This kick not only carried immense power but Joan's toes were also extremely sharp. The Fifth Brother couldn't ignore it and was forced to retreat further.
Does she not want the artifact anymore?
The Fifth Brother's anger grew. Joan once again smashed the artifact box toward him. Unable to dodge, he could only turn his lightsaber aside and block with his shoulder. But the force behind the box was surprisingly heavy; he felt as if he had been rammed by a beast. His entire body was slammed into the wall, leaving his head buzzing.
What on earth is this thing? Is this the strength possessed by a normal biological creature?
Finally, the Seventh Sister retrieved her lightsaber from behind and caught up. Dealing with Joan became slightly easier for the two of them, but they still didn't dare to attack freely. Whenever they raised a hand, the box containing the artifact would be thrust into their attack trajectory.
Although she wasn't under immediate threat, Joan was also in a dilemma. Despite her considerable strength, if she pressed too hard and the two Inquisitors decided to attack regardless of the artifact's safety, it would still be very dangerous.
Just as she was contemplating a strategy, a familiar voice came from behind.
"Doctor!"
Is that Varela?
Before she even turned around, the sound of blaster fire rang out from behind her. Joan, in perfect coordination, quickly leaped back to create distance.
Sure enough, the blaster bolts were all directed at the Fifth Brother in the front. While he was dodging, Joan had already run far away.
Milisen's marksmanship was hard to describe, and she had given her blaster to Koxi, so she could only stand aside and watch the show.
Under Varela's cover, the group of three quickly exited the rat run and dove into another entrance.
The Fifth Brother was furious, but he could only continue the chase.
. . .
On the other side, Amir climbed onto a roof and found BD-4 appearing beside him.
"What are you doing?" Amir asked.
BD-4 beeped and chirped, pointing in the direction of the assassin droid.
"You mean you saw the assassin droid sneaking away with that box, so you chased him?"
"Beep-beep-bzzt-beep!"
"What?" Amir didn't quite understand, so he looked at the assassin droid again.
Perched on top of the assassin droid's head was a tiny spider droid, sitting in its blind spot, completely undetected.
The spider droid was equipped with scanning functions capable of detecting the general properties of objects inside containers, such as heat and energy levels. The data received by the spider droid had been configured by Amir to sync directly to BD-4, making the spider droid effectively BD-4's assistant.
BD-4 had likely detected an anomaly with the box and started tracking the assassin droid.
Looking at the adorable BD-4, Amir smiled and praised him.
"I knew you were the best at finding things. You even found a very important holographic recorder once." That had happened on Coruscant.
With that, Amir continued to follow the assassin droid and sent a communication to 32.
The call connected quickly.
"Where are you?"
"I didn't find Joan. I'm hiding on a roof right now."
"Then come find me. I've discovered something unusual."
"Okay."
After 32 responded, Amir broadcast his location to the surroundings directly via brainwaves. 32 would arrive soon after receiving it.
It was time to install some convenient accessories on 32's mechanical body, such as a built-in communicator, scanners similar to the spider droid's, and a positioning system. It would make future operations much more convenient.
After doing this, Amir quietly followed the assassin droid.
He could have acted directly, ordering the spider droid to discharge electricity and paralyze it, but Amir didn't do so.
He wanted to see where this assassin droid was taking the box.
According to Amir's deduction, even if Nurul was burning his bridges and fighting to the death against the Imperial Inquisitors, he wouldn't hand the box over to a droid. No matter how much he trusted it, it was still an outsider.
The most appropriate method would be to hide the artifact in a concealed location and leave the information about that location to Lindsay. Even if Nurul died, Lindsay could use the artifact to secure a foundation for her life.
So, how the assassin droid got the box was worth pondering. Could it be that this assassin droid was truly that trustworthy to Nurul?
The assassin droid was very alert, constantly observing its surroundings. Amir had to hide deeper, but he didn't worry about losing the trail. The spider droid was right on its head; it couldn't escape no matter what.
"Where was this box originally kept?" Amir asked BD-4.
"Beep-beep-beep-coo-beep~"
"You only discovered it after seeing him leave the building?"
Would Nurul keep the artifact in the camp?
Amir thought about what Nurul had said earlier: if the Empire had brought his child, he wouldn't have cared even if he gave them the artifact.
Deep down, Nurul still hoped for a successful transaction because it would mean his child was safe.
But the outcome had disappointed him.
So had he prepared for both scenarios? If the trade was successful, he would give the Empire the real thing; if not, he would send the assassin droid away with the artifact?
Unable to confirm his guess, Amir could only continue to follow.
The assassin droid wove through the city's various alleys. Before long, it left the Dead Hand's territory and arrived in front of a peculiar building.
Unlike the surrounding orderly, blocky structures, this building presented a twisted beauty. It looked like a palace rising from a swamp. Its gray-green color and irregular structure gave the building a strange opulence.
Amir suddenly sensed someone walking toward him from behind.
Turning around, he saw a child.
Amir recognized this child. Milisen had once offered him a skewer of meat, but he had snatched it and run away.
Now, the child was carrying Milisen's bat backpack on his back and holding her blaster pistol in his hand.
Amir sensed no malice from him.
Koxi looked a bit nervous. He spoke from a distance, "My name is Koxi. I saw you on the roof and followed you, thinking I could help."
Amir looked at this child, who was even younger than Milisen. Compared to the fear and anxiety he had sensed the first time they met, this child had changed a lot. It was as if a weight had been lifted from his mind, and he was no longer timid.
"Have you seen Milisen?" Amir asked. Although Joan was operating alone, Amir trusted that Milisen was safe.
"Yeah, Milisen helped me and rescued my friend from the Dead Hand."
"Where is she now?"
"She stayed at the Dead Hand's camp..."
Amir wasn't so sure anymore.
Milisen wasn't the type of child to stay put. He should have expected this; sure enough, she had run off again.
"Don't worry!" Just then, a robust droid ran over from not far away. It was 32. He approached and said to Amir, "I saw Milisen and Varela together from a distance, just after we hung up."
"Okay." Amir nodded. "Varela and Milisen most likely went to help Joan."
"How is it over there? Should I have followed them just now?" 32 seemed a little worried about the situation on the other side.
"I've already told Joan that the item in her hand might be a fake, so she'll throw it away and escape if necessary. There won't be any danger."
With that confirmed, the three of them looked at the assassin droid together.
"That is Zaku the Hutt's palace!" Koxi suddenly said.
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