77: The secret passage at the spring, the plot of the leader of the "Black Hand" settlement

Time: October 18, 2075, 7 PM. Location: Night City Badlands, deep within Aureole Valley.

Fang Yun and his group drove slowly along the rugged road deep within the valley.

The wheels of """Star Shatterer""" crunched over the gravel, making a "grinding" sound.

Fang Yun opened the car window and smelled the damp earth filling the air.

Occasional gunshots and explosions from not far behind were the only two sounds besides the engine's white noise.

Of course, the internal communication channel of the First Assault Squad was not completely silent.

As the convoy advanced, the squad members sent possible clues they found to the channel, then discussed them with the others.

Just as everyone was ruling out another false lead in the communication channel, a voice message and a corresponding image appeared in the channel.

"Hey, look over there!"

Valentine suddenly sent this message in the channel.

Following the direction indicated in the image Valentine sent, everyone looked into the distance.

Glenn looked for a while before realizing there was a spring nearby.

[Underground spring?]

[It seems this is the source of water for daily life and production for the "Black Hand" settlement.]

[Let's go investigate the situation.]

While contemplating, Glenn led the squad members to the vicinity of the spring.

The Nightwalkers who were supposed to be stationed near the spring had long since disappeared.

Glenn left a few people to stand guard around the area, while the rest gathered around the spring.

The spring was about three meters in diameter, surrounded by a circular steel water collection platform.

Water gurgled out from underground, soaking the barren land around the platform into a small wetland.

The wetland was covered in moss and wild grass, standing out sharply compared to the other yellowish-brown barren land.

Toke raised an eyebrow, a flash of understanding in his eyes, and said thoughtfully:

"There's an underground spring in Aureole Valley. No wonder the 'Black Hand' settlement chose this place as their base."

Fang Yun held "remnant echo", his gaze constantly scanning the stone walls around the spring.

[Judging by the traces around, someone should have been stationed here before.]

[For a spring like this, it should be fine even without guards.]

[The leader of the "Black Hand" settlement seems to value this place highly?]

[This is already the end of the valley, but so far, the leader of the "Black Hand" settlement hasn't been found.]

[...]

[Something's wrong, this spring is problematic.]

[Following the classic trope, there should be a secret passage nearby.]

[Let me look.]

["Black Hand" Settlement Leader: Buckle Family people, you're all assholes. I'm waiting for you in the spring's secret passage. You better not find me, or you'll face my wrath.]

Fang Yun narrowed his eyes slightly and scanned the stone walls around the spring with "Eagle Vision Wolf Gaze".

Just halfway through the scan, Fang Yun's gaze suddenly sharpened.

[Huh? I actually found it.]

After scanning all the stone walls and ruling out the possibility of "interference", Fang Yun turned to Glenn and said:

"I found the entrance to a secret passage, it's on the stone wall over by the spring."

As he spoke, Fang Yun raised his hand to show Glenn and the others.

Vavinia followed behind Fang Yun, and upon hearing his words, she "craned her neck" and came closer.

"Secret passage?"

A hint of curiosity and vigilance appeared in Vavinia's eyes, and her eyebrows raised slightly.

"Could the leader of the 'Black Hand' settlement have escaped through here?"

Fang Yun nodded, a hint of certainty in his tone:

"Very likely."

"After all, all the defenses and enemies in the valley have basically been defeated by us."

"But until now, we still haven't found any sign of the 'Black Hand' settlement leader."

"This secret passage might be the escape route he left for himself."

Glenn, standing beside Fang Yun, spoke after a moment of thought:

"Fang Yun, Vavinia, Toke, Valentine, your strength is trustworthy."

"I'll ask you four to go investigate the secret passage. I'll stay here with the others to stand guard."

Fang Yun, who had been eager to try, grinned and immediately replied:

"Understood."

The four, already prepared, didn't delay further. They all switched off their weapon safeties and walked together towards the secret passage.

Fang Yun walked in the front, using "Human Intelligence Ascension" to slowly open the secret passage door.

A low "rumbling" sound echoed, revealing a narrow passage on the stone wall to the left of the spring.

The camouflage of the secret passage was excellent. If not for Fang Yun's "Eagle Vision Wolf Gaze", the Buckle Family members might have needed a long time of careful exploration to find it.

"Be careful, there might be traps inside."

Vavinia reminded Fang Yun in a low voice.

As the support, Vavinia walked at the very back of the team, but because Fang Yun and the other three were positioned closely, she was less than three meters away from Fang Yun.

Vavinia tightly gripped a tactical dagger in her left hand and held a pistol in her right, her hands crossed vertically, forming a tactical stance.

The tactical dagger was for potential close-quarters combat in the narrow secret passage.

The flashlight attachment on the front of the pistol could provide illumination and an effect similar to a flashbang.

Valentine and Toke were in the middle of the team, holding an assault rifle and a submachine gun respectively, responsible for suppressing fire.

Hearing Vavinia's reminder, Fang Yun smiled slightly, didn't turn back, and replied in a low voice:

"Don't worry, with me here, no trap can trick us. ...At least not the 'Black Hand' settlement's traps."

After Fang Yun finished speaking, he stepped into the secret passage.

The inside of the secret passage was dark and damp, the walls covered in moss, and the air filled with a musty smell.

The small light bulb overhead made a "sizzling" electric sound, flickering on and off.

Fang Yun's "Eagle Vision Wolf Gaze" remained active, carefully scanning the surroundings.

[There are footprints on the ground, and they're very recent.]

[It seems the leader of the "Black Hand" settlement did indeed escape through this secret passage.]

[Just don't know if he's gotten out of the secret passage yet? And where does the end of the passage lead?]

Fang Yun thought in his head as he explored forward.

The originally very faint footsteps became incredibly clear due to the echo effect in the secret passage.

[If the leader of the "Black Hand" settlement hasn't left the secret passage yet, and this passage is a simple straight tunnel, then he should have heard our footsteps.]

[But I haven't heard any other sounds besides footsteps.]

[...]

[Has the "Black Hand" settlement leader already left the secret passage, or... is he ambushing us?]

[...No matter what. With my strength, no difficulty is a difficulty.]

After making up his mind, Fang Yun held up "remnant echo" and continued walking forward.

...

Some time passed again.

The four of them, including Fang Yun, still maintained their formation and explored forward in the secret passage.

The LED strip attached to "remnant echo" emitted a faint cold light in the dim secret passage.

[...The LED strip makes the firearm look quite cool normally, but in situations requiring stealth, it's a bit unsuitable....]

Just as Fang Yun's mind started to wander, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Look quickly, is there light ahead?!"

Valentine told Fang Yun and the other two in a low voice, his voice filled with unconcealed excitement, pulling Fang Yun back from his wandering thoughts.

Because "Eagle Vision Wolf Gaze" was set by Fang Yun to scan for dangerous factors, and after analysis by "Human Intelligence Ascension", the light ahead was not considered a dangerous factor.

Therefore, "Eagle Vision Wolf Gaze" didn't alert Fang Yun.

This resulted in Fang Yun, who should have been the first to notice the light ahead, only realizing it after Valentine's reminder.

Having been advancing in the dark secret passage, Fang Yun and the other three had long felt a bit bored.

At this moment, the sudden appearance of light couldn't help but lift the spirits of all four of them.

A hint of excitement in Fang Yun's eyes, he quickened his pace.

Soon, Fang Yun and the other three quickly reached the end of the secret passage using stealthy steps.

A half-opened metal door appeared before them.

There were some rust stains on the door, indicating it hadn't been opened for some time.

The four quickly took two steps. Fang Yun, Valentine, and Toke hid behind the left side of the door, while Vavinia stood behind the right side.

Through the scan of "Eagle Vision Wolf Gaze", Fang Yun detected signs of thermal activity behind the door.

Then, Fang Yun spoke to Valentine and the others through the temporary internal communication channel:

"There seems to be someone behind the door."

"Although I can't pinpoint the exact location because there's no network, there's definitely someone behind the door. ...At least one."

Vavinia guessed in a slightly nervous voice:

"The Nightwalker leader?"

Fang Yun nodded.

"Very likely."

"Alright. To prevent any traps, I'll go in first to check the situation. You guys get ready to provide support at any time."

Hearing this, Valentine and Toke nodded heavily in agreement.

"Be careful."

Vavinia's voice came through the internal communication channel.

Fang Yun turned his head to look at Vavinia's eyes.

There was a hint of concern in Vavinia's eyes, and also an inexplicable emotion that Fang Yun couldn't understand.

"Don't worry."

After simply replying to Vavinia, Fang Yun gestured with his eyes for her not to worry.

Fang Yun slipped through the gap in the metal door.

After quickly slipping into the room, Fang Yun walked further inside, keeping close to the wall.

The room was dark and cramped, with a few dim emergency lights hanging on the walls, barely illuminating the corners of the room.

Some shelves were scattered around the room, blocking Fang Yun's view, and of course, also blocking the view of the person inside the room.

After going around a few shelves, Fang Yun walked into the deeper part of the room.

The sound that wasn't very clear when he was at the door gradually became clearer.

"Damn it, stop beating around the bush with me!"

Fang Yun peeked his head out from behind the shelf and looked into the room.

He saw a burly man sitting on a worn-out chair, roaring loudly.

There was a table in front of the man, on which sat a communication device, and an unfamiliar voice was coming from it.

[It seems this is the leader of the "Black Hand" settlement.]

The man was wearing a heavy black trench coat, which had some dust and stains on it, likely from passing through the secret passage.

On the table in front of the man lay a shotgun, with the "Black Hand" settlement's symbol engraved on its body.

"Hey. You better deliver the supplies to the location I specified quickly."

The Nightwalker leader's voice was heavy and fierce, with a hint of threat in his tone.

"Otherwise, I'll tell the Buckle Family about your traitor identity and all the evidence."

"Don't worry, I'll send the supplies to you as soon as possible."

A low voice came from the other end of the communication device.

"But, you must guarantee that you won't be caught by that Fang Yun. Also, from now on, this matter is over, and you can't come back to trouble me again."

After hearing what came from the communication device, the Nightwalker leader let out a cold snort:

"Hmph! Do you think I'm stupid? That Fang Yun is so strong, why would I seek my own death?"

"If it weren't for the time it takes to start the escape railcar, I would have already fled far away by now."

"Alright, stop talking nonsense. Just deliver the supplies to the coordinates I sent you earlier as soon as possible."

A hint of disdain and hatred flashed in the Nightwalker leader's eyes.

[That's it? You wish! I won't let you off easily. Once I get the supplies, that will be your death day!]

[As for that damn Fang Yun...]

[A Nightwalker's revenge is never too late. When I become stronger later, it won't be too late to come back and kill him.]

"You better keep your word!"

The voice on the other end of the communication device left a harsh remark and then hung up the call.

The Nightwalker leader, whose thoughts were interrupted, pursed his lips.

"Tch. A cowardly, apprehensive traitor."

"Even if I don't kill you, you'll die by someone else's hands sooner or later."

"The escape railcar is about to finish starting up. Once I successfully escape, I'll come deal with you."

Fang Yun hid behind the shelf and listened to the entire conversation.

After sending the listened audio to Valentine and the other two through the temporary internal communication channel, Fang Yun already had a plan in mind.

Fang Yun smiled slightly and said in a low voice: "Vavinia, Valentine, Toke, you all heard what the 'Black Hand' settlement leader said, right?"

"Understood."

"I didn't expect there to be a traitor in the family, it's truly despicable."

"Already understood."

The replies from Vavinia, Valentine, and Toke rang out one after another.

Fang Yun nodded.

"The 'Black Hand' settlement leader is very crucial and must be captured alive."

"To be safe, I'm going to use my cyberware."

"In a moment, I'll first disable his operating system, and then incapacitate him."

"After we catch him, we'll take him back and hand him over to Karl for a thorough interrogation."

"Of course, to prevent the traitor from finding out about this, it's best to only call Karl over for the interrogation."

Valentine and the other two nodded, expressing their understanding.

"OK. Then, I'm going to act."

As soon as the words fell in the communication channel, Fang Yun immediately activated "Void Walker".

In an instant, the entire world became sluggish.

Fang Yun slowly walked out from behind the shelf and came before the Nightwalker leader.

"Now, count your sins."