Chapter 138: The Undercover Agent Collaborating with the Rebel Army

Chapter 138: Chapter 138: The Undercover Agent Collaborating with the Rebel Army

Greenfield Star had never encountered a large-scale tide of Fierce Beasts before. While they had a sizable stockpile of anesthetics, it couldn’t withstand being drained like water.

The Breeders responsible for attacking the Fierce Beasts with Anesthetic Guns initially struggled to aim due to fear and other factors. After Cedriel and the others left, they began firing wildly without any restraint. In reality, achieving a passing grade of sixty percent for effective shots would be considered quite good.

"There’s no other way. If worse comes to worst, we’ll just charge straight in. Once the reinforcements arrive, the pressure will be off."

Although they had long suspected the Rebel Army would stir up trouble, and Huo An had notified the Federation Army in advance to stand by on the planet nearest to Greenfield Star, it would still take some time for them to arrive. They originally thought the Rebel Army would use at most a hundred or so Fierce Beasts as the vanguard. The Federation Army stationed on Greenfield Star, along with their supplies, could easily handle that. What they hadn’t anticipated was that the rebels would choose to create Fierce Beasts directly on the planet itself. It was a classic case of turning the enemy’s own resources against them.

"Hoder, keep a close eye on Liang He’s movements. I’m going to deal with the Fierce Beasts."

The situation was urgent, and Huo An could no longer worry about potentially exposing his identity in front of Liang He. While she was off looking for other animals to help, he could at least clear out a wave of Fierce Beasts. As for the others, they more or less knew about the fight between him and Elias behind the hotel, so there was no need to worry about them running their mouths.

"Understood."

Hoder nodded solemnly. In crucial moments, he was still very reliable; otherwise, Huo An wouldn’t have specifically recruited him to be Liang He’s bodyguard.

The moment Huo An stepped out of the hotel, he transformed into a Kunpeng and charged straight toward the Fierce Beast Army without the slightest hesitation.

Upon discovering the presence of a Beastman, the Fierce Beasts immediately abandoned their other targets and swarmed Huo An, launching a coordinated group attack. Fortunately, Huo An’s massive size and ability to hover in the air allowed him to easily weave through the Fierce Beasts. Even if he couldn’t annihilate them all, just leading them on a wild goose chase would likely buy enough time for the Federation Army’s rescue forces to arrive.

"A big shot is a big shot. He’s destroying these Fierce Beasts like it’s a game."

Hearing the nearby praise for Huo An, Hoder puffed out his chest with shared pride and got down to business. Liang He had been gone for a while, and he still hadn’t tracked her down. He wondered how things were going on her end.

Hoder wasn’t the only one worried. Down in the underground safe house, President Lucas and the others were also anxiously waiting for news.

"I wonder how things are going up there? They just called so many people out—something major must be happening!"

"They asked anyone who knows how to use an Anesthetic Gun to help, probably to deal with the Fierce Beasts. Calling that many people means there has to be a ton of them."

"We’re doomed! What are we going to do? We might be safe underground, but what about everyone else? What if the reinforcements don’t make it in time..."

"Bite your tongue! What nonsense are you spouting? The kids are blessed with good fortune; they’ll be just fine!"

Listening to the anxious chatter, President Lucas felt equally uneasy. He was particularly worried about Liang He. Could a young girl like her handle such a dangerous situation? He subconsciously glanced at Vice President Tai Nan beside him. His eyes flickered slightly as he walked over.

"Tainan."

"President?"

Tainan, who was already on edge from the massive commotion caused by the Rebel Army, immediately stood up in nervous tension when he saw Lucas approaching. His hands, resting by his sides, unconsciously clenched into fists—a clear sign of guilt and fear.

"Come with me."

President Lucas didn’t say anything in front of the crowd. Instead, he called him into a corner, casting a meaningful glance back at Ah Jie.

"You should know why I sought you out alone." It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact.

Knowing he had been exposed, Tainan suddenly deflated, his entire demeanor radiating exhaustion.

"I know."

Before the Rebel Army’s attack, Tainan had been happily planning to sit back and watch them tear each other apart. But when he realized the situation was spiraling completely out of control, he knew he had been played.

"President, I truly didn’t know they would be this ruthless! I originally just wanted to get Liang He out of the picture. I..."

Tainan’s plan had been simple. As long as Liang He was implicated with the Rebel Army, President Lucas would no longer be able to make her the next president, allowing Tainan to successfully ascend to the position. However, only now did he realize how childish and ridiculous he had been.

"Whether you believe it or not, I never intended to betray the Federation..."

"I know."

President Lucas’s affirmative response caused Tainan to snap his head up in shock. Disbelief filled his eyes. It was as surprising as being thrown a lifeline while drowning—especially when the lifeline came from someone he had once considered a rival.

"You... you believe me?"

"Tainan, we’ve worked together for many years. I know your temperament well. You’re arrogant and unwilling to submit to others, but you aren’t inherently bad."

Tainan might have made a mistake in a moment of irrationality, spurred on by Liang He’s success, but President Lucas knew perfectly well that the root of the problem didn’t lie with him.

"Did you know that your assistant, Ah Jie, is actually a mole for the Rebel Army?"

Tainan reeled in shock. Ah Jie? It was actually Ah Jie?! His eyes widened drastically and his mouth fell open slightly. He wanted to speak, but he didn’t know what to say. He merely peered past President Lucas’s silhouette to cast a glance in Ah Jie’s direction, then quickly retracted his gaze, afraid of being noticed.

"Are you saying... Ah Jie belongs to the Rebel Army?"

A sudden wave of realization washed over Tainan. No wonder. No wonder Ah Jie had been constantly urging him to cooperate with the Rebel Army and help them capture Liang He. So this was the reason all along!

"Yes."

Actually, thinking about it carefully, it wasn’t surprising. The Federation Animal Protection Association frequently handled animal rescue and similar work. This provided easier access to animals and convenient cover for covert operations. Since the Rebel Army used Fierce Beasts as weapons, planting their own people inside the Association was perfectly normal. The only question was who else, besides Ah Jie, was a mole embedded by the rebels.

"I never expected to be used as a pawn by some greenhorn. I’ve truly lived all these years in vain."

Tainan curled his lips in a self-deprecating smile, his eyes full of dejection. Seeing this, President Lucas couldn’t bear it and patted his shoulder comfortingly.

"The Rebel Army is pervasive and notoriously insidious. It’s perfectly normal that you carelessly fell into their trap."

President Lucas’s comfort was evidently feeble. Tainan gently shook his head and let out a heavy sigh.

"At the end of the day, I was just unwilling to accept that my skills were inferior, which gave Ah Jie the opportunity to exploit me."

His obsession with the presidential seat had become the leverage Ah Jie used to manipulate him. If he had recognized his own shortcomings sooner, he wouldn’t have been so easily persuaded by Ah Jie’s few words to cooperate with the Rebel Army.

"Tainan, Liang He was actually the one who told me about this today. She asked me not to make a scene and simply keep an eye on you. Do you understand her intentions?"

Before Liang He took the stage for the sharing and exchange meeting, she had spoken privately with President Lucas, informing him about Tainan and Ah Jie. Yet, she hadn’t directly ordered the Federation Army to apprehend them, which spoke volumes about her intentions. Realizing this immediately as well, Tainan let out a bitter, silent laugh. The guilt in his heart grew even heavier, but he couldn’t help but marvel at Liang He’s broad-mindedness.

"President, I understand."

Based on this magnanimity alone, Liang He was truly the best candidate for the next president.

"RUMBLE!"

Seeing that Tainan had figured it out, President Lucas had just let out a sigh of relief when he was suddenly startled by a violent tremor from the ground.

"What happened?!"