Chapter 598: The Rebel Gathering Point

Is this the gathering point of the rebels?

Carrying an iron bucket full of orange-red palm oil, mixed with other rebel members responsible for purchasing, after entering an old warehouse on Patriot Street in batches.

What appeared before Leon's eyes was not a dim warehouse filled with dust and various sundries, but a lush valley distributed with a large number of low buildings. Many people were coming and going on the dirt roads dug out by hand, busy preparing something.

Sensing that something was wrong, he immediately took a deep breath, pretended to be tired from carrying the oil bucket, and took advantage of the effort of switching the oil bucket to the other shoulder to look around at the environment.

Other directions were very ordinary, and there was nothing that could identify the location, but in the northwest of the valley, one could vaguely see a towering "7"-shaped giant tower.

That steel giant tower built by the Kingdom of Kroke for the use of rigid airships is one of the landmarks of the Capital, and the short horizontal stroke on the "7" is the "platform" for passengers to get on and off the airship.

If the airship tower is in the northwest... then this is a valley in the southeast of the Capital?

Relying on his outstanding vision to find the airship tower and confirm his current location, Leon couldn't help but gasp.

Estimating by the size of the airship tower, this valley is probably fifteen or sixteen kilometers away from the Capital. He just walked through a door and actually came to a place more than ten kilometers away?

No wonder, no wonder the people from the Secret Investigation Bureau turned the Capital upside down and couldn't find the rebels' gathering point. It turns out this place isn't in the Capital at all. It would be strange if they could find it!

Really... this anomalous object of the space movement type is truly a bit too outrageous!

After carefully remembering his discovery, Leon, who switched the oil bucket from his left shoulder to his right shoulder, seemed to be dizzy, staggered half a step back with weak footsteps, and then "instinctively" reached out to grab the door frame of the warehouse door, and "had to" support the door handle to barely stand firm.

【Materialist】 had no reaction.

Pity. It seems that although this door has the ability to cross space, the warehouse door itself is not an anomalous object. It is likely some kind of carrier, or the "anomaly" does not depend on the door frame and handle, but depends on something else...

"Little Bakins?"

Not knowing that Leon's actions had ulterior motives, the fat uncle who followed behind reached out to support the oil bucket, and instructed with some worry:

"If you are not feeling well, just put down the oil bucket and go home to rest. I'll come back for another trip later."

"No need."

Upon hearing the fat uncle's words, Leon, who didn't know where "his" home was, shook his head and refused his kindness, then stood firm again, "veins bulging" and "sweating profusely," carrying the oil bucket, and followed the others towards the warehouse.

This child... sigh! Like his father back then, he has a stubborn temper that even nine cows can't pull back...

Looking at "Little Bakins"'s sweat-soaked clothes and his back arching with effort, the fat uncle, who was also carrying a large bag of things, sighed, then quickened his pace to follow, preparing to reach out and support him when he couldn't hold on, so as not to break the oil bucket or hurt Little Bakins.

However, strangely, Little Bakins was clearly exhausted just now, and his body was even swaying, but he walked for a long time like this, looking like he was about to fall at any time, but he really persisted and successfully carried the oil bucket to the warehouse.

"Huh?!"

After taking the oil bucket from Little Bakins' hand, the person responsible for checking the accounts was directly pulled into a stagger, almost falling face down on the ground.

After staggering two steps to stabilize his body and using his belly to hold the oil bucket, the person checking the accounts looked up and looked at "Little Bakins" in surprise:

"What's going on? Why is this bucket of oil so full? Isn't it usually half a bucket?"

"..."

Ah? So the big bucket of palm oil is only filled half full?

Upon hearing the question from the person checking the accounts, Leon, who had knocked out the real Little Bakins and replaced his identity while he was filling the oil, couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, and understood the expression of the oil shop owner at that time, why he looked like he wanted to say something but stopped.

His family has few people, and they used small cans in the past, so he really hadn't bought such a big bucket of oil. After knocking out the real Little Bakins, he took it for granted that the oil bucket should be filled completely before carrying it out.

And the oil shop owner saw that he "attacked" the real Little Bakins and was asked by Amy to cooperate with his actions, so he didn't dare to remind him, and just let him carry this big bucket of oil away...

"I don't know."

After wiping the sweat he squeezed out hard from his forehead, "Little Bakins," who looked quite handsome but had a cold expression, said expressionlessly while moving his shoulders:

"The oil shop owner gave that much. I asked him, but he said he didn't give the wrong amount, so I just carried it back."

"Is that so?"

Seeming not surprised by "Little Bakins"'s coldness, the person checking the accounts pondered for a while, then said firmly:

"Then it might be that this batch of oil was about to be sold out, and the cargo truck was about to leave, so he was in a hurry to empty the big bucket and follow the truck to the oil station to pick up new ones to sell, so he just poured all the remaining oil into your bucket."

"Pretty good, haha, Little Bakins, you picked up a bargain today."

"Maybe."

After responding indifferently, "Little Bakins," who was naturally cold, turned and left the warehouse, walking back in the direction he came from. The person checking the accounts didn't get angry at his impolite behavior, but greeted the next person with a smile.

Really... fortunately, I chose this cold-faced person...

After glancing back at the expression of the person checking the accounts and confirming that there was nothing unusual, Leon's heart breathed a sigh of relief, and then he rejoiced in his choice.

The list of suspected rebel purchasers given by Amy had about twenty people, and the reason he chose this Little Bakins was because he was cold and taciturn, and didn't look very sociable.

Such a person is not hidden enough, but because there is little communication and few expressions, it is the least likely to reveal his identity when information is insufficient. If it were a more cheerful and talkative person, it would be very difficult for him to perform so "normally."

Good luck!

After looking around at the situation, Leon locked his target on the building in the center of the valley.

Since he had successfully mixed in, he should complete the mission. First, find the grandparents and grandchildren who were suspected of having memory abilities, and find a way to make the Princess's erased...

"Little Bakins!"

Just when Leon was preparing to start his investigation, the fat uncle who had supported him from behind chased out of the warehouse quickly.

After calling out to "Little Bakins" who was "trying to be brave," the fat uncle with a stubbly beard couldn't help but complain:

"That bucket of oil was filled so full, why didn't you call me to help, and just carried it back yourself? Breaking the bucket is a small matter, but what if you hurt your waist?"

"..."

I knew it, good luck or something is definitely an illusion!

Looking at the acquaintance who took the initiative to come up and chat, Leon, who was short of information, had a headache, then tried his best to maintain Little Bakins' cold persona, and responded coldly:

"I tried to carry it, felt it was okay, so I just carried it back myself."

"Nonsense!"

Seeing that he was still trying to be brave, the fat uncle couldn't help but get angry, blowing his beard and staring:

"I tried to carry it just now, and almost sprained my waist. You carried such a big bucket of oil for so long, can your body handle it?"

"Besides, when you passed the door just now, you almost fell. I saw it all from behind! Why are you trying to be brave?"

"..."

Really... if I had known this, I would have endured it for a while and not touched the door frame and handle directly.

"You child, why are you so stubborn?"

Looking at Little Bakins, who lowered his head and remained silent, still "stubbornly" refusing to make a sound, the fat uncle sighed and persuaded bitterly:

"I know you are bitter in your heart and want to find something to do to numb yourself, but pay attention to your body and don't consume too much. You might not feel it when you are young, but when you get old..." "None of your business!"

Worried about investigating the situation and also worried that he would reveal his identity if he chatted for too long, Leon, who was eager to get rid of this somewhat talkative kind uncle, glared at him and refused bluntly:

"I know my body! You don't need to nag."

"..."

"You... what's wrong with you?"

Startled by "Little Bakins," who suddenly exploded, the fat uncle was stunned, then said suspiciously:

"Little Bakins? You... are a bit strange today? You have never spoken to me like this before..."

"..."

Ah, this... it seems that even if the appearance is exactly the same, for people who are familiar, there is a difference after all. Was I discovered to be wrong?

Just when Leon's eyes were wandering and he was trying to figure out how to cover it up, the fat uncle reached his own conclusion, and his kind face quickly flushed with anger:

"Is it Old Bakins? He beat you again these past two days, right? Did he grab your money to buy alcohol again?"

"..."

Taking Leon's silence as acquiescence, the fat uncle's honest round face quickly flushed red. He grabbed his wrist and rolled up his sleeves, and sure enough, he found several long bruises on his elbows.

"Damn it! This dog thing! Sooner or later he will die on that horse urine!"

After scolding angrily, the fat uncle grabbed Leon, who was "suffering from domestic violence," and walked towards the direction he came from with big strides, saying angrily while walking:

"Can't spoil him anymore! You come with me to find him! I will definitely help you get the money back!"

"..."

Ah, this... I finally mixed in, why am I going back without doing anything?

Just by playing freely, I was discovered to be wrong. Leon, who was not good at messing around, had no choice but to let the fat uncle pull him, looking back three times every step, and walked back, getting further and further away from the suspicious building in the center of the valley...

"Bang!"

Just when Leon was pulled to the door unwillingly and was about to cross the strange door that could cross space and leave the valley where the rebels gathered, the old iron warehouse door twisted twice, then made a loud explosion, and turned into a red wooden door carved with flower and bird patterns.

Accompanied by the light sound of the door shaft, the red wooden door was pushed open from the outside, and a middle-aged man who looked quite young but had quite a few white hairs at his temples walked in.

"Are you going out?"

After walking in from outside the door and seeing Leon and the fat uncle "inside the door," the middle-aged man smiled kindly and said:

"Wait a moment, I will change the destination back immediately."

"Ah, we are not in a hurry!"

After seeing the middle-aged man, the fat uncle stood up straight subconsciously, then lowered his head with reverence:

"Lord Leader, you have been a bit haggard recently, please take care of your body."

"Haha, I will."

Leader?!

Leon, who was following behind, shrank his pupils upon hearing this, and then, while learning the fat uncle's appearance, lowered his head respectfully and began to memorize the middle-aged man's appearance repeatedly in his mind.

The rebel leader who the Secret Investigation Bureau had tried for so many years but couldn't find is now standing two meters in front of him! This face must be firmly remembered... hmm... I don't know why, his features seem to be slightly familiar?

"Okay!"

Not knowing that one of the two people in front of him was a cleaner from the Cleanup Bureau, after closing the door again, the middle-aged man reached out and touched the nameplate on the red wooden door frame, and the luxurious red wooden door twisted, turning back into that old iron warehouse door.

"Go out, the destination has been changed back."

"Thank you, Lord Leader!"

"Haha, you're welcome."

Leon, who had watched the middle-aged man's operation, was staring at the nameplate on the door frame thoughtfully, while the middle-aged man, who had unintentionally revealed his bottom, asked with a smile:

"By the way, Owen, you and Little Bakins are covered in sweat. You just came back from purchasing, right? Why are you going back without resting?"

"We..."

The fat uncle named Owen hesitated for a moment, then sighed and told the truth:

"Lord Nathan, Little Bakins was beaten again yesterday, and his money was robbed. I'm worried that Old Bakins will squander the money, so I want to take him to get it back quickly."

"I see..."

Upon hearing the fat uncle's words, the middle-aged man couldn't help but think of the scene in the morning, and after looking at the bruises on "Little Bakins"'s elbows, the smile on his face faded.

"You probably won't be able to find him."

After shaking his head slightly, the middle-aged man looked at "Little Bakins," his expression slightly apologetic:

"I actually saw your father across the street when I was seeing a friend on Patriot Street in the morning. He came out of the tavern drunk. He should have spent the whole night drinking with your money yesterday."

"However, before I could go over, he urinated on the memorial wall of the War of Defense on the street. After being discovered by the patrol guards, he was kicked a few times and arrested. I'm afraid your money can't be recovered."

"It doesn't matter. Anyway, whether I'm beaten or robbed, I'm already used to it."

After suppressing the excitement in his heart, Leon, who was preparing to mix into the high-level rebels with the "anomalous object" of forced bowing, maintained the dead-hearted cold persona while asking with a hint of longing in his eyes:

"Lord Leader, I... what should I do to possess magical power like yours?"

"..."

Because he couldn't beat his alcoholic father, he longed for power? How could such a childish and superficial wish catalyze a true anomaly.

Looking at "Little Bakins" in front of him, the middle-aged man couldn't help but shake his head in his heart.

For this somewhat isolated teenager, he had already done some investigations and believed that he did not have the conditions to become an "anomaly," and didn't even list him in the observation list given to the Water Bottle Director.

But...

Looking at the new and old stick wounds on Leon's thin arms, and thinking about the iron combat commemorative medal that was "spat" on the wall by Old Bakins in anger along with phlegm in the morning, the middle-aged man was silent for a moment, then sighed deeply and stretched out his palm towards "Little Bakins" in front of him.

"Give me a hair of yours, I'll help you take a look."

(End of chapter)