Chapter 91: Each with Their Own Schemes
Inside the Bronze Tree stronghold, Su Xiao was baffled by the continuous notifications from Reincarnation Paradise.
[Notification: The Hunter has successfully hunted the Violator. Hunt mission complete.]
[This hunt was completed with the Hunter assisting Reincarnation Paradise. Given that this is the Hunter's first time completing a hunt mission, full rewards are granted.]
[You have obtained Bronze Honor Medal ×1.]
[Because the Hunter has obtained a 'Bronze Honor Medal,' the Honor Shop will open after the Hunter returns to Reincarnation Paradise (Location: Hunter's Exclusive Room).]
[Bronze Honor Medal]
Introduction: Can be used to exchange for items in the Honor Shop.
...
A series of notifications left Su Xiao dumbfounded. The hunt mission was completed just like that? What about the one-kilometer perception range? What exactly did the Violator look like?
Scratching his head, Su Xiao was puzzled, but the situation had become completely clear.
Both the main mission and the hunt mission were complete. He could return at any time, but he still needed to finish the 'Hidden Mission: Source.' Failing that hidden mission would deduct attributes.
Regarding the hunt mission, after the initial confusion, Su Xiao had some clues.
If his main mission (3) failed, he would be forcibly executed. This meant that if a contractor from the Ghoul faction failed their main mission (3), they would face the same fate. That Violator must have failed their main mission and been forcibly executed.
This showed that Reincarnation Paradise had no tolerance for Violators and would not hesitate to strike when given the chance.
Su Xiao looked up at Xiluo Luo in the corner, his gaze clearly saying, 'Why aren't you dead yet?'
Noticing Su Xiao's look, Xiluo Luo puffed out her flat chest and pulled out a cracked parchment.
"I have this—a must-have for Workers! Even if I fail the main mission, I won't be forcibly executed. I just won't get the completion reward. Workers contribute silently to Reincarnation Paradise, so we can exchange for 'Mission Failure Exemption Scrolls.' 4000 Paradise Coins each, fair and square."
Su Xiao's eyes lit up. A scroll that could exempt the penalty for failing a main mission? That was a good item.
"You can't use it. 'Mission Failure Exemption Scrolls' are only for Workers. It's our exclusive benefit."
Su Xiao understood. So Workers just needed to survive until the end. Completing the main mission was good, but failing it would only cost them 4000 Paradise Coins.
Xiluo Luo had hired protection, spent 5000 Paradise Coins to buy her life, and now used a scroll worth 4000 Paradise Coins. How many Paradise Coins did this guy have?
In derivative worlds, Workers = fat sheep + top-tier kidnapping targets.
It seemed doing business in Reincarnation Paradise was quite profitable. Unfortunately, he didn't stay long in Reincarnation Paradise and needed that precious time to improve his strength.
Between earning Paradise Coins and improving strength, Su Xiao chose the latter.
"Farewell, big shot. Hoo~, I scraped by again."
Xiluo Luo's body gradually became transparent, and a spatial rift appeared behind her. She vanished.
This astonishing scene went unnoticed by everyone else in the room except Su Xiao.
Now, as long as he completed the 'Hidden Mission: Source,' he could return.
The heavy burden on his shoulders vanished, and Su Xiao suddenly felt completely relaxed.
"Bai Ye, I've done what I promised. Now it's time to set out."
Kishou Arima spoke. Even if Arima hadn't said it, Su Xiao would have brought it up.
"Eto, how are those things prepared?"
Kishou Arima looked at Eto.
"They're ready. Most come from China, the U.S., and Germany. They cost a fortune but are very advanced."
Their conversation puzzled Su Xiao. Eto didn't explain and led the group down to the lower level of the stronghold.
The five arrived before the stronghold's basement. Many ghouls guarded the basement door, their equipment exaggerated—some even carried RPG rocket launchers.
"Bronze Tree has weapons like this? Why not use them against the CCG?"
Su Xiao voiced his confusion.
"We don't dare."
Eto's answer stunned Su Xiao.
"We used them a few years ago, but after being hit by a small missile, we stopped. If we don't use large-scale thermal weapons, the CCG won't either. That's the rule of the board."
Su Xiao understood. So they were scared by missiles. Sometimes, thinking about it, Bronze Tree was pitiful. They faced passionate Investigators head-on while secretly dealing with occasional attacks from the V Organization or the military. Their misery was off the charts.
The five entered the basement. Fluorescent lights flickered on, and the scene before them made Su Xiao wonder if he had entered some kind of armory.
The basement walls were lined with an array of firearms—hundreds of various long and short guns, heavy machine guns, assault rifles, and light and heavy sniper rifles.
On a shelf in the center of the room were various explosives. Once Su Xiao saw them, he couldn't look away.
His marksmanship was 'too accurate'—basically, he aimed where he shot, but hit where he didn't. So he preferred these high-power bombs. Throwing one had the power of a machine gunner firing for a long time.
"Pick whatever you want. With these weapons, we'll have an easier time getting in there. At least we won't have to worry about threats from the original species."
As Eto spoke, she picked up a heavy machine gun and slung it over her back. After a moment's thought, she grabbed two handguns and holstered them on her calves. Then she began loading up on ammunition belts and pistol magazines.
Kishou Arima and the Priest also started choosing various firearms. Kirishima Arata stood awkwardly at the door, as if he didn't know how to use guns.
Su Xiao held an olive-green, long cloth bag and kept stuffing bombs into it. But no matter how much he put in, the bag never filled.
He reached into the bag, stuffed a few bombs in, and then transferred one into his storage space. His goal differed from Arima's—the other wanted to destroy the 'Source,' while he wanted to obtain it.
Soon, the bag was full. Su Xiao also hung a dozen or so various bombs on his waist for easy access.
Eto frowned, looking at the large bag in Su Xiao's hands.
"You're not using a gun?"
"My marksmanship... how should I put it? Beyond a few dozen meters, it's just random shooting."
Eto said nothing. After everyone had chosen their weapons, they got into a van and headed straight for District 24.
The van was bumpy, and Su Xiao felt a bit helpless.
After arriving at District 24, the van didn't head for the underground entrance but stopped at a desolate wilderness.
Near a large rock several meters in diameter, a pitch-black hole appeared.
Needless to say, this was an entrance dug by Bronze Tree, leading to the underground passage of District 24.
Entering, with Eto leading the way, the five quickly headed for the Central City.
A journey that would normally take hours, with a clear route, took them only two hours to reach the entrance of the underground Central City.
Looking down from the entrance, the Central City was filled with many ordinary ghouls. The vertical shaft had been destroyed, and the original species had been killed by Su Xiao and Arima. These ghouls had returned to their homes.
Su Xiao hesitated. What if the ghouls in the Central City swarmed them? But feeling the heavy weight of the bag in his hand, he suddenly felt reassured.
If worst came to worst, he would just blow them up. Besides, with Eto, the Ghoul King, here, if she couldn't control these ghouls, she might as well go find a piece of tofu to smash her head against.
The five entered the Central City. Su Xiao and Arima immediately caused panic among a large group of ghouls.
Contrary to expectations, these ghouls had no fighting spirit. Over time, Arima had scared them into submission.
Eto looked at the fleeing ghouls, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"Let's go. To the Steel Passage. Even if the top of the vertical shaft is destroyed, we can still reach the middle section there. We're about to descend into 'hell.'"
The five arrived at a steel building in the Central City. Eto pressed several buttons on the wall, and mechanical sounds echoed through the room. The floor in the center opened, revealing a sloping steel passage.
The five stood before the steel passage. They were about to descend to an unknown depth underground, entering an extremely dangerous area.
Their origins were different, and their personalities even more so.
Su Xiao: Usually a bit lazy, but in battle, his blade always aimed for vital points. If he could cut off a head, he wouldn't bother with a hand.
Eto: Lively and emotional in human form, but bloodthirsty and brutal after transforming into her Kakuja state.
Kishou Arima: Mostly expressionless, with little life left due to his half-human constitution.
Kirishima Arata: A sunny, warm guy who spoke kindly to everyone. His strength was unknown.
Priest: Always smiling, his intentions unclear. He seemed like a loving old man but was actually a sly old fox.
Su Xiao scanned the four around him, his eyes flickering. He was pondering their true motives.
Three needed the most caution. In order of wariness: Kishou Arima third, Priest second, and first—Kirishima Arata!
A ghoul imprisoned by the CCG for years as a 'Kagune growth container'—would his psyche still be sunny? That was highly questionable.
Five people forming a team might mean five different goals. This was very interesting. Who would be the final winner?
Su Xiao bet his life. He bet on himself winning.