Upon entering, a very old corridor stretched before us, with what seemed like hidden mechanisms on both sides. I knew Cao Yushu wouldn't let us pass easily. He Xin spotted it immediately and signaled us to halt. She then twisted her wristband, emitting an interference signal!
Soon, all the hidden darts were neutralized. We breathed a sigh of relief and pressed onward!
We maintained a rapid pace, not daring to slacken. Though other dangers lurked along the way, none escaped He Xin's keen observation.
This was precisely why we'd brought her along. She truly was a technological prodigy; the obstacles meticulously set up by these scientists were child's play to her.
We navigated through countless trials, finally encountering another elevator. It seemed we would ascend once more, and I realized then that we were getting closer to Cao Yushu. This descendant of Jewish lineage, yet bearing the surname Cao – was he, like Shimadzu Akimei, not truly surnamed Cao? It inexplicably reminded me of that past case involving a film crew.
As we reached the final level of the City of Ashes, we stumbled upon a colossal brute bound by countless chains. A heavy metal helmet encased his head. In his left hand, an axe; in his right, a shield. Broad-shouldered and formidable, clad in heavy armor, he bore a striking resemblance to a gladiator from ancient Roman arenas!
"Remarkable. I suspect the scientists are trying to show us what medieval culture is like. No wonder I sensed such elements in Du Qitai; it turns out Polaris is descended from the Knights Templar. These armaments are steeped in medieval flair, aren't they?"
"Indeed, He Sheng. But how do we deal with this guy?"
Liu Yuning, for reasons unknown, had regressed into her naive, sweet persona.
I smacked her on the head. "Let's take him down!"
It was the first time I'd dared to act so boldly. Yet, Liu Yuning didn't get angry. Instead, she exchanged glances with Xiao Yuande, Xia Hou, and Gao Mingqiang. The core members of our Punishment Group charged forward. This time, however, Xie Chuchu and He Xin were not idle. Joined by SWAT and armed police, over a hundred of our elites surrounded the gladiator.
He showed no fear, letting out a lion-like roar. His shield and axe clashed as he swung the heavy, sharp axe towards us. Liu Yuning and I dodged to either side, grabbing onto clasps on a nearby wall. We scrambled upwards, then turned back and pulled our triggers!
"What era is this? Do you think we'd fight you like gladiators?" Liu Yuning and I taunted in unison.
The gladiator, however, was unfazed. He raised his shield, deflecting the bullets with a resounding clang. The shield, likely made of solid steel, was incredibly sturdy. The bullets bounced off it like toy balls, completely ineffective. As he braced himself with his shield, he charged towards me on the wall like a bull!
I didn't fire. Instead, I leaped to the opposite wall. There was a platform, and as I landed on it, Liu Yuning joined me. The gladiator, however, got stuck against the wall, his shield probably too solid, even capable of damaging the wall. Just as he was about to dislodge his shield, we unleashed a barrage of bullets at his exposed back. Countless shots struck him. Knowing his back was unprotected, we searched him after he fell. We found a mobile phone, but had no time to examine it. Our priority was to press onward.
With this latest obstacle overcome, we entered the heart of the royal palace. Another elevator took us up to an open-air theater. Over a hundred of our guns were aimed at a corner of the backdrop, for we all spotted Cao Yushu seated calmly, his back to us, on an elder's chair. In the center lay a tranquil lake, shallow enough that one wouldn't sink if they stepped on it. Surrounding the lake were smaller black chairs, presumably made of stone. We stepped onto the water's surface, advancing step by step, ripples splashing at our feet.
"Cao Yushu! We've uncovered everything. But I believe you're not the only one behind the Guizhi?!" I declared.
"Heh, you're quite swift. Even the gladiators couldn't stop you. I had hoped they'd buy us some time. It seems what they told me above was true; the Punishment Group is formidable. Though I was prepared, there seems to be no turning back from this situation..."
Liu Yuning interjected, "Since you understand, Cao Yushu, the only thing you can do now is surrender immediately!"
"Surrender is inevitable, but I won't give up just yet. That's not the style of us Guizhi. Oh, right, this competition hasn't ended. If I can win, perhaps I can bring some glory to the Guizhi even in death."
"What sort of death match are you having with Polaris?" Gao Mingqiang asked indignantly.
"Yes, they've always denied our existence. It's frustrating. So, we have no choice but to prove our worth and show them that we, too, have a place among criminal organizations."
I scoffed, "What foolish criminals. What good is such fleeting fame? Do you think winning will immortalize you? You'll only be infamous. Even if you become a temporary sensation, you'll be forgotten within days!"
"Perhaps. But for people like us, even a moment of fame is more than we could ask for. Fortunately, I'm clever enough that talking to me has bought us half the time. Now, there are only a few minutes left. If I can just hold on until the end, victory will still be mine!"
For a moment, we were all perplexed by Cao Yushu's true meaning. But the instant he finished speaking, a cacophony of squeaking, hissing, and rustling sounds erupted from all around. Behind the backdrop, we spotted a multitude of rats, spiders, cockroaches, and even flying squirrels—the very creatures that had obstructed us earlier. They had all converged here. Their unusual appearance told us all we needed to know; Cao Yushu had injected them with some unknown drug.
We opened fire, but Xiao Yuande didn't follow our plan. He charged forward, lifted Cao Yushu from his chair, intending to subdue him. The moment he moved, the flying squirrels reacted as if their master were being attacked. Visibly displeased, they all shrieked and swarmed towards Xiao Yuande. Xiao Yuande knew continuing would be perilous, for the squirrels' mouths had transformed into long, thin red stingers. If one of those pierced his skull, it would likely drain his brain fluid!