# 311
Chapter 311 – Spare Us, Big Shot!
“The meteorite has been shot down.”
A prison guard lowered the binoculars and turned to report to Xie Yu.
Seated behind a wide black desk, Xie Yu nodded and spoke calmly, “From this moment on, the Purification Chamber is on full Level-One alert. Notify the defense group to monitor the surrounding waters around the clock. Also, pull two-thirds of the prison’s manpower to reinforce the outer perimeter.”
The guard froze. “Two-thirds of the guards to the outside? Isn’t that too many? What if something happens inside the prison?”
“Under Level-One alert, every inmate is locked in his cell and the entire facility is run by Great Xia’s top-tier AI surveillance system—what could go wrong?” Xie Yu waved him off. “Do as I say.”
The guard hesitated, then answered, “Yes, sir.”
When the guard had left, Xie Yu rose slowly, walked to the window, and looked down at the empty Purification Chamber, the corners of his mouth curling upward.
“The time has come…”
——
Outside the Purification Chamber.
Baili Pangpang crouched behind a huge rock, sneaking half his head out. Through the monocle perched on his nose he stared ahead.
“This defense is insane,” he muttered, pulling back.
“Yeah…” Cao Yuan sighed, puzzled. “I remember security was tight before, but not like this. At least twelve snipers visible. Even a fly couldn’t get through.”
“Think it’s because of that meteor?” Baili Pangpang mused. “Didn’t look natural to me.”
Cao Yuan nodded. “Odds of a meteor strike are tiny, and it just happens to head straight for the Purification Chamber? Too convenient. And I’ve got a hunch it’s linked to those three guys we just tied up…”
“Forget them,” Baili Pangpang shrugged. “Soon as we bust Qiye out, we run. Whatever they’re planning won’t be our problem.”
“None of your forbidden items can get us through this blockade?”
“Some could—if they still worked,” Baili Pangpang said gloomily. “Anything space-related is dead. Best I’ve got is a two-or-three-metre hop. And the Yaoguang only glows for one metre—hardly enough to stop bullets and artillery.”
Cao Yuan nodded. “No surprise. Under the Suppression Stele, any item that projects a Forbidden Ruin outward fails. Only tools with passive, built-in tricks still function…”
“So what do we do?”
“Wait for now,” Cao Yuan said after a moment. “They’ve rushed extra guards here; numbers should drop after a while. We’ll seize a chance then.”
“More waiting…” Baili Pangpang scratched his head, then brightened. “I’ve got an idea!”
“Shoot.”
“What’s our main goal right now?”
“Get inside the Purification Chamber,” Cao Yuan answered, eyeing him.
“Exactly!” Baili Pangpang slapped his thigh. “So, if we tried to break in, got caught, where would they take us?”
Cao Yuan pondered. “To the afterlife?”
“…Be serious. I mean—if we attempted a jailbreak, then repented and turned ourselves in, begging for mercy, would the guards think we… you know?”
He squinted furiously, trying to telegraph meaning.
“Think we’re… nuts?”
“…Think we deserve leniency!”
“I get it.” Cao Yuan rubbed his chin. “We walk up, they won’t shoot on sight; they’ll lock us up somewhere first��”
“Right!” Baili Pangpang beamed. “And the only lock-up for a thousand kilometres is—”
“Turn ourselves in at the gate and ask to be jailed…” Cao Yuan muttered, sceptical. “Sounds shaky to me.”
“What’s shaky? It’s perfect!” Baili Pangpang stared. “Got a better plan? Even if we wait two days, will a thinner line make it breach-able?”
Cao Yuan had no reply.
True—two days wouldn’t make this place much softer…
“But once we’re inside they’ll search us,” he said. “If they take your Unrestrained Space, we’ll have zero way to rescue Lin Qiye.”
Baili Pangpang patted his shoulder with a disappointed sigh.
“Old Cao, after hanging with me so long you’re still dense. The best plan is no plan! When we get in, we’ll improvise! Before we came to this island, could you have dreamed up the brilliant tactic of surrendering to prison? Nope! So don’t overthink…”
Under Baili Pangpang’s nonstop brainwash, Cao Yuan’s thoughts whirled; his head buzzed. He glanced at Baili Pangpang, then at the distant checkpoint, and clenched his teeth.
“Fine—let’s do it!”
——
Dusk fell.
Between towering steel walls a sniper scanned the area through his scope.
Suddenly a figure flickered across the crosshairs!
Clack-clack—!
Seven or eight bolts snapped in unison; most of the snipers swung their rifles toward a spot in front of the gate.
Floodlights on heavy armoured vehicles blazed to life, bathing the approach in white light. Dozens of fully equipped special-forces troops leapt down, formed a ring, and advanced.
On the road, two figures marched forward, chins high, faces solemn—men walking to their doom.
The chubby one raised his hands overhead, stretching a crudely made banner that blazed with huge scarlet characters:
SPARE US, BIG SHOT!