The next morning, before Hu Tao's alarm could even ring, Conrad called her phone, immediately pulling her out of bed.
Hu Tao hurriedly washed her face to clear her head before answering Conrad's call: "Hello, Mr. Conrad, do you have any instructions?"
Over the phone, Conrad's tone was unusually serious: "Miss Hu Tao, yesterday our company's personnel saw you and an idle person near Dead End Hollow, and you weren't in a company vehicle. Please tell me, what were you doing there?"
Hu Tao calmly replied: "I was there for some private reasons, and it didn't have any negative impact on Wang Sheng Funeral Parlor's business. According to the privacy protection contract, I don't have to tell you."
Conrad's tone grew even colder: "I'm sure you've seen the news. Dead End Hollow and a large construction area next to it are now operated by Vision Corporation."
"I believe you wouldn't betray me, but based on the details we observed, we analyzed that you might take some actions against Vision Corporation's construction project, or even already have."
"If this is discovered by the media, it is highly likely to have a certain impact on our group's image."
"Therefore, according to the basic terms, you have an obligation to tell me exactly what you did—of course, it's not all bad. If your information can create more profit for the company, we naturally won't punish you."
Thus, Hu Tao, left with no choice, briefly told Conrad what she knew and her subsequent plans, though she did conceal some secrets that could not be divulged.
After listening, Conrad was silent for a moment, then spoke in a more relaxed tone: "So, you did indeed have a certain impact on Vision Corporation's blasting project, but this impact was based on Vision Corporation's violation of multiple procedures and disregard for human life."
After receiving Hu Tao's affirmative reply, Conrad was unexpectedly somewhat pleased: "Your intelligence is very valuable to us!"
"I will contact reporters and the Public Security Bureau at the appropriate time according to your plan to expose Vision Corporation's scandal. This will reduce one more competitor for our group—well done, Hu Tao."
However, before Hu Tao could feel any joy, Conrad's tone suddenly became very serious again: "But, once you also appear in the public eye, you will inevitably be caught in a storm of public opinion, and the risks involved are enormous."
"And you are an indispensable main force in this plan, unable to be replaced by others I dispatch. Therefore—you need to hide your identity."
Hu Tao asked doubtfully: "Are you saying I need to hide my identity in this operation, like those heroes in movies?"
Conrad said with satisfaction: "Exactly. This way, you can both thwart Vision Corporation's conspiracy and not cause any impact on Wang Sheng Funeral Parlor's work."
"Hmm, let me see... The time for your aforementioned plan is almost here. What are you waiting for? Act quickly, don't miss the agreed time with your companions."
Upon hearing this, Hu Tao glanced at the time, then quickly hung up the phone, ran to her wardrobe, and rapidly rummaged through it for suitable clothes, muttering: "Hmm... something discreet, convenient for combat..."
Before long, she picked out a black and red fitted outfit with a hood.
This outfit was form-fitting and lightweight, with some subtle patterns that provided excellent camouflage in the dark.
Hu Tao quickly changed, spun around in front of the mirror, put her hands on her hips, and said contentedly: "Hehe, this look of mine, Hall Master, is simply perfect for missions!"
Then, from another cabinet, she pulled out a mask she had designed herself in her spare time, on a whim, imitating heroes from movies.
The mask was red and black, with flame patterns around the edges, and dotted with some Yin-Yang fish lines, making it look both mysterious and intimidating.
"I didn't expect this mask to actually come in handy!"
A moment later, Hu Tao finally knocked on the video store's door just before the agreed time.
Inside, Ling, who was waiting for Hu Tao, heard the sound and poked her head out. Seeing a mysterious person completely covered standing outside the store, she pointed directly at the sign hanging on the door and said apologetically: "Excuse me, customer, our store is closed today."
Seeing that Ling didn't recognize her, Hu Tao decided to tease her, lowering her voice and saying: "Hall Master Hu has important business, I was sent by her to assist you."
Ling, hearing the person announce Hu Tao's name, half-believing, led 'him' into the store, then locked the door again: "Sorry, this is for safety."
Inside, Mao You and Zhe, who were waiting for Hu Tao, saw Ling bring in a stranger and immediately stood up, asking warily: "Who are you?"
After Hu Tao repeated what she had just said, Mao You leaned closer to Hu Tao, sniffed carefully, and then said: "Although my nose isn't as sensitive as a Canine Alien's, I can smell Hu Tao's scent very clearly. It seems he is very likely Hall Master Hu's person."
Zhe still remained cautious: "We can't be sure he's definitely Hu Tao's person, and we can't fully trust him either."
Then, he leaned close to Hu Tao and said: "Before you join us, I have a few questions for you: What happened to Hu Tao? What is your relationship with her? What is your identity beneath that mask? Tell us honestly!"
At this moment, Hu Tao, who could no longer suppress the smile under her mask, took a step back, removed her mask, and laughed happily at the dumbfounded trio: "Hahaha, sorry, just kidding... Hahaha..."
The other three, remembering their reactions just now, also laughed in relief.
A moment later, Hu Tao, having stopped laughing, explained the reason for her disguise and concluded: "All in all, Conrad is on our side. We just need to continue with the plan."
So, everyone immediately began to act according to the plan... Meanwhile, inside the Hollow, Nicole and the other two had already received the last commission from the stranded residents and were waiting: "Strange, why hasn't Mao You returned after so long? Could something have happened to her?"
Just then, "IES," Mao You, and Hu Tao, with her mask removed, appeared perfectly before everyone: "Although something unexpected did happen, we have a solution now!"
Subsequently, the three rescuers briefly recounted the previous events and their corresponding strategy, and everyone from Canvas Alley agreed to this relatively reliable plan, immediately springing into action... Half an hour later, Nicole, Hu Tao, and the six others had secretly approached Vision Corporation's monitoring point inside the Hollow. As expected, there were indeed fewer troops there.
Then, the six dispersed and acted together according to their signal, quickly controlling over a dozen people, including Perlman.
When Perlman heard they were going to take everyone from Canvas Alley by train, he desperately shouted: "No! Absolutely not!"
"If they run out and talk, Yuanjing and I are both finished—no matter who does what, stop this immediately!"
At this moment, an armed personnel in a corner heard Perlman's words and immediately pulled out an emergency detonator from a box in that corner.
Then, he pressed it without hesitation: "Officer Perlman, please don't worry, I've blown up the only railway leading to New Eridu. They can't get out!"
Upon hearing this, Perlman became even more desperate: "You fool! Weren't we supposed to blow up the railway after we evacuated?! Now that you've done it, aren't we trapped here too?!"
The man, hearing this, was also quite depressed: "Didn't you say 'no matter what method'?"
Mao You, unable to listen any further, delivered a flying kick that knocked him out.
At the same time, the surrounding armed personnel heard the commotion and quickly surrounded them.
Nicole cursed inwardly and quickly said: "Take this shorty, let's retreat into the train first."
By the time the train doors were completely closed, the armed personnel outside had also surrounded them, and both sides were in a stalemate.
Billy angrily punched the carriage: "Damn it, the tracks are gone. Even if we have a car, there's no way to transport the residents out of the Hollow—not to mention this car is now surrounded!"
Just as everyone was about to fall into despair, Zhe had a sudden inspiration and came up with an idea, speaking into IES's built-in communicator: "Everyone, perhaps we can think differently! Although it's a reckless method..."
Nicole quickly asked: "Huh? What do you mean?"
Zhe quickly explained: "The straight-line distance from Canvas Alley to New Eridu isn't actually that far. The road was blocked only because Dead End Hollow expanded."
"Therefore, we only need to kill that giant Remnant in Dead End Hollow—the Dead End Butcher—to make the Hollow shrink, exposing a pathway from within the Hollow, and the residents can leave here in one go."
Amber sighed and said: "But, with just the few of us, we can't contend with such a gigantic Remnant."
At this moment, "IES" reminded: "Amber, don't forget, this car is loaded with tons of Vision Corporation's Aether explosives! With them, we might be able to take down the Dead End Butcher."
Although it was a reckless method, there was no time to hesitate now. The group immediately decided to go for it!
But the problem was, who would lure away the armed personnel outside the car?