Chapter 2513: Hidden Beneath the Kidnapping Case
Beyond his deductions, Xu Huo's words were laced with contempt for District 001 and disdain for the military district players, as if this district harbored filth and had become a haven for the despicable, while good people like the Wan family could only end up dead.
The result of this was that the military personnel were thoroughly enraged.
They were not emotionless people, so when they heard about Lady Sheila and the Wan family incident, they inevitably experienced emotional fluctuations. The person standing next to the instrument showed even more obvious reactions, which meant the military personnel were not completely unaware, even if they weren't participants.
And when Xu Huo insulted District 001, their reactions were much more straightforward. Even the mute-like person spoke up:
"Once I catch you, we'll see if your mouth is still so tough!"
Under the instrument's lockdown and interference, neither side could use items or instruments, so the military personnel had brought weapons in advance. Although Xu Huo hadn't had time to take out his items, the detonators he had bought earlier were still unused. After testing, he looked at the direction the tracking trait's chain was moving, threw down a few detonators to force back the people around him, then flashed to the edge of the blockade barrier. He pulled out a dagger, sliced a gap in it, and directly charged out.
The military personnel had prepared in advance, so of course they wouldn't have set up this barrier. Xu Huo also didn't intend to escape in one go; he just changed locations, shaking off the Buzz Cut duo and some of the military personnel.
The Non-Game Area Simulator's range wasn't large. Once he exited the barrier, the item function returned to normal. Xu Huo took out two space interference instruments, weakened the outer blockade, and quickly distanced himself from Cat Whisker Fruit Town through a Spiritual Gate. Only after shaking off the military personnel did he use a teleportation item to return to the Cat Whisker Fruit Tree Mountain.
Bubble Bean had already grown impatient. Seeing him, he immediately jumped down from the tree, "How was it? No tail?"
"All shaken off." Xu Huo said. Even in a district like District 001, powerful A-class players weren't everywhere.
"Here's what you wanted." Bubble Bean tossed him the recorder. "Started recording from before I entered the Mi family home."
Bubble Bean's meeting with Mi Fei was very straightforward. Probably because he had some skill in this area, Mi Fei's words didn't have many loopholes. However, when mentioning Wan Dong, it was clear his emotions fluctuated greatly. Especially when Old Lady Gui deliberately mentioned that Wan Dong had been followed and secretly photographed for a long time before his disappearance, Mi Fei became even more agitated. But after his agitation, he still calmed down and said he didn't know about the Wan family's affairs.
What was interesting was that Bubble Bean's business card wasn't directly placed down; rather, Mi Fei hesitated before actively taking it.
"I think this kid will probably contact me." Bubble Bean said.
"Hard to say." Xu Huo finished watching the video. "He might not know much."
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so agitated. Clearly, this matter was kept from him in advance. Even if he knew beforehand, it was by chance.
"The matter must be related to the Mi family, right?" Bubble Bean said. "Since things have already blown up, why not grab a couple of people to interrogate? Maybe someone knows the whereabouts of the Wan family."
Xu Huo didn't think so. If this matter was just the action of an individual faction, even if Lady Sheila arranged for someone to do it alone, or joined forces with the Mi family, they could be a breakthrough. But things clearly weren't that simple. Lady Sheila, the Mi family, the Enforcement Team, and the military district all had people in the know, which meant this was a collective agreement.
People in the same camp seemingly share the same interests, but when making decisions, they often have different disagreements. For multiple forces with different systems to compromise together, and to do something as despicable, underhanded, and cruel as kidnapping a family with a century-old reputation, it was clear this involved far more than just a council member election.
To be this united, even the Wan family might be participants.
Staking dozens of lives just to bring down a particular candidate wasn't worth it.
Something major must be happening in District 001.
Xu Huo rubbed his fingers on the recorder, quickly recalling the information he had browsed earlier in the Game Library and the Message Collection Terminal. After a moment, he looked at Bubble Bean, "The head of the Mi family isn't at home. Go again. If Mi Fei hasn't left yet, ask him where his grandfather might have gone."
"If he's unwilling to tell, tell him that the Wan family kidnapping was self-staged, and Wan Dong was the sacrifice."
Bubble Bean didn't understand how things had suddenly jumped to this point, but before he could ask for details, Xu Huo continued, "You're on your own. I have other business to handle. Regardless of the outcome, send me a message immediately."
"Where are you going?" Bubble Bean was worried he would shake him off and clear the instance alone.
"To find Old Lady Gui." Xu Huo said. "She and that stalker were both caught. The place they were taken to should have someone who knows the inside story."
Only then did Bubble Bean understand why Xu Huo had left Old Lady Gui behind. "No, even if I say that, that kid Mi Fei might not cooperate. I think Old Lady Gui's side has a better chance of a breakthrough."
Xu Huo glanced at him, "Then shall we switch?"
Bubble Bean understood there was no room for negotiation and couldn't help but feel awkward. "I don't have your skill and daring. I'll go to the Mi family. Just don't forget me when you clear the instance."
The three split up. Bubble Bean returned to the Mi family, while Xu Huo and the Painting Woman followed the trait to track Old Lady Gui's whereabouts.
Old Lady Gui was different from the stalker. The stalker was a player. The moment he was caught, he would have all his items removed, including traits. Old Lady Gui was an ordinary person and a local resident. Even if she was checked, it wouldn't be as thorough. Moreover, the Cat Whisker Fruit she had sent out ultimately reached Lady Sheila's hands, making her a certain link in the entire chain of events. With some luck, she might not be checked too carefully, but she would definitely be captured.
It was hard to determine where she would be sent. But if someone came to interrogate her, that person would most likely be an insider.
However, Xu Huo still underestimated the military district's rigor. The other end of the tracking trait's chain suddenly dissolved while still moving. Xu Huo could only estimate a rough range. He and the Painting Woman chased at full speed, but only managed to catch the residual waves left by a few aircraft—the military personnel had changed locations through space teleportation.
In the empty mountain forest, only the sounds of birds and beasts could be heard.
"What a pity." Xu Huo had thought Old Lady Gui would most likely be sent to a military prison near Cat Whisker Fruit Town. After all, cross-regional transfer might give other forces an opportunity. He hadn't expected them to be so ruthless, directly making her "disappear."
This was a race against time.