Chapter 603: Fateful Bond

"..."

It seems my intelligence gathering is still not thorough enough...

Having no idea who the "Nicole" in Fatty Uncle's mouth was, the persuasion Hearing Li Ang had prepared hit a snag and could not proceed for the time being.

And Fatty Uncle clearly assumed Hearing Li Ang knew this person called "Nicole," so he did not bother to explain further. Instead, he directly rolled up the bedding on the bed, stuffed some money and a few necessary items inside, then tied it up with rope and strapped it directly onto Hearing Li Ang's back.

"Go! Go now!"

Dragging the helpless-looking Hearing Li Ang out of the house, Fatty Uncle tore open his own overcoat, pulled out the cotton and such inside used for warmth, stuffed them all down the collar of "Little Baggins," then forcibly layered two thick wind-resistant garments on him, and after that pointed at the dim mountain path in the distance and urged:

"If you leave through the 'Gate,' the leader is bound to notice. You have to take the mountain path! Then head south all the way to Lain County, and never come back!"

"..."

Looking at Fatty Uncle, who had lowered his voice and was anxiously urging him on with one face, Hearing Li Ang—stuffed until he bulged like a bear—could not help but muster his greatest effort to resist:

"Actually... I don't think things have necessarily reached the point where..."

"Go now!"

After giving "Little Baggins" a hard shove, Fatty Uncle urged angrily:

"I know you're afraid of dragging Aunt Fenni and me down, but although the leader looks amiable, he's actually a very proud man. If only the two of us old folks are left behind, he may not do anything to us.

But if you stay and don't leave, he's sure to make a move on you! I saw his expression clearly at the time—trust me! He definitely won't tolerate you!"

"Uh... how about I go find him and ask, see if..."

"Go now! Are you going to force me to my death before you're satisfied?"

"Alright then..."

Looking at Fatty Uncle, who was stamping his feet in the cold wind out of anger, Hearing Li Ang knew that ordinary means would definitely not keep him here. So, following the persona of "Little Baggins," he let out a deep sigh, then, wearing the "bear thermal suit" Fatty Uncle had forcibly stuffed onto him, turned around and stepped onto the mountain path leading out of the valley.

Finally managed to send him off...

Just as Fatty Uncle stood in the cold wind of the deep night, watching Hearing Li Ang leave, another person was standing on a high rocky outcrop, squinting from the shadows as he gazed at the only road out of the valley.

Just as I expected.

Watching the bulging "bear" in the distance step onto the mountain path, the middle-aged man on the high rocky outcrop could not help but let out a long breath.

Neither able to follow behind him, nor suitable to oppose him—faced with such a prickly customer who is both hard to handle and cannot be ignored, the best method is to make some noise, let him sense the danger and leave on his own.

And as for Little Baggins, Old Owen had always regarded him as his own, so as long as he showed a little hostility himself, it would be enough to make Little Baggins alert, who would then proactively go find Little Baggins and startle away this troublesome prickly customer who shouldn't have appeared, thereby achieving his goal of keeping the status quo stable.

As for what happens to Little Baggins later, that is not something to ponder over now.

For himself and this kingdom, the most important matter at present is to draw off the Security Department's patrol forces, then launch a full-force assault on the Airship Tower, and before the scouts of the Korok Kingdom leave, destroy those documents about the mineral distribution and kill all these people who would invite destruction!

"Phew..."

After confirming what he was going to do next, the middle-aged man let out another breath, then turned around and walked down the rocky outcrop, returned to his own dwelling, and sat down before a desk piled high with all sorts of documents.

"Barton... sigh..." Looking at the documents from the Security Department on the desk, and recalling the capable subordinate who had fallen in the Secret Investigation Bureau, the middle-aged man could not help but sigh again.

The Security Department's patrol map... after Barton's identity as a rebel was exposed, the intelligence he had desperately sent out no longer held much meaning.

But it was precisely while looking at this deployment map that he noticed the signature in the lower right corner, recalled the loyal Barton, and only then did his mood sink and he went out for a stroll—and happened to encounter Little Baggins, who was undergoing his transformation, and sent this hidden bomb away early.

Perhaps... this is Barton blessing me.

After letting out a slight sigh, the middle-aged man moved the deployment map aside, then reached out and turned up the whale-oil lamp on the desk, and began flipping through the other documents.

The personnel situation of Lain Arms Company... might come in handy.

After the new Lionheart Duke took power, the old guard of Lain Arms began scrambling to find their own way out, desperately selling off assets. Perhaps he could take the opportunity to acquire some heavy weapons, to make it easier to lead people in attacking the Airship Tower.

The shipping company's schedule, and the list of special passengers... very important!

Those scouts will most likely enter the capital by water, then board an airship back to the Korok Kingdom. Although he did not know which specific scout had discovered the mineral deposits, they were certainly on the passenger lists of these private ships.

The structural diagram of the Airship Tower... this counts as the last resort!

Picking up the quill beside him, he drew circles on several of the main pillars of the Airship Tower, and a fierce, ruthless glint flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes.

If we can break in, then attack! Strive to seize those documents recording the mineral deposits. But if we really can't reach the top floor, then for the safety of the kingdom, we can only spare no cost and find a way to blow up the entire Airship Tower!

"Hiss..."

Along with the fine, smooth burning sound of the whale-oil lamp, the length of the cotton-twisted wick kept shortening, and the thick white grease in the brass lamp vessel grew less and less.

However, just as the oil lamp's flame dropped due to insufficient fuel and its light grew ever dimmer, the pitch-black sky outside the window gradually began to brighten.

Finally, the morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, spilling gently into the room, falling on the desk piled with documents of all colors, and also falling on the back of the middle-aged man who had not slept all night.

Phew... just about done!

After rubbing his bloodshot eyes, looking at the action documents he had organized after staying up the entire night, the middle-aged man, whose temples were streaked with grey, nodded in satisfaction. He then stood up, took his overcoat from the rack and put it on, and walked out of the room with the documents in hand.

Next, it is time for the "decisive battle"!

After glancing at the building in the center of the valley used for meetings, the middle-aged man, who looked quite aged, walked toward his destination brimming with confidence.

In order to save the kingdom, I have made thorough preparations! Whether weapons and equipment, or intelligence and personnel—everything is impeccable!

And at the most critical moment, thanks to Barton's blessing, I even discovered a fatal hidden bomb early, and successfully eliminated all possible interference factors.

Finally, as long as I set a great fire at the Losse Arcade to tie up the capital's defensive forces, then send the remaining Aberrant Holders to launch attacks everywhere, drawing away the already understaffed cleaners of the Maiden Branch Bureau, no one will be able to stop me from assaulting the Airship Tower!

My plan is foolproo— o— o—

After rounding a bend, looking at a certain "bear" wrapped in two layers of thick bedding, curled up at the door of the "conference room" and snoring away, the middle-aged man's lips could not help but begin to tremble, and his face instantly flushed a deep iron-blue.

Didn't you fucking leave yesterday! Why the hell are you back?

(End of this chapter)