Chapter 203: I Suspect the Other Side Is the Ghost King!
At the underground seventh level of the Apocalypse Biotech Corporation, the space was divided into individual compartments, each containing three high-performance network servers.
However, the entire floor was eerily quiet, with no sign of activity. The only people present were Rosie, seated in the main office, and Alexander, who lounged on the nearby sofa.
This was the information department of the Mercenary Guild.
Rosie had nearly completed assembling the team, selecting individuals either with exceptional hacking abilities or deep expertise in network information. Recruitment responsibilities had been handed over to Yamato.
Yamato had the skills to bring these people on board and ensure absolute secrecy about their work.
Alexander intended to transform this location into the central hub for the Mercenary Guild.
The upper floors would represent the public face of the guild, while the underground levels would remain hidden.
Why not establish a new building specifically for the Mercenary Guild?
Alexander had thoroughly considered this decision.
First, the Apocalypse Biotech Corporation's building was the largest, most impressive, and most functional in the Four Seas City. The Mercenary Guild's headquarters couldn't just be another shabby division like the Rasputin Bar branch—it required greater functionality.
Second, Apocalypse Biotech Corporation had undergone rigorous approvals to open. Constructing another building under a new name would raise unnecessary questions.
Although Alexander was the de facto ruler of South Sea City, he wasn't the ruler of the entire country.
Using the guise of a legitimate biotech corporation offered unparalleled security for the guild, not out of a desire for mystique but as a protective measure. Without this cover, the guild's headquarters would be as vulnerable as an exposed porcupine.
Lastly, constructing a new building was prohibitively expensive.
The Apocalypse Biotech Corporation had already drained Yvette of her resources and stripped Giovani of multiple assets, leaving Giovani nearly bankrupt. Constructing a new building would be far more costly than a simple garden.
This location was perfectly suitable as long as the members of the information department could be kept silent. It would remain the safest place in the South Sea.
Alexander planned to station loyal Devil Fruit Hunters here for security. Yamato would also work from this site, with a team of Soul Reaper Hunters acting as guards. Additionally, under Rosie's meticulous arrangements, the surveillance equipment provided complete 360-degree coverage, turning the facility into an impenetrable fortress.
Rosie asked, "President, are you planning to kill Ryan Carter?"
Ryan Carter was the real name of the Crow Group's No. 3.
Through the phone's camera, Rosie could observe everything happening inside the Security Division's office.
She saw that Ryan Carter was in bad shape, already on the verge of collapse from Alexander's torment.
Alexander, in a good mood, leisurely sipped coffee sent over by Yvette, the CEO of Apocalypse Biotech Corporation.
He smiled faintly and said, "What good would killing him do me? If I kill him, it'll just cause trouble.
I want to collaborate with the authorities, not wage war against them. Punishment is enough."
Although Ryan Carter was a minor figure in the Security Division, his death would be tantamount to declaring war on the nation. It would waste a valuable Devil Fruit and sever any chance of future cooperation with the authorities.
Alexander glanced at his watch and said, "Send Ryan Carter a message: violating the rules of the Mercenary Guild will result in the deduction of 100 points."
Ryan Carter, who had just earned 100 points, would now see them deducted by Alexander.
In truth, the purpose of those 100 points was precisely this. Alexander wanted to save face and simultaneously spare Ryan Carter's life.
If Ryan Carter were allowed to keep so many points, he could exchange them for extraordinary plants. The Security Division's thirst for such resources would then drive them to work for Alexander.
Rosie nodded and immediately sent the message to Ryan Carter.
Only then did Alexander stop tormenting Ryan.
After a moment, Rosie asked skeptically, "But, President, aren't you planning to cooperate with the authorities? If Ryan Carter strictly follows the rules, how can we work with the authorities?"
If Ryan were to fully abide by the rules, he wouldn't be able to disclose anything about the Mercenary Guild to the Security Division. How would the Security Division complete the guild's tasks, let alone cooperate with them?
Alexander chuckled softly. "If they want my rewards, they'll have to figure it out themselves. You just manage the situation—turn a blind eye as long as it's not excessive."
At the South Sea Security Division, inside the administration office.
Ryan Carter's sweat dripped onto the floor, forming small puddles. Even though Alexander had stopped burning him with the Green Lotus Core Flame, it took Ryan a long time to recover.
"Ha—ha—" Ryan gasped heavily, struggling to get up from the floor. He collapsed into a chair, his face pale and filled with fear.
"Are you okay?"
The green-haired girl immediately rushed to Ryan's side, her face full of concern.
She felt responsible for Ryan's suffering, believing it to be the result of her mistake. Despite her sharp tongue, she held herself to certain principles—principles that had earned her a place in the Blue Whale Group.
Ryan gave a bitter smile, shaking his head. "Promise me, if this happens again, just kill me outright. Don't hesitate."
Recalling the earlier torment, he felt as if his brain had been torn apart. It was a pain he never wanted to endure again.
The long-haired middle-aged man approached Ryan, placing a hand on his head. With precise control, he guided his energy through Ryan's body.
After a moment, the man let out a sigh of relief. "The other side showed mercy. You'll be fine."
He glanced at Ryan with lingering fear. "To manipulate extraordinary flames to invade someone's sea of consciousness from such a distance… that level of power is terrifying."
Ryan pursed his lips and said, "I suspect the other side is the Ghost King!"
At these words, everyone in the room grew somber.
"How do you know?" The bald captain frowned.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan explained, "Don't forget—I've encountered the Ghost King before.
And my talent, [Condensed Hydrogen and Oxygen], gives me heightened sensitivity to extraordinary flames.
I'm certain the flames that burned my mind today were the same flames the Ghost King has used before!"
The room collectively gasped.
If a top-tier awakened individual from Danger Sequence 8 wasn't a lone wolf but belonged to an extraordinary faction, the implications were enormous.
What kind of terrifying organization could house an awakened powerhouse like the Ghost King?
And how many such individuals might exist in that organization?
The long-haired middle-aged man stared at Ryan in deep thought. After a moment of silent contemplation, he sighed heavily, visibly conflicted.
Ryan, understanding the concerns of the Blue Whale leader, steeled his resolve and declared, "Since I am already a member of the Mercenary Guild, I will uncover more of their secrets.
I will report everything I know to the organization, regardless of the consequences.
I, Ryan Carter, am no coward!"
He then looked earnestly at the group and added, "But I have one request: if I ever suffer the Ghost King's flames again, please, I beg you, kill me!"
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