Chapter 132: Soros’s Task Completed?

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Soros’s Task Completed?

"Listen up, people inside! If you don’t hand over Liang He, you’re all going to die!"

Minister Ace was the supreme commander of the Rebel Army’s attack this time. His eyes gleamed sharply as he looked down at the hotel building from high above, looking as if victory was already within his grasp.

"Minister, they still haven’t handed her over. Should we continue the bombardment?"

They had already carried out three bombardments, yet the other side seemed completely unmoved.

"Could it be that they’d rather die than give up Liang He?"

The Rebel Army was well aware of Liang He’s importance. Her abilities—whether dealing with Evolutionary Beastmen or assisting the Black Wizards in developing the Fierce Beast Army—were exceptionally crucial. It was only natural that the other side refused to hand her over.

"Heh, they’d rather die than hand her over?" Ace sneered and pressed the button to fire the Energy Cannon. "Then let them all die, and I’ll capture her myself!"

With a deafening crash, the hotel building, now having endured four bombardments, swayed faintly as if on the verge of collapse.

Seeing his ruthlessness, Ace’s subordinate swallowed the words he had originally wanted to say. They wondered how they were supposed to explain it to headquarters if they blew up the hotel and Liang He accidentally died in the blast.

"That piece of trash Valken said there was a bounty hunter lurking beside Liang He, so why hasn’t there been any movement?"

Ace had initially been certain that the people in the hotel wouldn’t be able to hold out for long. As the minutes ticked by, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t getting anxious. He had already made up his mind. If the plan failed, Valken would be his perfect scapegoat.

"We’ve contacted him based on the information Minister Valken provided, but we haven’t received a response yet."

Ace and Valken were of the same rank. However, after Valken lost his stronghold last time, Ace had completely gained the upper hand over him. While Ace could call Valken a piece of trash, his underlings still had to be careful. If Valken ever made a comeback and came looking to settle the score, they’d have nowhere to cry for justice.

"We have news!"

Just then, Soros sent a message.

"I have successfully captured Liang He. Please suspend the bombardment; I am bringing her to the warship."

When he saw the words "captured Liang He," Ace’s eyes suddenly lit up, as if he could already picture General Nick showering him with praise.

"Good! Have the warship lower the Heavenly Ladder and bring them up!"

The contact information had been provided by Valken, and Ace reckoned he wouldn’t dare pull any dirty tricks, so he wasn’t worried about a trap. Even if there was one, it was just Soros and Liang He. Once they boarded the warship, would a whole crew of armed men really be afraid of just the two of them?

"Minister, they’re coming out!"

As the Heavenly Ladder gradually descended, the hotel doors opened. Soros held Liang He hostage as they approached the warship. Behind them, Hoder and the others were desperately trying to get her back.

"Liang He!"

"Don’t come any closer! If you take another step, I’ll kill her right now!"

Hoder stepped forward, his face etched with anxiety as he tried to save Liang He. But he was held back by the dagger Soros had pressed against her neck, terrified that the slightest slip would draw blood.

"Soros, what exactly do you want?! We can talk about this!"

Hoder’s attempt to negotiate with Soros for Liang He’s return was met with flat refusal.

"Brother, I won’t hide it from you anymore. I’m a bounty hunter. I get paid to do a job, and I can’t ruin my reputation!"

Soros held Liang He hostage, inching closer to the Heavenly Ladder. Ace heard every word of the exchange between him and Hoder, immensely satisfied with Soros’s performance.

"Valken finally did something right for once. This bounty hunter is quite reliable. Once this is over, ask him if he wants to come work under me."

"Understood."

With Ace satisfied, his subordinates were much more relaxed. Without a second thought, they welcomed Soros and Liang He—who had ascended the Heavenly Ladder—onto the warship.

Only when the two successfully entered the interior of the warship did Ace finally let his guard down.

"Haha! Your name is Soros, right? Not bad! Not bad at all!"

Ace opened his arms, greeting Soros with a smile. By now, Liang He had already been restrained by his subordinates, waiting on the side to be dealt with.

"You must be Minister Ace? It’s an honor to meet you." Soros returned the smile, warmly embracing Ace as a show of friendliness before turning his gaze toward Liang He. "She’s extremely cunning. She disguised herself and hid among the crowd. It took a lot of effort to catch her, but I suppose I’ve successfully completed the mission."

"If she were that easy to catch, we wouldn’t have needed to ask for your help, Mr. Soros. I heard you’re a bounty hunter with a hundred percent completion rate who has never failed a mission. You certainly didn’t disappoint me!"

Ace spoke as if he were the one who had hired Soros. When he had first heard those rumors about Soros, he thought they were just a bluff. Now, however, it seemed he had underestimated him.

"Your praise makes me embarrassed, Minister Ace." Soros bashfully rubbed the back of his head, looking like an honest, simple man. This further assured Ace that he wouldn’t try any tricks.

Ace then shifted his focus back to Liang He. "You’re Liang He?"

He looked Liang He up and down. He had read her file before setting out on the mission. To be honest, if all the evidence hadn’t proven how extraordinary Liang He was, he never would have imagined that this petite, fragile-looking Blue Star person had the immense ability to tame Evolutionary Beastmen.

"Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you. In fact, as long as you’re willing to cooperate, the Rebel Army will treat you as an honored guest."

"Cooperate?" Liang He sneered coldly. "Is Minister Ace’s definition of ’cooperation’ having someone hold me hostage and drag me tied up before you? I’m afraid I don’t deserve such an honor."

With that, Liang He turned her head, glaring venomously at Soros, and questioned him through gritted teeth.

"Soros, and to think Hoder treated you like a brother! I never expected you to be a lapdog for the Rebel Army!"

Suddenly getting cursed out of nowhere, Soros almost couldn’t react in time. He mirrored Liang He’s cold sneer, maintaining an unmoved facade.

"Don’t speak so harshly. We bounty hunters make our living on our reputation. As for brotherhood... heh, how much is that worth?"

His response drew an angry glare from Liang He, but Ace, standing off to the side, was exceedingly pleased. The more Soros showed his love for money, the more at ease Ace felt. Everyone had weaknesses, and greed was a great one. It made people easy to control.

"Minister, should we continue bombing the hotel?"

Another ten minutes had passed, and Liang He had been captured. Logically speaking, Ace should have called off the attack. However, his ambitions were immense. Just as Liang He had suspected, they intended to turn Greenfield Star into a paradise for Fierce Beasts and a living Purgatory.

"Continue. I don’t want a single person left alive on Greenfield Star!"

"Ace! You’re going back on your word!" Hearing that Ace planned to continue bombing the hotel, Liang He could no longer hold back. She struggled wildly and roared.

"Going back on my word? What does that mean?"

Having never studied Blue Star culture, Ace expressed his ignorance of the idiom, though he could easily guess its meaning. She was simply accusing him of being untrustworthy.

"Liang He, surely you aren’t naive enough to think the Rebel Army is a place that honors its promises? Haha!"

"You!"

Liang He’s eyes turned red with fury. She continuously adjusted her breathing, still desperately trying to figure out a way to save those innocent people.

"Ace, didn’t you want me to cooperate with you? If you dare touch them, aren’t you afraid I’ll file a complaint against you with the leader of the Rebel Army?"