Chapter 32: Danger Averted, Follow Me to the Rooftop

Lu Luo began embellishing the story of his recent battle, nearly erasing his own involvement. Instead, he inflated the collective effort to supreme heights. He narrated the story so vividly that even the part where the four of them joined forces to kill Red Shell was expertly fabricated. If Ludie hadn’t personally witnessed Lu Luo stabbing Red Shell to death, he truly wouldn’t have found any flaws in this story. This kid has a knack for spinning tales that are so well-structured and logically sound; he’s quite something, Ludie mused. Meanwhile, Lu Luo’s story was drawing to a close. "That’s more or less what happened. If it weren’t for our collective resistance and unity, we probably wouldn’t have survived," he said, clearly still wanting to say more. He even felt like having a drink of water and continuing. Chu Qi and Zhou Kai, however, looked on oddly, as Lu Luo had just been heaping praise on them, making them both a bit embarrassed. The only one with a dark expression was Song Hana. She looked at Lu Luo in disbelief. The idea that they had all joined forces to repel the Exotic Species was preposterous to her. How could that possibly happen? Impossible! Someone must have helped them! It’s Ludie, no doubt about it. He must have sent someone to their aid and is now putting on an act with me. Song Hana could never have imagined that the actual events were even more outlandish than Lu Luo’s embellished tale. Ludie lowered his gun and swept his gaze around before nodding. "Hmm, there is indeed a very strong scent of Exotic Species here. It seems you’re telling the truth. Supervisor Song Hana, both Exotic Species attacks appear to be related to your company. Don’t you think it’s time you explained this to us?" Song Hana stood her ground, squinting at Ludie and tilting her chin up slightly. "As I said before, when under attack by Exotic Species, we are victims too. You Hunters failed to do your job, and now you have the audacity to question us at Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals. Quite an authority you wield! Captain Ludie, don’t you know how much tax Blue Sky Biotech pays every day, how many potions we provide for you Hunters, and how much medical support we offer your disabled comrades?" "You know, you just reminded me. I almost forgot to tell you. Right now, I’m the only one actively working in Hunter Squad 13, so I really haven’t received much medical support," Ludie said with a smile. "You!" "Don’t point your finger at me. What if my nerves overreact and I accidentally break your delicate finger? That wouldn’t be good, especially since you’re a woman." While the two were talking, Zhou Kai suddenly shouted to Lu Luo, "Brother Luo, Gu Fangyi seems to be in bad shape!" Lu Luo was startled by the news. Although Gu Fangyi was uncommunicative, he was reliable, and Lu Luo didn’t want this newly met friend to die here. So Lu Luo gave Ludie a look, followed by a hand gesture. Ludie was almost choked with irritation. Him, the captain of Hunter Squad 13, caring about 150 bucks? Well, alright, maybe a little. But he was a conscientious man. Even if Lu Luo couldn’t help, he wasn’t going to abandon Gu Fangyi. "Alright, I’m taking them back for investigation. Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals is under serious suspicion. Be prepared; the Hunters might summon you at any time." Ludie grabbed Gu Fangyi and was about to leave with Lu Luo and Zhou Kai when Chu Qi spoke up, "Sorry Captain Ludie, I’m not going back with you. I still have things to take care of here." "Suit yourself," Ludie responded. Song Hana, who had been silent until now, glared at Ludie, gritting her teeth. In her mind, she blamed Ludie for everything that had happened tonight. She was convinced that Lu Luo and the others couldn’t possibly be a match for Red Shell and its companions; Ludie must have been the one who killed the Exotic Species. "Captain Ludie, you broke into Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals at night, intimidated a company supervisor, forcibly took away a student sponsored by Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals, and damaged company facilities! Remember everything you’ve done tonight! Blue Sky Biotech is not some soft persimmon that just anyone can squeeze!" Ludie stopped in his tracks and turned around. "Oh, I’ll remember. And then what? Are you going to get me fired, or are you going to have someone kill me? Come on, bring it on. I love it when people try to hand me their heads on a platter." Song Hana was rendered speechless by Ludie’s retort and could only turn her head away. At that moment, the Observer finally popped up one last time. [The threat in the vicinity has been mostly neutralized.] Walking beside Ludie, Lu Luo felt a bit puzzled. He glanced at Ludie and asked in confusion, "Why didn’t you just take us out directly? Why make such a big fuss and make things so tense?" Ludie sneered. He had thought Lu Luo understood everything, but it turned out the kid also had some blind spots in his knowledge. "You know jack shit. Do you think this is child’s play? If I’d just come here and taken you away, they would have sent assassins to kill you by tomorrow. You’re just a bunch of orphans from a welfare institution. Even your so-called genius brother isn’t your real brother. If all of you sponsored students died, it wouldn’t cause a ripple in the Alliance. The Wasteland has rules and laws, true, but most of these are weapons of the powerful. You’re not naive enough to think you can use the weapons of the elite against the elite, are you?" The corner of Lu Luo’s mouth twitched. He genuinely hadn’t thought of that—not because he didn’t understand, but because the worldview in his predecessor’s memories wasn’t broad enough. His predecessor was just an orphan who loved to study, completely ignorant of anything in the Wasteland Alliance beyond the Fourth Ring. Moreover, since even an orphan like him could receive sponsorship, his predecessor had subconsciously and naively believed that the Alliance was fair and that they all had bright futures. "Okay, so what difference does threatening Song Hana make?" "By openly threatening her, I represent the Hunters’ stance and my own." "What’s the difference between the Hunters’ stance and your own?" "The Hunters’ stance is the official position of the Hunters on this matter. With frequent Exotic Species incidents, the Hunters absolutely will not stand idly by. This stance is a warning to all of Blue Sky Biotech, a warning sufficient to make Blue Sky Biotech more restrained in its future actions." As Ludie spoke, he paused. For a moment, Lu Luo felt that Ludie’s aura seemed a bit different. However, he quickly returned to normal and lit a cigarette. "As for my personal stance, it’s quite simple. I’m protecting you, which means you’re under my protection. If she dares to touch you, I’ll kill her. Is that explanation straightforward enough?" "To be honest, it is." ... Walking out of the main entrance of Blue Sky Pharmaceuticals, Ludie led the three of them to a BMW X3 off-road vehicle, a relatively high-end model even in the Wasteland. "A BMW X3? That must cost tens of thousands. Is this your car?" Lu Luo asked, surprised because BMWs were expensive, especially considering the shabby motorbike Ludie had ridden during the day. But Ludie just shook his head as if it were a matter of course, violently yanked open the car door, and tossed Gu Fangyi into the back seat. "Nope. Hunters’ business. Just temporarily commandeered! It’s only one car; the department will take the heat. Not a big deal." "What a ’temporary commandeering’..." The group got into the car and managed to deliver Gu Fangyi to Hospital No. 412 without further incident. Exotic Species scorpion poison, Dark Energy corrosion, excessive blood loss, and six fractures—that Gu Fangyi could still perform as he had, after all that, was truly admirable in Lu Luo’s eyes. Even Ludie, standing beside them, thought Lu Luo had a decent eye; Gu Fangyi was indeed quite capable. After Lu Luo’s injuries were also bandaged and he had changed into fresh clothes, Ludie beckoned to him with a finger. "Alright, let your little classmate Zhou Kai take care of him. Let’s go." "Go? Where to?" Lu Luo asked, puzzled. "Up to the rooftop with me," Ludie said, pointing upwards. "What? Are you going to push me off?" "Are you coming or not?" Ludie was already annoyed. "Coming."