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Starting Cultivation in Wasteland-Chapter 626 - 496: Pressure
Qu Jianlei didn't have any team, so he could only reply with a smile, "Then just trouble you to keep an eye on them. Interrogation is fine too."
Aunt Liu shook her head and said, "Forget the interrogation. We've got the gist; those people probably aren't aware."
Qu Jianlei wasn't surprised upon hearing this; although the matter seemed small, those in the know were aware of its severity.
Whether it's super-strong artificial intelligence or the involvement in the Supreme's death, they are earth-shattering events.
Even B-level Customs Enforcement agents died unnatural deaths, affecting over a hundred family members; who would dare underestimate it?
So he simply nodded, "Alright, I'll wait for them to contact me."
He certainly wouldn't just wait, and instead contacted Camille again, asking her to spread the word — I only wait for three days.
If no one contacts him after three days, those people will go to accompany the Daisis Family.
Camille had actually already learned that Aaron and the McGillen Family went missing.
Aaron's family was in Fengrao City, while the McGillen Family was quite far away, but there was a brief and fierce battle at the time.
The two families almost disappeared at the same time, which confirmed to Camille that there was indeed a force behind Panda.
As for spreading the word, that was much simpler; there wasn't even any need to collect money, the scavengers would charge people wanting intel...
At this moment, beside a street market in Fengrao City, an old man with white hair stood by a handcart, concentrating on making pancakes.
Some foods can exist across the world.
It's simply mixing flour with water, blending in some ingredients, spreading it thin, then baking, with added sauces.
This pancake is also quite flavorful, meant for those doing physical labor, with low profit and requiring payment of the market management fee.
The old man was none other than the disguised Aaron. From the first day Bida was targeted, he sensed something was wrong and decisively took leave.
He used a passively triggered message to take leave, so when people couldn't find him the next day, they realized he had already taken off.
But such matters can truly be understood, so the company tacitly approved his leave.
Aaron didn't dare to return home, fearing surveillance, so he directly went to the safe house and changed his appearance and identity.
He had committed many shady deeds, preparing multiple identities and now using the old man's identity to set up a food stall.
This identity required paying protection fees to people, but he didn't care, as he's not doing it for money.
What's vital is that in such a place full of riffraff, he could promptly gather a lot of news.
Aaron acted as an old man naturally; he was just over ninety years old and would have entered old age if not for being a Superpower Warrior.
As he was making pancakes, two thugs walked by, "Old man, make us two pancakes."
These were the thugs collecting protection fees, who didn't pay for food, but Aaron didn't mind, nodding with a cheerful smile, "Alright!"
While waiting for the pancakes, the two thugs chatted about gossip from the underworld.
However, neither noticed when they mentioned an amusing story, the old man's expression slightly changed and his hand shook.
After the two pancakes were made, more people came to buy, but the old man shook his head.
"Sorry, feeling a bit dizzy, need to pack up... it's my old problem, I'd better leave before I faint."
The pancake buyer didn't mind; Imperial medical standards were high, but many couldn't afford treatment.
The buyer just remarked, "You have over half a bucket of batter left... aren't you worried about losing money?"
The old man shook his head, "Don't worry, tomorrow I'll use fresh batter, making money isn't important; we can't harm customers, right?"
"I like hearing that. Won't you make me one more before leaving... it's not much time to spare."
Under strong request from the buyer, Aaron made one more pancake and decisively packed up.
Knowing his family had been seized, yet remaining so calm, he truly deserved to be an A-level Warrior.
He changed his identity again and began probing specific circumstances, quickly learning about his family's whereabouts.
"Panda!" He muttered, gritting his teeth, followed by a cold snort.
Using an anonymous card, he contacted someone, "Something happened to my family. Do you know?"
"Don't involve us in this," the voice on the other end said coldly, "Failing to protect your family has nothing to do with us."
"If that's how you put it, alright then," Aaron's voice was emotionless, "I know what that guy wants."
His words were decisive; at his age, he was still tirelessly earning money for his family's sake.
Aaron's family situation wasn't great, but his aptitude was relatively good, so he awakened by chance.
He always believed that if his family's situation were good enough, achieving Supreme would be sure.
Therefore, he cared about making money, piling up relevant resources to raise two C-levels for his family.
After advancing to A-level, he inadvertently offended others while accumulating enough money, leading to a killing spree.
Upon returning after atoning, Aaron found his family still fairly struggling.
During his absence, no Awakened emerged; instead, only one Modified Warrior appeared.
Aaron understood that his family's two C-levels had poor aptitude, only awakening because of plentiful resources.
Otherwise, they couldn't have advanced to B-level.
But precisely because of this, he hoped to make more money, helping his family produce two more Awakened.
In this way, his life would have no regrets.
So after completing his redemption, he accepted Bida's offer, despite his age, and ventured into space for adventure.
However, the income from Bida... is really quite good. In addition to the regular income, which involves interstellar transport, there are substantial perks.
So doing some shady dealings is normal; otherwise, how could trust be maintained?
However, it also shows what family means to him.
To be honest, when he was young, he didn't care much about family, helping them out of vanity, wanting to receive their gratitude.
But now that he's older, the meaning of family to him is genuinely different.
Upon hearing the other party didn't care about his family's life and death, he became angry: I might as well go find Panda!
When the person opposite heard him say this, they just snorted coldly, "I'd advise you to figure things out; whatever Panda can do, we can too."
Aaron sneered upon hearing this, "Do you think I can consider all of that?"
"If Panda can get rid of all of you, the safety of my family will also be guaranteed."
The opposite person remained silent and after a while spoke, "You don't really think that guy has such ability, do you?"
"What do you think?" Aaron coldly countered, "If you were confident enough, would you need to commission someone else to deal with him?"
"We just don't want to be exposed," the other side expressed indifferently, "you know that in your heart."
"Then I have to give it a try," Aaron indicated indifferently.
"I've done a lot of dirty work, I've been loyal to the company, and loyal to you, if no one manages, I can only act willfully once."
The opposite person was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Alright, what do you want?"
"I want my family's safety," Aaron replied sternly.
"My demands are not high, dealing with the Daisis family's matter... is also your idea."
He understood clearly that if he hadn't exterminated that family, Panda might not have targeted his family.
But in such matters, there's no room for regret, all are ruthless individuals who don't suffer moral qualms doing such deeds.
As for how Panda behaves, he is not sure, maybe the guy just likes venting on opponents' families.
But such words, he could never say, absolutely must push the responsibility onto the other side.
The opposite side fell silent again, then sighed, "Okay, we'll figure out a way to handle it!"
Aaron sternly replied, "Only two days' time, don't delay... I'll contact him three hours before the final deadline."
"Don't worry," the other person's voice sounded a bit impatient, "I advise you not to threaten us!"
After Aaron hung up the communication, he frowned in thought, then connected another communication.
"Friend, have you heard about recent activities? Quite lively, care to join in?"
"Of course, I'll participate," the other person replied through gritted teeth, "That bastard, I'll settle with him."
"I've already bought insurance anyway," Aaron spoke leisurely, "Your family is big and influential, wouldn't want to skip out, right?"
"Insurance?" The other side was visibly taken aback before catching the meaning of this code word.
"Buy, definitely have to buy, with a big family and business, can't afford loss... Do the sponsors accept policies?"
"Isn't this a human matter?" Aaron dared not say much, "Anyway, they accepted my policy."
"Thanks for the reminder," the other person promptly responded, "Your influence is indeed considerable, I'll also buy insurance!"
The speaker was a beardless man with pale complexion, none other than Magillen,
His family had been captured, and he was puzzled, especially with the elderly A-level, who was his pillar.
That person already over a hundred and twenty, considering the life expectancy of one hundred and fifty, had only a few years left.
With only one A-level in the family, Magillen could become an assistant manager, largely due to the elder's influence.
Although his ability to act was far less than before, all his connections were intact, someone willing to buy favors.
In the next decade or so, this elder would remain the family's backbone.
In Magillen's plan, with this decade or so, he entirely could strive for A-level, lifting the old man's burden.
Now that the old man had been captured, he immediately stumbled.
Don't look at Aaron being slightly inferior in the company, but he is an A-level, has the capital to speak loudly.
While Magillen was truly only B-level, although his potential was promising, who could guarantee he would advance to A-level?
So his confidence in speaking was far less than Aaron's—high status is useless, in critical moments, it's all about strength!
Knowing Aaron had begun applying pressure, he naturally would emulate... for the same matter, there shouldn't be bias, right?
The next afternoon, Qu Jianlei was in the house, wearing a helmet, studying the array knowledge provided by the military.
This was the last session of study, the Array Book he had the right to view was about to be finished.
Just then, there was a loud pounding on the courtyard door.
Qu Jianlei sensed the strong emotional fluctuation from the other side, frowned, and took off his helmet, "Bellini, what madness are you up to?"
Bellini shouted loudly over the courtyard door, "Panda, Xiang Xue has been taken away!"
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