Illusion Report

Chapter 347: Chapter 300: Double Combo · The Death of Fu Tailan (Part 2)

"I understand," the security chief replied.

"I’m calling your deputy right now."

She was blunt. "To prevent you from being replaced as well, I’ll tell her the side building is now under lockdown and that you are also forbidden from leaving the security center."

Only a dozen or so seconds had passed between Fu Tailan’s call and the security chief’s. He probably hadn’t had a chance to get to the security chief yet, but she couldn’t let her guard down. After all, she still didn’t know if Fu Tailan could switch identities at will.

"No problem," the security chief said.

’One Fu Tailan can’t pretend to be two people at the same time, at least.’

All she had to do was warn the chief and his deputy separately, have them lock down the side building and watch each other, and for the time being, she wouldn’t have to worry about Fu Tailan fishing in troubled waters.

Before walking to the main entrance, she confirmed one last time with the alpha wolf. "The target is in here?"

"Yes, Fu Tailan is in the security center on the first basement level. First hallway on the right, third room."

The alpha wolf paused, then suddenly chuckled. "Oh, no. He’s moved... He’s in the hallway next to the main hall now. How about it? Let me go in with you. After all, this is a huge building... With my scent-tracking, we can find him in an instant no matter where he hides, don’t you think?"

’Under no circumstances is the creature to be allowed inside a building currently occupied by humans.’ That was the first rule of properly utilizing the alpha wolf.

Brianna considered this for a few seconds.

From a distance, she could already hear the building’s emergency alarms signaling the lockdown.

Brianna turned, walked toward the main entrance, and tossed two words over her shoulder: "Come on."

It was as if a steady nerve in her mind, one built on human common sense, had just snapped with those words. POP.

’...I should have broken free of these restraints long ago, Father.’

***

Sometimes, a man just had to be thankful for the small twists of fate in his favor.

Even though his original plan had been thwarted and he could no longer use a phone call to lure out Secretary Green and assume his identity, Fu Tailan had to admit things weren’t as bad as they could be.

For instance, Secretary Green, for some secret and ambiguous reason, hadn’t sounded a manor-wide alarm upon discovering him. If Westley were to hide in one of his undoubtedly iron-clad bolt-holes, it would be a real hassle to drag him out—even for someone as confident as Fu Tailan. Besides, Westley absolutely could not be allowed to survive the night.

Because fate had decreed it.

This was Fu Tailan’s second stroke of good luck tonight.

The first stroke of luck was that when someone came to tell the three guards to go see the security chief, the men had already separated. "Lowell" was the first to get the summons.

This luck wasn’t entirely without cause. Fu Tailan had no idea what Lowell’s duties were or what he was supposed to do, and he had no intention of working in his stead. When the person came with the message, he just so happened to be looking for the security chief’s office.

In other words, of the three guards, "Lowell" was the one closest to the security chief, so naturally, he was the first to be summoned.

’...Could it be that the three of them are already under suspicion?’

At the time, Fu Tailan had simply nodded, his expression unchanging. He smiled at the female employee who had summoned him. "Do you need me to go get them for you? I think they just went to the restroom for a smoke."

The female employee frowned, just as he’d expected. "Smoking in the restroom? Then come with me. You go in and get them; I’ll wait by the door."

Finding an opportunity along the way wasn’t difficult.

Everyone in the security center was busy at their stations. No one was patrolling the hallways or rooms, and no one heard the muffled cry from the woman’s throat.

He’d always been gentle with women, so he couldn’t be sure if he had subconsciously lightened his blow when knocking her out—or perhaps, afraid that he might go easy on her, he had been especially ruthless?

’But no matter how long she stays unconscious, I need to hurry.’

Though the circumstances were entirely different, Fu Tailan suddenly understood why serial killers who left a trail of bodies were gradually cornered by the police.

He dutifully went to find the other two guards and told them to go see the security chief. He even spoke with the chief for a while, telling him he couldn’t find the guard named "Lowell."

"Just as I thought..."

The security chief was a middle-aged man with thinning hair but a sharp, capable look. He glanced at Fu Tailan, his face tense. "I understand. You can leave first. I have some questions for these two."

’Just as he thought?’

’He doesn’t seem very surprised that "Lowell" is missing.’

’Could it be they’ve already figured out how I snuck in?’

"Alright."

Fu Tailan pulled his hand out of his pocket, no longer touching the Mouth Puppet. He gave the other two guards a nod and left the chief’s office.

He returned to the restroom and stood beside the unconscious female employee. He shook the "driver’s license" nine times, reverted to his identity as Fu Tailan, and called Green. Green’s single "Hello?" answered all his questions.

’Seriously, couldn’t they have given me a few more minutes?’

’I was planning to assume the security chief’s identity to lure Green out...’

’Things never go smoothly for me, just as I expected.’

Fu Tailan sighed.

’Is Green just bluffing? Doesn’t seem like it.’

’Green must still have an ace up his sleeve... He is Westley’s man, after all, with inexhaustible resources, money, and Illusions.’

’If they knew there was an intruder, and who that intruder was, yet could only rely on manpower to search blindly—well, that would just be too stupid.’

He had to make some preparations, just in case.

But that meant he would have to walk into the security center as his true self...

Fu Tailan weighed his options for a moment. Sensing that time was running out, he finally gritted his teeth, pulled a crumpled hat from his pocket, and put it back on. He took a deep breath and strode out the door.

And so he walked right into the security center, bustling with guards and staff, and made his way down the corridor one step at a time. He didn’t know how many steps he’d taken before someone spotted him from a distance. The face in their peripheral vision registered a flicker of vague confusion.

His third stroke of luck, it seemed, was not entirely a good thing.

At the exact moment Fu Tailan was noticed, red signal lights began to flash across the main hall. In that instant, the blaring alarm drew everyone’s attention upward. For a brief moment, no one was looking at the boy in the hat.

"...From now on, all entry and exit is prohibited... I repeat, this building is under lockdown..."

The downside was that he was now locked in, about to be cornered like a rat in a trap.

’So Green really does know where I am. How?’

’Either way, he must be on his way now, right?’

Green arrived even faster than he had anticipated.

"Fu Tailan!"

A sharp shout from across the hall stopped Fu Tailan in his tracks. He turned his head, and beside him, one of the guards who had just ridden back in the car with him—Jesse, was it?—sucked in a sharp breath.

Secretary Green stood in the main hall, the muzzle of his gun aimed right at him.

Beside Green, a giant, wolf-like Nest creature swayed its head, sniffing the air. Wherever its head turned, people flinched and scrambled back.

’...So that’s the thing that pinpointed my location?’

"My apologies," Secretary Green said, his voice eerily calm.

Without another word, he aimed for Fu Tailan’s face and pulled the trigger.

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