Chapter 877 Infiltration
Chapter 877 Infiltration
Upon his return to Whitethorn Tribe, Gavin couldn't stop raving about Benjamin, telling everyone how he had saved the day. Thanks to Benjamin's help, the feud between Whitethorn Tribe and Shadowthorn Tribe got sorted out smoothly.
The chief of Whitethorn Tribe had initially wanted Benjamin to stay for dinner, but Benjamin said he had some business to take care of and had to hit the road. Unable to keep him, the tribe had to let Benjamin go. As he drove off, Janet managed to convince her father to let her tag along with Benjamin on his adventures. The chief, knowing Benjamin's reputation, trusted him to keep Janet safe. But he was sad to see his daughter leave their homeland. Giving in to Janet's persistence, he agreed, only asking her to come back home for a few months each year. Janet happily accepted the terms.
So, Benjamin drove his off-road vehicle to pick up Janet from Whitethorn Tribe.
The journey from Whitethorn Tribe to the city was rough, taking Benjamin four to five hours to reach the hotel where the Dragon Corps was holed up. By the time he got back to his room, it was already ten o'clock at night.
Benjamin got a separate room for Janet and settled into his own room to work on his Inner Energy.
The next day, the Dragon Corps crew showed their fake documents, posing as merchants, and headed to the border between Stonecrest and Valoria. The border guards just glanced at their papers and waved them through.
Trading between Stormarians and Valoria was common, so no one batted an eye. In Valoria, where power was king, might made right. Strength equaled everything.
Benjamin and the team drove to Mistwood, the capital of Valoria.
Valorians tended to be shorter than Stormarians, with darker skin from the subtropical climate.
Valorians seemed to have a thing for green hats, a symbol of respect among Valorian women. On the other hand, Veridianian men seemed more laid-back, soaking up the admiration and protection of women without breaking a sweat. They cruised around town on motorcycles daily, carefree and easygoing, but to Stormarians, it came off as shameless. Different strokes for different folks.
Valoria was teeming with stunning women, draped in light, flowing silk outfits that exuded elegance and sophistication.
But Benjamin seemed more intrigued by the curves of Veridianian women.
With a Veridianian guide in tow, Benjamin and the Dragon Corps crew settled into a modest hotel to keep a low profile in the less developed Valoria, where motorcycles ruled the streets over cars.
After securing a hotel, the team took a breather.
That night, sticking to the plan, they snuck into Herbert's house to track down the traitors Cameron and James.
But as they say, time drags when you're on edge.
Finally, at the stroke of midnight, in the eerie silence, Benjamin led sixteen Dragon Corps members to Herbert's place.
Benjamin split the team into three groups: himself and five guards from the west, Aurora with a squad of five, and Roddy and Nyla leading another five. The groups crept towards Herbert's yard from different angles.
Just as Benjamin and the guards from the west were strategizing their move, they heard a voice in Veridianian in the distance, yelling, "Hey!"
They turned to see two patrol officers approaching.
Thinking on his feet, Benjamin stumbled towards them, feigning drunkenness and asking for help getting home. The officers, not understanding him, figured he was a tipsy foreigner and told him to head back and sleep it off. Oblivious to the Dragon Corps' real intentions, they shone their flashlights and told them to scram, mistaking them for rowdy local kids. Valoria's law enforcement wasn't top-notch, used to dealing with such antics.
The youths exchanged confused glances, not catching a word of what the cops were saying.
But in that moment, comprehension was irrelevant. Benjamin closed in, focusing energy into his fingertips, swiftly incapacitating the two patrol officers with lightning speed. They let out a muffled groan almost in unison before slumping to the ground. Benjamin grabbed their legs, dragging them into the bushes by the roadside to ensure they stayed out for a few hours before reemerging outside the wall.
Terra Fury spoke up, "Captain, I scoped it out. The villa's loaded with security cameras and infrared alarms on the walls. How are we getting in?"
Benjamin smirked slightly, "There's no place an agent can't infiltrate. Figure it out; now's the time to show what you're made of."
"Copy that," Terra Fury nodded, huddling with the other four guards. After a quick powwow, they hashed out a plan with specific roles in under a minute.
Terra Fury used an infrared reflector to block the infrared scans, a mirror-like gadget bouncing the infrared back to its source. Meanwhile, Ignis Valor employed a projection blocker to disrupt the surveillance cameras. Aero Blaze played the role of a human ladder, assisting Aqua Serenity and Nova Alliance in leaping into the yard first. Benjamin, Terra Fury, and Ignis Valor followed suit, with Aero Blaze bringing up the rear.
It was clear that the point where the six infiltrated was the weakest link in the guards' defense. Benjamin and the five youths pressed against the wall, reaching the side door where they spotted two sentries.
At this late hour, the sentries were fighting off yawns.
Benjamin signaled Terra Fury and Ignis Valor to handle the sentries.
The two youths crept up on the sentries from behind, well-versed in covert tactics. When they reached the sentries, they swiftly took them down simultaneously with precise strikes.
With the sentries out of commission, Benjamin led the five into the villa through the side door, evading the cameras.
As the Vice President of Valoria, Herbert's villa, despite being in a poor country, boasted top-notch luxury and security measures. Benjamin had to proceed cautiously, infiltrating the villa step by step. However, progress on the other fronts seemed smooth as well. From the mission's start until now, not a single alarm had gone off, indicating no brushes with danger. As per the plan, they were expected to rendezvous soon at the villa's center.
Herbert appeared affluent, with the villa's hall adorned with numerous valuable paintings and calligraphy works. This guy must be into some shady dealings to amass such wealth. The art alone was estimated to be worth over a hundred million dollars.
Benjamin didn't hold a grudge against the wealthy but detested those who amassed riches through illicit means. His own wealth was earned through hard work, except for the windfall from Hudson. Benjamin never saw that money as his own, knowing it was tied to Celestoria's government. In this strange world, the rich often got richer, and the poor got poorer. Benjamin cared more about aiding those in need than his own prosperity.
Lost in contemplation, Benjamin was jolted back to reality when Ignis Valor accidentally kicked a vase. Terra Fury swiftly caught the falling vase by its neck, preventing a crash.
Benjamin shot Ignis Valor a disapproving look, and Ignis Valor stuck out his tongue, trying to avoid making more noise.
The six advanced toward the villa cautiously, incapacitating guards, disrupting and reflecting infrared beams, and disabling surveillance cameras. After a while, they arrived at a door outside a grand hall, overhearing two individuals conversing inside. Benjamin recognized the voices as James and Cameron, the remnants of the Stormwind Sect, drinking and chatting.
Cameron remarked, "James, aren't we pathetic? We couldn't even handle Benjamin, got beaten, and betrayed our country to Valoria. Sometimes I wonder, did we pick the wrong side?"
James responded, "What choice did we have? Can you return to Stormaria now and apologize to Benjamin, saying you'll join him? Do you think he'd forgive you?"
Cameron replied, "He holds grudges. We tormented him so much before; he'd never let it go. How could he forgive us easily?"