Baku's Speculation and Response, Marsil's Gift

Green Forest City, eastern outskirts, Marauder Prison.

Habal's face was so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water.

"So you came back to tell me that not only did you let two enforcers escape right under your noses, but the supplies traded with Burning Fortress and the organ donor were stolen, and a Flame Priest died too?"

He walked up to Tusi, who had been in charge of the operation, and slapped him across the head.

His skull was instantly driven into his chest, blood spraying everywhere.

After kicking the corpse more than ten meters away, Habal looked at Baku.

But Baku merely shook his head. Rising to his feet, he pushed up the glasses resting on his nose with his middle finger.

"The rest can be dealt with. The troublesome part is the donor. We have to give Victor an explanation."

"Send someone to bring the previous donor here. Prepare to head to Burning Fortress."

Habal frowned slightly.

"Baku, you can't go. Leaving aside the fact that the deal is already complete, our slaves and donors have already been handed over to them, and the supplies are being guarded by Burning Fortress personnel. It has nothing to do with us anymore. Besides, not only did we provide the slaves and donors, our supplies were stolen too. Logically, we should be the ones giving them trouble."

"Who knows if Burning Fortress is playing us with a black-on-black job!"

After signaling his men to follow his instructions, Baku said gravely, "We did suffer a huge loss, but now isn't the time to argue about that. The deal and cooperation had clearly been completed. Victor wouldn't be so shortsighted as to pull a black-on-black job, especially when they even lost a Flame Priest."

"It doesn't make sense."

"The ones truly in danger now are us..."

Habal looked at Baku in disbelief.

"What do you mean, Baku?"

Baku narrowed his eyes toward the Black Shield Police Department.

"Habal, you need to understand. We were the ones who asked Burning Fortress to help ambush the Black Shield Police Department. We were also the ones who suggested moving the transaction site to Splow Park. But now, all the supplies and donors at Splow Park have vanished, a Flame Priest was killed, while the Black Shield Police Department's enforcers escaped our ambush."

Baku turned to Habal, his tone heavy. "If you were from Burning Fortress, what would you think?"

Habal's expression changed drastically. He simply disliked thinking about such matters; he was not stupid.

He immediately understood what Baku meant.

"You mean Burning Fortress will think we did it? How is that possible? What benefit would we get from this...?"

"But from Victor's perspective, we are the biggest beneficiaries."

"So I have to go explain this to Victor myself. Fortunately, we still have an implant donor who meets Victor's requirements. There is still room to salvage this. Otherwise, we may end up caught between attacks from both the Black Shield Police Department and Burning Fortress."

Habal was completely speechless. Only the look in his eyes as he watched Baku had turned grave.

"But who took our supplies? And how did the enemy know about Splow Park?"

Baku snorted coldly.

"Isn't that simple? With something like this happening, who benefits the most? Of course it's the Black Shield Police Department..." His gaze swept across the many raiders outside, filled with coldness.

"I just didn't expect there to still be a rat in our house that I hadn't rooted out. Once I've placated Victor and returned, I'll properly entertain this meritorious Mr. Rat."

11th Block, 7 Canchino Avenue.

8:00 p.m.

When Marsil heard the intrusion alarm and checked the surveillance feed,

what she saw were several huge bags of supplies outside the residence.

Her eyes nearly fell out of her head.

"How is this possible!"

If it had not been for that familiar figure behind the wall opposite her, she might have thought she was dreaming.

She immediately put on her equipment, grabbed her weapon, opened the door, and hid behind the courtyard wall.

The bags of supplies were only two meters away from Marsil now. They were within reach.

There were four large bags in total, all left open for her to see what was inside.

Mechanical parts, electronic components, food, dried fish, canned goods.

Marsil's heart trembled faintly.

The man's voice came from across the way.

"Marsil, these supplies are my investment in you. Take them!"

Marsil still found it hard to believe. They were strangers!

Anyone capable of producing so many supplies was definitely no ordinary person, but what exactly did he want?

Marsil had never believed that someone would simply hand over so many supplies for a research result of unknown value.

This was the wasteland!

Yet the facts lay right before her eyes.

"Are you sure all of this is for me?"

"No. I already told you before, these supplies are my investment in you, not a gift. You can think of me as an angel investor. When you produce research results, that will be when I reap the rewards."

Listening to him earnestly and seriously correct her choice of words, Marsil did not feel there was much difference.

It was merely a different way of saying it. Still, she was very happy that someone recognized her research.

"Marsil, are you refusing my investment?" Yu Yuan frowned slightly when he saw that she had not replied.

Why is giving someone things so difficult? Is this woman an idiot? Just accept it already! he could not help but complain inwardly.

Then he heard her throw out a "Wait here," before actually... actually running back into the house.

Yu Yuan: ...

What?

What did you go back for? Are you coming back or not?

No, those were four bags of supplies! You're just leaving them there unattended?

Yu Yuan was truly starting to lose his mind.

Don't tell me I can't even give these supplies away?

There were less than ten hours left for the [Luxury Card] mission.

If something went wrong on Marsil's side, where would he find another chance to eliminate the [Luxury Card]?

Could he really only clear out all his firearms and scrape together 150,000 Survival Points?

Fortunately, Marsil did not keep him waiting for long and soon appeared again.

Yu Yuan saw her carefully place a long, slender object on the ground outside the courtyard.

"This is a finished product I made before. Consider it a gift for our first meeting. I'll accept your investment, especially these parts and electronic components. They'll help me a great deal."

"So I can carry everything inside?" Marsil was still somewhat uneasy.

Yu Yuan looked at the long object, wondering what it was as he answered Marsil.

"Go ahead and move them. I'll come over once you're done. Oh, and there's a design in the bag with the canned goods. Can you help me see which hotel it belongs to?"

"A hotel?" Marsil paused slightly, but she still looked through the bag.

Sure enough, she found a sheet of paper bearing a purple crape myrtle design.

"This is..." Marsil thought for a moment, then quickly recognized it. Looking at Yu Yuan, she said,

"This should be the logo of the Olais Hotel. It isn't far from here. But... I don't recommend that you go there."