Chapter 177: Rescue

Ka'er ultimately chose ten main wedding gowns and twenty evening dresses. The one he was most satisfied with was a halter-neck design, with an open back, several fine diamond chains connecting the neck to the waistline, and shimmering, iridescent diamonds of the same color scheme adorning the hem. The skirt was a fishtail layered-tulle style, and the overall look did not show a baby bump when worn.

The other dresses also featured simple bodice designs with voluminous hems. There was one form-fitting gown; he imagined how she would look wearing it, and his lower body reacted, so he secretly added it to the pile.

That evening, when the men held a meeting, Zongfang saw the form-fitting dress Ka'er had chosen and immediately frowned. He glanced at Ka'er, but the latter pretended not to see.

On the other end of the video call, Laiboli and Luka indicated they would arrive at the Freedom Alliance as soon as possible. The men finalized the date for the ceremony; apart from that, no one mentioned the boy.

Aosilan.

Luka was dressed in his military uniform, wearing white gloves, and was intently wiping down the firearm in his hands. Laiboli stood behind him and asked, "Are you really decided?"

"Mm."

Laiboli continued to persuade him: "We tried last time, and none of our people returned. The Federation has already been alerted. If you go again this time, they will only be more vigilant and won't let you bring him out. You might even get yourself killed in the process."

"I know," Luka replied calmly. He quickly and deftly loaded the gun, aimed, and after confirming everything was correct, tucked the gun into the back of his waistband. He turned to Laiboli and said, "We have already kept this from Sui Sui; we owe her an explanation at the very least. Besides, I promised to help him once."

Laiboli was speechless, understanding his feelings. He knew Luka was worried that Sui Sui would blame them for standing by and watching Anubis die. Even though they had located where Anubis might be imprisoned, the security there was truly too tight.

"What do you plan to do?" Laiboli asked.

Luka projected an electronic map onto the table and pointed his finger at several key points. "This is the Federation's command center. Their defense starts here and progresses in layers. Your people will create a fake target to attract their attention."

He continued to explain, "At the same time, my people will split into two groups. One group will be responsible for creating chaos to draw away the majority of the guards; the other group, led by me, will enter the prison area."

Laiboli deliberated for a moment and said, "The risk is too high. Are you sure it will work?"

"There is an inside man," Luka said flatly, pointing to a spot on the map. "He will meet me here. As long as I can infiltrate successfully, he can take me to where Anubis is being held."

A flash of surprise crossed Laiboli's eyes. He didn't ask who the inside man was and ultimately nodded.

Night fell, and the air was filled with a tense atmosphere.

With a loud boom, flames shot into the sky, and the sound of alarms rang throughout the entire Federal Central Base. The Federation guards acted quickly, rushing toward the explosion site.

"Get ready," Laiboli whispered instructions through his earpiece.

At the same time, the assault team led by Luka quickly crossed the perimeter, avoiding the main guard force. Everything went smoothly according to plan—perhaps even a little too smoothly.

Luka and his men cooperated with tacit understanding. With a few hand signals, the team split into two, each covering the other.

After passing through several security doors, Luka finally arrived at the meeting point with the inside man.

A faceless person was already waiting there. Their features looked as if they had been sanded away; there were no eyebrows, no bridge of a nose, only two eye sockets and nostrils, and the upper and lower lips were stitched together—neither human nor ghost. This person was wearing a Federation guard uniform. Upon seeing Luka, they placed their unlocking magnetic card into the gap of the security door and then turned and left.

Luka cautiously observed his surroundings, and after confirming no one was there, he picked up the magnetic card and swiped open the final door. This place was a dark, damp water prison, and the air was filled with the smell of rot and mold. Luka kept walking inward, and at the end of the darkness, he finally found the place where Anubis was being held. Through the iron bars, he saw the boy with an iron chain tied around his neck, curled up in a corner, half his body submerged in icy water, his entire body covered in wounds and bruises. His eyes were hollow; he had clearly been subjected to severe torture.

Sensing someone approaching, the boy lifted his head in defense. A flash of light crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by fear and hostility. He began to struggle frantically, emitting low growls, as if he were an enraged beast.

Luka frowned at the sight.

What on earth has he been through... Luka stepped forward and quickly opened the cell door, attempting to take him away.

But Anubis's physique expanded rapidly, his bones making creaking sounds. The muscles beneath his skin became hard and solid, and fur grew out rapidly, covering his entire body. In the blink of an eye, he turned into a wolf. His eyes turned blood-red, flashing with a crazed light, filled with primitive wildness and a desire for slaughter.

Luka retreated quickly; he knew that the Anubis before him had almost no self-awareness or sanity. He tried to use a calm voice to call back the boy's reason: "Calm down, I'm here to take you away from here."

However, Anubis's only response was a low growl. He arched his back, all four limbs on the ground, his muscles tensed like an arrow ready to be released. He lunged at Luka with a speed so fast it was almost impossible to react.

Luka dodged to the side quickly, feeling sharp wolf claws graze his shoulder, bringing a sting of pain. He immediately drew his pistol and aimed at Anubis, but hesitated and stopped the next instant.

If he shot him, Sui Sui would be sad.

In that single breath of hesitation, Anubis attacked again. This time, he used his powerful hind legs to kick off the ground, his entire body slamming into Luka like a giant boulder. Luka rolled to avoid the fatal blow, but was still shaken by the immense impact, his chest feeling stifled.

Luka scanned the surroundings quickly, looking for anything he could use. He noticed an iron rod in the corner and rushed over to grab it, facing Anubis, who had lunged again. He blocked Anubis's sharp claws with the iron rod, but the immense force still made him retreat several steps.

"Anubis, stop!" Luka shouted lowly, trying to awaken the boy's consciousness.

Anubis's movements stalled slightly, the madness in his eyes seeming to weaken, but soon he became even more violent. He roared and attacked again, his sharp teeth closing in on Luka's throat.

The iron rod seemed to be a signal that made Anubis even more manic. The blood-red in his eyes deepened, and he opened his bloody maw at Luka.

At the same time, Kanbukun.

"Luka!" Qiao Suisui woke up from a dream and looked out the window. The wind blew the gauze curtains, which fell softly onto her. Only then did she realize her back was soaked in cold sweat.

Hearing her exclamation, Zongfang woke up immediately, sat up with her, and held her to soothe her.

"Qiaoqiao, I'm here. It's okay, it was just a dream."

Was it a dream? But the scene felt so real.

"Is Luka in danger?" Qiao Suisui nervously grabbed Zongfang's sleeve, her eyes wet. "He seemed to be in a dark and damp place... Zongfang, when is Luka coming to find us?"

(End of chapter)