Chapter 60: The 'Leader' Strikes

Bernadette had a strong premonition that if she involved herself in Odis's next course of action, she would undoubtedly gain something valuable.

So, she first arrived at his suburban laboratory, then, following the address he provided, transported him to Unit 77 Hilton Avenue...

Odis knew that although Bernadette had seemingly left earlier, she was undoubtedly still observing him.

He made no attempt to hide it. Descending to the basement, he donned the attire of the 'Leader'. He suspected Bernadette had long since deduced his identity as the 'Leader' through her Invisible Messenger.

Using the basement's Teleportation Array, he arrived at Unit 199 Hailin Avenue.

The moment he stepped into the basement, he heard sounds of a struggle coming from the direction of the living room. Odis paused... this was the first time someone had dared to barge in.

Drawing his pistol (Flamebolt) , he swiftly entered the living room and saw five intruders who had already subdued two attendants and were now engaged in a scuffle with a stranger. The stranger was also on the verge of being overpowered.

Odis fired a shot at the floor near one of the intruders' feet.

*Whoosh!*

A small fireball erupted on the ground but quickly died out due to the lack of flammable material.

The sudden gunshot startled the five intruders.

Odis aimed his pistol at them, saying, "Perfect. Five bullets left."

These subordinates of Capim had been abruptly ordered to pursue their targets today, so they hadn't had time to bring firearms. Reluctantly, they raised their hands.

Odis turned to the stranger and said, "Use their belts to tie their hands."

The stranger immediately complied, displaying remarkable skill as he bound the intruders in moments.

Odis kept his gun trained on them while asking the attendants, "Why did you send the signal?"

Based on the theory that Spirituality existed in wave-like forms, Odis had drawn inspiration from communication devices in his previous life to invent a signal transmitter. When the attendants pressed the button, his modified pocket watch would light up.

However, this method could only transmit extremely simple signals... no voice, images, or even coded messages like telegrams.

The two attendants had only been knocked to the ground, one pinned against the wall by an intruder. Neither was seriously injured.

Now, one clutched his stomach while the other limped forward, about to report to the 'Leader', when the stranger spoke first, "Leader, my name is Beck. I'm Lion's assistant. I'm here to seek your help on his behalf."

Odis studied the stranger and deduced, "Lion was captured by Capim's men?"

'Has Klein not made his move yet? How is Capim still alive?' he mused.

"Yes," Beck exhaled in relief, glad he didn't have to explain further.

Odis deliberated for a second before handing his pistol to one of the attendants, "Keep an eye on them. Shoot anyone who moves."

He instructed the other attendant to call the police.

Finally, he turned to Beck and said, "Wait here. I need to fetch some weapons."

Seeing the 'Leader' act without hesitation, Beck finally relaxed, "Thank you for your help."

Odis hurried to the basement, activating a portable array as he asked, "Are you still there?"

A faint voice replied, "Yes."

'Good.'

Channeling Spirituality into the array, he retrieved seven weapons from the 'Knowledge Moor'.

He knew Bernadette would sense the uniqueness of this array, but at her level, she wouldn't connect it to the 'Knowledge Moor'.

Sure enough, Bernadette remarked, "This spatial array is also quite special."

"Of course," Odis replied nonchalantly as he rolled up the cloth bearing the array.

Carrying the weapons, he returned to the living room and packed them into a leather suitcase.

With Beck in tow, they boarded a carriage bound for the Backlund Institute for Mechanical Research.

Inside the carriage, Odis opened the suitcase to inspect the seven weapons:

- A sword...

- A knife...

- An exquisitely crafted metal crossbow with 20 finely made bolts...

- Two differently colored and moderately sized axes...

- A metal gauntlet...

- An ebony cane...

These were the weapons Odis deemed most versatile for varying situations. He hadn't brought the Flamebolt because this time, he intended to leverage the power of the 'Machinery Hivemind', and that gun had once been used by Maric.

As he checked the weapons, Odis questioned Beck about the timing of Lion's capture and other details.

"We were close to uncovering the buyer's trail," Beck explained, "The slave purchaser is incredibly secretive. We've been investigating for a week without any leads."

"...But during today's surveillance, Mr. Byron– ahem... I mean Lion noticed something unusual at the slave warehouse. He believed we'd finally identify the buyer today. Yet, we were discovered. We'd hidden so well all this time... how could they have noticed us…?"

Odis glanced at Beck's puzzled expression and thought: 'Most likely, the buyer sensed something was off. That's why you were exposed...'

...

Soon, the carriage arrived at the Backlund Institute for Mechanical Research...

Cane in hand, Odis instructed Beck to wait outside with the weapon-filled suitcase.

Entering the facility, he quickly located Max and briefed him on the situation before requesting, "I'd like to borrow a carriage from the Machinery Hivemind."

"Done," Max readily agreed... Capim's notorious reputation made the 'Machinery Hivemind' more than willing to assist, "I'll assign two men to–"

"No need," Odis declined, "Let me negotiate with Capim first. If that fails, you can step in."

"Fair enough. That leaves room for maneuver," Max conceded, immediately arranging for a carriage.

...

Boarding the carriage emblazoned with the 'Sacred Emblem of Steam and Machinery', Odis sat quietly as it headed toward Capim's residence...

Beck couldn't contain his anxiety. He nervously asked, "Leader… you didn't manage to secure reinforcements?"

"I did," Odis replied calmly.

The 'Sacred Emblem of Steam and Machinery' on this carriage was the most formidable backup he could ask for.

Besides, Bernadette was watching. So there was no real danger...

"But… but…"

Odis smiled, "Relax. The three of us are more than enough."

Beck blinked, looking at Odis weirdly, "Three?"

There were only two people here... unless the carriage driver counted. Were the Mechanical Research Institute's drivers that formidable?

Odis offered no explanation. He simply closed his eyes to rest...

...

After half an hour, the carriage arrived at a villa with iron-barred gates... Capim's residence.

Night had fallen. Odis rubbed his growling stomach. He hadn't eaten all day.

Guards blocked the carriage at the gate.

Odis lowered the window and said, "I'm here to see your boss, Capim."

One guard approached politely and asked, "Your name, sir? And you'll need to remove your mask."

"Leader," Odis replied, "The mask stays on."

"Leader? Never heard of you," the guard's tone turned dismissive, "Take off the mask, or I won't announce you."

Odis picked up his cane, handed the suitcase to Beck, and sighed, "I should've skipped the pleasantries."

He added, "Drive the carriage after me once I'm inside."

Before Beck could react, Odis stepped out, "No respect for privacy, huh?"

With that, he kicked the guard, sending him flying into the iron gates...