Chapter 171 – Capturing Alive
She used the language control bracelet to search for the document and then discovered that it was stored with the list of team members.
The list of team members was on the first page.
At the time, she had been focused on identifying her two teammates and hadn’t noticed that there was additional information on the following pages.
Well, it was her own fault for not paying closer attention.
The three of them reached a corner and encountered a person dressed in a guard uniform.
The person was hurrying along, wiping the sweat that had emerged on his balding head with a handkerchief.
As he brushed past them, Min Tao called out, “Director Deng, are you looking for us?”
The man, addressed as Director Deng, immediately stopped, turned around, and looked at them.
His gaze first landed on Tu Ran because she was too conspicuous, with her submachine gun casually slung over her shoulder, one hand on her hip, and squinting at him with a scrutinizing look.
Sweat beaded on his forehead.
The way this person looked at him was so unfriendly.
He hadn’t done anything to provoke her.
He then looked at the other two, who were much more formal, holding their submachine guns and standing upright with an impressive demeanor.
“You must be the new pioneers assigned today?”
“Yes,” Min Tao replied.
He looked at Tu Ran again and introduced, “This is the head of the Executive Department in Pandalin District, surnamed Deng.”
Tu Ran lowered the gun from her shoulder, holding it properly in her hand. “Director Deng, where are you in such a hurry to go?”
“I came to find you. I had an urgent matter and couldn’t leave earlier, so I arrived a bit late. I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
As he spoke, he wiped his sweat again, showing that he had been rushing.
“It’s alright; we didn’t wait long,” Min Tao said with a smile.
“That’s good, that’s good.”
“Director Deng, just now, someone claiming to be a security guard of Pandalin District came to meet us. Was that arranged by you?” Tu Ran casually brought it up.
“Ah? Did Diao Hongzhi come by?” Deng Changtai’s brows furrowed as he suddenly felt that something was amiss. He became anxious and said, “It wasn’t arranged by me. I was supposed to meet you in person. How could he have come?”
He looked towards the end of the corridor, as if searching for a subordinate to explain why someone like Diao Hongzhi was allowed in. Unfortunately, there was no one at the end of the corridor; his subordinates were all out on missions. He could only awkwardly look at the three of them and ask, “He didn’t… make things difficult for you, did he?”
“He did,” Tu Ran said bluntly.
“Uh… He’s a security guard and usually has close contacts with those wealthy individuals. His relationships are quite good, so he holds a high position in this district and often comes here to give… guidance on some work.”
His confidence waned as he spoke.
He couldn’t even convince himself.
Tu Ran imagined how Fish Eyes was bossing around and picking on people in the Executive Department.
“There was a bit of a conflict between us, and he told us to watch out. I’m worried he might seek revenge on us,” Tu Ran said, looking at Deng Changtai with a feigned expression of concern.
“No, no, don’t worry,” Deng Changtai quickly waved his hand. “He’s just talking. He doesn’t have that much power. At most… at most, he might speak ill of you to those wealthy individuals, but they never pay attention to such things and won’t target you intentionally. You can rest assured.”
“Oh, that’s good,” Tu Ran nodded. “What did you need to see us about, Director Deng?”
“Oh right, I almost forgot something important!” Deng Changtai slapped his forehead in frustration. “Well, it’s too late now. Let’s talk while we walk.”
Deng Changtai led the three of them briskly towards the patrol car outside the Executive Department building. “There’s been a sighting of genetically modified individuals at an ancient castle over in Jing Lake. The guards have already surrounded the castle, waiting for you pioneers to deal with the situation.”
“What about the other pioneers?”
Aren’t there still ten pioneers?
“They’re dealing with genetically modified individuals elsewhere.”
A guard responsible for escorting Deng Changtai opened the patrol car door.
Deng Changtai didn’t get in immediately but quickly explained to Tu Ran.
“There have been quite a few people in the Pandalin District secretly taking the divine medicine. Whenever our guards detect anything unusual, they surround the area and, once they confirm it’s genetically modified individuals, they call you pioneers to handle it.”
“Yesterday, due to some pioneers leaving, we were short-staffed. They’ve been running around, barely getting any rest, so I had them rotate and rest for half a day. That means today, we’ll be relying mainly on you. You need to be mentally prepared.”
Tu Ran and her companions nodded.
The group got into the extended patrol car. The driver quickly maneuvered the vehicle into the air, and with exhaust fumes spewing out, the car sped towards Jing Lake.
Inside the vehicle, Deng Changtai continued, “The genetically modified individual this time is named Mira Wells. She’s the aunt of the current head of the Wells family, Stephano Wells.”
“Mira Wells has been pursuing eternal youth and has spent a fortune on artificial interventions to maintain her appearance. Although there were some effects, she wasn’t satisfied. The extremist resistance organization sold her the divine medicine under the guise of beauty treatments, and she believed them.”
“According to the surveillance footage from the castle, she consumed the elixir early this morning. At 7:24, her mental state began to deteriorate, and by 7:40, she had completely lost her sanity and her body showed significant mutations.”
Deng Changtai handed Tu Ran the electronic screen.
On the screen was a woman with long white hair, dressed in a matching grayish-white robe. The robe, which should have been loose, had become tight due to her body’s mutations. More alarmingly, two large, menacing wings had sprouted from her shoulder blades, giving the impression of a chick with eagle wings.
“This is a very rare type of mutation. So far, there have been three such cases. The first two were blown to pieces by local guards due to lack of experience. This one is of great importance to the higher-ups, and they hope to capture it alive.”
Tu Ran passed the screen to Min Tao and another pioneer, then looked at Deng Changtai. “Director Deng mentioned that Mira Wells is the aunt of the Wells family head. Does the family head know about our plan to capture his aunt alive?”
Deng Changtai nodded. “Of course he knows. In fact, the suggestion to capture Mira Wells alive came from him.”
Tu Ran raised an eyebrow. Was this person so righteous that he would kill his relatives?
Deng Changtai noticed her confusion and explained, “The Wells family head is one of the three major senators of the Federation. Senators must be responsible for their own families.
When the Federation cracked down hard on the divine medicine, his relative was caught using it and caused an uncontrollable situation. If Stephano Wells wants to be re-elected as a senator, he has no choice but to act.”
