Chapter 78: The Informant

The Falcon Investigation Team received a confidential letter, the contents of which were quite simple. It essentially outlined several routes from the outside leading into the Golden Rooster Ridge base. Unable to verify its authenticity, they immediately reported the contents to the Ministry of National Security.

The Ministry, guided by the letter, pinpointed those locations. Judging by distance alone, it seemed almost impossible to believe these could lead to the enemy’s Golden Rooster Ridge base. Yet, they did indeed find the entrances described in the letter.

Without delay, the Ministry organized a team of robotic agents to enter through each discovered entrance and investigate the situation inside. Soon, the robots sent back corresponding photographs. At first glance, the entrances appeared no different from ordinary mountain caves. However, magnifying the images revealed clear footprints of unknown creatures, though no photos of the creatures themselves were captured. Data from life detectors, transmitted from within, indicated signs of life through each entrance.

The caves were narrow and long; based on the robots’ speed, a human might not reach the other side even in a day. The Ministry was drafting an emergency plan, preparing to dispatch personnel for an on-site investigation.

Just then, contact with the robots was lost.

It turned out the Golden Rooster Ridge base had detected anomalies at the emergency tunnels reserved since the base’s construction. They immediately took action and discovered official robotic agents operating inside. The robots were intercepted, but unfortunately, they initiated self-destruct protocols, leaving nothing but a heap of scrap metal.

Yet, more infuriating than failing to capture the enemy’s technical equipment was the realization that their opponents had discovered such a secret passage. These tunnels were so classified that only a handful within Future City knew of their existence.

How did the other side find out? Could the official agents have uncovered the information and reported it back? Initially, this was their first assumption, but they soon dismissed the idea. From what they knew, that small group had recently been operating in a lawless area and technically had no presence within the Golden Rooster Ridge base. Even if they were there, they couldn’t access such core information.

That left only one possibility: there was a traitor.

Since so few knew about these tunnels, identifying the culprit would not be too difficult; the pool of suspects was small.

The Lord of Future City took it upon himself to investigate. He personally interrogated everyone on his side, but found nothing unusual. This narrowed the suspects to just a few individuals.

The thought enraged the Lord. He had taken these few in out of goodwill, yet they had bitten the hand that fed them. That man surnamed Wu was clearly not a good sort—ruthless, with a history of losing the Great Wilderness base. Could he have been recruited by the authorities back then?

And the Young Master—he’d shown him respect only out of consideration for the Chairman. As an illegitimate child, he dared to act high and mighty? And then there was Yaida Hitomi; she had merely studied abroad in Japan, yet adopted a Japanese name, perhaps to curry favor with the visiting experts from the islands! Those Japanese experts had indeed aided her greatly. Two years ago, it was these people who helped her eliminate her brother’s faction, clearing the way for her eventual takeover. Since then, she addressed them as mentors.

Anyone could guess their arrival was related to her brother’s business. Leaving in such a hurry—who would believe there wasn’t something shady going on?

A thorough investigation was launched. It was highly probable that the informant was among those two siblings. They wanted to use others as tools—so it seemed his warnings yesterday had not been clear enough. Someone dared to make Golden Rooster Ridge their pawn. If he didn’t teach them a lesson, they’d never respect him!

Soon, the investigators reported back. According to them, after returning from the reception room yesterday, Yaida Hitomi sent an encrypted email—possibly related to the emergency tunnels. The contents couldn’t be decoded in time.

The Young Master had also recently requested relevant information about Future City, so his motives couldn’t be ruled out.

The report matched the Lord’s own suspicions. Calming himself, he realized he was now forced to choose sides—no matter whom he acted against, neutrality was no longer an option.

If he didn’t act, what would become of Future City’s reputation?

The investigators watched the Lord pace the room, unable to decide. They reminded him that the urgent matter wasn’t identifying the informant, but dealing with the emergency tunnels. They couldn’t allow them to remain exposed under the enemy’s nose.

The Lord accepted their advice. For the safety of Future City, he ordered the closure of all emergency tunnels and raised security to the highest level—wartime status—to prevent another disaster like the destruction of the Great Wilderness base.

Shortly after the tunnels were closed, he received a call from Yaida Hitomi, who had already returned to the central base. She apologized for inadvertently leaking Golden Rooster Ridge’s secrets and took full responsibility for the loss of the base’s external security forces. Naturally, if the Lord could shift the blame onto someone else, then any future matters concerning Golden Rooster Ridge would be hers to handle.

Her meaning was clear—she was forcing his hand. Now, with the entrance on her end sealed, the outermost guards hidden within the emergency tunnels had been abandoned. Their discovery by the enemy was only a matter of time.

Though Golden Rooster Ridge’s strength had diminished, it was not yet in danger of annihilation. If he could secure a powerful ally, this leak could prove a blessing in disguise. Yet, he wondered if Yaida Hitomi could truly be relied upon.

Weighing the pros and cons, offending Yaida Hitomi or Zhao Zeyi—the answer seemed obvious.

The Lord shook his head, sighed, and ordered that Zhao Zeyi be brought to the aircraft and sent to the central base. He instructed his attendants not to neglect the Young Master, to explain that he was compelled by circumstance. After all, Yaida Hitomi was not to be antagonized, and he needed an explanation for the leak to his superiors.