Chapter 534: The Truth Revealed
Bai Shan understood everything at that moment.
She opened her mouth to defend herself, but all words sounded like weak and useless excuses even to her own ears.
When she turned her head around to look, she saw that the dark tunnel behind her was already buried under the collapsed ruins.
She had reached a dead-end and had nowhere to run anymore.
She could only lean against a slanting wall and stare at Meng Chao in a daze.
“You suspected me right from the start.” Bai Shan’s face was as pale as death, but she did not seem to be regretting anything. She was just puzzled. “Why?”
“From the moment we stepped in Leprosy Village, we were led around the nose by the enemy. The fake Deification Capsule pharmacy, the super crystal bomb, the exchange of roles between hunters and the hunted, and the fake secret police formed by former Reaper Squad members. The linked traps caught us all by surprise,” Meng Chao explained calmly.
“All this made me certain of one thing, and was that the tentacles of the monster had already penetrated the higher ranks of Leprosy Village. IT was the best way for it to monitor and guide our actions.
“And based on what I know, Leprosy Village has been gradually taken over by Wild Wolf. Aside from the old village chief, Wild Wolf has the most prestige in Leprosy Village and holds a lot of power.
“If the monster wanted to hide from Wild Wolf’s eyes to get a large amount of resources into Leprosy Village, secretly set up the Deification Capsule pharmacy, and hide a large group of wanted criminals and former Reaper Squad members, it would need the help from the most trusted person beside Wild Wolf.
“Wild Wolf has two right-hand men. One of them specializes in strength and the other in wit. They’re Strong Arm Zhang Tie and you, Pearl Bai Shan.
“Among the two of you, you’re in charge of gathering information for Wild Wolves and communicating with the gangs in the lair. Compared to Wild Wolf’s top general, Strong Arm Zhang Tie, you’d be more beneficial for the monsters as an inside person.
“Of course, this suspicion alone wasn’t enough for us to set up this trap to test you. After all, we only had one chance, and if the monster didn’t make you join its side but had Strong Arm Zhang Tie or some other member of Wild Wolves, then our test would end up being a stupid move and we’d alert the enemy.
“But coincidentally, Ms. Mulian and I were chased down by the former Reaper Squad members. We used the complicated terrain and the dark environment to escape and kill the two men.
“Honestly, the enemy had an advantage in numbers. If they had effectively communicated with each other and had a tactical data link helping them, they would have been able to kill us.
“Unfortunately for them, the monster used signal interference that blocked all frequencies to make sure that all communications in Leprosy Village and the lair were cut off.
“Hence, not only have communications between the villagers and the gangs as well as communications between the gangs and the outside world cut off, even the monster’s communication with its claws was cut off.
“So I suddenly thought of something. I could use this advantage where everyone’s information wasn’t up to date to find the true puppet of the monsters lurking beside Wild Wolf.
“Since you planned the scheme, you must have expected that the internet would be crippled. That’s why you’d definitely prepare a communication method that didn’t require the internet or any modern, high-tech equipment to deliver information. You just needed physical contact.
“So, I had A’Ji go to you and tell you where Ms. Mulian was.
“Meanwhile, I followed A’Ji while hiding in the dark and watched everyone beside Wild Wolf. I observed all of you to see whether you would send any messages.”
“What?!”
Since everything had happened in a flash, Wild Wolf, Zhang Tie, and the other Wild Wolves did not know about Meng Chao’s plan.
It was only then that they learned that when A’Ji released the fireworks, Meng Chao was already hiding nearby.
Wild Wolf, Zhang Tie, and Bai Shan were all superhumans who were stronger than the average superhuman because of the supernatural powers they gained through genetic mutation.
Even so, they had not sensed Meng Chao’s presence at all.
At that moment, they could not help but be shocked, and their backs were covered in cold sweat.
“That’s impossible!” Bai Shan cried out in a hoarse voice. “Wild Wolves have tight defenses. At that time, we were also on high alert. How did you manage to sneak in without us noticing?”
“As long as I don’t want anyone noticing me, then no one will notice me. Even if they did, I could make sure that they wouldn’t see anything,” Meng Chao said faintly. “I suspected seven people beside Wild Wolf… Fine, I suspected Wild Wolf as well, so I suspected eight people. Of course, my main focus was you, Pearl Bai Shan.
“I paid close attention to my eight targets to see whether they would get in contact with other people and whether those people would leave Wild Wolves at the fastest speed to send information elsewhere.”
“I did not do anything of the kind,” Bai Shan hissed. “Ever since your A’Ji appeared, I’ve been following Wild Wolf. Even when I mobilized forces, there were countless eyes watching me. It was impossible for me to send information!”
“Yeah, you didn’t look for a person to send information. You looked for this thing.”
Meng Chao brought out a mouse from behind him. He was holding it by the tail with two fingers. The mouse was no bigger than a thumb.
It had no fur and its skin was wrinkly, like that of a mut. It also had a pair of defected, protruding ears. It looked hilarious.
Its eyes moved around with a panicked light nonstop. It was clear that it possessed more intelligence than a normal rodent-type monster.
There were two steel needles on its spine. There was a small, exquisite, metal tube attached to it.
Meng Chao opened the tube and brought out a small letter that was rolled up tightly and as thin as a cicada’s wing.
“Cable and wireless networks are communication methods created by humans over the past few centuries.” Meng Chao handed the mouse and letter to Wild Wolf while looking at Bai Shan. “During the thousands of years before the phone and wireless internet, humans used animals to pass information through point-to-point physical contact.
“It might be an ancient and clumsy method, but it was rather reliable, no?
“Naturally, in such a polluted environment, you couldn’t use messenger pigeons. They’re too big and would stick out like a sore thumb. They would also get easily confused by the smoke and smog and fall from the sky.
“But with the monster civilization’s biochemical technology, they could modify some relatively smart pest-type monsters to use them as tiny messengers. They would be the best communication method for when the internet is completely dead.”
Bai Shan stared at the mouse in Wild Wolf’s hands. She wanted to snatch it from him, but she knew that it was useless. She looked dejected and had nothing to say.
Meng Chao smiled and said, “I’m guessing that this is the last method of communication that the monsters gave you. Usually, there’s no need for you to use it.
“After all, your scheme had seemed flawless, and if I hadn’t escaped from the explosion with more than 50% of my fighting strength and hadn’t coincidentally saved Ms. Mulian, no one would have known the truth. You should have been able to carry out your scheme without a hitch.
“Unfortunately, my existence threw a wrench into your plans during the most critical moment.
“You couldn’t let Ms. Mulian live. As long as lived, Wild Wolf would not fly off into a rage, and the order in Leprosy Village wouldn’t go completely out of control.
“But now, not only was Ms. Mulian still alive, she had also found out a shocking secret related to your scheme.
“When you heard the news, it was the same as you suffering a shock so great it’s as if thunder had roared in your head. Naturally, you notified the puppets hidden in the dark about Ms. Mulian’s hiding place so that they would kill her before Wild Wolf could reach her.
“Unfortunately, you didn’t expect that there would be a pair of eyes trained on your every move. The moment you released the mouse, I found it and caught it.”
Bai Shan’s lips trembled. She forced herself to say, “But what proof do you have that I released the mouse?”
“Yeah, it’s hard for me to prove that you released the mouse, and I believe that the handwriting on the paper is very different from your usual handwriting. You could easily deny it. As long as there was a 1% reason to doubt, Wild Wolf would not believe an outsider like me and suspect you, since you’re his childhood friend,” Meng Chao said. “The key to solving the mystery wasn’t just figuring out that you’re the mole, but also finding undeniable proof.
“So, we needed to put up an act.
“You used the excuse that you must ensure Wild Wolf’s safety and mobilized a large force. You even armed them and dilly-dallied for a long time before you went out. It was just to delay everyone and create a chance for the monster’s puppets to kill Ms. Mulian.
“But the monster’s puppets didn’t receive your letter. All the time you stalled gave me the chance to carefully set up my trap.
“When you finally arrived at the entrance of Razor Street, you heard the explosion at the end of the street. I have a feeling that you sighed in relief at that time, thinking that the monster’s puppets had succeeded.
“What you did not know was that I detonated the crystal bombs buried underground and created these ruins to mislead you.
“What happened next is even simpler.
“I’m a harvester. I’ve seen thousands of wounds in all shapes and sizes, I can naturally use monster blood and flesh to make wounds look real.
“As for that half of the burnt corpse you found, it’s a former Reaper Squad member I killed. Her figure was pretty similar to that of Ms. Mulian.
“Once she was covered in flames caused by crystal powder and chemical substances, she was naturally burned beyond recognition.
“Besides, I’ve already predicted all of your thoughts so that you would believe the wrong thing. I also showed you Ms. Mulian’s bracelet, so it was impossible for you to suspect what I said. You didn’t have the time to think about it deeper anyway.
“And when you found me, the real Ms. Mulian went to Wild Wolf and the others and told them everything.
“Then, everyone waited here quietly for your ‘act’. I didn’t need to say anything. I just needed to comfortably lie here and pretend to be a corpse. You honestly told them everything without any prompting.
“That’s the entire story. Now, do you still have anything you want to say to defend yourself?”