister nor I originally had mobile phones. This is a SIM card she got in Clearwater Bay. Only the Little Brotherhood knows this way of contacting her. It must be a Little Brotherhood leader looking for her!"

As she said this, A Xing impatiently called back, fearing that the Fly Man's death would turn into a new crisis of trust.

Before I could even hear the first long tone clearly, a hurried and nervous male voice came from the other end of the phone, his words revealing an awkwardness and dejection.

"Hello, this Big Sister."

A Xing felt a chill run down her spine when she heard the other person's words.

Has the Big Sister's identity been exposed? Why does this Little Brotherhood officer know Big Sister true identity?

"I am Mana Hedland's manager. You should have seen me before. You should remember me, right?"

A Xing found it unbelievable. "The manager of the Blackland Royal Hotel?"

Mana: "Yes, is that Miss Stass?"

A Xing: "That's right. It's me. What do you need Glory for?"

"I was right, you did indeed use the power of your little finger," Mana explained. "My soul power can peer into people's mental landscapes and also dissect the structure of spirits—I have something to discuss with Big Sister. I already called her."

A Xing felt inexplicably annoyed by all the events being thrown at her at once.

"Hey! Let's talk things out one step at a time! Who exactly are you?! Are you a friend or an enemy?!"

There was a long, long silence on the other end of the phone.

--Mana spoke slowly.

"I have another name, you can call me [Thumb]."

The Thumb of the Hand of Omnipotence is a middleman who walks between the underworld and the legitimate world; he has many identities and many code names.

The manager of the Blackland Royal Hotel was one of them. Three years ago, he came to this criminal haven to work as an assistant to the previous manager, successfully took over the job, and formed an unbreakable alliance of interests with Lawrence Madison, becoming a vassal of the Little Brotherhood.

In fulfilling his duties as the Hand of Omnipotence, Thumb was always diligent and conscientious, cooperating with the Cult Leader so that he could travel to any place in the world and know about world events without leaving home.

Previous attempts to persuade the Rose Sect and Jiang Borg had all failed.

Humans have a strong tendency to self-destruct.

When Thumb got a clear look at the two new female guests in Hedland, he immediately recognized the members of the Rose Sect following Glory. Among the nearly one thousand undead in the procession, there were many old acquaintances of his.

The intense fear and spiritual pressure nearly drove him mad. He made a different choice, deciding to offer Lawrence Madison as a pledge of allegiance to the new War King.

"I know the Little Brotherhood Cult Leader's escape route, I know where his [Rabbit Hole] is."

A Xing hesitated for a long time, glanced at Hasben, and then looked at the toilet door. He really couldn't understand Thumb Brother's implied meaning.

Thumb, growing increasingly anxious, finally made his point clear. "I need permission, I need Big Sister's support. Just say the word, even just a few words, that Thumb is a trustworthy person—and I'll help you! White Paper Fan is dead, right? Lawrence Madison has been shuttling between the monitoring room and Yellow Bull Town since yesterday, constantly changing the door's location! I'm his other agent; he's entrusted me with all the construction and repair work on the [Rabbit Hole] to maintain these doors."

A Xing: "I didn't expect that!"

Thumb Guy: "Three years! Do you know how long I've been waiting for this opportunity? I've almost become the head of the Little Brotherhood's branch in Hedland—I've been waiting for this moment!"

No wonder the Big Sister hang up the phone.

--This leader of the Hand of Omnipotence is the culprit behind the disease that occurred during the Bailu Dew season.

Xue Ming would never believe this guy. He just thought it was an advertisement and hung up the phone. It was already a favor that he didn't immediately return to Hedland and shoot Mana twice in the stomach.

It's all about timing and fate; I never imagined they would meet again in this way.

Now, Thumb is risking everything, handing Lawrence over as the Hand of Omnipotence to Ming De, gambling on a future.

Xue Ming and Meteor were able to successfully infiltrate the Little Brotherhood thanks to Littlefinger's help. Without B. Side's abilities, trying to sneak into Hedland using Gunsmith's face would have been a pipe dream.

Is there anything else A Xing wants to say?

Xue Ming had finished his cigarette and walked back.

She snatched the phone and immediately spoke.

"Give me your phone, I'll talk to him."

Thumb Guy: "You said."

Xue Ming: "We don't have much time. We're both very busy, so let's get straight to the point."

Thumb Guy: "Okay."

Xue Ming: "I have two requests and one question. If you can meet them and answer them, I can be your guarantor."

The meaning of "guarantor" has been explained quite clearly.

--Thumb wanted to bring the Hand of Omnipotence into the embrace of Ming De and join the Abyssal Railway system where the five kings were present after the harvest season. As a surrendered soldier, he always needed a stepping stone and a powerful guarantor, so Big Sister was the most suitable candidate.

Thumb Guy: "Go ahead and ask."

Xue Ming: "My first request is to convince me to believe you. Why should I trust someone from the Madness Butterfly Sect? You're a fundamentalist! If you cooperate with Lawrence Madison to turn the tables, my teachers and friends will be in danger because of false information! You have thirty seconds."

Thumb Guy speaks very fast, but he also stammers, as if he's nervous, embarrassed, and trying to make amends.

"I've been helping you all along! After feeling your immense power, Little Finger also regards you as the Holy Father of the Madness Butterfly! I told Mary not to provoke you. When she took the Steel Heart, she made a grave mistake—and so did Jiang Borg later. They didn't know what was good for them and insisted on going against you. I've kindly advised them time and time again, but unfortunately, these guys wouldn't listen. I... I did have a fleeting moment when I had unrealistic fantasies, wanting to win you over, wanting to forcibly incorporate you into the Hand of Omnipotence. That was back in the very beginning, when you weren't even an egg. I was really angry then, but anger begins with foolishness and ends with regret."

Xue Ming: "My second request—continue to convince me. The reasons you gave earlier weren't enough, far from enough. You merely reiterated your crimes, and that's still only thirty seconds."

Thumb Bro's voice trembled; even through the phone, one could feel the War King's murderous intent.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. I'm willing to pay an equal price. You can stab, cut, chop, sever, or chop my body, but the other fingers are innocent. As the eldest brother, I must stand up. Perhaps my body can still be infected with the Vita Imprint and experience Jiang Bailu's pain. If this can be considered atonement, will it quell your anger? Big Sister —I only hope that the other fingers can find a peaceful and stable place, like the little finger, and continue to live, just continue to live!"

[Part ② - Understood]

Xue Ming: "Thumb, one last question. As far as I know, your mission in the Hand of Omnipotence is to persuade people to love themselves and to prevent others from self-destructing or committing suicide. According to you, you should have been in this position for a very long time, at least three years, at most thirteen years, based on the age of the little finger—you possess the superpower of Soul Might, so why can't you even persuade people to give up suicide? Why? It's such a simple thing, something that could be accomplished with violence."

This problem stumped my Thumb.

--Although there is no time limit.

Xue Ming was waiting, waiting for Thumb's answer. Ultimately, this meant Thumb had to completely open his heart and expose all his weaknesses to the Big Sister.

"Because," Thumb Guy's tone became even more dejected and disheartened, "If someone wants to die, I'm afraid no one can stop them. Even if you save their body, their soul is already dead, and they'll always find other ways to die. I don't have that much power, I don't have that much skill— Big Sister, there was once a little girl who wanted to commit suicide by shooting herself. That was the first time I began to fulfill Thumb Guy's mission, and it was also the first task that the senior gave me."

"But... but..."

"When I followed the clues to the girl's living room, I saw her pointing a gun at her face, all made up and dressed beautifully, determined to die a good death—"

"--I don't understand, my mind is blank. I can't empathize with her, I can't figure out what happened to her."

"The clues that Soul Power can give me are very, very few. The evidence of her crimes and the fragments of her split spirit cannot tell me what kind of bullying and injustice she suffered, or what unbearable burdens she carries in her life."

"It was no use trying to deceive her with money, a wonderful life, or a hopeful future."

"On the contrary, this girl asked me a question—"

"--You ask me why I want to die, but I ask you, why do you want to live?"

"This question has stumped me."

Thumb Guy seemed overwhelmed with emotion and began to sob on the other end of the phone.

"I only hesitated for a second! Just a fraction of a second, and she slipped away, she just slipped away."

From this perspective, Thumb Guy seems to be the first among the Hand of Omnipotence to dispel superstition.

"Big Sister, I've just realized that I'm not the closest to God at all. I can't control other people's free will, or even my own. I used to admire my seniors, especially Thumb, who could persuade people with strong suicidal desires—like outstanding missionaries or excellent priests."

"In doing this, the senior also benefited, gaining divine power to decide the life and death of others, just like a god."

"But when it was my turn to go on stage, I was so nervous and numb that I couldn't even find a reason to live."

"My ideal started as saving countless people, then it became leaving the Hand of Omnipotence as soon as possible, and later it became ensuring my younger siblings a happy and healthy life. It's that simple."

"FE33031, that's the code." Xue Ming neither agreed nor disagreed; she left behind this coded message that even an anonymous person could understand, and immediately hung up the phone.

A Xing was too nervous to speak.

"Big Sister, what do you mean?"

Xue Ming up his luggage and checked the Universal Elixir reserves of canned yellow peaches.

"Time waits for no one. How he plans to do it depends on his abilities. We need to prepare for the worst."

A Xing followed closely behind the Big Sister: "The worst-case scenario?"

"I only have twenty hours. After twenty hours, the rapid reaction force can begin the first round of mopping-up operations." Xue Ming took the HC card A Xing handed him. "This money needs to be converted into Guangling Zhixi's equipment, into firearms and ammunition, as quickly as possible. It's a generous gift from the enemy. This matter—"

She immediately pointed to Hasben.

"--You and I will take care of it."

The A Xing opened its mouth wide. "What about me!? What about me!?"

"Go see the Cult Leader." Xue Ming handed the Fly Man's corpse to A Xing: "Go with Duran."

A Xing cried out in surprise, "You want me to trick that devil?"

Xue Ming focused on the key points.

"You have to swallow your pride, feel extremely wronged, and eat the cake in front of the Cult Leader!"

The death of the Fly Man is an unavoidable problem.

--To cover up one lie, you need a hundred more.

Xue Ming's approach was very simple, and very brutal.

"I killed him. Explain this to the Cult Leader."

"Why did you kill him? Because he poisoned you—I was furious, so I killed him."

"As for who instructed the Fly Man to do this, if the Cult Leader openly admits it, then in front of him, grab Duran's arm and tell him all your grievances, everything I've done for the Religious order. Eat the cake clean—this is a way of forcing him out of a sense of obligation, a powerful tool he uses to control Duran and Flavia."

The A Xing thought for a long time, "Where's the cake? It's already burnt on the floor!"

"You idiot!" The Big Sister slapped A Xing on the top of the head. "Just ask Flavia to make one for you! Or you can just buy one yourself! Just smear some Fly Man blood on it! Are you really planning to do drugs? Or is Lawrence Madison going to taste this cake himself?"

"Oh, right!" A Xing exclaimed in sudden realization, then asked, "And then?"

"If you know the time and place of your meeting with him," Xue Ming, patting the case as he brought up Yinhe, "What else is there? Do you think I asked you to meet him just to clear up this mess? I worked so hard to eliminate his rivals for him, all for this moment, to see him in person! I still don't believe Thumb's side of the story—I have to find a way to kill Lawrence Madison before he escapes down the Rabbit Hole."

A Xing: "Oh! I see!"

Xue Ming held back for a long time, his face contorted, before finally clapping his hands with Hasben.

She understood.

Hasben: "Yes, she understood."

Xue Ming: "I was a little worried at first."

Hasben: "More than that, Glory —oh no, Big Sister —I want to propose to you. It's important, and perhaps a little offensive, but..."

Xue Ming immediately turned to look at A Xing.

"Damn it, you understand but he doesn't, he really doesn't understand, he can't figure it out, can he?"

A Xing raised his hand. "I know this! This, this, this! This is something we always have to say before going into battle."

The three men carried the corpse to the hotel entrance, walked out of Gomoku Alley in front of the militiamen, and headed towards Raccoon Street.

At the same time--

The Cult Leader was overwhelmed. He had just finished reviewing the financial budget and was now discussing the military deployment documents for the new territory in Sanhe Town with Black Gloves. He glanced at the personnel files of the six families on his left, and there were two drug manufacturing workshops awaiting his inspection. It was a happy kind of busy, but also a painful kind of busy.

God is always silent and never answers prayers.

Because the gods know that once they speak, and listen to the nagging of the believers, they will be driven mad immediately.

Drug addicts are always thirsty, and Lawrence Madison was no exception.

Beside the stack of file folders and three ringing telephones was a survey report on travelers, which clearly recorded the recent anomalies in passenger flow—signs that soldiers Guangling Zhixi were gradually moving to hotels and inns on the outskirts of the city.

These people don't look at the scenery, don't go out, don't buy anything, and don't do drugs. The Little Brotherhood's spies had long been watching these suspicious uninvited guests, but the Cult Leader had no time to care about such things; he was busy making money and acquiring land.

Behind the screen, the man in Black Gloves seemed to want to say something more, after all, security was the biggest concern.

--Duran was holding a thick stack of contracts, new agreements submitted by the owners of eight opium dens in Sanhe Town.

Behind the screen, the Cult Leader beamed, gave Duran Thumb, and pulled out the contract and financial seals of three different companies. He was indulging in the thrill of increasing wealth and power, almost like an addict, unable to extricate himself.

"You've worked hard, my dear daughter."