Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Bluffing

The moment she heard Fred’s voice, Lu Xiao stopped struggling, letting him shield her as he quickly led her to a hidden corner.

She looked up at the man in the black cloak. Before she could speak, Fred said, “I’ll get you out of here now. Don’t worry, I’ve already contacted Admiral Clan. They’re ready to receive you.”

Lu Xiao wasn’t particularly surprised. “Does Ares know about this?”

At a time like this, Lu Xiao’s first thought wasn’t for herself, but for Ares. An indescribable wave of jealousy surged through Fred, but he forced it down. “Admiral Clan will inform him.”

“That’s good.” Lu Xiao seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then her expression turned serious. “Vice Admiral Fred, are you here because of the potion?”

He had already deduced that the Black Tower’s motive for abducting Lu Xiao was likely tied to the news that she had healed an S-Class male, allowing him to recover and leave the S-Class Shelter.

And since Lu Xiao had met Ban Lun, he must have revealed some information about the potion to her. Fred just wasn’t sure exactly how much she knew.

“Yes. Recently, a number of females have gone missing in the Empire’s Star Domains rated three stars and below. We suspect they’ve been abducted by the Black Tower. Their disappearances might be related to the potion currently under development.”

Lu Xiao hadn’t expected females to be involved.

She frowned. “But I thought females in the Empire were protected by law and held the highest rights. How could these people dare?”

“In the Star Domains below the three-star level, enforcement is weak. These females don’t have high social standing. Most importantly, the Black Tower is anti-female rights.”

If not for the stronger protections afforded to females in the Empire, the Black Tower probably wouldn’t hesitate to target them directly. Lu Xiao was a perfect example.

However, it was clear the Black Tower viewed Lu Xiao differently than those other females.

They were after her healing ability.

When she heard the term “anti-female rights,” Lu Xiao understood.

“What do you mean, the potion is related to those females? I just asked C Luo about it, and he mentioned some of its side effects. But when I asked about the development process, he reacted strongly and clammed up.”

At this point, an idea was already forming in Lu Xiao’s mind.

Fred hadn’t expected that she had not only shared a meal with C Luo but had also managed to fish for this information. “It seems C Luo trusts you a great deal.”

“I wouldn’t call it trust. More likely, those questions were just unimportant to him.” ’She didn’t believe a brief, pleasant interaction was enough to break down the barriers of their respective identities.’

A hint of approval flashed in Fred’s eyes, seeing that Lu Xiao hadn’t let her guard down. “Let’s go. I’ll get you out of here.”

But Lu Xiao didn’t move. She looked up at the man hidden beneath the black cloak, his face pale and much thinner than before. She couldn’t help but wonder how long Fred had been undercover here and how far along he was with his mission. “If you escort me out, will it blow your cover?”

Fred’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected her to think of that. ’Is she worried about me?’

“There’s a risk of that, but your safety is more important.”

Lu Xiao shook her head. “I have an idea. I might be able to complete the mission better if I stay. Listen, Ban Lun needs my ability, which means he’ll have to let me get close to their most vital secrets. I also want to see this potion for myself. If it’s really as miraculous as they claim, it shouldn’t be left in the hands of someone like him. Since they need me, my safety won’t be an issue. And besides, I’m not as weak as I look.”

’Otherwise, I would’ve been a goner back at the start of the apocalypse, let alone struggled all the way to the end.’

’I just rarely tell others about my survival skills. Besides, my life hasn’t actually been threatened since I got here.’

Fred, however, immediately shot down her proposal. “I know you’re capable, but this is far too risky. And it’s not your responsibility to bear.”

“You’re right, this isn’t my responsibility. I don’t know how long you’ve been undercover here or what kind of progress you’ve made, but I think I can be more useful here than you. I can get to the core of things much faster. Let’s not make this more complicated than it needs to be. I’m someone who values my life; if I weren’t absolutely confident, I wouldn’t stay even if you asked. So, it’s decided. Tell your people outside to be ready for contact. We should go back now. Did you cause that commotion earlier?”

’Lu Xiao was right. He’d been undercover for a month and had accomplished less than she had in a single day. She was better suited for this mission.’

Logically, he understood. Emotionally, he couldn’t help but worry. But Lu Xiao had clearly made up her mind. He conceded, “If you’re in danger, my priority will be to get you out immediately. My people caused the commotion.”

“There are others here?”

“There were five of us in total, but now only three remain.” Fred didn’t explain what happened to the other two, but Lu Xiao knew.

She looked up at Fred. “Don’t come out. C Luo is probably looking for me by now. Our chances are better if you don’t blow your cover. That’s all for now. We’ll be in touch.”

Without giving Fred much time to think, Lu Xiao pulled off the cloak, tossed it to him, and quickly disappeared back into the boisterous crowd. She deliberately mussed her hair and clothes, making herself look utterly disheveled.

By the time C Luo found her, Lu Xiao’s eyes were brimming with tears, and she immediately went on the offensive. “Where have you been? What took you so long? I don’t know what happened, but everything suddenly descended into chaos! I was scared to death!”

C Luo looked at Lu Xiao. Just moments ago she had been calm and composed, but now her face was pale and she was a complete mess. The panic he’d felt when he couldn’t find her suddenly vanished. ’What was I even worried about? There’s no way she could have gotten out of here on her own.’ He said aloud, “Someone thought there was a bomb. The threat has been neutralized now. Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

“A bomb?” Lu Xiao feigned terror. “Why would there be a bomb here?”

C Luo looked at her slightly smudged face, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Have you forgotten where this is? It’s perfectly normal for a place like ours to have such things. Let me take you back. I imagine you need some rest now.”

“You’re right. This place isn’t what I thought it would be. I want to go home, C Luo.”

As she spoke those last words, Lu Xiao even reached out to gently tug on C Luo’s sleeve, perfectly playing up her vulnerability.

’Sorry, buddy. You’re the only one around, so who else am I supposed to trick?’

Her action made C Luo’s heart pound wildly.

’He had seen her generous, natural, and considerate side before. But now, seeing her so scared and panicked, a soft spot in his heart was struck with surprising force.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep