This was the day Prince Suwen had set. The Sanctuary had issued a public notice announcing that at noon today, in the central square of Blue Sea City, over five hundred captured Rebel prisoners would be executed en masse.
"Nana, C.C. and I are heading out. Sorry to leave you holding down the fort." That morning, after saying goodbye to Nana, Rulu prepared to set off with C.C.
Before leaving, Rulu had already expined to Nana that his main purpose this time was to stop the Sanctuary from executing the Rebel prisoners. The operation would carry great risk — they might not return until very te, and in the worst case, they might not return at all.
What surprised Rulu was that upon learning of his intentions, Nana was unexpectedly calm. She didn't throw a fit or make a scene as she had before. She simply pulled Rulu into a tight embrace just before he left, and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"Rulu, you have to come back safe — for your own sake, and for mine. Promise me?" Nana said, looking at him with quiet solemnity.
"Don't worry. I'll come back safe, no question." Rulu patted his chest with full confidence.
"How sweet — I want a hug and kiss too." C.C. stood to the side, watching the two of them with an amused grin, entirely unbothered.
Nana's cheeks flushed slightly. She gave C.C. a hug as well and said, "You take care of yourself too, C.C. And if Rulu tries to do anything foolish, I'm counting on you to stop him."
"Alright, I'll do my best." C.C. said.
After that, Rulu and C.C. left the secret hideout together. They first made a stop at Rulu's old school, where Rulu located a small truck he had arranged near the school. After checking the contents of the cargo bed, he produced a set of pre-prepared keys, started the engine, and drove toward the central square of Blue Sea City.
"The city seems a bit empty today," C.C. remarked, sitting in the passenger seat and looking out the window. Many of the shops lining the streets had closed, and there were far fewer pedestrians than usual. Those who were out moved with hurried steps, every face creased with deep worry, as though something momentous were about to happen. A pervasive unease hung over the whole of Blue Sea City.
Rulu said, "There's a rumor going around that Rebels from outside are going to attack Blue Sea City today. The citizens are worried the attack might actually happen and that they'll get caught up in the chaos. Everyone's on edge."
C.C. said, "What about the Sanctuary? Have they done anything in response to the rumor?"
"They've neither denied nor confirmed it. They've simply tightened security across the city and deployed troops to establish a defensive perimeter around the outskirts of Blue Sea City to repel any external Rebel attack."
"So it sounds like there could be a major battle here today. Blue Sea City is bound to be in complete chaos."
"Exactly. I intend to use that chaos to settle things once and for all between me and Prince Suwen. This time, C.C., I'll need your full cooperation."
"But I don't have any special Psionic power. How exactly am I supposed to help you?"
"I've already worked that out. Just do what I tell you and it'll be fine."
"Alright then. I'll follow your lead."
Before long, Rulu drove into the central square of Blue Sea City. At the heart of the square, a rge, elevated ptform had been newly constructed. Around it, dense crowds had gathered — part Sanctuary military forces, part ordinary citizens who had come to watch the execution.
Rulu found a spot with a clear line of sight and parked the truck near the square. He and C.C. stayed inside the vehicle, waiting patiently and watching the activity on the ptform with close attention.
Suddenly, a man in a pink coat strode briskly up onto the ptform. He picked up a microphone and began to speak in a dry, ft voice that instantly filled the entire square:
"Attention, everyone — your attention, please. Due to Governor Suwen and General Feihu having both fallen ill these past few days, I, Jason, will be assuming their duties and presiding over today's execution of the Rebel prisoners. All troop deployments and movements at this site are under my command. All soldiers and civilians are required to follow my orders — those who disobey will be dealt with according to military w. Bring the Rebel members up now."
As soon as he finished speaking, a rge number of soldiers appeared as if from nowhere, escorting a great crowd of people toward the ptform at the center of the square. The detainees had their hands bound behind their backs with rope and bck hoods pulled over their heads — clearly the captured members of the Rebel organization.
"Just as I expected — Prince Suwen hasn't shown his face. He must be hiding somewhere well out of sight. To get to him, I need to find out exactly where he is." Rulu turned this over in his mind while training his binocurs on the man called Jason standing on the ptform.
"So that's Jason — the Level 5 Refining Body Ultra-capable that Prince Suwen brought in from the Sanctuary?" Rulu studied the pink-coated man on the ptform carefully. He appeared to be somewhere in his forties or fifties, roughly 1.7 meters tall, with a lean build and an entirely unremarkable face.
Ordinary as Jason looked, and unimpressive as his physique seemed, Rulu knew better than to underestimate him. This man was no pushover. And if Rulu wanted to find out where Prince Suwen was hiding, Jason was the one he'd have to go through.
After a short while, all five hundred-odd Rebel prisoners had been brought onto the ptform and forced to kneel. The middle-aged man named Jason picked up the microphone again:
"All prisoners scheduled for execution are now in position. The execution ceremony will take pce in two hours. The Governor has stated that if the assassin who attempted his life comes forward voluntarily and surrenders, all of these prisoners will be released without charge. I know that assassin is somewhere in Blue Sea City — very likely hiding near this square right now. Assassin, hear me clearly: if you want these people to live, come out now. This is your st chance."
