Chapter 101 Taking the Initiative

Chapter 101: Chapter 100: Taking the Initiative

"The whole process will be extremely dangerous. You need to be prepared for the possibility of death," Han Ning said, his expression grave. "Who wants to come with me?"

"Our home is already gone. What is there to fear about death?!"

Chairman Wu spoke without hesitation. "Even if the others don’t go with you, I, Wu, am entrusting my life to you. Providing cover and drawing enemy fire for you is my undeniable duty."

"Count me in!" a Vice President quickly followed up, his face filled with absolute determination.

"And me!" Lin Qianqian’s cold and clear voice rang out.

"I’ll go!"

"Me too! Screw them!"

"..."

The surrounding Awakened raised their hands one after another, making their stance clear.

Not a single Awakened at the scene backed down. Everyone harbored a burning fury in their hearts. Most of them had experienced the life-and-death battles in the Fog Area, so their willpower was incredibly resilient.

Looking at their resolute faces, Chairman Wu felt deeply gratified. "Good! The Awakened of our Biyun Resort are all outstanding!"

He pointed out a few Awakened and quickly made arrangements. "Old Xie, take these few with you and escort all the ordinary people. Continue heading toward the Yun Valley Business District and make absolutely sure everyone stays safe!"

"Yes, Chairman!" Old Xie was the burly man in a tank top who had previously led the rescue team into the Fog Area to save Chairman Wu. Because he had killed many monsters, his strength had increased. Coupled with the deaths of several Vice Presidents, he had stepped up to become a new Vice President.

"The rest of you, come with me!" Chairman Wu rallied them with a raise of his arm.

The remaining eleven stronger Awakened swam behind him. This included Lin Qianqian and two other Vice President Level fighters.

"Where is Sun Wuyan’s lair?" Han Ning looked at the two captives paralyzed in the muddy water, bound like rice dumplings in vines.

The two had long been scared out of their wits by Han Ning’s imposing aura. Seeing his icy gaze sweep over them now only made them even more terrified.

"Speak!" Chairman Wu shouted sternly.

"It’s... it’s a little to the northeast! The former Skyline Grand Hotel! Part of it has been converted into an office area, and they are temporarily living there." One of the captives cried out incoherently through his tears. "Please, don’t kill me! I’ll take you there, I know the way!"

"The old Skyline Grand Hotel... that’s in the old city district," Chairman Wu explained to Han Ning.

"I know. Bring them along, let’s go." Han Ning wasted no more words.

The group split up once more in the pitch-black rain. Old Xie led eight Awakened and dozens of ordinary people, supporting each other as they continued moving toward the city center.

Meanwhile, Han Ning, Chairman Wu, Lin Qianqian, and the dozen or so elites escorted the two captives. They slightly adjusted their direction and headed toward the Skyline Grand Hotel.

The maximum distance from north to south in Bailu City was roughly over thirty kilometers. By everyone’s estimates, their current distance to the old city district was around six kilometers, which was even further north than the apartment building where Han Ning previously lived. At their pace, they would soon reach the vicinity.

In less than ten minutes, an area surrounded by low, old residential buildings appeared ahead. The depth of the floodwaters here had noticeably dropped, averaging about 1.6 meters. The first floors of many old buildings were still exposed above the surface of the water.

Among that cluster of low, dilapidated buildings, an old building over a dozen stories high with mottled exterior walls stood out, towering silently above the rest. It was their target—the Skyline Grand Hotel.

When they were about one kilometer away from the old city district, Han Ning activated his Molten Gold Eyes. Upon getting within a hundred meters of the grand hotel, Han Ning suddenly raised his hand, halting everyone’s advance.

"There are hidden sentries ahead." Golden light flowed within his eyes, and the raindrops in his vision were automatically filtered out. Trembling shadows moving by the windows of some buildings were revealed. "On the second-floor window of the three-story red brick building on the left, behind the convenience store sign on the right, and on the fourth floor of the house diagonally opposite the hotel’s main entrance... There are hidden sentries in four locations total, distributed across the key nodes of the low buildings on the perimeter."

He rapidly listed out the locations, then gestured for everyone to move into a neighboring three-story self-built house.

"Mr. Han, you can even spot something like that..." Chairman Wu and the others looked in the direction of Han Ning’s gaze but could only see the blurry silhouettes of buildings and the swaying shadows of trees. They couldn’t make out any human figures at all, causing them to marvel even more at Han Ning’s perception.

"This Sun Wuyan sure is careful, placing so many eyes on the perimeter," Lin Qianqian said coldly, tightening her grip on her Compound Bow.

"His tactical awareness isn’t low." Chairman Wu’s expression was grave. "To tell you the truth, he is far more vigilant than we are."

"To ensure the intel is accurate... I’m going to grab another captive for interrogation. Wait for me here." Han Ning left these instructions and silently blended into the darkness.

A few minutes later.

SPLASH!

With a soft splash of water, Han Ning swam back, dragging a soaking-wet man bound in vines and scared half to death. He threw him on the ground in front of everyone.

The man’s body shook uncontrollably like a leaf in the wind. His eyes were filled with terror as he looked at the surrounding group of Awakened, who were all radiating powerful auras.

"Speak! Is Sun Wuyan in the hotel or not? Exactly which floor is he on?" Chairman Wu pulled out a sharp knife and pressed it against the man’s neck.

"He’s... he’s in there! The boss... he’s been in the hotel this whole time!" the hidden sentry, frightened into incoherence by the sudden appearance of these unfamiliar Awakened, cried out. Feeling the murderous intent radiating from Chairman Wu, he hastily spilled everything at once. "He... he usually stays on the top floor, which is... which is the twelfth floor! The view is best from up there, so he turned it into his command room and rest area! Really! Everything I’m saying is true!"

Han Ning constantly monitored the man’s mental state. After confirming that although he was tense, his Spirit didn’t fluctuate significantly when talking about Sun Wuyan, he could basically conclude the man wasn’t lying.

Then, taking out the small glass bottle containing the dark red King’s Blood from his pocket, he asked Chairman Wu, "Who’s going to apply the King’s Blood?"

He could actually go apply the King’s Blood himself, but he felt that standing guard here was more dangerous. If they were discovered by the enemy, he could at least try to protect them as they retreated. If he went to apply the King’s Blood and the group was discovered, they would likely be wiped out. He’d be dumbfounded if he came back to find himself left completely alone.

The reason for having someone apply the King’s Blood was out of concern that they were too far from the Black Snake Monsters’ gathering place for them to smell it. If they smeared a little along the way, the Black Snake Monsters just might track them in this direction.

When they came here, they hadn’t been sure of the enemy’s exact location. If they had directly smeared the blood along their path, the Black Snake Monsters would have caught up to them before they even found the enemy. Only after confirming the enemy’s location would it be convenient to make a move.

Chairman Wu reached out and pulled over a young man who looked to be in his early twenties, roughly the same age as Yu Na. He introduced him to Han Ning: "He Awakened a speed-related Talent. His combat power isn’t great, but he runs very fast. I specially transferred him over for this.

"Yu, are you confident?"

"I am! Brother Han, Chairman Wu, leave it to me. I guarantee I’ll complete the mission!" Yu promised, patting his chest.