Chapter 207 - 204: Always on the Run

Chapter 207: Chapter 204: Always on the Run

Lazov showed no particular emotion upon hearing the news. He took off his military cap and used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his face and bald head.

"Try to take it alive."

"Understood!"

After hearing Ivan’s reply, Lazov hung up the phone and signaled for the driver to stop at the perimeter of the construction site.

"My apologies, gentlemen. I have something to attend to. I’ll leave the project matters in your capable hands."

The engineer and the translator, of course, responded with polite assurances that it was no trouble at all.

Once the military vehicle had driven off into the distance, the translator and the engineer began walking toward a section of the site.

After entering the prefab office, the translator took out his personal second phone and sent a message to the Special Security Team.

...

Back at the farmhouse barn, Ivan, having received Lazov’s authorization, cast aside his inhibitions.

’Try to take it alive... which means killing it is also an option!’

However, the creature inside had been confirmed to possess considerable intelligence. If it could be captured alive and effectively controlled, its value would be immeasurable.

But this also meant it was dangerous. By the time it was discovered, it had already killed two cows and three horses in less than two weeks.

An eyewitness even claimed it might have tried to attack a person, but the witness’s panic and incoherence made Ivan highly suspicious of his testimony.

BARK BARK BARK... BARK BARK BARK...

AWOOOO!

After Ivan gave a few low-voiced commands, the wolves and dogs surrounding the barn began barking furiously at it.

This was merely a distraction. Seven or eight Soldiers crept toward the barn, their eyes fixed on the poorly sealed air vents and cracks in the door.

At the same moment, they all pulled the pins on the Concussion Bombs in their hands and tossed them through the vents.

Since it was a mutated creature, they naturally had to up the dosage.

The surrounding canines all scattered instantly, avoiding any friendly fire.

The small figure inside the barn was getting irritated by the barking and howling. Before it could react, it saw several canister-like objects tossed in through the vents.

It didn’t know what they were. ’Are they trying to bludgeon me to death with these?’

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!...

In an instant, a deafening roar and a blinding flash of light erupted. Even the Soldiers outside could see the barn suddenly light up from within.

The small figure inside felt as if its head had been hammered repeatedly. Its eyes stung, its vision was filled with afterimages, and a violent ringing in its ears brought waves of pain.

An intense sense of danger washed over it. It knew those things outside were about to attack. It staggered two steps before falling right back onto a haystack.

Its energy reserves had been depleted from suppressing a gunshot wound. Compounded by its ignorance of the enemy, it had been caught completely off guard and taken the full force of the Concussion Bombs. Now, it was desperately trying to recover its Perception.

It shook its head. Through its blurred vision, it saw more than a dozen snarling dogs charge into the barn, followed by a group of Soldiers pouring in through the door and windows.

Those things that had hurt it before were all aimed at it now.

Dizzy and staggering, it couldn’t even stand steadily, let alone perform the phantom-like dodges it had before.

After a moment of rational thought with what little clarity it had left, it pragmatically decided to surrender.

Titanium alloy handcuffs and leg cuffs, a shock collar, a special cage lined with titanium alloy, lead plates, and rubber, plus two shots of anesthetic.

On top of these numerous safeguards, several dogs were also placed inside the transport vehicle.

Ivan and the Officers outside breathed a sigh of relief. The capture had been much easier than they’d anticipated.

When they captured the creature, it was Ivan’s first time seeing its complete form.

It was a short, humanoid monster with dark, almost black skin tinged with murky green. Its ears were quite large and, strangely, translucent, showing no sign of blood vessels or cartilage within. Its facial features looked old, with a pair of small eyes, and its teeth were tiny but incredibly sharp.

Interestingly, it appeared to be wearing something akin to clothing, though the color was so similar to its skin that they hadn’t noticed it during previous encounters. A closer look revealed that the clothing had many pockets with no visible openings and two slits on the back, their purpose unknown.

As the transport vehicle drove away, Ivan got into a car and followed. He then took out his phone to report the results to Lazov. Mission accomplished.

「Ten-odd minutes later, inside the transport vehicle.」

The small figure sat inside an alloy cage that had only a single, densely barred vent. Its eyes darted around, sensing the breathing of the others in the vehicle.

They belonged to several dogs and four fully armed Soldiers.

It yanked on the handcuffs twice. Using its full strength, it only managed to slightly deform the alloy chain. It was nowhere near breaking free.

Giving up on trying to break the cuffs, it simply slipped its hands out. It did the same with its feet, and in moments, its hands and legs were free.

It then frowned, looking at the bars of its cage. ’The gaps are so small and the bars so dense... getting out won’t be easy.’

The occasional swaying and jolting, along with the surrounding roar of an engine, told it that this thing carrying it was moving at high speed.

’What a marvelous creation. I can tell it’s complex, but I don’t feel any Magic Energy, nor can I sense any Magic Patterns or Techniques. There aren’t any beasts of burden pulling it, either. How in the world does it move?’

The recent exertion made the wound on its arm ache again.

It glanced at the three bullet holes on its body, which were now almost fully healed. ’Those weapons that make a loud bang and flash with fire are quite powerful. Unprepared, even Magic Creatures with low Magic Power could fall victim to them, though killing one would be difficult.’

’And those Concussion Bombs... they certainly left an impression. Even if I were prepared, I wouldn’t want to go through that a second time.’

’I’ve never seen a human before. I have no memories or information about such a species. This whole world is so foreign; most of the creatures I’ve seen are completely unfamiliar.’

’But how did I end up in this completely alien world?’

’I seem to remember jumping into water while fleeing for my life. Underwater, it felt like I slipped through some kind of hole, then I felt a jolt, and when I came to my senses, I was here.’

’I woke up in a stable.’

’I’d never seen a creature like a horse before. I approached it out of curiosity, only to be kicked several meters through the air by its hind legs, leaving a dull ache in my chest.’

’In a fit of anger, I ate the horse. At least the meat was good; it helped soothe my wounded spirit. The only downside was that the energy it contained was pitifully weak.’

’Later, in the process of "foraging for food," I discovered and encountered an intelligent species I’d never seen before—humans. But no matter how hard I wracked my brain, I couldn’t find a common language to communicate with them.’

’This species seemed so frail. Not a single one of them showed any fluctuations of Magic Power, they had no special talents, and even their physical strength appeared lacking.’

’But that line of thinking quickly cost me, landing me in my current predicament.’

Recalling its recent experiences and comparing them to its current plight, it couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness.

’I, Hama Pi, am a merchant, for crying out loud. Why does it feel like I spend half my time on the run...?’

PS: Saturday’s third Chapter.

A shout-out to reader "Angel of Holy Judgment" for the cameo character "Hama Pi"—the name is a perfect fit!