Cha Eun Xiao Took a Step Forward! . . .
Zhan Yunfei, though typically arrogant and abrasive, had posed crucial questions. It was imperative for their safety to gather intelligence about their unknown adversary. While Xiao Mufei might extend leniency due to her resemblance to his long-lost daughter, Zhan Yunfei and the others wouldn't allow her to live unless they could confidently dismiss her as a threat.
The girl, visibly anxious, hesitated briefly before responding, "I don't possess extensive knowledge about the organization. I was raised in a clandestine facility. There were a few other girls with familiar faces at the beginning... but they were later eliminated."
Zhan Yunfei inquired, "Is this facility primarily dedicated to training assassins?"
The girl, her voice trembling, replied, "Yes."
Intrigued, Zhan Yunfei further probed, "You mentioned other girls being 'weeded out.' Could you elaborate?"
The girl confirmed, "Yes."
Zhan Yunfei gazed pensively at the sky, an air of contemplation surrounding him. He eventually spoke, "That implies you don't know which sect or organization oversees this secret base, and this was your first mission?"
The girl acknowledged, "Yes."
Zhan Yunfei's usually sharp visage darkened. He furrowed his brow, deep in thought.
Beside the ailing girl, Xiao Mufei appeared troubled. As he continued to channel his energy into her for healing, he remained uncertain of what to say.
It was Cha Eun Xiao who suddenly interjected with a line of inquiry. "What is the size of this secret base?"
Perplexed, the girl studied him for a moment before replying, "It's vast. It's challenging to put it into words."
Cha Eun Xiao pressed further, asking, "Can it accommodate ten thousand people?"
The girl's response was affirmative. "Much larger than that. The valley I stayed in could hold at least thirty thousand individuals, and there were three or four other valleys around us."
Observing her answers, Cha Eun Xiao deduced, "So, this place can house well over a hundred thousand people. Were all those taken there as children?"
The girl nodded. "Yes, they were."
"Is it possible for any child to look similar to someone else?" Cha Eun Xiao posed an unusual question.
The girl didn't hesitate to respond, "Yes, that's true. There were always children who resembled each other and arrived together."
Ye Xiao continued his line of questioning, "After some training, when these children grew up, the weaker ones would be removed, and you would never see them again. Am I correct?"
Once more, the girl confirmed, "Yes."
Cha Eun Xiao proceeded to ask more inquiries in quick succession, and the girl answered promptly and without hesitation.
Throughout this exchange, Zhan Yunfei's expression had grown increasingly dark. However, he found himself impressed by Cha Eun Xiao's shrewdness and his strategic approach to extracting information. As the questions continued, the truth began to emerge.
Zhan Yunfei couldn't help but marvel at Cha Eun Xiao's brilliance. Each question was carefully constructed to unveil a piece of the puzzle. It became evident that Cha Eun Xiao had meticulously compiled small details to uncover the larger truth.
Zhan Yunfei thought to himself, [What an astute mind! How does he maintain such clarity in his thinking?]
[His questions are derived from his suspicions. Cha Chongxiao has ingeniously addressed what I genuinely desired to know, and I didn't even fathom the significance of these answers.]
[He's effectively assembling these fragments of information to unveil the underlying truth!]
[Incredibly astute!]
Cha Eun Xiao continued with another question, "Before you, were there others sent on missions?"
"Yes," the girl replied.
Cha Eun Xiao continued, "Many of them?"
The girl nodded, explaining, "Quite a lot, especially in the recent two years. There are numerous missions."
He maintained his focus on her, his inquiries unwavering. "Do you know anyone among them? Are you close to any of them?"
The girl responded in the affirmative, her eyes reflecting a hint of sadness.
Cha Eun Xiao probed further, "Have any of them ever returned to the base? Has anyone you knew been assigned multiple missions?"
The girl spoke slowly, her voice tinged with sorrow, "No, none of them have taken a second mission, and none have come back."
He moved on to a crucial line of questioning, his gaze intent. "Before you were sent out, did you receive any information about your target?"
The girl, showing signs of anxiety, admitted, "Not at all. A leader provides instructions right before the operation."
With his companions watching in amazement, Cha Eun Xiao unveiled the pivotal query. "If I were to ask you to return to that place, would you know the way back?"
The girl's distress became apparent as she responded, "I don't. When I went to that valley, I was eight... and I hadn't left since. Even before this mission, I was incapacitated with acupuncture points blocked and was administered drugs. I was unconscious. Upon waking, I found myself in a strange place. This mission was my first connection to the outside world since I was eight. I don't know the way back or its location."
Focusing on the mechanics of their communication, Cha Eun Xiao inquired, "How do you interact with the others? Secret signals, marks, or special signs? Is there anything to establish your identity?"
The girl clarified, "No, nothing like that. They can locate me. I received a space ring filled with valuable items from you earlier, which should be sufficient for my afterlife. I wanted to escape, but they found me the next morning and compelled me to resume the mission. They threatened to kill me if I refused."
Finally, Cha Eun Xiao sought her true identity, asking, "What is your name? Your real name?"