"Is Dukas there? That's good, we can build some connections." Jiang Baimian glanced at Shang Jianyao, who was getting back into the car, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Everything is easier with acquaintances.

Although Dukas, that muscle man, didn't seem very approachable, they had Shang Jianyao on their side.

If the situation wasn't right, and it wasn't convenient to use "Reasoning Clown," they could provoke Dukas into another arm-wrestling gambling match.

Thinking of this, Jiang Baimian didn't look for an opportunity to turn the car around but continued to follow the car in front, slowly moving towards the checkpoint.

As the armored vehicle blocking the road came into view, and the soldiers in charge of the inspection surrounded them, Jiang Baimian winked at Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao immediately lowered the car window, poked his head out, and waved cheerfully at Dukas, who was supervising the checkpoint.

He was wearing a black wig and no other disguise, so he wasn't worried Dukas wouldn't recognize him.

Dukas saw the familiar figure waving vigorously, his eyelids twitched slightly, and he subconsciously turned his head, trying to pretend he hadn't noticed.

How could Shang Jianyao let him have his way? He waved and shouted loudly:

"Dukas!

"Dukas!"

Are we that close? A vein pulsed on Dukas's forehead, and his body stiffened a little.

He hesitated whether to respond or pretend he hadn't heard.

On the other side, the soldiers trying to inspect the "Old Task Force's" two vehicles heard the other party call out their officer's name and didn't know whether to proceed or retreat.

As the scene turned awkward, Shang Jianyao pushed open the car door with great energy and walked straight towards Dukas.

The soldiers stepped aside, turning their eyes to their officer, waiting for his instructions.

Dukas opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing, his expression less than pleasant.

Shang Jianyao easily walked through the soldiers, crossed the checkpoint, and arrived beside the armored command vehicle Dukas was sitting in.

"Long time no see." He completely ignored Dukas's face and greeted him with a sunny smile.

Dukas took a breath and slowly exhaled:

"Not that long."

Jiang Baimian, watching their interaction from afar, wanted to laugh.

Introverted, silent, and cold types of people really suffer when they meet Shang Jianyao.

If they were strong enough to beat Shang Jianyao up, that would be fine. The worst was when they were on the same level or weaker than Shang Jianyao.

"Who are you looking for?" Shang Jianyao asked the question familiarly.

Dukas glanced at him, resuming his original coldness:

"You don't need to know."

Shang Jianyao raised his hand and touched his chin, mimicking Jiang Baimian's tone:

"I already inquired. You're looking for the accomplice of the assassin in the arena and the person who caused the citizens' assembly bombing."

Dukas didn't deny it.

Shang Jianyao continued:

"I heard the assassin in the arena was a follower of the 'Twisted Shadow,' and his followers are widely distributed throughout the army."

Dukas's eyelids suddenly lifted, and he saw a slight smile on Shang Jianyao's face.

"There are also followers of the 'Twisted Shadow' in the 'First City' army, and quite a few? The arena assassination has deepened the Senate's suspicion of certain factions in the military. You have to prove your innocence?" Shang Jianyao asked two questions with a smile.

Dukas didn't answer but instead asked:

"You're leaving the city?"

Shang Jianyao exaggeratedly showed a "I understand" expression and chuckled:

"We took the task of catching the white wolf in the Northern Mountain Range.

"You should know that when you enter the wasteland, you have to find some protection for yourself. We've gotten some heavy weapons, and it's not convenient to go through inspection."

He made it clear, acting like they were good friends.

Jia Di, watching from not far away, was stunned. He hadn't expected his brother to be so well-connected.

Dukas glanced at Shang Jianyao:

"You actually revealed your problem. Aren't you afraid I'll just detain you?"

"At this distance..." Shang Jianyao deliberately looked at the blank area between them.

The two were less than a meter apart.

"What do you want to say?" Dukas never responded to threats.

Shang Jianyao smiled:

"I mean, at this distance, if I shout loudly, many people around will hear."

"Shout what? Help?" Dukas sneered.

Shang Jianyao chuckled:

"Shout 'Dukas lost to a woman in arm wrestling.'"

"..." Dukas was speechless for a moment.

Shang Jianyao further "threatened":

"I also have a megaphone and a small speaker. Do you want this to spread throughout the entire First City?"

Dukas exhaled heavily:

"Are you even an adult yet?

"Do you think I'll let you go because of this threat?"

"Then we can have another arm-wrestling match. If you lose, you have to let us leave the city." Shang Jianyao didn't answer Dukas's question at all. His thoughts jumped, and he made a new suggestion.

Dukas thought for a moment, and his face suddenly turned ashen.

He realized he wasn't confident he could win now!

Thinking of that terrifying brute force, he felt it was beyond human capabilities.

"You can also choose to compete with me." Shang Jianyao provoked him in a teasing tone.

Dukas was silent for a few seconds, then said to himself:

"Teams like yours are better off leaving the city than staying in the city.

"However, I still have to check. I'll do it myself. Don't worry, I won't open your boxes, just see if you're carrying any fugitives."

Clap clap clap, Shang Jianyao applauded in congratulations.

This made Dukas instantly regret it, unwilling to admit what he had just said.

Shang Jianyao immediately changed the subject:

"Is the person you're looking for brown-haired, green-eyed, and always covering his mouth with a scarf?"

Dukas nodded, not denying it.

It wasn't a secret. After the citizens' assembly bombing, the constables were looking for this person everywhere.

"Maybe the scarf is just a deliberately created feature." Shang Jianyao raised his hand again, touching his chin, "Even if there are obvious marks around the mouth, there are other ways to conceal them."

Dukas didn't respond but revealed a thoughtful expression.

Shang Jianyao smiled again:

"One last question.

"What exactly do those guys want to do, what do they want to achieve?"

Dukas was silent for a while and said:

"The person who was caught came from the Eastern Legion. He was a retired officer who wanted to assassinate all conservative members to promote a new round of expansion."

The legion commander of the Eastern Legion was the leader of the Reformists, the newly appointed Senator, General Gaius.

"I see..." Shang Jianyao always kept his promises. Since he said he wouldn't ask, he didn't ask any more questions.

He and Dukas returned to the car together, accompanying him to open the doors and trunks, checking every place where people could hide.

——Awakened can shield their consciousness, preventing companions from sensing them unless they have already had contact.

When confirming whether there was a problem with the boxes containing the military exoskeleton devices, Dukas followed his promise, not opening the lids but drawing a thin military knife, inserting it into the gaps in the crates, stabbing it a few times, and stirring it for a while.

Seeing that he didn't hit a human body and no blood flowed out, Dukas put away the military knife and said to the soldiers:

"These two cars are fine."

The soldiers immediately opened the gate, letting the "Old Task Force" drive out of the bridge.

During this process, Shang Jianyao lowered the car window, turned around, and waved to Dukas to show his gratitude.

Dukas had no feeling of relief at all.

This guy's performance made everyone around think he was covering up out of favoritism!

With an ashen face, he turned around and walked back to the armored command vehicle.

On the "Old Task Force's" original jeep, Jiang Baimian chuckled:

"Dukas didn't erupt on the spot and beat you up, which shows he's quite good at controlling his temper."

Jiang Baimian was actually prepared for Dukas to suddenly turn hostile, and they would have to force their way through the checkpoint.

"I thought we had built a friendship." Shang Jianyao looked "astonished."

Jiang Baimian didn't continue the topic and showed a thoughtful expression:

"The assassin in the arena actually served in the Eastern Legion. The water in 'First City' is getting murkier and murkier.

"Hehe, it might be a frame-up, or it might be that the 'Twisted Shadow' cult is colluding privately, trying to act alone. Anyway, I don't believe Gaius, who finally caught a conservative faction's handle, would let people do something similar at this time.

"Um, and the assassin's accomplice is the perpetrator of the citizens' assembly bombing, and that assembly was called by Gaius..."

"Maybe Gaius's brain isn't quite right." Shang Jianyao offered an explanation.

While the two were talking, Long Yuehong, Bai Chen, and Genaeva in the back car remained silent.

For Long Yuehong, when you're with true companions, you don't need to deliberately find topics to talk about, just to avoid an awkward atmosphere. You can fully enjoy the peace and quiet without worrying about anything.

He subconsciously looked out the window, glancing northeast.

There was the No. 13 Ruins in the wasteland.

After Genaeva repeatedly monitored and measured from different locations, the "Old Task Force" finally confirmed that the "Dao and Electrical Appliance Repair" radio station was indeed located in that ruin, and its position had not changed.

This made Long Yuehong feel more and more like he was in a ghost story.

Luckily, we're going to the mountains this time... Long Yuehong didn't dare say this out loud, lest it come true.

ps: I recommend a book, "The Sorcerer's Handbook." Synopsis: In 1668, the city I was in was rated as the area with the best public security in the country.

I made an indelible contribution to this.

Because I was caught.