Chapter 129: Chapter 111: The Slip-up Caught by Chu Bamboo, Part 2
’By that logic, they’re most likely ordinary people who don’t know anything! They were just screwed over by the All-Powerful...’
’But even if I wanted to speak up for them now, I can’t. I can’t just bring Chu Bamboo into it, can I? I can’t say that we know for sure the enemy is the All-Powerful and these people are probably innocent. Why? Because Chu Bamboo has an undercover agent? Wouldn’t that just be making trouble for him?!’
’Chu Bamboo has already lost two of his men for this. How could I do something like that? Wouldn’t that make me a thankless bastard?’
"Heh! So high and mighty, so righteous! You’re just like our Bishop," Lu Yun sneered, shooting Zhang Hai a sideways glance. "You just don’t want to get your own hands dirty, is that it?"
"Fine, fine, fine! I’ll handle the torture, alright?! There, are you satisfied? Now scram. Just pretend you didn’t see a thing. You can just wait for the results to be served up on a silver platter!" Lu Yun’s voice was dripping with resentment.
"...That’s not what I meant!"
"You hypocrite! Let’s just end this here," Lu Yun said coldly. "Of course, if you’re not actually a hypocrite and you truly feel sympathy for these enemies... Heh, then you’re an even bigger fool."
"I came not to bring peace, but a sword," Lu Yun recited softly, giving Zhang Hai a profound look. "Because of this weakness, you will definitely pay a heavy price in the future—you might even die."
With a flick of his wrist, a chain shot out from Lu Yun’s hand. It was impossible to know how many times he’d practiced the move, but it coiled smoothly around the legs of all five captives.
He gave the chain a sharp tug, dragging the group toward a side hall.
"Try not to take it so hard." Lei Tong walked over and patted Zhang Hai’s shoulder gently. "But seeing the way that guy acts... maybe the Templar Order is just a cover for him."
A look of fear and apprehension flashed across Lei Tong’s face. "Maybe," he said cautiously, "he’s from the Judgement Court?"
The moment those two words were spoken, Zhang Hai shivered, his expression shifting. Listening to the agonized screams coming from the adjacent room, he couldn’t bear it, but he could only manage a difficult nod.
"Wait a minute!" Zhang Hai suddenly realized something. "The hand you patted my shoulder with... no, you haven’t washed your hand yet!"
’Why would you pat my shoulder with the same hand you just had all over that person’s legs?!’
"I’m not even grossed out by you, and you’re going to be grossed out by me?" Lei Tong shot back, instantly furious.
"?? What did I do that you’d be grossed out by me?" Zhang Hai’s eyes went wide. He couldn’t fathom how his own colleague could say something so absurd!
...
「Meanwhile.」
Chu Bamboo had already returned to the room he was in last time.
He closed his eyes, sorting through the information in his mind.
’These five believers are completely different from the last ones.’
’Could they really be randomly selected devotees? Not from the All-Powerful, but just true believers of the God Worship Sect...’
’Then there’s the change in timing. Is the enemy... actually watching the church? It’s probably not with something like Divine Thought. If it were, Hu Kaikang would definitely have sensed it.’
After all, just from Hu Kaikang’s demeanor, Chu Bamboo could tell.
The man was undoubtedly a heavyweight in the Cultivation Realm.
’Which means they’re using something like a telescope!’
By now, Chu Bamboo had also picked up on the strangest aspect of this world.
Even the powerful weren’t truly all-powerful.
Due to certain restrictions, the powerful could only display their immense, oppressive might in the presence of other Transcendents.
When facing an ordinary person, the most power they could reveal was limited to Kung Fu—skills that didn’t exceed the bounds of normal human comprehension.
The moment the power they displayed crossed the threshold of what humans would consider possible, it would very likely trigger a scan from Nuwa No. 17, which would in turn bring a search from the Captain’s Office.
It seemed that, for now, even a Cardinal Level being didn’t want to have their cover blown.
In other words, if the mastermind was hiding several kilometers away and observing with a telescope, theoretically, they wouldn’t be detected.
Probably?
’But if I follow that line of thought...’ Chu Bamboo’s finger traced a line on the floor. He slowly closed his eyes, constructing a mental map of the several-kilometer area surrounding the Third District Church.
"Hmm, there are only two likely locations. The crane Tower to the east, and the tallest building in the Third District to the west... Those two places have the best vantage points for overlooking the church," Chu Bamboo murmured.
’If I were in their position, I’d choose the crane Tower.’
The reason was simple. The skyscraper was in a true affluent district. Security was tight, with dedicated guards at every entrance. There were even numerous "Ancient Relic" cameras inside.
The crane Tower, on the other hand, had been standing in the Third District for a very, very long time. Barely anyone ever went over there...
Considering the mastermind’s need for secrecy...
Of course, if the mastermind was brazen enough to do the exact opposite... well, Chu Bamboo could only admire their guts and ask Nuwa No. 17 to hit them with a full surveillance combo.
’Let’s just see if I can catch you slipping.’
Chu Bamboo slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp.
...
「Eleven P.M.」
Chu Bamboo was still awake. He got up, left his room, and went to find Zhang Hai.
"...What are you knocking for in the middle of the night?" Zhang Hai finally opened the door with a dark expression, but only after Chu Bamboo had been knocking for a full thirty seconds.
"Did you wash your hands?" Chu Bamboo asked, deadpan.
"?" Zhang Hai froze for a second before it dawned on him. His face flushed bright red. "How—How can you just insult someone out of the blue like that..."
"Still trying to play innocent with me!" Chu Bamboo scoffed. "Do you dare swear to God? Swear you weren’t in your room, getting friendly with that pretty little... under your bed..."
"I was wrong!" Zhang Hai bellowed, his expression suddenly solemn and sincere, his tone firm and full of righteousness.
And this had absolutely, positively nothing to do with Lei Tong, who had opened his door next door and was poking his head out to see what was going on.
Chu Bamboo wasn’t the least bit surprised. There was no way Zhang Hai would have gone to sleep this early. If he wasn’t in the middle of *that*, why else would he have taken so long to open the door?
"So, what in the world do you want?" Zhang Hai’s face was a grimace of frustration. He lowered his voice. "Just say it. If I can help, I will! You’re my little ancestor! Please, I’m begging you."
"Nothing... I just wanted to see!" Chu Bamboo said evasively.
’?’ ’So he came here just to mess with me, didn’t he!’
Glancing over at Lei Tong, Chu Bamboo thought for a moment and then asked, "Where’s the other one?"
"...Probably still handling the interrogation," Zhang Hai said with difficulty, suppressing his frustration. "He should be in..."
"Okay." Chu Bamboo nodded. He exchanged a few more words with them and then took his leave.
He followed Zhang Hai’s directions to the church’s main hall. From there, he could faintly hear wails coming from a side hall, along with Lu Yun’s excited questions.
"Are you going to talk?! Are you?! Hehehehe, I actually quite like stubborn ones like you... You have to hold on a little longer, okay? My little darlings..."
’That guy’s as much of a sadist as ever,’ Chu Bamboo thought. Having confirmed all three of his colleagues were accounted for, he didn’t dwell on it and returned to his room.
By now, it was already midnight.
’Barring any surprises, today has passed safely...’ Chu Bamboo lay on his bed for a while, his mind racing. ’Besides, the church has its own protective systems in place. Hmm...’
With that thought, Chu Bamboo hesitated no longer. He bit down, breaking the poison capsule hidden in his tooth.
The familiar taste spread through his mouth before he swallowed.
And then...
Time began to reverse.
