Chapter 33: The Mole
No one had stipulated that Su Xiao couldn't bid. He wasn't the nominal seller of the Death Chalice's water, so participating in the bidding was entirely reasonable.
At present, the Death Chalice had yet to secrete any liquid; this was an advance reservation. The National Football team had clearly marked this point, stating that after the auction concluded, the transaction could take place within six days at the latest.
After seeing Su Xiao's bid, Xian Ji didn't raise the price further. For now, this was just an agreement; there was no need to fight so fiercely.
What Su Xiao didn't expect was that a few minutes later, Xian Ji would actually bid up to 15,500 Soul Coins, equivalent to the price of a full-rated Immortal Rank piece of equipment.
If it were an item that could permanently awaken a third talent after drinking, it would naturally be worth more than this price. A temporary awakening implied risk, significantly reducing the value.
Su Xiao didn't continue bidding. It wasn't time yet. Once the Death Chalice secreted its liquid, he could raise the price then.
He closed the communication platform. There was no rush on this matter for now. What he needed to do at the moment was go to the Alliance Council Hall to meet Kingsley and trade for the Lightning Attraction Secret Art.
As for whether he would end up fighting Kingsley, Su Xiao wasn't worried about that. Historically, the Legion Commander of the Execution Agency and the leader of the Eclipse Organization were both big shots when it came to handling dangerous objects.
Two big shots fighting within the jurisdiction of the Southern Alliance? Not even the Alliance side, but their own Containment Institution and Financial Department would rush over to break it up. So, in the Alliance Council Hall, there was no chance of Su Xiao and Kingsley coming to blows.
Just as Su Xiao was about to get up from his seat, the phone on the table rang. He picked it up, and Belloc's voice came through the receiver. This was the adjutant Su Xiao had recently appointed.
"Sir, one good news, one bad news."
"Speak."
"Your suspension period is over. The Alliance Council, Containment Institution, and Financial Department have unanimously approved your reinstatement as Legion Commander."
"And the bad news?"
"Regarding your reinstatement as Legion Commander... it was proposed by the Eclipse Organization, specifically Lord Kingsley... ahem, Kingsley's motion."
Adjutant Belloc quickly corrected himself. Actually, it wasn't a big deal. Many members of the Execution Agency genuinely respected Kingsley, just like how Ring 8's Wadsworth from the Eclipse Organization treated Su Xiao with courtesy.
"It was Kingsley's motion? Got it. Go pick up Siri and have the other four members of the Mad Dog Squad assemble..."
Su Xiao issued several orders in succession. First, he had Adjutant Belloc arrange for vehicles, bring along his trusted subordinates to Yook City, and retrieve 'Skinny' Siri from the underground detention facility.
Siri wasn't just Su Xiao's trusted subordinate; he was also a member of the Mad Dog Squad. At this stage, including Siri, the Mad Dog Squad had a total of five members.
An hour later, four cars in total stopped in front of the office building. With a bang, the door was pushed open.
"Sir, Siri reporting for duty."
Siri stood grinning in front of the desk, his posture like a vertical noodle.
"Your paid leave totals nine months. All expenses during that time can be reimbursed by the Financial Department."
"Sir, no rush. I can take leave anytime."
Siri smoothed his hair. He had already heard about what happened at the Alliance Council Hall. This was no time to go on leave; it was the perfect opportunity to rack up merits. Anyone who chose to take leave now was a fool.
Adjutant Belloc walked into the office, followed by a beautiful young girl wearing rimless glasses. It was Goya, one of the three people Belloc had selected, currently responsible for handling financial matters within the Execution Agency.
Goya stood slightly behind Adjutant Belloc. She pushed up the glasses on her nose, suppressing as many thoughts in her mind as possible. She was loyal to Kingsley, tasked with infiltrating Su Xiao's side.
Now, Goya felt her opportunity had arrived. If she performed outstandingly enough this time, she might become this Legion Commander's personal assistant or secretary. That way, she could access even more classified information. For that, Goya was willing to give everything.
Goya shifted her gaze to Lie Chao, who was standing by the window. She suspected this woman was the Legion Commander's secretary, her rival.
Goya sized up Lie Chao, finally fixing her eyes on the other's chest. She thought to herself, *This opponent... is quite formidable.*
"Don't space out."
Adjutant Belloc quietly scolded Goya, who immediately snapped back to attention.
Behind the desk, Su Xiao exchanged a few low words with Amu. He left Amu, Lie Chao, and the four members of the Mad Dog Squad at the office. The Death Chalice was here; they couldn't afford to let their guard down.
Half an hour later, four cars drove along the street. In the back seat of the second car, Su Xiao leaned back to rest. He glanced at the girl named Goya sitting beside him. Adjutant Belloc had arranged for her to sit there, subtly indicating that this girl was talented and worth cultivating.
"Sir, Belloc drives too slowly, like a turtle crawling. Let me take over."
Siri, in the passenger seat, turned around, still wearing that roguish expression.
"..."
Su Xiao stared at Siri for a few seconds. Siri shrank back, not daring to speak again. Adjutant Belloc, who was driving, suppressed a smile.
Regarding Siri, the strongest member of the Mad Dog Squad, Su Xiao knew him well. This man's loyalty was unquestionable. In battle, he was like a mad dog. Whatever task was given to him, he handled it perfectly.
Siri wasn't without flaws. He didn't know how to flatter his superiors; he was an absolute doer. Su Xiao didn't need flattery, so he valued Siri highly.
Siri's characteristics, summed up, were quite amusing, as illustrated by the following analogy:
When the leader opens the door, he gets in the car; when the leader drinks water, he hits the brakes; when the leader speaks, he chats; when the leader slams the table, he just chuckles.
Let's just say, for this guy to have climbed to his current position, his personal strength and ability to handle dangerous objects were both top-notch within the Execution Agency.
The journey was uneventful. The Alliance Council Hall was located in Garman City. When the car Su Xiao was in stopped at the open space in front of the Council Hall, it was already three in the afternoon.
Several surrounding streets were blocked off. The dozens of steps in front of the main entrance of the Alliance Council Hall were stained a faint red, the color of blood diluted by water.
The Alliance Council originally had 12 members. Su Xiao, in his previous identity, had beaten one to death. Kingsley had killed six today. Six remained. The reason was that Kingsley's nephew had replaced the councilor Su Xiao had killed, ascending to the position at the age of 22.
Su Xiao, leading Bubu Wang, Baha, Belloc, and Goya, walked up the steps and entered the Council Hall. Siri stayed outside to prevent any unforeseen incidents.
The Council Hall had one floor. Upon entering, there was a spacious hall of several hundred square meters. Walking across the marble floor, Su Xiao smelled blood in the air.
Entering the inner hall, a massive round table about seven meters in diameter sat in the center. Six Alliance councilors were seated around the table, and on the table lay six severed heads, each with a look of terror, having suffered inhuman torture before death.
Su Xiao scanned his surroundings. Among the six councilors, one man in a brown suit was the calmest. When he noticed Su Xiao's gaze, he even smiled and nodded at Su Xiao. This was Kingsley's nephew.
Among these six councilors, one was wrapped entirely in blood-stained bandages, with only part of his facial skin remaining. He had been flayed alive, and his teeth had been pulled out. Receiving such treatment was well-deserved. Collaborating with the primitive tribes of the Unknown Continent wasn't the main issue; the key was that these seven councilors had indirectly caused the deaths of over a hundred thousand Southern Alliance citizens.
Su Xiao's gaze shifted to Kingsley, who sat in a wheelchair, his expression calm.