Carmen's Urgent Intelligence and a Trade for Supplies

Inside the Black Shield Police Department.

Commander Old Ke and Director Hogg hurried into the director's office just as Carmen arrived.

"Carmen, tell the director what you just told me."

"Yes!" Carmen turned to Director Hogg.

"Director, after we killed that Mechanical Augmenter, I asked the Black Rock Trade Association to investigate the Faction behind Marauder Prison. As you know, selling intelligence has always been one of the association's mainstays. They have extensive intelligence networks that most people know nothing about."

"Just now, the association contacted me. They found information on the organization behind Marauder Prison, as well as something else that directly concerns us. They said it was urgent and asked whether I wanted to buy it."

"I didn't dare delay, so I reported it to Commander Old Ke immediately!"

Director Hogg's emotions had yet to settle. He had only just completed today's Wildness Taming and still couldn't fully control his Wildness.

At Carmen's words, he raised his head. His gray eyes, like a vicious wolf's, fixed on Carmen.

"What did you say? You found a lead on the Faction behind Marauder Prison?"

Under Hogg's stare, Carmen felt as though he might be torn apart at any moment. His heart lurched.

He nodded at once. "Yes. But the Black Rock Trade Association said this urgent intelligence concerns Black Shield's very survival. They're asking for two truckloads of supplies, and the deal is only good until dawn because the information will lose its value quickly."

"This is too important, and it involves too many supplies for me to decide on my own. Since it's urgent, I came straight to you."

Hogg checked the time. It was three thirty in the morning, and at this time of year, dawn came after seven.

That left only three and a half hours. No