Chapter 483: The Arsonist
The players locked in the club had lost their player status and had no chance of escaping the club's pursuit. Even if, by some miracle, they managed to get out, they could only hide in the lower city district, making them easy to find. Xu Huo's actions were utterly meaningless.
"What are you talking about?" Xu Huo rolled down the car window and flicked the lighter toward the club building.
"Boom!" A broken liquor cabinet somewhere in the building burst into flames.
As the fire flickered several times, different spots in the building ignited one after another. The blaze spread to unknown areas, triggering a chain of explosions.
Once the explosions started, the building's fire suppression system proved inadequate. Rolling flames and thick smoke poured out of the building, accompanied by the howls of unidentified animals.
The smoke finally caught fire. Xu Huo took a drag and squinted as he admired the burning building. "I just wanted to see some fireworks."
Their car, like many other flying vehicles, hovered around the building. The rolling firelight reflected off Bai Kou's beautiful face. She said something ambiguous: "You've got some nerve too."
Xu Huo turned and pointed out the window. "You don't like it?"
Bai Kou gave a faint smile. "I promised Uncle Fan Xiao I wouldn't play with fire... I have to keep my word, even if it's just a formality."
"So you still like it." Xu Huo raised an eyebrow. "I didn't peg you as a law-abiding good person."
"Not at all. I'm here to do business now. If I cause trouble in District 011, how can I continue negotiating?" Bai Kou glanced outside. "The Black Epaulets are here."
She recorded a video of the captured xenomorph before driving the car away.
"Want me to upload this for you?" Xu Huo looked at the communicator she had casually tossed aside.
"Sure," Bai Kou replied nonchalantly.
But when Xu Huo picked up her communicator, a holographic projection of a xenomorph suddenly lunged out of it, snarling fiercely at him!
"Roar!" The projected xenomorph bellowed ferociously. Xu Huo didn't even blink. He moved the communicator aside and looked at the woman beside him, who was stifling a laugh. "A prank with no technical merit."
"It's fun as long as it works." Bai Kou grinned. "It's perfect for scaring those bastards who like to snoop into other people's privacy."
Xu Huo uploaded the video to the network and said, "This will only scare kids. What's the satisfaction in scaring children?"
Bai Kou didn't mind his lack of enthusiasm. She changed the subject. "The Black Epaulets might trace this back to you soon. You left the club and then reappeared inside—it's hard not to raise suspicion. And you used a trait on that club player at the end, right? Can he recognize you?"
"Not sure. It's the first time I've used that new trait," Xu Huo said. "But I didn't show my face."
Bai Kou hummed in acknowledgment and fell silent.
The two returned to the castle. Mr. Dong had prepared a late-night snack, tailored to Xu Huo's tastes, so Bai Kou took a couple of bites before heading upstairs.
When Xu Huo went upstairs, Mr. Dong came to tell him that Bai Kou had left again.
Xu Huo paused, notebook in hand. "Do you know what she's really doing in District 011?"
On the surface, it seemed to be about military supplies, but her habit of being active at night and lying low during the day suggested another purpose.
"For the weapons," Mr. Dong said, offering a rare extra detail this time. "Miss Bai Kou seems to have some connection with the Platinum Eye."
Xu Huo glanced at him. As a special item, Mr. Dong was as mysterious as his master. To this day, Xu Huo didn't know the criteria He Pu used to choose his successor. Nominally, Xu Huo had inherited the Rose Castle, but in reality, the true master here was still Mr. Dong.
Mr. Dong held back from Xu Huo, never volunteering information. When asked, he would answer selectively, and the answers weren't necessarily true. Clearly, he didn't follow the previous master's instructions to the letter.
Mr. Dong was a butler with a high degree of autonomy.
This was also evident from He Pu's belongings. He Pu would accompany Xu Huo to participate in those bizarre spider competitions—the two were more like friends.
"If I plan to leave District 011, will you stay here or come with me?"
Mr. Dong stood upright, solemn and dull. "I will wait here for the young master to return."
Xu Huo understood. Even though he had nominally inherited the Rose Castle, the only things he could fully take away were the few items He Pu had given him.
Shifting the topic back, he asked, "Are you sure Bai Kou is connected to the Platinum Eye?"
Mr. Dong said flatly, "She didn't hide it from me. She used a Platinum Eye heavy cannon to bomb the castle."
No wonder the two were at each other's throats. The castle had been damaged so badly that the commotion must have been significant. The fact that no one noticed was likely because both sides had deliberately used items to conceal it.
Xu Huo didn't know the specifics of how Mr. Dong judged Bai Kou's connection to the Platinum Eye, but since he said so, there should be evidence.
Bai Kou had disguised her identity to come for Rongxin Group's weapons, and she was also linked to the Platinum Eye. Coincidentally, a Platinum Eye transport ship had been robbed recently...
"Could she be here waiting for the delivery person?"
The system news speculated that the weapon robbers might be the Eerie Sound Knights. Bai Kou knew this news too. Was she confident enough to act alone, or did she have help?
Several thoughts flashed through his mind. Xu Huo looked at Mr. Dong. "Better move out soon."
Mr. Dong looked puzzled, but Xu Huo said, "I'm afraid this place will get demolished again."
Mr. Dong's face fell. After several changes in expression, he said seriously to Xu Huo, "Young master, seeing guests out should be your responsibility."
He was quick to pass the buck.
But it was understandable. If Mr. Dong had a way to deal with Bai Kou, he wouldn't have been swallowing his pride and nitpicking over trivial matters every day.
"Can't help you there." Xu Huo gave an apologetic smile.
Mr. Dong left in a huff.
Xu Huo was in a good mood. He checked the current news.
The results of the club injury incident were out. Aside from one particularly unlucky person who died by smashing their head on a table corner while fleeing, the xenomorph, fire, and explosions had caused no fatalities—thanks to the players who had undergone strict protection training before being deployed.
Although there was no irreversible damage, there were injuries and deaths, likely caused by the xenomorph, so the blame fell on the club.
Whether intentionally or not, the Black Epaulets leaked some "performance" videos during their investigation. Such bloody and brutal shows provoked a strong reaction from the citizens of District 011, who had been living in peace and safety.
How many players had sacrificed themselves to xenomorphs to secure today's situation? And yet someone was smuggling xenomorphs in to do such despicable things—and letting them escape!
With interests at stake, a mechanical protest erupted immediately.
A mechanical protest involved registered robots or remotely controlled mechanical devices, authorized by their owners, to protest on their behalf without the humans having to show up. It was a unique feature of District 011.
(Chapter End)