Chapter 239: The Leak
Xu Dongtang and the others subtly probed for information about the official organization as they ate.
"Leader, when will the government start addressing the snow disaster?" Xu Dongtang asked, pouring a glass of his prized aged liquor for Liu Ziyang.
Liu Ziyang downed the drink, feeling a warm sensation spread through his chest, bringing a flush to his face. He remained silent, continuing to eat. Meanwhile, Xie Huanhuan responded, "Rest assured, the government has already formulated a plan to tackle the snow disaster, and it will be implemented soon."
Hearing this, Xu Dongtang and the villagers showed visible signs of relief and hope.
"That’s great news! This dreadful weather has been unbearable!"
"We common folk can’t do much—we need the government to step in and fix the situation so we can return to our lives."
One villager couldn’t help but ask, "Do the experts have any idea when the snow will stop?"
Xie Huanhuan smiled gently, "Soon. The snowfall won’t last much longer. You’ve probably noticed that it’s already less intense. In a few months, it should stop altogether."
Xie Huanhuan took a sip of the liquor, her cheeks flushing slightly. She didn’t dare drink too much, knowing she was on duty, but the cold weather and the warmth of the alcohol were too tempting to resist. Although she wasn’t bothered by the cold due to her special physique, the pleasant sensation from the alcohol was something she couldn’t refuse.
After a drink, Xie Huanhuan began questioning the villagers. "Has anyone in your village experienced any strange changes recently?"
Xu Dongtang frowned slightly at the question, as did the other villagers, who immediately thought of Xu Chunlei. However, Xu Dongtang feigned ignorance. "What do you mean by strange changes? Everyone in our village is perfectly normal."
One of Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang’s primary tasks was investigating population centers and resource points around the base. They also had a special mission to identify and bring back any Superhumans. However, the number of Superhumans was so rare that their base had only discovered a few. Xie Huanhuan asked more questions than expected out of routine.
Nevertheless, as a soldier, Xie Huanhuan was highly observant and quickly noticed the subtle changes in the villagers’ expressions.
She set down her cup and said calmly, "I’m talking about people whose bodies have mutated, granting them abilities beyond those of ordinary humans. If someone in your village had undergone such changes, you would have noticed."
"If you can provide useful information, the organization will reward you generously!"
The villagers avoided her gaze, their eyes betraying their thoughts as they considered the implications of her words. But no one spoke up. With Xu Dongtang, the village chief, present, it wasn’t their place to talk.
Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, Xu Dongtang’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. The person she was referring to was undoubtedly Xu Chunlei. Should he reveal Xu Chunlei’s existence?
Xu Dongtang didn’t rush to answer. Instead, he asked, "If I may ask, what does the organization want with these people?"
Xie Huanhuan’s suspicions deepened—she was certain the villagers knew something about a Superhuman. With a friendly smile, she replied, "These individuals are valuable assets to the nation. We need to harness their abilities to help rebuild our homeland."
"Village Chief, if you know of anyone like that, you must report it immediately! The organization will greatly reward you."
Xu Dongtang nodded. "Oh, I see!" He poured more liquor, but his eyes held a glint of cunning. Her words sounded promising, but where was the tangible benefit? Xu Chunlei was the village’s most valuable asset. Without him, who knew what would become of the village? He wasn’t about to hand him over.
"I’ll keep an eye out. If I find anyone like that, I’ll report it right away," Xu Dongtang said, pulling out his phone and smiling as he offered it to Xie Huanhuan. "Leader, let’s exchange contact information."
But Xie Huanhuan’s expression suddenly changed. She looked up at Xu Dongtang with a knowing smile. "Village Chief, are you hiding something from me?"
"Being dishonest with the organization is a serious offense."
The atmosphere in the room instantly grew tense. The villagers were paralyzed with fear, unsure of what to say, while Liu Ziyang continued to eat heartily.
Xu Dongtang’s hand froze in midair, his face showing confusion as he frowned and said, "No, of course not! Leader, what do you mean? I’m completely loyal to the organization—I’d never tell a lie!"
Xie Huanhuan asked coldly, "So there’s no Superhuman here?"
"Think carefully before you answer. This is a matter of great importance to the organization, and withholding information could have serious consequences!"
Xie Huanhuan was indeed concerned. Discovering a Superhuman would earn her significant recognition from the organization. She could tell that Xu Dongtang and the others were hiding something important—their expressions gave them away.
Caught in his lie, Xu Dongtang’s smile wavered momentarily. But then, inspiration struck.
"Ah, Leader, if you put it that way, there is someone I’m suspicious of. But he’s not from our village, so we don’t know much about him. That’s why I hesitated to mention it," Xu Dongtang said, suddenly eager to shift the focus.
"Who is this person?" Xie Huanhuan asked.
Biting his lip, Xu Dongtang replied, "His name is Zhang Yi. He lives across the river at Cloud Manor."
The mention of Zhang Yi made the villagers grit their teeth in anger. Many had lost family members in the failed attack on Cloud Manor that night—how could they not hate Zhang Yi?
Xie Huanhuan’s eyes lit up at the name. It matched the one mentioned in the special mission she had received. If there were no mistakes, Xu Dongtang’s Zhang Yi was the person she was supposed to investigate.
"What a coincidence!" Xie Huanhuan murmured to herself. This was a perfect opportunity to gather intelligence on Zhang Yi from the villagers of Xu’s Town.