Chapter 202: 201 Meeting? Coup! (Part 1)

"Leader?"

After studying the middle-aged man's expression, Leon, who had slept overnight in the open wrapped in a blanket, sniffed and asked with evident concern:

"You don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?"

"…"

That's… wouldn't you at least try to guess why your own complexion looks so bad?

Looking at the persistent little Bajins clinging to him, the middle-aged man's reply nearly slipped out through his clenched teeth.

"Fine…"

Undeniably, compared to some prince obsessed with hierarchy and power struggles, the middle-aged man's emotional control had improved drastically after witnessing his homeland's ruin and his nation's collapse.

After a deep breath, he forcibly regained his former composure, refraining from losing his cool despite the unexpected situation, and instead offered a faint, distant smile as he continued:

"As for my health, there's a crucial meeting today, so I stayed up all night—perhaps I'm just a bit tired… By the way, Bajins, didn't you go home last night? Why are you sleeping here?"

Of course, I came to attend your so-called crucial meeting.

Besides, I haven't gathered enough intelligence, haven't found the grandmother-grandson pair with memory abilities, and haven't spotted any suspected second Prince Joshua—how could I possibly leave?

Also… why does it feel like, compared to the killer intent the fat uncle mentioned, this rebel leader's gaze toward me holds more wariness than hostility?

…

Noticing subtle shifts in the middle-aged man's expression, Leon unconsciously narrowed his eyes.

There's no way I'm leaving—absolutely not.

This is the only chance to confirm the Aquarius Director's whereabouts. If I don't use this window to fully understand the rebels' situation, and if the Director's interrogation fails and he returns to the capital, I'll be dead if I rashly infiltrate the rebels again.

Right now, the most dangerous Aquarius Director is undergoing interrogation. With the remaining rebels' capabilities, they're unlikely to pose any real threat to the 【Heart of Ambition】—at best, they might catch me. But I still have Jerry's Whale Oil Bomb.

According to Jerry, that thing can instantly blow an entire building to rubble. So if I'm exposed and captured, I can just yell for You Ha to throw the Whale Oil Bomb right at their faces!

From the few rebels I've encountered, their abnormal abilities are all singular—they're unlikely to have any defensive capabilities. At close range, they probably can't even block a nail gun. If they take a direct hit from a Whale Oil Bomb, they might get wiped out entirely.

Perfect. The advantage is mine.

In an instant, Leon assessed the strength disparity, confirmed he was in no danger—and even had a direct "cheat method to pass the level"—and his heart settled completely. He then gave the middle-aged man a suitably "cold and aloof" smile, in character as "Bajins."

"Didn't you tell Uncle Owen to bring me to you yesterday? I was afraid I'd oversleep and miss something, so I came early and waited overnight. Looks like the timing's perfect."

"Hmph, you're cautious."

After exchanging a few more hollow pleasantries, the middle-aged man opened the door and stepped into the "meeting room" first, taking his seat at the head of the long table.

Wait… why does this Bajins feel so strange?

Watching "Bajins" sit deliberately at the far end of the table, directly opposite him, the middle-aged man's eyes flickered with suspicion.

Though he didn't know how Owen had explained things, Bajins must have known the leader had shown hostility toward him yesterday.

Yet he didn't flee overnight—he came to them willingly, pretending nothing had happened. These actions were utterly unlike the stubborn, aloof Bajins he knew.

But if he isn't the real Bajins, then how do you explain those lethal questions from last night?

…

"Leader."

Though he sensed the middle-aged man's suspicion, Leon judged the man's wariness outweighed any intent to kill—and decided he wouldn't strike first. His behavior grew even bolder.

Glancing around the rebels' "command center," "Bajins," seated with his back to the door, asked eagerly:

"You said there's a meeting. Why haven't the others arrived yet?"

"Soon."

The middle-aged man gave "Bajins" a penetrating look, checked his wristwatch, and replied calmly:

"They'll be here any…"

"Bang!"

Before he could finish, a violent slam of the door echoed, accompanied by an odd exclamation:

"So fragrant! It's the smell of yesterday's tiger!"???

Fragrant? Tiger?

Wait… do your rebels have such a broad menu? You eat tigers now?

Leon turned in surprise and saw the thick wooden door had somehow been replaced by a strange iron grille—or rather, a prison cell gate.

Out stepped a man covered in severe burns, striding forward with two fierce, orange-yellow eyes fixed intently on him.

"He's Tiger."

After a bare-bones introduction, the middle-aged man stared blankly at the burn victim:

"This is Bajins—the new member who will soon receive an abnormality."

"Leader."

At this point, Leon interrupted smoothly:

"If by 'abnormality' you mean that kind of special power, then I believe I already have it."???!

Hearing "Bajins's" words, the middle-aged man's expression shifted slightly, his wariness intensifying markedly.

He hadn't even obtained the "Abnormal Seed," yet he awakened an abnormality overnight? Is the "Six Needles" talent really that terrifying?

"…"

"Hmm, I see."

After several seconds of silence, the middle-aged man took a deep breath, regained his composure, and, unsure how to handle this burning hot potato, gave a vague nod to deflect the matter. He then turned to the burn victim, who hadn't taken his eyes off "Bajins":

"Tiger, sit down. I'll introduce Bajins's situation to everyone once the others arrive."

"Alright."

The burn victim, usually dismissive of the "weakling" leader, seemed distracted by something—this time, unusually, he didn't object. Instead, he sat right beside Leon, his eyes, more beast than human, locked onto him.

(⊙⊙)

"Want to be leader?"

"Huh?"

His nostrils flared slightly as he inhaled the "aroma of strength" flooding his lungs. The burn victim grinned, revealing dazzlingly white teeth, and beamed at Leon.

"You're way more reliable than him. If you want to be leader, I've got your back!"