The Highest Bounty

Chapter 182: The Illegitimate Child Of A Higher-up

Once Poisoner died, Camilia was the first to react. She joined Tagore and Tower’s battle ring in a flash. Not only did Camilia attack, but Ike and another bald man Bode also joined the battle ring and began a frantic siege on Tower.

Bode was also a Rank-12 Gene Body. He was captain of the Raging Bull Pirates. In Border River, his pirate crew’s overall strength was ranked third, right after Ike. He was a man who believed in the supremacy of power. He had doubts about Gu Ding’s power until he showed his taboo energy. In his opinion, in the fight between Gu Ding and Yarrow, Yarrow fought while he was injured, so it was unfair. However, after seeing Gu Ding use taboo energy and ruthlessly kill Poisoner, he finally acknowledged of Gu Ding’s power and intended to make friends with him. Besides, having a friend who has taboo energy might come in handy later. That was why when Camilia attacked, he attacked immediately after and took a stand.

Ike and Camilia had been wondering from the start when it would be appropriate to step in, but once Gu Ding showed his taboo energy, and they knew they had to. Even if they could not help, being the icing on the cake was good enough.

Camilia and Ike’s combat effectiveness was truly amazing, and their grasp on the battle situation was also quite accurate. They could always find their opponent’s loopholes, and they pursued him after Tagore attacked.

In the face of four Rank-12 powerhouses and a formidable cat, Tower, who was left with only one hand only lasted for less than two minutes before he was captured alive.

The tomahawk in Elsa’s hand then vanished. She left the battle ring and returned to Lilliath’s side.

Tagore was also back on Gu Ding’s shoulders. Gu Ding helped him fix the slightly crooked hat on his head and gave him a piece of meat as a reward.

“What are you going to do with this fellow, Gu Ding?” Camilia’s attitude changed once she learned that Gu Ding possessed the sinister taboo energy. Earlier, she had been polite because she had seen him as a potential newcomer with the potential of becoming a big shot. However, now she was convinced that Gu Ding will emerge to be a fearsome overlord in Cosmic Sea in the future. She became rather courteous instead.

“Nothing will come out of interrogating Dark Sectors’ people. The best way is to kill them.” Gu Ding did not like Dark Sectors at all. Furthermore, the fellow in question took part in the attack on Lili last time.

“He’s right.” Tower, who was bound by the Magical Imprison Chain laughed loudly. “Camilia, you didn’t dare kill me just now. You only took me alive for fear of revenge from Dark Sectors?”

Camilia and the others looked slightly embarrassed as what he said was true.

“You and Poisoner are merely Dark Sectors’ Peripheral members. Your organization doesn’t care if you fail and die. You think I don’t know that?” Gu Ding’s statement stunned the crowd.

Tower’s face changed after hearing this. “Who exactly are you?!”

Dark Sectors had always been a mystery to the outside world and was a topic that outsiders did not want to touch on. That was because many topics that revolved around the mystery was about death and gore.

Not that hackers had not tried finding out Dark Sectors’ secrets, but after the assassination of several prominent hackers, no one dared explore this taboo again.

Gu Ding, of course, had gathered all this information with the help of Neptune. Ever since his first encounter with Dark Sectors’ members on Great Divinity, Neptune had been gathering bits of information on Dark Sectors.

“The overall structure of Dark Sectors’ forces is not complicated. The ones at the bottom are called Novices–they’re usually Rank-11, whose main tasks are random chores. There are, of course, some of the simplest killing missions. Novices typically train together for three years. In these three years, the only manager they see are the peripheral members. They also don’t have access to the inner core of the organization.”

“The second tier is called the Periphery and consists of at least Rank-12. They’ll start taking on killing missions and are then evaluated on how well they’ve done on the quests to proceed with points promotion. When their points reach a certain level and their combat effectiveness reaches Rank-13, they’ll get promoted and become an Insider.

“The third tier is called the Insider and who’s members possess a minimum combat effectiveness of Rank-13. Dark Sectors’ people will avenge those who have reached this level and were killed when their mission failed. As there are not many Insiders–probably less than two hundred? Insiders would go on secret missions with the core members sometimes, so they know a lot of secrets.”

“The fourth tier is called the Elders; they are the core members of the entire organization and are addressed as boss by their subordinates. There are thirteen of them in total, and all of them are demi-powerhouses. They each manage a portion of Insiders and Peripheral members.”

“On the top tier is the entire organization’s big boss, who’s said to be a very mysterious guy. Only the thirteen Elders have seen him. Even the Insiders have never seen him, no one knows whether he was a man or a woman.”

“Is all of this information correct?” Gu Ding smiled and looked at Tower, whose face took on a ghastly expression.

Camilla and the others were shocked that Gu Ding knew so much about Dark Sectors.

“Dark Sectors have at least ten thousand peripheral members like you, no one will really care if one or two dies.” Gu Ding then added. “You don’t necessarily know as much about Dark Sectors as I do. You just take menial tasks every day and carry them out as instructed, that’s all.”

“You’re pretty much right. I’m only a Periphery of the organization, just like Poisoner. We really don’t know anything about the secrets inside the organization, but I know something you don’t...” Tower said and looked at Poisoner’s body. “Poisoner was the illegitimate son of a higher-up. Though he was not a member of Dark Sectors, he’s friends with our boss. You killed Poisoner, and I know that some of the videos have been posted on Skynet. I wish you luck.”

Only demigods could be the higher-ups by Rank-12 Gene Bodies. Tower’s statement made Gu Ding realize he had offended a demigod over the incident. However, Gu Ding was not worried. He walked over to Tower. “Do you have any other last words?”

“There’s another thing I almost forgot to tell you. Taboo energy really is scary, but usually, people who have taboo energy die young.” Tower laughed.

“Don’t worry about that,” Gu Ding said and turned his head to look at Tagore who was on his shoulder. “Tagore, kill him!”

When Tagore lifted his paw, an invisible energy once again shot out and tore a black hole in the fabric of space, like a black crescent that struck across Tower’s body. Tower’s body with sinister defense was cut in half in an instant. His face even wore the same smile, apparently because Tagore had struck too fast for him to change his expression before meeting his death.

After killing Tower, Tagore stretched and folded himself up. He closed his eyes, it seemed he was asleep as if Tower’s death had nothing to do with him.

At close range, Camilia realized the extent of Tagore’s power. She was actually glad that the two vipers had not clashed with the cat a few days before, or the two vipers would have been stripped of their crystals and their bodies would have been left in the wild. She beckoned to several of her men, “Dispose of these two bodies and the blood here.”

“Wait!” It occurred to Gu Ding that there might be something useful in their Inventory. He bent down to take off Tower’s wristwatch and threw it into his Inventory. He then walked over to Poisoner’s body and took off his wristwatch too.

Camilla did not question this behavior. Some people like to keep war trophies after a victory. Gu Ding’s behavior seemed perfectly normal to her. She even knew a human body collector who took an organ from every person he killed, which was a little hard to understand.

Gu Ding did not try to explain. After the two men died, Neptune took over their wristwatches. He used this trick to fool Skynet. He had also pulled this the first day he met Gu Ding.

The bodies and bloodstains were soon cleaned up, even the Tower’s remnants were cleaned up by the staff.

The broken tables and chairs were soon replaced.

The cooks in the kitchen were busier than ever, as many of the previous dishes were destroyed along with their plates in the commotion of Elsa and Tower’s battle.

The dinner continued under Camilia’s instructions.

Gu Ding had no appetite and walked toward the small garden outside the hall with a glass of milca in his hand.

Camilia followed, glass in hand.

“Milca, your taste is really different from other men.” Camilia, who walked to Gu Ding’s side, had just noticed that it had always been milca in Gu Ding’s glass.

“It’s not about taste. It’s because I can’t drink.” Gu Ding smiled.

“There are very few Interstellar Pirates who don’t drink. Even if some people can’t drink it, they still drink for the sake of their pride.” Camilia stated a fact. “You’re not like them.”

“You can’t drink if you can’t drink. There’s no need to lie. There’s no shame in that.” Gu Ding felt that there was nothing shameful about drinking milca. “Everyone has things they are good at and things they aren’t. If they wanted to compare what they are not good at with others, then that would be a disgrace. I’m good at fighting; and I’m not good at drinking, it’s as simple as that.”

“What else are you good at?” Camilia asked, putting her glass to her lips.

“I’m good with women, do you believe that?” Gu Ding laughed. Having spent so much time in Auntie Roastbeef’s tavern and the women in the tavern who would occasionally hook up with men, he knew what Camilia meant.

“I don’t believe that. You’re not an adult, are you?” Camilla giggled. She had only been teasing Gu Ding. She dared not touch anyone connected with the higher-ups.

“Alright, you’re right. I’m not good at it,” Gu Ding answered honestly.

“What are you going to do when you leave Border River?” Camilia asked casually.

“We’re going to Faye Cosmic Nation, and then enter Cosmic Sea through Faye Cosmic Nation.” Gu Ding’s tone of voice seemed certain that he would make it into Cosmic Sea.

“Are you not at all worried about the demigod’s revenge?” Camilia had thought Gu Ding did not want to stay in the hall because he was under pressure.

“No.” Gu Ding shook his head. “Whatever happens, happens, and there will always be a solution. I really don’t have the strength to deal with demigods right now. Who knows what will happen then. At least when I was on Great Divinity, I didn’t expect to get my revenge on the second encounter with Dark Sectors’ people.”

“Well, good luck!” Camilia raised her glass and clinked it against Gu Ding’s glass, then gulped down the amber-colored liquid in it.