The Rift Between Cities: The Uprisers

Ning Fan licked his lips, disregarding the questioning looks from the others.

"Brother Chuan, I want to ask, have you often encountered people like Cheng Bin before?"

Lin Chuan's expression turned serious as he stroked the messy stubble on his chin.

"Rarely."

Lin Chuan furrowed his brow, "Our Stray Dog Pack is notorious in this area for being poor but tough. Even if someone wants to rob or loot, they usually wouldn't be foolish enough to target us."

Hui Zi proudly chimed in, "Right, robbing us has a terrible return on investment."

Ning Fan couldn't help but smile, then quickly asked, "So, don't you think he's a bit odd?"

"A starving man will do anything for food, what's odd about that?" Qiao Fei interjected coldly.

Ning Fan spoke softly, "Outside the district, being robbed is indeed normal, but first, we must have something worth stealing!"

Everyone's gaze sharpened simultaneously.

"Cheng Bin infiltrated us this time carrying 16,000 Solas!"

Ning Fan's brow gradually furrowed, "Sister Fei, he doesn't seem like the starving man you described. To put it bluntly, he might even be richer than us!"

This time, Qiao Fei didn't take offense at Ning Fan's words but instead fell into deep thought.

She realized the issue Ning Fan was pointing out.

"So, you mean..." Lin Chuan turned his gaze towards the direction of the vehicle.

Ning Fan nodded, "I think we should first determine what exactly we're transporting this time!"

Since Lin Chuan had said that the Stray Dog Pack was known for being poor but tough, it meant that ordinary people wouldn't set their sights on them.

This implied that the opposing party wasn't interested in the Stray Dog Pack itself, but in their current mission!

"It's not proper to open and check the client's goods," Lin Chuan's brows knitted tightly, "That's the rule."

"Brother Hui, I remember before we set out, you also felt this mission was too simple, yet they paid us according to Level 2 risk standards. That's strange, right?"

Hui Zi nodded seriously, but his gaze towards Ning Fan now held more interest.

This kid's thinking was quite meticulous.

He even remembered such a small detail from before they set out?

Ning Fan continued, "And Cheng Bin was waiting for us on the necessary route, clearly knowing our final destination was the F27 District. So, if there isn't a mole among us, who leaked this information?"

"Yang Beihai!?" Hui Zi suddenly stood up, fuming with anger, "That old baldy! He dares to set us up?"

"Calm down, will you! All this chatter is giving me a headache!" Lin Chuan impatiently scolded.

Hui Zi glared, panting heavily, but obediently sat back down.

Lin Chuan looked at Ning Fan, "Continue."

"Brother Chuan, in my view, there are two possibilities for what's in the car now."

Ning Fan held up two fingers, "First, the items inside are highly valuable, perhaps even beyond our imagination! The risk level might even exceed Level 3!"

Lin Chuan nodded thoughtfully.

This wasn't hard to guess.

"But personally, I think this possibility is low, because if that were the case, Yang Beihai wouldn't have leaked this information. The goods are his, and if they get stolen, he'd be even more upset than us."

Ning Fan tapped his fingers, "Of course, we can't rule out that he might be in cahoots with people from the F27 District, though I think the chances are slim!"

Colluding with others was too risky.

When it comes to Solas, who can trust whom?

After that "War Bear" steals the goods, even if he doesn't share the benefits, what could Yang Beihai do?

It's already embezzlement; he wouldn't dare to make a big fuss about it.

"So, I'm more inclined towards the second possibility."

Ning Fan narrowed his eyes, looking towards the vehicle, "The stuff in that car is worthless!"

This guess left everyone perplexed.

"What does that mean? What are they trying to steal then? And what are we protecting?" Hui Zi couldn't help but blurt out another question.

Lin Chuan glared at him, then looked back at Ning Fan, "When you say 'worthless,' what do you mean? If the other party knows what we're transporting is worthless, why would they still target us?"

"Brother, aren't you asking the same question as me?" Hui Zi muttered.

"Because Yang Beihai never expected us to deliver the goods to the F27 District in the first place!"

Before Lin Chuan could get angry, Ning Fan quickly said, "To be precise, he will use every means to prevent us from reaching the F27 District!"

Everyone fell silent.

In the flickering firelight, one could see the grim expressions on everyone's faces.

"Are you saying... Yang Beihai is after us?" Lin Chuan said in a deep voice, "But I still don't see the logic. This isn't our first collaboration with Yang Beihai, and we've never had any grudges."

"Brother Chuan, let me ask you, if we die outside the district, would this mission be considered a failure for our Stray Dog Pack?"

"Of course it would."

Lin Chuan had just answered when he suddenly stood up!

"I get it now!"

Some team members' eyes lit up with understanding, while others still looked confused.

"Yang Beihai must have told the receiving party that we, the Stray Dog Pack, would deliver this shipment, but in the end, we failed the mission! So even if the goods aren't delivered, it has nothing to do with him!"

Lin Chuan clenched his fists, "He wants to keep all the goods for himself! Damn it! We've been walking in the dark all our lives, and now we're being used as scapegoats!"

Ning Fan nodded, "Yes, that's why I said the stuff in the car might be worthless. Because he knows very well that no matter what it is... it will never reach the F27 District!"

Lin Chuan suddenly turned and walked towards the vehicle.

Everyone immediately followed.

However, when they opened the trunk and forcibly opened the iron box inside...

Everyone looked at Ning Fan.

The box was empty!

This kid had guessed right!

However, there was no joy in Ning Fan's eyes. Instead, they revealed deep concern.

The fact that the other party dared to do this meant they were confident enough to leave all members of the Stray Dog Pack outside the district!

Yang Beihai had worked with the Stray Dog Pack before, so he naturally had some knowledge of their capabilities.

Even so, he still had such confidence...

"Brother Chuan, let's go back!" Hui Zi said with a cold face, "Let's drag Yang Beihai out and make him explain everything!"

Lin Chuan stared at the box, not speaking for a long time, his face unusually grim.

Ning Fan knew Lin Chuan was very angry.

Lin Chuan was a man who strictly followed rules.

Therefore, he utterly despised those who broke them.

At the same time, Hui Zi's suggestion was currently the only option.

This mission certainly couldn't continue.

But what Ning Fan never expected was that after a full five minutes of silence, Lin Chuan suddenly turned to face everyone.

His face was as calm as still water in a deep pond.

"Rest for half an hour, adjust to your best condition... then we continue forward!"

""")