Chapter 604

"Leader?"

After sizing up the middle-aged man's complexion, Leon, who had slept in the wild wrapped in a quilt for the night, sniffed and asked with concern:

"You don't seem to look very well? Is something wrong with your health?"

"..."

That's rich... why don't you use your brain and guess whose face I'm seeing that makes me look so bad?

Looking at Xiao Jinmao, who was "clinging" to him and wouldn't let go, the middle-aged man's answer almost slipped out from between his teeth.

"I'm fine..."

It must be said that compared to a certain prince whose head was full of status, hierarchy, and power struggles, after experiencing the shattering of the mountains and rivers and the fall of his country and home, the middle-aged man's ability to control his emotions had truly improved a great deal.

After taking a deep breath, he managed to regain his usual composure. He didn't lose his cool because of the unexpected situation, but instead smiled faintly and continued with a distant, professional manner:

"As for my health, there is a very important meeting today, so I stayed up late last night and might indeed be a bit tired... By the way, Xiao Jinmao, didn't you go home last night? Why are you sleeping here?"

Of course, it was to attend the important meeting you mentioned.

Besides, I haven't gathered enough intelligence, haven't found the grandfather and granddaughter with memory abilities, and haven't discovered the other Prince Qiaoshuya who is suspected to exist, so how could I possibly leave?

Also... why do I feel that compared to the murderous intent the fat uncle mentioned, this rebel leader's gaze toward me holds more wariness?

Through the subtle changes in the middle-aged man's expression, having vaguely sensed some differences, Leon's eyes couldn't help but narrow subconsciously.

Leaving is impossible, absolutely impossible!

It's rare to have a chance to confirm the whereabouts of the Water Bottle Director. If I don't take advantage of this window to figure out the situation of the rebels, in case the Bureau's interrogation fails and the Water Bottle Director returns to the capital, it would be suicide for me to rashly infiltrate the rebels again.

And now, the most dangerous Water Bottle Director is attending the interrogation. Given the level of the remaining rebels, there's a high probability they can't do much about the 【Heart of Wild Ambition】, and at most, they'll just catch me. However, I still have the whale oil bomb given by Senior Jie Rui.

According to Senior Jie Rui, that thing's power can instantly blow up a building, so if I get exposed and caught, I can just call out to the young one to throw the whale oil bomb out and blow them up right in their faces!

And judging from the few rebels I've met, these anomalous object holders have very singular abilities and are unlikely to have defensive capabilities. At close range, they probably couldn't even block a nail gun. If they really took a whale oil bomb head-on, it's possible they'd be wiped out entirely.

Perfect, the advantage is mine!

After weighing the enemy's strength against his own in an instant and confirming that not only would he not be in danger, but he even had the ability to "cheat his way to victory," Leon's heart finally settled completely. He then followed the persona of "Xiao Jinmao" and gave the middle-aged man a rather "aloof" smile.

"Didn't you ask Uncle Ouwen to bring me to see you yesterday? I was afraid of oversleeping and delaying things, so I just came over early in the evening to keep watch. Looking at it now, the timing is just right."

"Heh heh, you are indeed cautious."

After exchanging a few perfunctory pleasantries, the middle-aged man opened the door and walked into the "conference room" first, then sat down at the head of the long table.

Speaking of which... why does this Xiao Jinmao feel a bit strange?

Looking at "Xiao Jinmao," who had consciously sat at the very end of the long table, directly opposite him, a flash of suspicion couldn't help but cross the middle-aged man's eyes.

Although he didn't know what Ouwen had said to him, Little Golden Hair must have known that he had expressed hostility toward him yesterday.

Yet, not only did he not leave overnight, but he took the initiative to show up, and even acted as if nothing had happened last night. These actions were simply those of another person; it was not something the paranoid and cold Xiao Jinmao could do.

But if he wasn't the real Xiao Jinmao, then how to explain those deadly questions from last night?

"My lord leader."

Although he sensed the suspicion in the middle-aged man's eyes, Leon judged that his wariness toward him far outweighed his murderous intent and that he wouldn't strike directly, so Leon's actions became even more "audacious."

After looking around the rebels' "command center," "Xiao Jinmao," who sat with his back to the door, asked with great anticipation:

"Didn't you say we were going to have a meeting? Why haven't the others arrived yet?"

"Soon."

Looking at "Xiao Jinmao" with deep meaning, the middle-aged man checked his wristwatch and said calmly:

"They will be here immediately..." "Clang!"

Before the middle-aged man could finish his sentence, a rather rough sound of a door opening rang out, and along with it came a strange exclamation.

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

???

So fragrant? Tiger?

No... is your rebel diet so extensive? You even eat tigers?

Leon turned his head in surprise, following the sound, and discovered that the originally solid wooden door had somehow turned into a strange iron fence... or rather, a prison cell door.

And a man covered in extensive burn scars was striding out from the cell door, his two orange-yellow, fierce eyes sizing him up with great interest.

"His name is Taige."

After a simple introduction of the newcomer, the middle-aged man said to the scarred man with a blank expression:

"This is Xiao Jinmao, a new member who is about to possess an anomalous object..."

"My lord leader."

Hearing this, Leon interrupted at the right moment:

"If the anomalous object you speak of refers to that kind of special power, then I think I should already have it now."

?!!!

Hearing "Xiao Jinmao's" words, the middle-aged man's expression changed slightly, and the wariness in his eyes grew even deeper.

Even without obtaining the "Seed of Anomaly," he had awakened an anomaly on his own in just one night? Is the talent of the "Six-Needle" level really this terrifying?

"..."

"Hmm, I see."

After a few seconds of silence, the middle-aged man, having regained his composure, took a deep breath. He really didn't know how to handle this hot potato, so he could only nod vaguely to brush it off, then said to the scarred man who wouldn't stop staring at "Xiao Jinmao":

"Taige, sit down first. Regarding Xiao Jinmao's situation, I will introduce it when everyone has arrived."

"Good."

The scarred man, who usually ignored the middle-aged man, this "weakling" leader, seemed to have had his attention drawn by something else. This time, he didn't object, but sat down directly next to Leon, his two eyes, which looked far more like a beast's than a human's, staring fixedly at him.

(⊙⊙)

"Do you want to be the leader?"

"Ah?"

His somewhat distorted nostrils flared slightly. Feeling the "fragrance of the strong" pouring directly into his lungs from the nasal cavity, the scarred man couldn't help but grin, revealing a mouthful of blindingly white teeth, and gave Leon a brilliant smile.

"You are much more reliable than him. If you want to be the leader, I support you!"

(End of chapter)