Chapter 802: Chapter 802: Identity
Actually, Ling Feng didnât refrain from handling them all because he lacked the willâhe simply didnât see the necessity. While the Skyfire Mercenary Corps wasnât particularly formidable, they still had some connections within the underground forces.
Right now, what Ling Feng wanted most was to quickly get to the Dragon Group Base and take over Bai Feifeiâs investigation mission, preferably doing so in a low-profile manner.
If he truly eliminated the Skyfire Mercenary Corps, it would undoubtedly attract panic and investigations from other organizations. At that point, staying under the radar would be out of the question for Ling Feng.
After driving for about another half hour, Ling Feng pulled the car over by the roadside. Grabbing a bottle of liquor, he took a swig before speaking in a calm tone: "Hey, kiddo, not coming out yet? Hiding back there for over half an hour canât have been very comfortable, can it?"
As Ling Fengâs words fell, a rustling noise came from the back of the jeep. Moments later, a delicate and lovely little girl appeared before him.
However, the little girl looked a bit disheveled at the moment. Her face was smudged with dirt, her hair was a scattered mess, and her high-quality dress was stained and dirty.
"You... you knew I was in the car?" The little girlâs wary gaze locked onto Ling Feng.
Ling Feng downed another mouthful of liquor and said, "Of course. I knew you were in my car from the very beginning. I just wanted to see how long you could last. I gotta admit, I didnât expect you to hold out for over half an hour. Not bad!"
The little girl, about eight or nine years old, carried an air of maturity that surprised Ling Feng. "Since you discovered me, why didnât you hand me over to those bad guys?"
Ling Feng chuckled, "You just said theyâre bad guys. How could I hand you over to bad guys? Wouldnât that make me a bad guy too?"
Hearing this, the girlâs tense expression finally relaxed. She bowed deeply to Ling Feng and said, "Big brother, thank you for saving me!"
Ling Feng gave the little girl a profound look and said, "No need to thank me. I only stepped in because I canât stand them. Whatâs your name? Who are you? And why were they after you?"
The little girl hesitated for a moment before replying, "My name is Alice. I donât know why they were after me. Earlier, when I saw your car parked just under the window, I tied some bedsheets together to climb down from the balcony and jumped onto your car while they were distracted."
Ling Feng looked at the little loli, half-smiling, until she began to fidget uneasily.
This kid wasnât ordinary. Though she told Ling Feng her name, "Alice" was far too generic. Moreover, she hadnât mentioned her family background, demonstrating her caution.
Still, considering she had just escaped from the jaws of danger, Ling Feng couldnât help but admire her wit and bravery.
"Given her demeanor, this kidâs family background must be extraordinary," Ling Feng thought to himself. "Though sheâs trying hard to conceal her identity, her attire and manners suggest sheâs either from a wealthy family or possibly the Royal Family."
"Big brother, youâre not going to abandon Alice, are you?" Alice asked timidly. "Alice promises to behave and stay out of trouble. If you donât want Alice, sheâll have no choice but to beg on the streets and get bullied... sob sob..."
As she spoke, Alice began to sob, tears welling up in her big eyes, giving her an air of vulnerability that tugged at anyoneâs heartstrings.
Even though Ling Feng knew the little loli might be acting, he couldnât help but say, "Donât worry, since Iâve saved you, I wonât abandon you. But do you know where your home is? If you donât, how am I supposed to get you home?"
Alice shook her head. "Big brother, all I remember is that my house is in a place called Guli Town. I donât know anything else!"
Ling Feng sighed. It looked unlikely that he would get much useful information from Alice.
Still, Ling Feng hesitated. He needed to get to the Dragon Group Base but couldnât very well bring the kid along. However, gazing at Aliceâs pitiful face, he softened. "Fine, you can stick with me for now. When you remember more, Iâll help you get home. But Iâve got some business to attend to, so youâll have to tag along for a while. Is that okay?"
"Thank you, big brother!" Aliceâs eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled brightly. Seeing her radiant smile, even Ling Feng felt a weight lift from his heart.
"Alright, letâs get going!" With that, Ling Feng slammed his foot on the gas pedal. The jeep roared to life and sped off down the road.
...
"Talk! Who is that little girl?" Olier barked, furiously whipping Norwich, each lash accompanied by an enraged shout.
Not long after Ling Feng had left, a heavily armed military unit surrounded the little tavern. If it werenât for Olierâs secret escape route, they might have ended up as corpses.
Once they reached a safe location, Olier realized something was off. By all logic, while Norwich was important, his rescue shouldnât have warranted sending such a powerful force.
The only plausible explanation was the escaped little girl. Her identity was far more significant than simply being Norwichâs daughter!
Upon reaching this conclusion, Olier was livid. He knew Norwich had a daughter but had never seen her. Thus, when they kidnapped Norwich, they assumed the little girl with him was his daughter.
"Talk! Who is that little girl?" Olier demanded again. "If you keep clamming up, I wonât be so gentle next time!"
Norwichâs body was already riddled with wounds, blood dripping steadily onto the ground. Yet, his face showed no painâonly satisfaction. "Ha! You want to know her identity? Dream on! Sheâs safe now, out of your reach. Youâll all be wiped out soon enough!"
"Damn it!" Olier spat, grinding his teeth. Suddenly, his eyes fixed on Norwich as realization dawned. "Got it. That little girl is Antoine Fickâs daughter, isnât she?"
A flicker of panic crossed Norwichâs face. "I donât know what youâre talking about!" he stammered.
"I knew it!" Olier sneered, teeth clenched. "Sheâs definitely the daughter of the oil magnate Antoine Fick. Iâve heard rumors for years about his mysterious daughter, but I never expected it to be her! Damn, if Iâd known, I wouldnât have bothered with you. Sheâs worth tens of thousands of times more than you!"
Norwich realized there was no point hiding the truth any longer. He admitted, "So what? Iâm just a humble driver lucky enough to work for the boss. Heâs always been kind to me. Thereâs no way Iâd betray him. If it werenât for the Little Princess accidentally ending up in your hands, the boss wouldâve wiped you out long ago! You bastards are doomed sooner or later!"
"So itâs true!" Olier said coldly. "But you should knowâyouâre about to die."
With that, he delivered a brutal blow to Norwichâs head. A sickening crack rang out as Norwichâs neck twisted unnaturally. He slumped lifelessly to the ground.
"Boss, what do we do now?" one of Olierâs subordinates asked quietly.
"Hmph, that little brat was likely taken by the guy who passed by earlier. We still have a chance. If we can find him and take the girl back, everything will fall back under my control!"