Chapter 117. Let Us Cooperate
As Shen Ji’s voice trailed off, the metal apparatus surrounding the Thunder Training Room hummed to life. Blinding blue-white currents of electricity surged forth, weaving a flickering web of energy around Mo Xiao in an instant.
The electricity crackled and popped, lashing against Mo Xiao’s skin in wave after wave of sharp, stabbing pain.
Suddenly, the device on the right swung downward, sending a bolt of silver-blue current streaking toward the man’s right leg. Mo Xiao couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan. He could feel that while the intensity was being kept within a safe range, it was still enough to cause his body to undergo involuntary spasms.
A wave of numbness hit the back of his knee, and Mo Xiao collapsed uncontrollably to the floor.
“My apologies. My hand slipped just now.”
Shen Ji let out a soft click of his tongue, his fingers moving even more frantically over the control panel. A dense barrage of electricity shot out, though this time, it only targeted the man’s upper body.
Mo Xiao gritted his teeth and stood in the center of the electrical web, letting the arcs of lightning scorch faint burn marks onto his combat uniform.
He could feel the current traveling through his veins, the pain so intense that cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.
Shen Ji sat back steadily, watching the red welts bloom across the man’s body from the shocks. He carefully observed Mo Xiao’s condition, deliberately filling in the unscathed areas with fresh marks.
He only dialed back the intensity once he was certain there wasn’t a single patch of intact fabric left on the man’s combat uniform.
“Hmm. While I’m not particularly fond of doing this, you at least need to look the part of someone who’s been punished.”
As he spoke, he opened his bracelet. Glancing at the time, he let out a lazy yawn and stretched.
“Watching you get zapped is getting a bit dull. Why don’t we have a chat instead?”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Still angry, it seems. Shen Ji couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle.
“Then how about we talk about Su Tang?”
“Do you really think I pulled you out of the White Tower’s hands just to satisfy my own selfish interests?”
Mo Xiao looked up. A current of electricity grazed his face, leaving a bloody streak behind. He said nothing, yet his gaze spoke volumes as he stared back.
Shen Ji shrugged.
“True, my own interests played a large part in it. However, if I hadn’t stepped in, the one negotiating with Su Tang would have been the White Tower itself.”
“What do you mean?”
Shen Ji stood up, his gaze darkening as it lingered on the red marks on the other man’s neck.
“I want you to see reality for what it is. The White Tower is not a place where you or I can act as we please. A Guide like Su Tang is simply too eye-catching.”
“Do you really believe the Medical Department has been safe all this time?”
Mo Xiao’s expression darkened instantly. Shen Ji had his own intelligence network and was the fastest at obtaining news within the Tower. If he was saying this, did he know something?
“Speak plainly.”
Shen Ji smiled.
“Su Tang’s abilities are far too unique. Sometimes, when too many coincidences cluster together—no matter how reasonably they are explained away—they still arouse suspicion.”
An F-rank Guide was reverse-purified by a Sentinel and not only survived but was able to turn around and mark that Sentinel? Even with an abundance of supplementary serums nearby, the probability of such an event was astronomically low.
Not only that, but when this F-rank Guide faced high-level Polluted Entities that even S-rank Sentinels fell to, she managed to walk away unscathed.
The naturally suspicious White Tower had already begun to turn its gaze toward Su Tang.
Mo Xiao’s fist clenched tight. The silver-white current struck him without mercy, but he was entirely unable to register the physical pain now. His mind was consumed by Shen Ji’s words.
“What are you implying? Is the White Tower planning to move against Su Tang?”
“I wouldn’t say ‘move against’ her. After all, she is a rare Guide.”
Shen Ji’s voice was airy, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness. “But hasn’t the White Tower always prioritized ‘utility’ above all else? They extract a massive amount of Guide Pheromones every month—we both know where those are going.”
He took a step closer and lowered his voice.
“For years, they have been searching for a way to mass-produce replicas of Si Yu. A Guide like Su Tang, who can precisely clear pollution, is the perfect catalyst in their eyes.”
Mo Xiao’s breathing grew heavy and ragged.
“According to reliable sources, a rumor has been circulating within the White Tower. They say Zhan Ye’s recovery wasn’t due to An Se’s inhibitors, but because Su Tang secretly purified him. You know the Tower’s policy—they would rather kill a thousand innocents than let one threat slip through their fingers.”
“They are already suspicious. I expect they will take action soon.”
“So, you’re keeping me under your control to act as a buffer between Su Tang and the White Tower?”
Shen Ji smiled.
“Naturally. Su Tang is my own life-saving straw, after all. I certainly wouldn’t want this tender little sprout to be squeezed dry by others.”
Shen Ji stepped back and leaned against the control panel.
“So, Mo Xiao, why don’t we use this opportunity to strike a deal? What do you say?”
Mo Xiao looked at the camera in the corner of the Thunder Training Room and remained silent.
“Don’t worry, I broke that thing long ago. I wouldn’t have said any of this to you otherwise.”
“How about it? Consider this incident… a favor from me to you.”
Mo Xiao frowned. Shen Ji was never the type to let himself get the short end of a stick.
“And you? What do you want?”
“I want to live.”
Shen Ji’s voice suddenly turned cold, a hint of obsession flickering in his eyes.
“I want to live with my consciousness intact. I don’t want to become a weapon like Si Yu.”
“That is why I know that Su Tang is the only one who can help me achieve my wish.”
“Mo Xiao, cooperate with me. I will keep the White Tower off your backs. Not only that, but you can use my intelligence network. In return, I only ask that she gives me one ‘soothing’ session when my mental state is on the brink of collapse. That’s all.”
“Just how many people are using this ‘network’ of yours?”
He gave it to the White Tower, he used it for himself, and now he was offering it to them. This expensive, exclusive intelligence line was starting to seem rather cheap.
“The part I give the White Tower is just a small branch. Besides, I hold the controls. The tools I give them can just as easily become the leverage I use against them.”
Having said his piece, he pressed a button, and the door to the Thunder Training Room slid open.
“I’ve said what I needed to say. I’m in no rush for an immediate answer. You can take your time to think it over. Just get back to me when you’ve made up your mind.”
“Yasuo will come to pick you up in twelve hours. I’ve just recovered, and there’s plenty waiting for me at the Second Team, so I won’t stay here with you. I’ve set the timer; it will stop automatically when the time is up. I’ll leave the door open for you—just walk out when you’re ready.”
Arcs of electricity continued to dance around Mo Xiao, bringing with them a slight, stinging pain, but it was nothing compared to the impact of Shen Ji’s words.
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