Chapter 929 - 924: They Are Also Part of the Plan

"For now, I feel there's something off about her. But we don't have any conclusive evidence." Bai Pu said.

Copper Tube Gunther shook his head and said, "Lord Gangxin, how do you plan to find proof of her 'anomaly'? Even if we do find evidence, given our identities and status in this World, which Native upper echelon could we possibly go to and accuse her? In the end, will the Native upper echelon believe us lowly Gladiators, or believe Lady Rile from a Famous Family of the Imperial Capital?"

"Ganser, you're talking too much. Lord Gangxin must have an overall plan! It's enough for us to follow orders."

Bart tried to stop Gunther. "Up to now, Lord Gangxin has already completed two steps of the chain quest! He even decrypted the Whisper Bottle we were completely helpless against. You should trust him."

"I still stick to my opinion."

Copper Tube Gunther said, "We are Awakened, and our stay in the Ascension Plane is limited. When it comes down to it, what matters is getting a high evaluation, getting tangible gains. Even if that Lady Rile really harbors ill intent toward the Empire, so what?

"Lord Gangxin, could you lend me the token Lady Rile gave you—the Iris Silver Coin?"

Bai Pu shook his head and said, "No matter what, I won't agree to going to Lady Rile to submit the quest right now."

That sentence was clearly a refusal.

"Since that's the case, then we act separately." Copper Tube Gunther stood up and said mildly, "Bart, I've had enough of this team, and I've had enough of playing a supporting role in it. If you still insist on moving with this Lord Gangxin… I'm leaving the team."

Bart was momentarily at a loss for words, wanting to speak to hold him back, yet not knowing how to mend the fracture.

Copper Tube Gunther and Melt Arm Bart—their relationship was somewhat similar to Power King's Warm Wine and Divine Throne Massacre from Huaxia.

Both were prodigies among the Awakened of Furnace Star, usually on good terms. This time, the Ascension Plane plus Combat Power Evaluation linked them together into a party, also attracting quite a few geniuses from Furnace Star to join.

Bart's prestige was a bit higher, and he attracted more Furnace Star Major Generals, so he became the leader of this team.

However, Bart did not hold absolute authority in the team.

As soon as Copper Tube Gunther walked out, two people immediately followed him and left as well.

"Boss Bart, Lord Gangxin, we can't just let them walk off like that!"

One of Bart's subordinates spoke up. "Those three have stolen our fruits and want to sneak off on their own!"

Bart looked toward Bai Pu. Strictly speaking, decrypting the Whisper Bottle was the fruits of Bai Pu's efforts.

Bai Pu shook his head. "Forget it… since they want to leave, let them go."

These Awakened from Furnace Star have bones broken yet tendons still attached; Bai Pu counted as an outsider. If Bai Pu were to make a move against Copper Tube Gunther's trio, it's hard to say how the others would take it.

At least judging from Bart's expression, he clearly did not want to come to blows with Gunther.

After Gunther's trio left, the atmosphere grew somewhat stiff.

Bai Pu looked at Bart. "Any news from the Rose Arena side?"

Bart knew Bai Pu was asking about the two teammates—"Wushan Divine Lady" and "Blood Spider"—and answered, "Our team has members in the Rose Arena as well. They've sent back secret message intel from your two teammates."

As he spoke, Bart forwarded a string of pure digits to Bai Pu.

This string of numbers used the Blue Star English alphabet as the cipher basis. This was also something Bai Pu and the Great and Small Witches had agreed upon beforehand.

Taking the string, Bai Pu first decrypted it into English letters, then grouped them into words, finally concatenated them into sentences and translated them into Chinese.

After reading the Great and Small Witches' message, Bai Pu smiled.

"When the east is dark, the west shines… Bart, please relay my reply over immediately."

"Alright."

Bart was still worried and said, "Lord Gangxin, what about Ganser and the others? Will they affect your plan?"

"If I tell you they're also part of the plan, can you accept that emotionally?" Bai Pu suddenly asked in a faint tone.

"Huh?"

...

Lower City District, in a small alley.

"Boss Ganser, is it really okay for us to leave the team? Without that Iris Silver Coin as a token, we can't even enter the Demetri Clan's estate."

Walking in front, Ganser let out a cold laugh. "Does Gangxin really think he's the World Protagonist, and once you leave him it's Doomsday? Of course I have my own way!"

He led the two of them to the far end of the alley.

"mia~mia~"

Cats meowed one after another.

Ganser knocked on the door.

The door opened, revealing a tall woman. Her figure was indeed full up front and curvy at the back, but wrapped up in thick bandage-style clothing. A bobtailed cat lay in her arms, its green eyes a bit eerie.

"You again?"

The cat-raising woman appeared quite impatient.

Ganser said, "Good day, Lady Alice. I know who you are—the Demetri Clan's Hidden Guard, and a Dark Guard Commander, am I right?"

The cat-raising woman—Lady Alice—narrowed her eyes, a trace of dangerous Sharpness flashing coldly in her gaze:

"What are you trying to say? Ganser, you should know that clever little mice don't live long."

"I have important intel that must be reported to Lady Rile—Rilekiss Demetri, your mistress."

Lady Alice shook her head. "Are you a Hidden Guard?"

"Not yet."

"Do you have a token from Lady Rile?"

"There is a token, but unfortunately it's not on me—it's on someone else."

Ganser spoke at ease. "Sadly, Lady Rile entrusted the wrong person. The one holding the Silver Coins clearly discovered extremely important intel, yet is concealing it instead of reporting. I suspect he is brewing a major conspiracy against the Demetri Clan!"

"Extremely important intel? What intel?" Lady Alice asked.

"Sorry, I'll only reveal the contents after I meet Lady Rile in person."

Ganser replied cautiously.

Lady Alice let out a mocking smile and was just about to refuse when she heard Ganser say:

"It concerns 'the Naga Race's conspiracy'. Alice, I can guarantee you this: if you refuse me today out of arrogance… in the future you will definitely suffer the harshest punishment from Lady Rile!"

Lady Alice was silent for a moment, then finally gave a warning:

"I can take you to see Lady Rile. However, if this is just some boring trick of yours, I will have my little darlings gnaw the flesh off your bones, one bite at a time."

Copper Tube Gunther revealed a victorious smile.

"On that point you can rest assured—I won't be joking with my own life."

Under the admiring gazes of his two companions, Copper Tube Gunther followed Lady Alice, passed through the dark alley into a deserted side path, and headed all the way toward the Upper City District.