Bai Zhu had barely entered the woods when the terminal in Milluki's arms rang.
"Riverbed rendezvous."
Knov's voice came through the speaker.
"The convoy has been dealt with."
Milluki stopped in his tracks.
"What do you mean, dealt with?"
"Exactly what it sounds like."
The transmission cut off.
Bai Zhu glanced in the direction the convoy had left. As expected of the Chairman's personal guard—their efficiency was terrifying.
Transport, infiltration, evacuation, battlefield division... Knov's ability would be the core of any team. What a pity that during the Chimera Ant extermination a few years later, he would be effectively sidelined, preventing the Fourth Dimensional Apartment from showing its full value.
"What are you spacing out for?" Piyu urged.
"I'm considering something."
"What?"
"Could I tie Knov around my waist whenever I go out in the future? He's practically good for everything."
Milluki stepped around a tree root.
"You should first consider whether he'd be willing to work long-term with someone who spends all day selling knives and scamming people out of money."
The three of them descended the forest slope to the riverbed. The entrance Knov had left behind was hidden behind a rock, and Gela Jiang stood inside the door.
Gela Jiang stepped half a pace aside.
"Prepare yourselves before entering."
Bai Zhu stepped through the door, but before his foot could settle, the sight ahead made him stop.
Three vehicles were packed into a newly partitioned room, bumper to bumper.
The lead SUV had already been crushed flat, beyond any need for rescue. The truck behind it had rammed its front end into the rear of the middle SUV, its hood folded upward while half its cargo compartment had been cleanly sliced off by the wall.
Fortunately, the truck had been slightly off-center from the second vehicle. The