"Yo, Mr. Duke." Cloud greeted him with a smile. "Nice view from up here. Just... your security system is a bit lacking. I suggest you switch suppliers."
Duke: "..."
He wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn't come.
"What... what do you want?" he asked, his voice trembling with fear.
"I don't want anything." Cloud spread his hands. "I just came to reclaim some things that rightfully belong to me. And while I'm at it, clean house a bit—take all you bootleg vendors who've been defiling the name of the divine completely off the shelves."
As he spoke, his gaze fell on "Jiao," still kneeling on the ground.
He extended his hand and made a grasping motion in the air.
"Come here."
"Jiao" immediately flew toward Cloud against his will, stopping right in front of him.
Cloud placed his other hand on top of the artificial human's head.
"Let me see exactly what you little knockoff workshops have been counterfeiting."
Massive psychic power surged inward.
[System: Initiating deep scan and data plunder on target "Jiao"...]
[Scan complete! Obtained complete data on Degraded Orochi Power!]
[Obtained Incomplete Bio-Cloning Technology!]
[Obtained Memory Implantation and Brainwashing Protocols!]
[...]
[Data plunder complete! Format this defective product?]
"Format it. It's an eyesore."
With Cloud's command—
"Jiao's" body shuddered violently, the light in its eyes completely extinguished, then it collapsed like a puppet with cut strings, becoming nothing more than a soulless "empty shell."
Only after finishing all this did Cloud turn his attention back to Duke, who looked about ready to wet himself.
"Now, it's your turn."
"Mr. Duke, that organization called Addes behind you—where is their headquarters?"
"Tell me, and I can make it quick."
...
Under Cloud's "friendly" interrogation—comparable to a soul-searching technique—Duke quickly spilled everything he knew.
It turned out that "Addes" was an extremely vast, ambitious secret society hidden behind the world's major consortiums and arms dealers.
Their goal was to use various black technologies to create super soldiers, thereby secretly manipulating global affairs, inciting wars, and profiting from them.
The "Jiao" organization was merely one of their experimental bases in South Town.
Their true headquarters was hidden somewhere no one would expect.
A small European nation renowned for its peace and neutrality.
The true mastermind behind everything was a famous "philanthropist" named Gustav Munchausen—who was actually Europe's largest arms dealer.
"Interesting. Another Hydra-style organization?" Cloud stroked his chin after hearing the confession. "Seems like the waters of this world run deeper than I thought."
"So, is this information useful to you?"
A cold voice came from nearby.
It was Lien.
She looked at Cloud, her ice-blue eyes filled with complex emotions.
Her purpose in coming here had been to investigate "Addes" and avenge her parents and comrades.
But now, this massive organization she had spent years tracking seemed like nothing more than a "minor inconvenience" before this man.
The enormous disparity left her feeling somewhat lost.
"Of course it's useful." Cloud smiled. He looked at Lien, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Actually, I haven't decided on my next travel destination yet. How about we go to Europe, see some castles, catch an opera, and while we're at it, give this Gustav fellow and his weapons arsenal a nice fireworks show? Sounds like a decent plan."
He extended his hand toward Lien once again.
"So, beautiful assassin lady—interested in joining me for a spontaneous trip to Europe?"
"Your enemy is there."
"And perhaps your answers are there too."
Lien looked at his outstretched hand, then at his confident, mysterious smile.
She was silent for a long time.
Finally, she slowly removed the cold ring blades from her hands.
Then she extended her own pale, slender hands.
And gently placed them in his palm.
"My life is yours."
She spoke softly, her voice still cold.
"As long as you can help me find my answers."
[Ding! Detected key story character Lien Neville's affection has dramatically increased!]
[Conquest Progress: 80%!]
[She has developed strong curiosity and dependence on you. If you help her complete her revenge and resolve her brother's inner conflict, she will fully devote herself to you.]
Chun-Li, watching this "déjà vu" scene from the side, couldn't help but press a hand to her forehead.
She knew it!
This guy was at it again!
That damn irresistible "charm" of his!
...
After "cordially" extracting all intelligence about the Addes organization from Duke's brain, and conveniently giving both him and his "knockoff figurine" a "humanitarian disposal"—
Cloud's "homecoming tour" of South Town came to a close.
He wasn't in a hurry to head to Europe.
Instead, he first took his two newly "recruited" beauties—the passionate fighting police beauty Chun-Li, and the cold-on-the-outside-warm-on-the-inside ice queen assassin Lien—for a few days of rest and relaxation in South Town.
For Cloud, "rest and relaxation" meant eating, drinking, and having fun.
He took these two stunning women, so different in style yet equally eye-catching, to nearly every famous attraction and restaurant in South Town.
They visited the ruins of Howard Estate to "pay respects" to that thoroughly deceased "Master of South Town," Geese Howard.
"Back in the day, this guy was quite the overlord," Cloud said, pointing at the ruins while educating the two beauties. "His Reppuken was absolutely divine. Too bad he had a habit of fighting on tall buildings without guardrails, and eventually got thrown off by a guy in a red cap who was a plumber... wait no, a wolf. So remember, workplace safety is really important."
Chun-Li and Lien listened in bewilderment, feeling like they were hearing some kind of storytelling performance.
...
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