RPAGF Chapter 513 The real opponent
Chapter 513 The real opponent
"Don't worry, I'll take you out." Su Ming comforted softly, his eyes stern. "Now, close your eyes and rest for a while. I'll take care of everything."
He stood up, his eyes scanning the surroundings as he quickly mapped out his next move. Li Chen's external support was already in place, several key blind spots were under control, and the external situation was under control. Next, the most difficult part was ensuring Zheng Yaoxian's safety and successfully getting him out of this cage.
"Master, wait for me." Su Ming said in a low voice, with light steps, he quickly walked to the door. After confirming that there was no one around, he quietly opened the door and looked towards the other end of the corridor.
Su Ming stood in the narrow, dimly lit corridor, his heartbeat like an accelerating drumbeat, pressing down on his chest. The atmosphere in the room remained oppressive, every subtle sound a lurking danger, and he knew it was about to explode at any moment.
"Find the person behind this." This was his sole thought. Zheng Yaoxian's imprisonment, injuries, and all the other irregularities must be driven by more complex factors. He now faced more than just a rescue mission; it was a life-or-death struggle. His enemy wasn't just these seemingly simple guards; the one who truly controlled everything behind the scenes was his true rival.
At the end of the corridor, a plain wooden door came into view. The room behind it was likely where the mastermind controlled everything. There was almost no unnecessary decoration, only dim lighting and minimalist furnishings, yet a chilling atmosphere permeated the air.
"I have to be careful," Su Ming reminded himself, his breathing becoming more steady. He approached the door, gently pressed the earphones, and whispered, "Are you ready? I'm here."
Li Chen's voice came through the headset, his tone still as calm and emotionless as ever: "Everything is ready. You must ensure his presence is not exposed." He spoke slowly and steadily, as if everything was under control, but Su Ming could hear the tension in his voice. He knew that Li Chen's warning was not without reason.
"Understood." Su Ming responded briefly, put away his headphones, and reached out to push open the door.
The door creaked softly, barely registering the presence of the occupants. The scene within the room came into view: several old monitors flickered dimly, while a desk in the corner was piled high with documents and several thick notebooks. Behind the desk, a middle-aged man sat with his back to the door, his fingers tapping away on his keyboard, seemingly oblivious to the noise outside.
That person was the man behind the scenes that Su Ming was looking for - Xu Hongda.
Su Ming's gaze sharpened, his mind racing. Xu Hongda, the businessman everyone considered a powerful figure, was actually manipulating such a complex situation. A series of fragments flashed through Su Ming's mind, recalling the scattered intelligence he had gathered from various sources. All of it pointed to Xu Hongda.
He tiptoed quietly, approaching the desk. With every step, he maintained extreme caution and composure. His heartbeat nearly stopped, the only sound in his ears being the rush of air. Xu Hongda remained oblivious. The numbers on the screen kept changing, as if processing some documents. It was as if he had grown accustomed to this world of danger and betrayal.
Su Ming stood less than two meters away from him, took a deep breath, and finally decided to take action. He reached out, took out the anesthetic needle he had prepared in advance, and gently pointed the needle at Xu Hongda's neck. At this moment, Xu Hongda suddenly stopped typing on the keyboard, tilted his head slightly, and looked out the window.
This sudden change made Su Ming's heart sink. He knew Xu Hongda was no easy opponent. His quick reaction speed meant he had already noticed something was wrong. Without hesitation, Su Ming strode forward and quickly grasped Xu Hongda's shoulder.
"Who are you?" Xu Hongda's low voice was a bit cold and dangerous, as if he had recognized him.
"Don't resist in vain." Su Ming's voice was calm and steady. He could feel the anger burning in his heart, but on the surface he remained calm. "You have no way to escape."
Xu Hongda smiled calmly, seemingly without the slightest sign of panic. Instead, he regarded Su Ming with interest. "You're finally here. Did you think I hadn't noticed your every move?" He turned around, revealing a smile, his eyes gleaming with contempt. "Actually, I knew you would come to me the moment you decided to act."
Su Ming's heartbeat quickened, and he felt a surge of vigilance. The Xu Hongda before him clearly didn't resemble an ordinary behind-the-scenes manipulator. His eyes were no longer filled with panic and fear, but with confidence and composure. This shift in demeanor made Su Ming feel a little uneasy.
"You knew this a long time ago?" Su Ming's tone grew colder, his eyes sharper. "Then why didn't you deal with me sooner?"
"Because I need you." Xu Hongda's words were like a sudden thunderbolt, shaking Su Ming's mind. "Do you think I've been manipulating this behind the scenes for some grand plan? No, in truth, I'm simply using you, a pawn, to accomplish my true goal."
"Use me?" Su Ming's brows furrowed, countless questions welling up in his mind, but his tone remained firm. "What did you say? I don't understand."
"Of course you don't understand." Xu Hongda's smile grew even more eerie. "You believe you're avenging Zheng Yaoxian, acting for some noble purpose, but in reality, you're just a pawn in my hands." He paused, his eyes flickering. "Do you remember that mission you were assigned to carry out? You thought you were investigating an ordinary case, but in reality, you've been led into a much larger trap."
Su Ming's heart suddenly sank. He hadn't imagined that there was such a huge conspiracy hidden behind this. "What is that...?"
"I set this up." Xu Hongda's lips curled up slightly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "I know Zheng Yaoxian is an indestructible existence. He put himself in danger just to protect you and your group. You think you have a deep relationship with him, but you never thought that your relationship was foreseen and controlled by me long ago. You thought you could save him, but in fact, you had already fallen into my trap."
Su Ming's heart felt like it had been struck by lightning, instantly turning into a state of chaos. His breathing suddenly became rapid, his blood began to surge, and a series of previously unnoticed details surfaced in his mind: those seemingly accidental clues, those details that had been carelessly overlooked, seemed to converge into a huge mystery at this moment.