As the most powerful force of the Human Race, Cathayâs military intelligence system was absolutely fast, accurate, and efficient.
Akad was riddled with suspicious injuriesâanyone could see that an earthquake couldnât cause skin ulcerations all over his body. After Akad received rudimentary medical treatment, an investigation into him began.
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His Western featuresâblond hair, blue eyes, a large aquiline nose, and gloomy eyesâgave him an untrustworthy appearance. The healing potion had "temporarily" cleared the sores from Akadâs face, after which he was photographed, had his blood drawn, and underwent other procedures.
The blood test results came back quickly. Akadâs blood contained a large number of unknown viruses that the healing potion couldnât cure. This suggested the involvement of an unknown skill. Furthermore, Akad had appeared very close to the residence of Sequence Number 10, Vincent, whose Skill System was based on poison.
This naturally aroused suspicion. It also further deepened the City Guardsâ suspicion of Akad.
The investigation proceeded rapidly.
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The military kept records on all known powerful experts in the world. As the top name on their wanted list, Akadâs file was particularly detailed and comprehensive.
In less than an hour, all information pertaining to Akad was delivered to the security room of the hospital where he was being held.
The order from high command was simple: maintain strict surveillance. The military currently couldnât dispatch a powerful expert of sufficient rank to guard Akad. They were to wait until the war ended, at which point the military would send someone to retrieve him.
Given that Akad had lost all his strength, the hospitalâs security forces were more than sufficient to prevent him from making any move.
The young City Guard who discovered Akad was also credited with a great merit: capturing a Sequence-class fugitive. For a young City Guard merely at Peak Level 3, this meant not only honor but also the prospect of promotion and increased power.
Thus, the young City Guard, on whom this great fortune had fallen, couldnât keep his mouth shut.
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"Have you heard? Little Yang had a stroke of incredible luck; he caught Akad."
"Akad? Which Akad?"
"Who else could it be but Akad, Sequence Number 52! The Lord of Death, Akad!"
"Damn, heâs struck it rich then, hasnât he? The bounty on Akad is substantial... What exactly happened?"
"I heard..."
In this world, gossip and rumors always spread the fastestâespecially during wartime. These low-level professionists, responsible for maintaining order in the inner city zone of the Yanjing Assembly Site, were often idle, each daydreaming of achieving success overnight.
In their eyes, the City Guard known as Little Yang was undoubtedly a prime example of such instant success.
Combined with Little Yangâs own boasting, it didnât take long for the story of him battling wits and courage with the great villain Akad and capturing him in one fell swoop to spread throughout the entire hospital and begin to disseminate outwards.
Of course, these were not pressing mattersâit had been confirmed that Akad was crippled. And everyone at the hospital, located in the inner city zone of the Yanjing Assembly Site, was certain of one thing:
No one could possibly smuggle Akad, in his current condition, out of the Yanjing Assembly Site.
Therefore, Akadâs capture was considered a foregone conclusion.
And this news, naturally, did not escape the notice of certain interested parties.
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Akad, who had been drifting in and out of consciousness, slowly opened his eyes.
Sensing that the number of footsteps and breaths outside his door had multiplied severalfold, Akad gave a helpless, bitter smile.
My identity has been discovered...
It happened quickly, but it didnât surprise Akadâthe Yanjing Assembly Site possessed such capabilities.
As for Akad himself, he felt no disappointment. Being arrested by the military, whether it meant execution or something else, was far preferable to being kenneled by Vincent like a stray dog.
Having come to terms with this, Akad didnât waste energy concocting unrealistic escape plans. Instead, he resigned himself to his fate and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.
My body is just too weak right now...
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After an indeterminate amount of time, just as Akad was unsure whether he was deeply asleep or unconscious, the slight sound of a door opening roused him from his slumber.
A figure in military uniform slowly entered from outside the door.
"Akad?"
A calm, indifferent voice spoke. Akad slowly nodded.
"Put your clothes on and follow me."
"I donât have legs anymore..."
The uniformed man slowly approached Akadâs bedside, lifted the blanket, and carefully observed his injuries.
Akad looked at the man before him. The manâs eyes, though seemingly focused, were devoid of any spirit. Akadâs brow furrowed slightly.
This man... the aura he emanates gives me a deeply unsettling feeling.
After a moment, the uniformed man finished inspecting Akadâs injuries. He nodded slowly, then seized Akad by the neck, lifting his entire body as if he were a mere chick.
"Someone from above wants to see you. Come with me."
His explanation was perfunctory. Without another word and heedless of Akadâs discomfort, the uniformed man headed straight for the door.
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Seeing the uniformed man bringing Akad out, the soldier guarding the door nodded at him and said, "According to regulations, we need to send someone to accompany you. Please understand."
Although the uniformed man possessed all the necessary documents for the transfer, no procedural step could be skipped. For a major felon like Akad, when it came to the handover between two departments, one could never be too cautious.
Hearing this, the uniformed man nodded slowly and handed a paper document to the soldier responsible for guarding Akad. He then turned and walked slowly towards the hospital exit.
The soldier who received the document frowned, watching the uniformed man walk away. He gestured to two colleagues nearby, who quickly caught up with the uniformed man and proceeded with him towards the hospital stairwell.
Meanwhile, the soldier who remained at the door of Akadâs ward recalled the unsettling feeling heâd had during his interaction with the uniformed man. He once again carefully examined the document in his hand.
"Yanjing Assembly Site Prison Defense Force, Thirteenth Battalion, Eighth Squad, Captain Ye Nan. Ordered to transport fugitive Akad to Black Abyss Prison."
Below the text was the seal of the highest commander of the Prison Defense Force.
There was no issue with the procedures. Although that fellow Ye Nan made a poor impression... impressions are just impressions, and work is work. Given his duty as a soldier, he naturally wouldnât dwell on such extraneous matters. As long as the procedures were complete, even if a Demon Fiend came to claim the prisoner, a soldier would hand them over without fail.