The Legend of the Dragon King - Chapter 417

Chapter 417

Chapter 417 - Obeying Orders

“Have you informed headquarters of their demands?” the conductor asked the security captain .  

“I’ve already sent a message,” said the security captain . “But headquarters said they would have to consult the higher ups first . It’s impossible to fulfill their demands in half an hour . The people these terrorists want released are all extremely heinous criminals . If we give in to these demands…” 

The conductor clenched her jaw . “When will backup arrive?” 

“They should be here in twenty minutes, but . . . since the bombs are already ticking, by the time backup arrives…” Cold sweat ran down the security captain’s back .  

An eerie look washed over the conductor’s face . “Have the crew withdraw to the sixth carriage . ”

The security captain looked at her in shock . “Conductor, don’t tell me we’re sacrificing the hostages?”

“Who said we’re sacrificing them! Just carry out your orders,” the conductor barked .  

In case of emergencies, the conductor held the highest authority on a train . The attendants stood by, waiting for their orders . The security captain clenched his teeth, then commanded the attendants to withdraw with a wave of his hand .  

The conductor turned back to the fifth carriage . “Please don’t act impulsively! We’re fulfilling your demands as we speak, but we need more time! Thirty minutes is too short . Please extend the timer on the bombs . I beg of you to trust me . I will do my best to mediate and get you what you want . But I also need you to promise me you won’t hurt the hostages . ” 

All of the attendants and security staff withdrew to the sixth carriage .  

“How do I know you’re not just stalling for time?” a hoarse voice shouted back .  

The conductor remained calm . “You have bombs installed, so even if mechas come as backup, they wouldn’t be able to storm your carriage . Hundreds of lives are at risk after all . I’ve already contacted headquarters and they agreed to your demands, but this matter involves the Federal government . We need to get someone with more authority to approve it . It’ll take about one hour to do that . If you can trust me, extend the time limit to one hour . I’m certain you have some way to detonate the bombs at any time, so you don’t have to be worried if I’m lying . ” 

The terrorists in the fifth carriage went silent for a while, then the same voice as before spoke up again . “Fine . I’ll trust you this time . We’ll extend the bomb timers to one hour . But if you’re lying, everyone dies . ” 

The conductor took a deep breath . “Let’s discuss the demands then . Let me introduce myself first . I am this train’s conductor . My name is Mo Lan . I’m an ordinary person without any soul power . My father is the administrator of Heaven Dou City, Mo Wu . I’m sure that I am far more valuable as a hostage than ordinary people . So, I request that you release all the elderly, women, and children you have taken hostage . Take me in their stead . ” 

“Conductor, you can’t!” The security captain grabbed her arm .  

Mo Lan threw him off . Despite being a mere ordinary person, she was able to shake off the grip of a two-ringed soul master . She turned to glare at him . The security captain couldn’t help but avert his gaze when he saw the imposing determination in her eyes .  

The hoarse voice finally spoke up once more . “We can’t agree to your request . We have no way of verifying your identity . ”

Mo Lan sucked in a breath of air, then stepped into the doorway, exposing herself to the guns of the terrorists . “You can search me up on soulnet and verify my appearance . If you also cross-reference my name with my father’s, you should have no trouble confirming my identity . ” She scanned the carriage as she spoke . Most of the passengers were huddled at the back . She could see a bomb stuck to the roof of the carriage from where she was standing, but she couldn’t see the terrorists . Instead, their guns poked out of gaps between the hostages, aimed straight at her .  

Perhaps affected by her calmness, one of the terrorists spoke up after a few moments . “Alright . We have confirmed your identity . We will release all the elderly, women, and children . But don’t even think about pulling any stunts . This is a game of trust now . We’ll release ten people first, then you’ll walk over . After that, I’ll release the rest . If you don’t keep your promise after we release the first ten people, I’ll kill ten others to make up for it . ” 

“Understood!” Mo Lan answered without hesitation .  

The terrorists acted quickly . A few moments later, ten hostages walked out of the carriage and into the other . They thanked Mo Lan in between sobs as they passed her . Mo Lan remained stone-faced . She simply patted each hostage on the back as she directed them to the security captain, who inspected them to make sure no bombs had been planted on them .  

“We’ve fulfilled our part of the deal . Now it’s your turn!” shouted the hoarse voice .  

Mo Lan took out her beam gun and passed it to the security captain . With both hands high in the air to indicate she wasn’t armed, she walked into the fifth carriage . Her movements were slow and steady, and she soon reached the other hostages . A hand stretched out to point a gun right at her forehead .  

Mo Lan kept her cool . “You can release the rest now . ” 

“Alright . You’re very brave, Miss Mo Lan . You certainly live up to your status as the daughter of an official . I really admire you . Release the others!”  

There were about four hundred passengers in the first five carriages, with elderly, women, and children making up about a third of that number . Over a hundred people were released and began trickling into the sixth carriage .  

A terrorist completely garbed in black restrained Mo Lan from behind . He held a gun to her head as he watched the procession of people leaving for the sixth carriage, not noticing the faint smile she wore . “We’ve shown our sincerity, so now it’s your turn . You guys have forty minutes remaining to meet our demands . ” 

Mo Lan was about to speak when a young voice called out from the sixth carriage . “Big Sis! Big Sis!” A small figure ran out, and was instantly met with three beam guns pointed at his head .  

“Wulin? W-what are you doing here?” Mo Lan’s face turned pale .  

Indeed, it was Tang Wulin who had just barged into the carriage . He stumbled a few steps forward, tears in his eyes and panic on his face . A couple more steps and he arrived in front of Mo Lan and hugged her waist . “Big Sis, don’t abandon me! They told me there are bad guys here . ” He glared at the terrorist with childish rebellion . “Don’t hurt my Big Sis!” 

“Huh? Is this kid your brother? How come you two don’t look anything alike? Is he a bastard child?” the hoarse voiced terrorist teased, soliciting hoots of laughter from his comrades .  

“He’s my cousin . Stop talking nonsense,” Mo Lan said furiously as she sneaked a questioning glance at Tang Wulin .  

“Don’t abandon me, Big Sis!” Tang Wulin still wore the mask of a sobbing child . “I don’t care what happens! Just let me stay with you!”

This kid… Mo Lan looked to the distant security captain . They were in a desperate situation now . She gave him a slight nod .  

The security captain steeled his resolve and stepped into the fifth carriage . “Take me as a hostage too,” he said with his hands raised in the air .  

“Conductor!” “Captain!” a few train attendants cried .

As the terrorists debated what to do, the sixth carriage detached from the fifth .