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Seeing that this Fatui soldier didn't seem to be lying, Shao Yun narrowed his eyes slightly, thought for a moment, and asked, "All right, in that case, where is your headquarters in the desert?"
Hearing this question, the Anemoboxer Vanguard hesitated. If he revealed that information, he'd never see his sister again…
Either way, he was doomed.
"Well… I…" His lips trembled, but he couldn't form a complete sentence.
Seeing this, Shao Yun increased the pressure and delivered his final ultimatum.
"Last chance. Think about your sister. Are you really willing to let her spend the rest of her life crying in front of your photograph?"
Torn between loyalty to the organization and his deep affection for his sister, after a fierce struggle, he ultimately chose the latter without hesitation.
He took a deep breath and forced out the answer with all his strength: "Our operational outpost is located inside an ancient ruin deep within the Wadi Al-Majuj. I swear, that's all I know about the headquarters."
Hearing this, a faint glimmer of satisfaction flashed in Shao Yun's eyes. He quickly holstered his gun, gave a polite smile, and said calmly, "Thanks for the cooperation. Now…"
He paused, stared at the Fatui soldier, and signaled for his name.
The soldier's heart pounded under Shao Yun's gaze, and for some reason, an uncontrollable impulse made him answer, "My name is Orest…"
The moment the words left his mouth, he realized he had made a fatal mistake. He immediately regretted it—disaster truly comes from the mouth.
Looking at how obedient the man was, Shao Yun's killing intent faded.
"Thank you, Orest. But for now, you should take a nice long nap. Otherwise, how will you explain things to your superiors?"
He dismounted, walked over to Orest, and without warning, threw a heavy punch straight into the man's jaw.
Orest's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious on the spot.
Shao Yun dragged him into the tent of the Fatui outpost.
Inside, he carefully staged the scene: kicking over tables, breaking objects, creating a scene of chaos.
By the end, the site looked like a bloody mess with one dead and one injured.
After finishing, Shao Yun dusted off his hands and said internally, "System, navigate."
Instantly, the system's cold mechanical voice sounded in his head:
[The Fatui operational headquarters in the Wadi Al-Majuj has been marked.]
[Estimated arrival time: twenty-seven hours.]
Hearing this, Shao Yun frowned. "Why so long?"
[The Land of Lower Setekh is larger than you imagine. And with the sandstorm, visibility is low and travel conditions are poor.]
Shao Yun sighed helplessly. "Remind me, that I hate deserts."
…
A day and night later, the sandstorm was still raging. The sky was swallowed by yellow dust, and the winds howled.
Against this brutal environment, Shao Yun pushed forward toward the Fatui outpost inside the Wadi Al-Majuj.
For some reason, the Fatui had converted an ancient desert ruin into their base.
It turned out to be pathetically fragile. Even the Caravan Ribat was better defended.
When Shao Yun arrived, the sight stunned him.
Corpses of Fatui soldiers were scattered everywhere, blood soaking into the sand.
Most of the soldiers who should have been guarding the place had died miserably.
Only Professor Froderock Fronkonsteen and a few Fatui sentries who weren't in the camp survived.
As for the rest…
In the dead silence, Zoya Snezhevna, the Fatui Captain in charge of exploring the Eternal Oasis, was being held by the collar with one hand, while Shao Yun hammered punches into her face with the other. He showed no concern whatsoever for the fact she was a woman.
After countless strikes, Zoya's face was swollen and disfigured.
She was dizzy and barely conscious, but survival instincts made her mumble through broken lips, "W–what… do you… want? Stop hitting me…"
Shao Yun glared at her with murderous intensity. His voice was like something out of hell. "Where is Aderfi? Tell me now!"
Zoya was stunned. He slaughtered the entire outpost and nearly beat her to death… just to ask about a Eremite named Aderfi? She felt both baffled and furious.
"You… you killed all these people… almost killed me… just to ask about a Tanit Eremite? You should've said so!"
Shao Yun ignored her outrage. Raising his fist again, he warned, "I won't ask a third time. If you don't tell me where Aderfi is, you'll find out what a 'Colombian Necktie' feels like."
Zoya froze at the strange term.
"What… is that? Some kind of special necktie they wear in Fontaine?"
Before she could finish, Shao Yun smashed another punch into her already mangled face.
The blow nearly knocked her into the afterlife.
Shao Yun then explained, cold and slow, "A Colombian Necktie is when someone slits your throat, pulls your tongue out through the incision, and ties it like a necktie around your neck."
"How about it? Want to try?"
Horrified, Zoya immediately confessed everything about Aderfi's recent visit.
"He came a few days ago… wanted manpower… planned to steal the 'Jinni', the key to the Eternal Oasis, from the blonde traveler… and join forces with us to enter the oasis…"
Shao Yun pressed further. "Where is he now? I don't care about his plans."
Zoya thought hard, then answered as clearly as her injured mouth would allow: "Somewhere on the western side of the Desert of Hadramaveth… near the Wounded Shin Valley…"
Shao Yun nodded, satisfied. "Thanks… mm…"
At that moment, Zoya, now half-conscious, introduced herself out of habit and asked weakly, "Zoya Snezhevna… and you are…?"
Shao Yun released her collar, pulled out his pistol, and aimed it at her forehead.
He removed his mask and said calmly, "Shao Yun."
Zoya's eyes widened. She finally understood who he was—the infamous executioner.
"You're that insane butcher?! Someone—help—!"
But the camp was silent. Those who should've been under her command were either dead in pools of blood or had escaped with Professor Franconstein.
Zoya was utterly alone.
Shao Yun smirked with cold contempt.
"Thanks for the intel. Now, get some rest."
He raised his left arm to shield his eyes and pulled the trigger.
The bullet pierced her skull, blood and brain matter splattering outward.
Not satisfied, he fired several more shots into her chest until she was unmistakably dead.
Afterward, he glanced at the remaining Fatui soldiers—still breathing but too wounded to fight. They were no longer worth the trouble.
Leaving the camp, Shao Yun looked up.
The sandstorm had weakened slightly but still howled across the desert.
He raised his mask again and squinted toward the distance.
"Wounded Shin Valley, west of the desert… feels like I'm getting closer to Lumine."
…
In Wounded Shin Valley, Aderfi and several Fatui soldiers had gathered at a temporary camp.
Aderfi stared nervously at the nearby giant ruin-automaton, anxiety gnawing at him like fire.
As time passed, the pressure only grew worse—he felt like ants were chewing all over his body.
Finally, unable to hold back the panic, he muttered hysterically:
"Azariq… when are you coming out? Did you convince Jeht? Did you get the Jinni from the blonde traveler…?"
"I'm betting my entire life on this cooperation! Nothing can go wrong, or the consequences will be unimaginable…"
Lost in his panic, a cold and familiar voice suddenly whispered behind him like a demon arriving.
"Do you really think that muscle-headed idiot can beat Lumine? Never mind her swordsmanship and elemental power—I taught her how to shoot."
"In close combat or ranged combat, he can't match her in anything."
The voice was like thunder, snapping Aderfi out of his panic.
He shuddered violently and spun around as fast as he could.
When he saw Shao Yun standing there, his face froze in terror.
"W–what? Honored guest… h-how did you even find this place…?"
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