Chapter 151: The Groups's Camp

Batman followed the three-person team closely, adjusting his distance as needed but always staying within the range of his detective mode.

He kept using his enhanced hearing to listen in on their conversations, but most of what they talked about wasn't very useful. 

From what Chu Cheng gathered, the three were part of a larger group that had been attacked by a horde of ghouls. During the chaos, they got separated from their team. The three of them were left to navigate on their own, with Brother Qiang taking the lead.

Chu Cheng noted that the dynamic map they were using was confusing. It wasn't a standard flat or 3D map like those on smartphones. Instead, it resembled a complex web of lines and polygons, more like sonar mapping.

For someone like Chu Cheng, who was unfamiliar with advanced mapping techniques, it was like trying to solve a high school geometry problem without understanding basic plane geometry. It was almost as bewildering as trying to fall asleep after a long day.

Without the help of Friday, Chu Cheng could only watch and try to make sense of the situation.

The three-person team had just escaped a horde of ghouls and were still lost while trying to find their main group. Their conversations revealed little, only that they were approaching a stable structure related to the Seventh Squad.

Brother Qiang was clearly the leader of the group. Bai Jing, the only woman, seemed interested in him, while He Shou, who was lower in the team, appeared to be trying to make a move on either Brother Qiang or Bai Jing. If it's the former, then this situation was just one more cliché.

Chu Cheng wasn't particularly interested in the dynamics of this trio. What he really wanted to know was where their main force was and why this unknown group was here.

He thought of it like a predator waiting to strike. Since the trio needed to navigate through the ruins, Chu Cheng made sure to handle any ghouls that might have attacked them, earning himself some experience in the process.

As the team progressed, they seemed to have a smooth journey, mistakenly believing it was their own doing or luck. Unbeknownst to them, the ghouls were following them all along, leaving a trail of bodies behind.

If the ghouls were smarter, they might have suspected something was off. The trio looked like easy prey in the dark, but in reality, they were being carefully guided and protected.

After following the group for about an hour and a half, Chu Cheng was satisfied with the experience he gained. The trio finally reached their destination, exhausted but relieved.

From a distance, Chu Cheng heard a rumbling noise coming from ahead.

As the trio moved closer, the noise grew louder, and they seemed excited, thinking it meant they were on the right track.

Soon, Chu Cheng's detective mode picked up more figures ahead. They were in the same uniform as the trio and were gathered in a large cave. The cave was bustling with activity.

Guards with guns were stationed at every entrance, and people were coming and going. The cave was well-lit by lanterns, making everything visible, including the high ceiling and rocky formations.

The trio approached eagerly. The guards stopped them briefly but quickly recognized them and let them through.

Batman stayed hidden in the shadows, observing from a distance. Chu Cheng expanded his view and scanned the faces of the people in the cave. The screen displayed photos of individuals from the Grove Group.

Friday confirmed with a match of the scanned results.

So, it was indeed the medical consortium here, not just any group. Chu Cheng found it odd—what were pharmaceutical workers doing in an ancient ruin? Were they trying to break into the underworld?

The trio walked past the checkpoint, and soon, a team leader came out to meet them.

An older man, dressed in a slightly different uniform, stood with a stern expression. He looked over the three young men who had just rejoined the group with a cold gaze.

Chu Cheng maneuvered Batman into the shadows, avoiding the lights. He found a better angle and scanned the leader's face.

"Siegel Mycroft, department manager of the Grove Group," Friday reported.

"Even the department manager is here..." Chu Cheng mused.

Batman continued to move, and soon, Chu Cheng located the source of the loud noise—a massive door.

The door, ancient and imposing, was around 23 feet high. Its material was indiscernible from the outside, but it looked extremely heavy. Uniformed fighters were using tools to force it open.

Chu Cheng checked the radiation scan data and confirmed that the evidence they were searching for was behind this door.

"Sir, there are others approaching," Friday alerted.

Chu Cheng quickly adjusted Batman's position to hide in a corner as someone else arrived. This person, also from the Grove Group, reported to Siegel.

"Sir, we've spotted a group of Secret Service Nine agents heading this way," the newcomer said urgently.

"Already found it?" Siegel frowned and whispered, "That was quicker than expected. Do any of the special agents need extra attention?"

"The agent from the Secret Service Ninth Office, Luo Yajun, is leading a team of over a dozen. They must have regrouped after tracking the evidence A-086 and are heading this way."

Siegel thought for a moment, then turned to his companion.

"What do you think the chances are of getting them to surrender peacefully?"

The middle-aged woman beside him replied, "Agent Luo? Almost zero. Reports say he's someone who fights first and doesn't talk."

"Alright, then we can skip the formalities," Siegel said with a sigh of relief.

"We need a bit more time here. Get a team together, bring concussion mines, and set up an ambush."

"Understood."