Successful Suicide

Abidaqi summoned his staff and tapped it on the ground.

The ripples on the stone slab lit up in concentric circles, their perception spreading outwards from the center of the palace. They swept across streets, eaves, underground sewers, and the soles of countless orcs' feet, finally stopping abruptly somewhere in the city.

There, the "Plundering Bell" mark was pressed very low, but it still couldn't hide from Abidaqi's powerful perception.

Abidaqi focused his thoughts and discovered that it was the Fang of the Wild stronghold where they had laid their net.

Anrelo had a blood-stained totem drawn on his chest to block the function of the "Plundering Bell" brand.

But wisps of Magic Power still leaked out, like a spark wrapped in cloth, dim yet still letting in light.

Abidaqi continued to sense that the communication array around Anrelo was working.

Beside him was Wolf Lang Yefu, the Cloud Fang District Manager of Fang of the Wild.

Abidaqi was initially puzzled, but quickly understood.

Anrelo is planning to defect!

"He was a very intelligent person, what a pity," Abidaqi said calmly.

Anrelo is the "most reasonable" suspect, so no matter how Death Knell and Hairspring handle this matter, he will definitely be the one who takes the blame in public. Either way, he's going to die, so he made a quick decision to seek a way out, which is quite clever.

Abidaqi summoned a member of the Plundering Clock at the Quarter Hand level, the alchemist Laikede.

"Go there immediately."

He initially intended to order the arrests, but then a thought crossed his mind.

This Angelo is quite something, he actually thought of contacting Anrelo Bone King.

To survive, the half-fox was willing to risk everything.

Abidaqi tapped his staff lightly with his fingertips.

"Let's listen to the communications initiated by Anrelo and see if there's anything interesting," Abidaqi instructed.

"Yes!"

****

Su Ming learned about Anrelo's contact immediately.

He remained at the half-tiger's house, where the man had been thrown onto the bed. Just to be safe, Su Ming forced the guy to drink the remaining half-jar of wine.

The half-tiger man slept peacefully, even snoring.

Su Ming unfolded his tablet and watched the live conversation between Katharine and Anrelo.

Three Peaks Island is about 2,000 kilometers away from Cloud Fang City, and most of the area between them is flat sea with no obstructions or disturbances.

The communication mode has been switched to direct voice connection.

Although there is noticeable noise and distortion, this also significantly improves the efficiency of communication between the two parties.

"Anrelo, I will assume for the time being that your defection is a fact, and not a trap set for us."

Katharine's tone was hesitant.

"But you are now on Water Chestnut Island, and in the heartland."

How do you plan to get us to save you?

"Anrelo said anxiously."

"I can leave Cloud Fang City immediately." "Then, in the outskirts, you can use that giant alchemical beast to fly over and take me away!"

Katharine became alert.

"Anrelo, how did you know this?"

They did indeed intend to bring Su Ming back in this way.

Anrelo quickly explained:

"The Plundering Clock has a dedicated tactical team."

"Collect and organize your intelligence and battle records, and analyze them."

"This is one of the possible tactics they've devised."

Katharine suddenly realized that this was a normal practice for both sides in the conflict.

"Then tell me, why should we do this?" she continued.

Su Ming smiled slightly. Katharine was planning to use psychological manipulation on Anrelo to extract information.

As an intelligence operative, Anrelo was equally astute in this regard. "I can provide you with information on the composition of your high-ranking personnel, their areas of expertise, and the structure of your orc army!"

He thought for a moment and added.

"I also know a little about coastal defense deployment."

"We probably know more about coastal military affairs than you do," Katharine said dismissively. "But could you tell me, what was the Plundering Clock planning to dig underground after demolishing the palace?"

"It's the ' Kindling ' magic array left behind by the Cangxiao Dynasty," Anrelo replied. "They're currently modifying it."

"But I will tell you my specific purpose—to get me out of here!"

"Hahaha!"

Lang Yefu, standing nearby, burst out laughing and mercilessly exposed Anrelo.

"The Kindling ' magic array is extremely complex and its secrecy is very strict."

"Apart from the higher-ups of the Plundering Clock, no one else knows the specifics of the plan."

She said dismissively.

"I investigated for a long time, but I still couldn't find out the truth." (This last part appears to be a website name or title and doesn't translate directly.)

Anrelo was furious, but he didn't really have high hopes for his bluff.

"Your Excellency Katharine!"

He simply laid his cards on the table.

"Now that you know my identity, are all the trivial information I carry about the Plundering Clock truly worthless?"

Anrelo pointed at Lang Yefu.

"This is the Fang of the Wild's intelligence chief in Cloud Fang City."

"I can take her with me."

"Moreover, this ' Coconut Jelly Girl's' identity is very special to orcs!"

Lang Yefu gave him a cold look, but did not deny it.

"Time waits for no one; wasting even a minute now is dangerous!"

Anrelo urged, "If you want to know the information, I'll tell you everything once we leave here!"

"I only beg for a humble chance to live!"

After thinking about it, Katharine also gave up on taking a roundabout approach.

Everyone here is a shrewd person, so getting Anrelo to reveal valuable information right now will be extremely difficult.

If you really push him, he'll only say things that are half true and half false, wasting his breath.

"A rescue operation is worth considering," Katharine said.

"If we fly too low, the warning totem will spot us."

During this period of intense "interaction" between the two sides, Katharine has discovered that the orcs' warning totems are not only placed around the city and on the coast.

Many areas on Water Chestnut Island are interconnected and difficult to guard against.

"The warning totem can identify any non-orc at the soul level."

Anrelo told Katharine that he already had a plan.

"Forty kilometers south of Cloud Fang City lies a place called Fallen Leaf Swamp." "There are hardly any orcs living there; it's mostly empty!"

****

Katharine quickly switched to Su Ming's side.

What do you think of this?

"The profits are substantial," Su Ming said.

A defector from the enemy's mid-to-high-ranking position would definitely be of great help, not to mention the possibility of rescuing the intelligence agent "Coconut Jelly."

"But the risks are completely uncontrollable," Su Ming continued.

"You suspect Anrelo is impure?" Katharine asked.

The "unclean" in her words meant that Anrelo had already been followed.

"Isn't this only natural?" Su Ming sighed. "After all, this is the Plundering Clock."

Katharine had to admit this.

Judging from the probabilities, Anrelo's intention to defect has most likely been exposed. "The Plundering Clock has already used the Fang of the Wild's intelligence outposts to pull off a similar scheme."

"They'll do it a second time, to lure us in."

But Su Ming thought about it.

"Now that the tactic of transport planes flying low to pick up people has been exposed, there's no need to hide it anymore."

"How about we exchange it for a chance to act?"

He made the decision.

"Send Y-20 over immediately!"

"We can also turn a tables on someone."

Katharine quickly understood Su Ming's intention.

"If Anrelo isn't 'dirty,' we'll rescue Coconut Jelly; if she is 'dirty,' then you should go find Ximina."

"That's right!"

She asked the crucial question, "So now, how do we determine whether Anrelo has actually been discovered?"

This is the basis for the action.

Su Ming smiled slightly; he knew how to answer the question.

Tell Anrelo to dress something festive.

****

Katharine replied to Anrelo.

She told him that she had agreed to his request for asylum.

Three hours later, in the Fallen Leaf Swamp, the Y-20 will fly over there at the slowest possible speed and altitude.

"You must wear red that day," Katharine reminded him, "And have a pair of lead plates embedded in your chest and back."

"Why are there lead sheets?" Anrelo, puzzled.

Red clothes are fine; they stand out to humans. However, they are not easily recognizable to orcs with their dichroic vision and will appear grayish.

Wearing this is perfectly reasonable. But lead is something that's rarely used.

"There's only one alchemy shop in Cloud Fang City that sells them," he told Katharine.

"Then go buy it as soon as possible!" Katharine said. "We'll be using a new weapon to launch an attack on the ground."

"We don't engage targets wearing red."

"But if you get hit, lead sheets can provide protection against this weapon."

"I'll make sure you don't die from that one hit."

Anrelo gasped.

He recalled the thunderous attack launched by the First Sunrise Republic on the Blackstone Mine a few days earlier.

The scene was as if the sky had suddenly started calling roll.

"No problem!"

Anrelo immediately agreed, not daring to utter another word of nonsense.

Fifteen minutes later, Anrelo arrived at the blacksmith's shop.

Although it's called a blacksmith shop, it actually sells all sorts of metals besides iron.

Anrelo quickly cut four pieces from a lead ingot, then hurriedly threw down the money and left.

On his way out of the city, he also bought two red cloaks.

Because of their color blindness, orcs cannot distinguish between red and green. However, they can distinguish them using color discrimination spells.

Anrelo rented a carriage and hurried off toward the city.

A 40-kilometer journey in less than three hours was still very stressful.

Anrelo drove the carriage himself, the whip cracking frequently, the wheels rolling over the cobblestone road, causing the carriage to shake constantly.

Through the car window, Lang Yefu suddenly saw an advertisement that read, "Raccoon Dog Dream Theater presents, 28 days to go."

It was suspended from the roof by a long wooden pole, swaying back and forth in the wind.

At the top of the wooden pole is a horizontal wooden board inscribed with the words "New Drama of the Cangxiao Dynasty," interspersed with strangely shaped decorations, resembling a small, upright tree.

"Didn't that Raccoon Dog Dream Theater close down?" Lang Yefu asked, her tone full of regret.

"It's the last one left in Cloud Fang City."

"Ever since the Plundering Clock, our own orc culture has been steadily Withering."

Anrelo's hand holding the reins paused slightly.

He did not refute it.

"It's said she's a wealthy heiress who wants to fulfill her dream of acting."

"So they spent money to reopen the theater."

Lang Yefu was somewhat surprised.

"You actually care about this kind of thing?"

But she then answered her own question.

"That's true, it's been so many years since a new play has been staged on the entire Water Chestnut Island."

Anrelo Bone King this time might not be all bad.

Despite the slim chances of defeating Jörmungandr.

But what if, by some chance, Taya wins this world-ending war?

I should be able to survive.

Will the orcs, this long-suffering race, finally be free from oppression?

****

Anrelo drove quickly, carefully observing his surroundings, but found no one following him.

But as Anrelo passed through the city gate, a group of guards suddenly surrounded him, and sharp knives were placed against his neck.

His face went blank for a moment, and finally he gave up resisting helplessly.

"I'm still too slow," he murmured.

A former subordinate walked up to Anrelo, his face full of smugness.

"Anrelo, you can't escape." "Your communications have been intercepted by Lord Laikede."

"Now, I am ordered to arrest you!"

Someone took the cloak and lead weights from Anrelo's hands and then put them on two other people of similar build.

The two boarded the carriage and headed straight out of Cloud Fang City, heading towards the Fallen Leaf Swamp.

Anrelo and Lang Yefu were pushed into the small hut next to them.

The ordinary orcs near the city gate didn't notice anything amiss.

It was just city guards stopping a carriage for inspection.

Inside the room, Anrelo was being held captive. He was kicked hard in the back of the knee, and with a crisp sound, his knee slammed to the ground.

The henchman approached Anrelo, his face still bearing that smug, punchable expression.

"Everyone, please be quiet. This is our former boss."

A burst of laughter erupted, Anrelo was too lazy to argue with them, and even ignored the sarcastic remarks in their voices.

The guards surrounded him with shackles and handcuffs, hurriedly putting them on him. A shaman came over and put a magic-suppressing ring around Anrelo's neck.

Anrelo gave his former "colleagues" one last look, as if they were looking at dead men.

Upon seeing this situation, Lang Yefu immediately knew things were going badly.

She nimbly shrank into the corner and pulled hard, blocking a guard in front of her.

Everyone was too busy humiliating Anrelo to pay attention to Lang Yefu, which allowed her to succeed easily.

The next moment, Anrelo's body.

Flames flashed, and the entire hut was violently pushed open by the shockwave. The wooden door, along with its frame, flew off, the plaster on the walls was scraped away, and the walls were cracked and deformed.

The nearest guard was thrown against the wall, his armor plates and chunks of flesh splattered all over the room.

Tables and chairs overturned in the flames, and black smoke billowed out, carrying the acrid smell of gunpowder.

Lang Yefu pushed aside the guards blocking her way; of course, they were already corpses.

Her mind was buzzing, and the shockwave made her stagger.

Lang Yefu's prison uniform was also torn to pieces by the shockwave.