Chapter 3263: Steady Progress

Cutting off Wu Shutong's left hand, the Grand Elder Wu Bolin picked up the severed hand from the ground and said: "We still need to continue our secluded cultivation here, awaiting the Hero Lord's next order. If the Hero Lord gives you a chance to redeem yourself through merit, you must seize it well and not disappoint the Hero Lord again."

Wu Shutong could only nod heavily, saying: "Please rest assured, Grand Elder, I will give my all!"

After saying that, he whispered: "Thank you, Grand Elder, for showing mercy..."

Wu Shutong was very clear that the Grand Elder had already treated him quite well; having his left hand severed, he felt no pain at all, entirely thanks to the Grand Elder's spiritual energy protection. Otherwise, the excruciating pain at the moment of amputation and the subsequent wound healing would have been unbearable.

Wu Bolin had been in Nigeria these days and also knew that Wu Shutong bore this blame somewhat unjustly, but such words could not be spoken aloud, so he said: "We are all Wu family members, no need for thanks. The three of us will continue our secluded cultivation here—you take care."

"Secluded cultivation here?!" Wu Shutong exclaimed in surprise: "If that mysterious person bypassed this place, shouldn't the three elders return?"

Wu Bolin said calmly: "The Hero Lord ordered us to continue our secluded cultivation here; naturally, we cannot leave even half a step."

Upon hearing this, Wu Shutong grew even more puzzled, not understanding why the Hero Lord would not let the three Grand Elders leave. If they weren't recalled, sending them to Morocco to hunt down the enemy and find a chance for a decisive strike would be better, wouldn't it?

However, since Wu Bolin had already said this was the Hero Lord's command, he dared not press further and respectfully said: "Then I will see off the three elders."

"No need." Wu Bolin waved his hand, turned, and walked outward.

As he reached the door, he turned back without looking and said indifferently: "Your severed hand—I will later burn it to ashes with true fire; no need to worry about it."

Having spoken, he had already walked out.

In the room, only Wu Shutong and Yuan Chengze remained.

Seeing Wu Shutong's left wrist cleanly severed, Yuan Chengze dropped to one knee, trembling with fear, and said: "Subordinate has failed in duty; please, Grand Commander, punish me!"

A good subordinate must learn to take the blame for his superior.

Even if he cannot bear it physically, he must use words to shoulder the responsibility.

Yuan Chengze knew that the Grand Commander was taking the fall for the Hero Lord's failed decision this time, so naturally he must make the Grand Commander feel a bit better.

Indeed, seeing Yuan Chengze kneel to apologize, Wu Shutong's mood eased slightly. He then sighed and said: "Get up. The Hero Lord ordered the three Grand Elders to remain here in seclusion—there must be other commands. From now on, you and I must exert our utmost effort; otherwise, next time it won't just be the wrist that's cut off, but likely the neck!"

Yuan Chengze clasped his hands respectfully and said: "Grand Commander, please rest assured—I will surely give my all!"

As Yuan Chengze finished speaking, Wu Shutong received a call from Wu Tianlin.

On the phone, Wu Tianlin repeated the task Wu Feiyan had given him, urging: "Shutong, this is your good chance to redeem yourself through merit. Morocco may not be huge, but it's not small either—over ten thousand people wanting to leave immediately without being discovered is nearly impossible. So those people should still be in Morocco proper. You must immediately dispatch all the Flying Cavalry from Nigeria, as well as all the Tiger-Brave troops from your Right Commander's Headquarters, and even if you have to dig three feet deep, you must uncover the clues, so you can find their traces and promptly notify the three Grand Elders. They will rush over in the shortest time to eliminate the Hero Lord's great menace on the spot—by then, even if you achieve great merit!"

Wu Shutong immediately said: "Grandfather, rest assured—Tianlin will surely give his all this time. Not only will all the Tiger-Brave troops be dispatched, but I and Deputy Commander Yuan will also set out immediately for Morocco to oversee command!"

Wu Tianlin urged: "Hurry to notify all members of the Right Commander's Headquarters to withdraw from Naples immediately, activate the backup address—no matter what, there must be no further losses. Understood?"

"Understood!" Wu Shutong said, then hesitated before asking: "Grandfather... I... I want to ask you a private question..."

Wu Tianlin said: "Go ahead."

Wu Shutong looked at the wound on his left wrist and asked: "My hand... is there still a chance for it to regrow?"

Wu Tianlin fell silent for a moment, then said: "I once heard the Hero Lord mention a pill called the Remolding Elixir, capable of restoring a crippled body and regenerating severed limbs—but I've only heard of it, never seen it."

Upon hearing of such a pill, Wu Shutong became excited, exclaiming repeatedly: "Thank you, Grandfather! Thank you, Grandfather!"

He knew deep down that with his current strength, producing such a miraculous spiritual pill was basically impossible. But since the Hero Lord had mentioned it, she likely could refine it.

If he performs outstandingly afterward and repeatedly achieves great feats, perhaps the Hero Lord would reward him with a Remolding Elixir, allowing him to return to normal.

After thanking Wu Tianlin profusely and hanging up, Wu Shutong immediately said to Yuan Chengze: "The Hero Lord has ordered—mobilize all available Flying Cavalry here to send to Morocco. You must immediately contact Deputy Commander Tong to dispatch all the Tiger-Brave troops to Morocco. We must go to Morocco to find their traces!"

Yuan Chengze respectfully replied: "Grand Commander, please wait—I will notify them right away!"

……

At this moment, Ye Chen had already met with Wan Pojun and the others.

In the dark night, everyone sprinted wildly toward the food factory, aiming to arrive before dawn.

On the way, Ye Chen received a call from Li Yalin, who said on the phone: "Mr. Ye, the automated vending machines we deployed in Nigeria have detected large-scale personnel movements at the Nigerian oil fields—at least hundreds of people are driving toward the airport."

Ye Chen curiously asked: "That many people? The Flying Cavalry there number at most a few hundred—is this a full mobilization?"

"Probably." Li Yalin said: "The local airline temporarily added two charter flights, flight plans already submitted, taking off in an hour and a half, destination Casablanca."

Ye Chen smiled: "It seems Wu Feiyan is in a bit of a hurry this time—dispatching so many Flying Cavalry in such a short time must be to find out our whereabouts."

"Yes." Li Yalin said: "Once they arrive, they will surely start searching for clues at Dukem Mining first, but the Moroccan police will definitely reach the scene before them and launch an investigation. With local police present, they won't be able to proceed too smoothly. Trying to expand their investigation to cover the food factory area? Without ten days or half a month, it's basically impossible—by then, we'll have long left this place."

As he spoke, Li Yalin added: "Moreover, the A. I. has already left some forged clues in the surveillance system at Casablanca Port. If those clues mislead them, their investigation direction will be the opposite of our actual position—north when we go south—so even if they search to the end, it will be futile, like drawing water with a bamboo basket."

Ye Chen said: "One must not be overconfident, nor let one's guard down. We should neither be tense nor lax—follow our established plan and advance steadily."