Bai Shan understood everything now.
She opened her mouth, but the words that she wanted to say to defend herself felt weak and powerless.
When she turned her head around, she saw that the dark tunnel had already been completely buried by the collapsed ruins.
She walked into a dead end, and she had nowhere to run.
She could only lean against a slanted wall and stare at Meng Chao in a daze.
"You suspected me right from the start."
Bai Shan's face was as pale as ash. She did not show any signs of regret, but puzzlement. "Why?"
"From the moment we stepped into Leprosy Village, we were led by the nose by the enemy. The fake Deification Capsule pharmacy, the real super crystal bombs, the exchange of hunter and prey, and the former Reaper Squad members pretending to be secret police officers … It was a chain of traps that caught us off guard," Meng Chao explained calmly.
"All of this can only mean one thing. The monster's tentacles have already infiltrated the higher management of Leprosy Village, which is why they can monitor and guide our actions.
"And I understand that over the past few years, Leprosy Village has gradually been managed by Wild Wolves. Aside from the old village chief, Wild Wolf is the person with the highest prestige in Leprosy Village. He also has rather powerful fighting power.
"If the monster wants to hide from Wild Wolf and bring a large amount of resources into Leprosy Village, secretly set up a Deification Capsule pharmacy, and hide a large number of wanted criminals and former Reaper Squad members, he needs the help of the person Wild Wolf trusts the most.
"Wild Wolf has two right-hand men. One of them is a scholar, and the other is a fighter. They are Strong Arm Zhang Tie and you, Pearl Bai Shan.
"You're in charge of Wild Wolves' intelligence and communication with the gangs in the lair. Compared to Strong Arm Zhang Tie, Wild Wolf's best general, if he bought you over, you would be more useful.
"Of course, this suspicion alone wasn't enough for us to set up this trap to test you. After all, we only had one chance to attack. If the monster didn't buy you over but Strong Arm Zhang Tie or another Wild Wolf, then our test would have backfired and alerted the enemy.
"At that moment, Ms. Mulian and I were chased by the former Reaper Squad members. We used the complicated underground terrain and the dark environment to escape. We even killed two of them.
"Actually, the enemy has the advantage in numbers. If they can communicate effectively and cooperate through the tactical data link, they should be able to intercept and kill us.
"Unfortunately, to cut off the communication between Leprosy Village, the lair, and the lair to the outside world, the monsters chose to block all communication channels. They paralyzed and cut off all communication.
"So, not only have the villagers and the gangs been cut off from the information flow between the gangs and the government of the outside world, but they've also been cut off.
"Even the information between the monster and its minions, and between minions and minions, has been blocked.
"I had an idea, and I suddenly thought that I could use the advantage of not having enough information to find the real monster's puppet lurking beside the Wild Wolves.
"Since you're the instigators of this conspiracy, you must have predicted that all the networks would be paralyzed. Then, you must have prepared a communication method that doesn't require the network or any modern or high-tech equipment. You can directly send messages through physical contact.
"That's why I had A 'Ji come to you and tell you where Ms. Mulian is.
"As for me, I followed A 'Ji in secret and hid in the dark to keep an eye on all the people around Wild Wolf. I wanted to see whether you released any news to the outside world."
"What?!"
Time was of the essence. Wild Wolf, Zhang Tie, and the Wild Wolves did not know about Meng Chao's plan.
It was only then that they learned that when A 'Ji set off the fireworks, Meng Chao had been quietly hiding nearby.
Wild Wolf, Zhang Tie, and Bai Shan had obtained supernatural abilities through gene mutation, and they were all above average fighters.
But the three of them knew nothing about Meng Chao's existence.
At that moment, they could not help but be shocked, and cold sweat poured down their backs.
"That's impossible!"
Bai Shan said hoarsely. "Wild Wolves have tight defenses, and at that time, they were on high alert. How could you have snuck in without being seen by us?"
"As long as I don't want anyone to see me, no one can see me. Even if they see me, I will make them unable to see anything in the next second," Meng Chao said faintly.
"I locked onto seven targets around the Wild Wolves. Alright, actually, if I include the Wild Wolves, there are eight of them. Of course, my main focus was on you, Pearl Bai Shan.
"I paid close attention to whether or not the eight targets came into contact with more people, and whether or not the people who came into contact with the targets left the Wild Wolves Gang's lair as fast as possible to inform people who shouldn't exist."
"I didn't," Bai Shan said through gritted teeth.
Bai Shan gritted her teeth and said, "Ever since A 'Ji appeared, I've been following Wild Wolf closely. Even if I went to organize my forces, there are countless pairs of eyes watching me. It's impossible for me to find someone to send a message!"
"That's right. You didn't look for 'someone' to inform them. You looked for this rat."
Meng Chao used two fingers to twist its tail and pulled out a rat from behind him.
It was a rat that was not much bigger than a thumb.
It did not have any fur on its body, but it had wrinkled skin like that of a Shar Pei. It also had a pair of incomplete, protruding ears, which made it look really comical.
But its eyes kept moving around and shining with a panicked light, showing that it was much more intelligent than normal rat-type monsters.
There were two steel nails on both sides of its spine.
On top of the nail, there was a small and exquisite metal cylinder.
Meng Chao opened the cylinder and brought out a small piece of paper that was as thin as a cicada's wing.
"Regardless of whether it's wired signals or wireless networks, they're both forms of communication that humans invented over the past few hundred years."
Meng Chao handed the rat and the paper to Wild Wolf. He stared at Bai Shan and said, "Thousands of years before phones and radios were invented, humans used animals to send messages through point-to-point physical contact.
"It might be old and clumsy, but it's pretty reliable, isn't it?
"Naturally, messenger pigeons can't be used in such a foul environment. They're too big and eye-catching, and it's easy for them to get dizzy because of the black fog and poisonous smoke. They'll fall from the sky.
"But with the monster civilization's biochemical technology, they can modify some relatively smart pest-type monsters to act as messengers. Isn't this the most convenient form of communication when the internet is completely paralyzed?"
Bai Shan looked at the rat in Wild Wolf's hands. She wanted to snatch it back, but she knew that it was useless. Her expression was dejected, and she found herself speechless.
"I'm guessing that this is the final form of communication the monsters gave you. Under normal circumstances, there's no need for you to use it," Meng Chao said with a smile.
"After all, your scheme seemed to be flawless. If I hadn't unexpectedly escaped from the explosion, maintained more than 50% of my fighting strength, and coincidentally saved Ms. Mulian, no one would have known the truth. Your scheme should have been able to proceed smoothly and swiftly.
"Unfortunately, my existence caused you to be stuck at the most crucial point.
"You couldn't have let Ms. Mulian continue living.
"As long as she was alive, Wild Wolf wouldn't have flown into a rage, and the order in Leprosy Village wouldn't have gone completely out of control.
"But now, not only is Ms. Mulian still alive, she also has a shocking secret regarding your scheme.
"When you heard this news, it was the same as if you heard a bolt from the blue. Naturally, you informed the monster puppets lurking in the dark of Ms. Mulian's hiding spot so that they could kill her before the Wild Wolves.
"Unfortunately, you could never have foreseen that there was a pair of eyes staring at your every move in the darkness. The moment you released the rat, it was discovered and intercepted by me."
Bai Shan's lips trembled, and she forced herself to say, "But what right do you have to say that I released the rat?"
"Yes, it's very difficult to prove that you were the one who placed the rat there, and I believe that the handwriting on the note is also very different from the handwriting you usually use. You can deny it, but as long as there's even 1% of doubt, it's impossible for the Wild Wolf to believe in an outsider like me instead of a childhood friend like you."
"The key to solving the scheme isn't just to find you. I also need to find irrefutable evidence.
"So, we still need to put on a show.
"You used the excuse of ensuring Wild Wolf's safety to mobilize a large number of people and armed yourself to the teeth. Then, you dilly-dallied for a long time before you left. In truth, you were just stalling for time and creating a chance for the monster puppets to kill you.
"But you didn't know that the monster puppets didn't receive your note at all. You were stalling for time to create a chance for me to carefully set up the trap.
"When you finally arrived late and reached the entrance of Razor Street, you heard the explosion at the end of the street. I believe that you must have sighed in relief and thought that the monster puppets had succeeded in killing you.
"But you didn't know that I had just detonated the crystal bombs I buried underground to create the ruins and mislead you.
"What happened next was simple.
"I'm a harvester, and I've seen thousands of wounds of all shapes and sizes. Naturally, I can use monster flesh and blood to imitate those wounds perfectly.
"As for the charred corpse, it's a former Reaper Squad member I killed. She's a woman with a figure similar to Ms. Mulian.
"Flames that were stained with crystal powder and chemicals stuck to a person's body, so it's only natural that the person would be burned beyond recognition.
"Besides, I predicted all of your thoughts, so you had a preconceived notion. I also showed you Ms. Mulian's bracelet, so it was impossible for you to have any suspicions.
"And when you found me, the real Ms. Mulian appeared from the darkness. She went to Wild Wolf and told him everything.
"Then, everyone waited quietly for your 'performance'. I didn't need to say anything. I just needed to pretend to be a corpse, and you would obediently tell me everything.
"That's the entire thing. Now, do you have anything else you want to say to justify yourself?"
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