Ye Mo's gaze followed the narrow gap, expecting to see prey fleeing in disarray. However, the scene that met his eyes made him frown. This was no temporary outpost; it was clearly a fortified underground fortress.
The space deep within the mine was far more spacious than imagined. Huge metal supports, like the ribs of a giant beast, propped up the dome. The air was thick with the smells of machine oil and ozone—the distinctive odors of high-energy equipment in operation. Klaue stood on the central command platform, a tablet computer in his hand, gesturing to a group of fully armed subordinates around him. These were no ordinary mercenaries; they wore special soundproof suits, had noise-canceling earplugs, and had fierce eyes. The weapons they carried were not ordinary rifles, but heavy weapons equipped with silencers and tactical lights.
"Looks like he not only didn't get separated, but he also brought a good helper." Emma Frost's voice rang in Ye Mo's mind, tinged with coldness. "My mental energy swept over them and found at least thirty combatants, and their mental fluctuations were chaotic, filled with violence and greed. What's even more troublesome is that big guy next to Klaue."
Following Emma Frost's direction, Ye Mo saw a black cylindrical device, about three stories high, standing behind Klaue. The surface of the device was covered with complex wiring and heat dissipation holes, and several thick cables were connected to the top, leading straight to the ground. Although he couldn't see the specific structure, Ye Mo could feel the faint vibration frequency emanating from it, deep and powerful, like the heartbeat of some kind of beast.
"A sonic weapon?" Ye Mo murmured to himself, quickly recalling the fragments of intelligence he had gathered earlier. Ulysses Klaue was a ruthless arms dealer, but he had an almost pathological obsession with Vibranium. If this device was used to extract or destroy Vibranium, the consequences would be unimaginable. Once activated, the surrounding rock formations might collapse, or even trigger an earthquake, making the security of Wakanda's borders a complete joke.
"He's adjusting the frequency." Ye Mo observed Klaue operating the control panel, his finger rapidly swiping across the screen, while the technician beside him intently watched the values on the dashboard. "The target frequency has been locked; we can start at any time."
Time is running out.
Ye Mo took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his inner anxiety. He knew that now was not the time to hesitate. The longer it dragged on, the more likely someone like Klaue would become desperate and act recklessly. Once that machine was activated, not only would it be difficult to stop him, but even self-preservation would be challenging.
" Emma Frost, listen to me." Ye Mo issued a command to his partner through the mental link, his tone calm and firm, "We can't alert them, and we can't let that machine start. We need to cut into the core area as quickly as possible, cut off the power, or destroy the control center."
"Understood." Emma Frost's reply was concise and decisive, without the slightest hesitation. "I'll create a little chaos to distract them. You're in charge of finding an opportunity to infiltrate. Remember, your ' Regenerative Phasing ' ability has a cooldown, so don't use it too often at once; keep some in reserve."
Ye Mo nodded. Although Emma couldn't see him, he knew Emma Frost could sense his determination. He adjusted his breathing, feeling the surge of power within the Gene Spiral Tower of his body. Those dormant fragments of ability seemed to be awakened, flickering faintly deep within his consciousness. He didn't need flashy special effects, just the most practical functions.
"Prepare for action," Ye Mo said in a low voice, as soft as a gentle breeze.
He slowly took a step back, his body disappearing into the shadows. Emma Frost followed closely behind, their movements perfectly synchronized. They used no light-emitting devices and made no sound, like two ghosts, silently gliding to the other side of the mine.
The view through the gap gave Ye Mo a clear picture. Although Klaue had a large and powerful force, his command system had obvious flaws. The technicians were busy, but they lacked effective communication with each other, relying entirely on Klaue to issue orders. As long as communication with Klaue was cut off, the entire defense system would be paralyzed.
Ye Mo's gaze locked onto a concealed ventilation duct. The duct was located below the command console, and although it wasn't large in diameter, it was just large enough for the agile Ye Mo to pass through. More importantly, it led directly to the rear of the control room, which was the weakest point in the defenses.
"This is it." Ye Mo confirmed the route in his mind, then turned to Emma Frost and gestured with his eyes.
Emma Frost understood immediately. She closed her eyes, focused her mind, and extended her Telepathy range to its limit. She needed to ensure that nothing unexpected would happen during Ye Mo's operation. For example, a sudden patrol or a temporary change in Klaue's location.
As Emma Frost's Mental Barrier unfolded, the surrounding noise seemed to be shut out. Ye Mo felt a cool sensation wash over his body; it was Emma Frost's support. This sense of trust made him feel even more at ease.
He clung to the wall like a gecko, using both hands and feet to carefully climb towards the ventilation duct. The duct was narrow and dark, filled with the smell of dust and rust. Ye Mo held his breath, trying his best not to let his clothes touch the duct wall to avoid making a sound. With each step forward, he remained highly vigilant, his ears perked up, catching every movement from above.
Ten meters, twenty meters, thirty meters...
When Ye Mo reached the designated position, he stopped. Through the gaps in the grille, he could see the scene below. Several guards were facing away from him, intently watching the monitor screen, completely unaware of the danger above them.
Ye Mo gently pushed open the grille, his body landing silently, his feet firmly planted on the ground. Without pausing, he immediately turned and stealthily made his way towards the control room. His steps were light and steady, each step precisely calculated, ensuring he made no sound while maintaining optimal explosive power.
Meanwhile, Emma Frost was making her final preparations. She stood in the shadows at the mine entrance, a cold smile on her face. She knew the show was only just beginning.
"Come on, let's see just how much this leader of the ' Black Serpent ' organization really weighs," Emma Frost murmured to herself, then opened her eyes, a cold glint flashing in her golden pupils.
She raised her hand, an invisible force gathering at her fingertips. This wasn't an attack, but a form of interference. She intended to use Telepathy to create a brief illusion, misleading the guards and thus giving Ye Mo a precious window of opportunity.
Just as Ye Mo was about to enter the control room, Emma Frost activated her ability.
A faint mental fluctuation quietly spread out, instantly enveloping the entire command center. The mercenaries who were busy at work suddenly felt dizzy, their vision blurred, and strange noises seemed to ring in their ears. They instinctively covered their heads, looked around in confusion, and completely forgot about their tasks.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ye Mo slipped into the control room.
A tense atmosphere filled the room. Klaue stood in front of the control panel, anxiously awaiting final confirmation. Hearing the noise behind him, he whirled around, his eyes filled with terror and anger.
"Who?!" Klaue roared, reaching for his holster.
However, he was met with only deathly silence.
Ye Mo stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets, a nonchalant smile on his face. His black hooded sweatshirt stood out in the dim light, and his eyes behind his silver half-rimmed glasses were deep and cold.
"Good evening, Mr. Klaue," Ye Mo said casually, his tone as relaxed as a greeting. "Looks like your party's missing a main character."
Klaue's face turned deathly pale instantly. He hadn't expected that his meticulously planned scheme would be thwarted at this crucial moment. His hand trembled as he pulled out his gun, pointed it at Ye Mo, and his voice was hoarse. "You... who are you? How did you get in?"
Ye Mo didn't answer, but merely tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over his panicked subordinates. He knew that the real battle was only just beginning.
The air seemed to freeze; everyone held their breath, waiting for what would happen next.
Klaue's finger was on the trigger, his knuckles white from the force. His eyes were filled with madness and despair, the look of a cornered beast fighting for its life. He didn't want to lose, at least not now.
"Shoot then." Ye Mo took a defiant step forward, his steps steady and fearless. "Or are you afraid?"
Klaue gritted his teeth, his killing intent growing stronger. His men also raised their weapons, the dark muzzles of their guns pointed at Ye Mo. A battle was brewing in the cramped control room.
Ye Mo felt the surge of power within him, and his smile deepened. He liked this sense of pressure because it meant opportunity.
He no longer concealed himself, but slipped into the depths of the shadows like a ghost, with Emma Frost close behind. The two figures disappeared at the end of the dark passage, approaching Klaue's core area.