Chapter 1481: Like a Shadow (part 2)
‘Old man’ said directly.
"Go to Area 30.”
Jason said this.
It’s not that Jason didn’t trust the ‘old man’. From his understanding of the ‘old man’, the safe house he mentioned was indeed extremely safe, but that was before.
Now?
Sensing the approaching, malicious people, Jason casually tossed aside the head of the Doberman, one of the ‘Six Evil Dogs’.
The other party was not acting alone.
They were leading a group.
Like ‘hounds’ chasing their prey.
Both tracking and driving the prey.When a pack of hounds races through the forest and fields, whether it’s a fox or a rabbit, they will panic and flee without direction, running back to the place they thought safe, and then, completely expose themselves.
Getting completely caught.
"You and the ‘old man’ go to Area 30 first.”
"Open the door in half an hour.”
After speaking, Jason stepped back and blended into the shadows.
The ‘old man’, witnessing this for the first time, was shocked.
He had guessed that Jason had mastered ‘extraordinary power’, but seeing it was still startling.
After all, what one guesses and what is real are always different.
Lauren Delder noticed the ‘old man’s expression.
As he had suspected, the ‘old man’ was kept in the dark all along.
He was the first to know that Jason possessed ‘extraordinary power’.
Thinking of this, Lauren Delder felt an inexplicable sense of superiority rising from his heart.
"Jason is a very strong person who knows how to live better in ‘Nightless City’.”
"He conceals himself, hiding in safe places, leading his own life.”
"If it weren’t for that bastard ‘Jing’, he surely wouldn’t have exposed himself.”
After opening the ‘door’ to Area 30, Lauren Delder led the old man straight across. As the ‘door’ vanished, he began to speak proactively.
Sitting idle for half an hour would be too dull.
Chatting is a good choice.
It allows mutual understanding and strengthens connections.
The ‘old man’ thought the same.
So, as soon as Lauren Delder finished speaking, the ‘old man’ immediately responded.
"Jason is very cautious in his daily life, never exposing himself at all.”
The ‘old man’ echoed.
But in his heart, the ‘old man’ sighed.
He finally understood why his alarm never went off when facing Jason.
Because Jason could never have ill intentions towards him.
Jason chose to hide under his ‘wings’.
Remembering the naive look when he first met Jason, and the way he seemed eager to learn, continuously practicing daily.
The ‘old man’ couldn’t help but shake his head with a bitter smile.
"Do you know? Jason, to be a good ‘postman’, simulated scenarios every day on how to counterattack when attacked in the car, and for the combat classes, shooting classes too, I arranged for people to teach him. He… looked like a beginner.”
"Of course he did.”
"That’s Jason, after all.”
Lauren Delder said matter-of-factly.
In Lauren Delder’s view, this was the normal state for Jason.
It’s this seemingly ordinary, behind-the-scenes style that makes the current Jason.
"Jason is very strong.”
"Stronger than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
"Moreover…”
"He should have unique insights into ‘extraordinary power’.”
Lauren Delder suddenly lowered his voice.
The ‘old man’ paused.
As one of the bosses in Area 16, he knew far more than ordinary residents of ‘Nightless City’.
For example, where to look for ‘extraordinary power’ within ‘Nightless City’.
The 1-15 Districts of ‘Nightless City’.
Also known as Uptown.
Only there can one find complete teachings on ‘extraordinary power’ and ‘mysterious knowledge’.
Could it be…
A thought appeared in the ‘old man’s mind.
He involuntarily raised his arm, extended his forefinger, and pointed upwards.
Lauren Delder blinked.
Had a sudden realization.
No wonder Jason was so calm and strong.
He was from Uptown.
Only this could explain everything he had seen.
"Wow, Jason is actually from Uptown?”
Lauren Delder murmured to herself.
"There’s a big chance.”
‘Old man’ said.
"But why would Uptown people come to Lower City District?”
Lauren Delder couldn’t help but question.
Then, when these words were spoken, the former collaborator of the ‘big shot’ felt embarrassed.
Especially when the old man showed an expression that said ‘you’re hopeless’.
"Cough, cough.”
"Is Uptown in ‘Nightless City’ also chaotic?”
Lauren Delder asked.
"Do you really think Uptown in ‘Nightless City’ is the paradise as advertised?”
"While there might be no open gunfights, covert killings still exist.”
"There’s an organization called the ‘Enforcement Team’ in Uptown; they serve the ‘big shots’, secretly collecting the words of Uptown residents, while eliminating those who don’t obey.”
‘Old man’ spoke of some intelligence he had gathered about Uptown in ‘Nightless City’.
Upon hearing this description, Lauren Delder frowned.
"Isn’t this even less free than Lower City District?”
The former collaborator of the ‘big shot’ couldn’t help but say.
"Then it depends on how you choose?”
"Relative safety?”
"Or relative freedom?”
‘Old man’ shrugged, then looked towards the closed ‘door’ and slowly said: “But I know how Jason chose.”
"Indeed.”
Lauren Delder nodded.
Afterwards, the two continued to chat idly.
However, as time passed, the two became increasingly distracted.
Lauren Delder silently counted time based on heartbeat and pulse.
‘Old man’ found it much simpler.
He had a watch.
A fully automatic mechanical watch, produced in District 1-15.
It’s rumored to be hand-polished and also fetches a high price in District 1-15.
‘Old man’ paid a hefty price to get his hands on it.
He always carefully maintained it.
While escaping, he naturally wore it.
After all, compared to heavy gold bars, the watch is not only easier to carry but also quicker to trade at certain times.
But…
That subtle alarm sound started to ring continuously like tinnitus.
Very faint.
Not intense.
It’s the kind that doesn’t threaten one’s life at the moment.
Initially, ‘old man’ thought it was danger originated within District 30 itself — regarding dangers of District 30, he heard from others, and even for curiosity, sent people to investigate.
Of course, it was not an in-depth investigation.
Just went to purchase some information.
But upon seeing those messages, the alarm in his heart emerged, and he completely gave up further investigation.
However, everything related to District 30 was etched in his memory.
To sum it up in one sentence: a post-war mutated area.
Here, countless Undead of fallen soldiers wander the battlefield.
Even…
Not just humans.
In such an environment, any kind of danger is not absurd.
So much so that the old man regarded the faint alarm.
But, as time went on, the ‘old man’ gradually detected something amiss.
Because, when he heard the alarm ringing in his heart, and glanced around, it would disappear.
But when he lowered his head to look at the time on the watch, the faint alarm sounded again.
The ‘old man’ whose not a fool suddenly his face changed.
Without any hesitation, the ‘old man’ took off the watch, picked up a nearby stone, and smashed it against the arm.
Crash!
With a crisp sound, the luxury item from District 1-15 shattered.
Gears and springs flew out.
The hands were bent as the dial was pounded first.
However, everything below the dial became clear.
A tiny, black thing appeared.
Lauren Delder’s face changed greatly upon seeing the object smaller than a fingernail.
He gasped and said —
"A bug!”