IMAO Chapter 131

“Alright.” Jiang Yuan didn’t insist further. With Ji Rong’s status, even if he did something outrageous, the Hoyt side could completely handle any issues.

The title of the strongest nation in the interstellar world wasn’t just for show.

…

Damn, they still found out.

Should have dealt with that Alpha when he had the chance!

The short man kept his head down, concealing his malicious gaze, his eyes filled with ruthlessness.

“Aimé, are you okay? What did those police officers want from you?” A pretty girl held onto Aimé’s arm, asking with a bright smile.

“Nothing, just asking about the Omega who disappeared after staying at our hotel,” Aimé replied.

“Ah, the pregnant Omega? Omegas like that should be quite popular, I wonder why they came to Longluo alone, without their partner…” The girl clearly knew about Qiu Jingming’s situation. “It’s so unfortunate. I hope they find him soon. I hope nothing bad happens, especially with the baby and all.”

“I can’t imagine who would target a pregnant Omega,” the girl said worriedly. “They couldn’t be organ traffickers, could they?”

A nearby server who overheard their conversation snorted. “Please, what ancient drama have you been watching? Organs can be cultivated independently now. Who would need to traffic organs?”

“Emily, you’re making fun of me again!” The girl stuck out her tongue at the server.

Aimé glanced at the transport machines in the warehouse and after checking the inventory data, said, “Organ trafficking is impossible, but human trafficking is possible.”

“Human trafficking?” the girl objected. “Who would pay for a pregnant Omega?”

“Why not?” Aimé’s mouth curved up at one corner. “Just terminate the pregnancy, remove the bond mark, give them some treatment with a healing device, and unless you check carefully, you’d never know.”

“Ugh… Aimé, stop it! You’re scaring me. That would destroy the Omega’s body!” The girl shuddered.

Aimé shrugged and took a final look at the data. “Alright, everything’s done. The receipt is in your communicator. Just confirm with your fingerprint.”

“Oh, okay.” The girl carefully verified the data before pressing her fingerprint. “Thanks for your hard work today. You can head back now.”

“Sure.” Aimé put the communicator in his pocket and let out a heavy breath. Leaving the kitchen, he pulled out a cigarette. Although he was discovered, he remained calm. He lit the cigarette held between his fingers. He wasn’t worried. There was no evidence linking him to the Omega’s disappearance. Even the police could only prove he followed them, and only for the first two days after their arrival.

His task was simple: use his job to observe attractive guests at the hotel, assess their situation, and pass the information to his contact. Everything after that had nothing to do with him.

When he first dealt with Luca, he thought they were looking for one-night stands. But after he reported an attractive Beta woman, she disappeared a few days later.

At the time, his heart was filled with uncertain suspicion, and he considered telling the police. But when he saw the money, which was more than he could earn in decades, he buried his conscience and kept quiet.

But with these things, after the first time, the second becomes easier. And this was his third.

The moment he saw that pregnant Omega, he knew he would make a lot of money this time, even with their condition…

As expected, he convinced his contact, who agreed to his proposal the moment they saw the beautiful Omega.

That Richard was really thorough. He originally didn’t want to leave Longluo, but fortunately he listened to that guy’s advice, otherwise this time would have been trouble.

The cigarette burned to the end, singeing his fingertips. Aimé frowned in displeasure, tossed the cigarette butt into the trash, and pushed open the hotel’s back door.

The sunset cut through the buildings, splitting the entire hotel with light and shadow. After wandering the streets for a while, Aimé spat on the ground and muttered, “Time to go home!”

His shadow stretched unusually long in the sunlight. He quickly made his way home. As he passed by a small alley, someone suddenly grabbed him and covered his mouth, preventing him from making a sound.

He couldn’t see the person’s face. They were about half a head taller than him, with a well-proportioned build and defined muscles on their exposed arms. Their skin gleamed with sweat, and although their palms were rough, their hands were clean with neatly trimmed fingernails.

Ji Rong looked at the man he pulled into the alley and said quietly, “I have something to ask you.”

Aimé’s whole body trembled. That voice was too familiar.

The next second, he lost consciousness.

“You’re quite skilled at that…” Jiang Yuan glanced at Ji Rong from the corner, speaking softly.

Ji Rong smiled as he covered the unconscious man with clothes, explaining cheerfully, “I used to fight a lot in Noth. When I was young and couldn’t win against those guys, this is how I ambushed those bastards.”

“Pfft, didn’t the Marshal mind?” Jiang Yuan asked with a smile.

Ji Rong scratched his head, “Actually, I only did it to get his attention. Planet Noth wasn’t peaceful then, and he was almost always with the army. Even though I was in the army too, I couldn’t see him. So I often went to bars outside the base to fight. When I caused trouble, Uncle Shen would come get me and take me to my dad. I was just… really lonely… you understand, right?”

Jiang Yuan lowered his gaze to Ji Rong, his heart twinging. He gently brushed his lips against Ji Rong’s and said, “You’ll never have to do that again. I’ll be with you.”

Hearing Jiang Yuan’s words, Ji Rong’s eyes curved slightly, unable to hide his joy, his heart wrapped in honey-like sweetness that could melt anyone. His red-tipped ears made him look like a completely different person from the skilled assailant of moments ago.

In the dark, deep alley.

The man slowly woke up. He opened his eyes and instinctively looked around. After a while, his eyes adjusted to the light, and he finally saw his surroundings clearly. Two young men stood nearby, hands in their pockets, looking down at him leisurely.

“W-what are you doing?” Seeing the two, Aimé knew he’d better say something if he wanted to leave this alley.

“What do you think?” Jiang Yuan grabbed Aimé’s chin and asked back.

Seeing Jiang Yuan’s half-smiling expression, Aimé knew these people wouldn’t let this go easily. He trembled, “This is illegal! You’re police officers!”

“Police officers?” Jiang Yuan sneered, “I never said I was police. Let me be clear. That missing Omega is my brother. When I can’t find him, I’m capable of anything.”

“No wonder you grabbed me,” Aimé’s Adam’s apple bobbed, “but you’d better let me go now, or I’ll call the police. You’ll both be arrested! This is illegal!”

Jiang Yuan spat in disgust, “Oh, so you know kidnapping is illegal? I thought you didn’t. Tell me, where is he?”

“I don’t know. But I know if I shout now, the robot police will come!” Aimé tried to keep his composure.

“Want to bet what’s faster, the robot police arriving, or me strangling you to death?” Jiang Yuan asked with a low laugh.

“Hah, you wouldn’t dare!” Aimé let out a contemptuous snort. These two might beat him up, but kill him? He didn’t believe it!

But the next second, his throat was tightly gripped, and blood instantly rushed to his head, making breathing impossible.

The person who had just been speaking to him calmly suddenly grabbed his shoulder and locked his elbow around his neck. He couldn’t breathe…

No, this person wouldn’t dare kill him. He’d let go soon, he would…

As long as he kept quiet, everything would be fine!

Those people taught him how to handle situations like this. Someone this young wouldn’t throw away their promising life for someone else.

Ji Rong froze. The guy in Jiang Yuan’s chokehold was clearly about to pass out. His face was red and his veins were bulging. He thought scaring him like this would make him talk quickly, but he underestimated this Aimé.

“Stop, Jiang Yuan! Let go! He’s going to die!”

Ji Rong instinctively tried to pull Jiang Yuan’s arms away, but his grip was too tight to break.

“Damn it! You’re crazy, he’s really going to die!”

Through the haze, Aimé heard a cold snort of disdain. His body felt like it was plunging into ice. The person choking him truly wasn’t afraid, truly meant to kill him!

Terror crawled up his spine uncontrollably. His mind had only one thought: he was going to die.

He couldn’t breathe at all, couldn’t speak… couldn’t say a single word. He struggled desperately, clawing at the hands around his throat. He wanted to talk. He regretted everything. If he had another chance, he’d tell them everything he knew!

But it seemed he wouldn’t get that chance. Those people were wrong… these relatives would kill. When pushed, they would kill.

Was he about to die?

His vision gradually blurred. He could barely hear someone shouting-

“You’re insane!” Ji Rong was shocked by Jiang Yuan’s actions. Without thinking, he threw a punch, forcing Jiang Yuan to let go. His heart was racing. He was really scared. No matter what, he couldn’t let Jiang Yuan kill someone for his adopted brother!

To dodge Ji Rong’s attack, Jiang Yuan’s grip loosened slightly. Aimé seized the chance to escape, collapsing to his knees, clutching his throat and gasping for air, large drops of sweat falling from his forehead.

Just as he caught his breath, he saw Jiang Yuan charging toward him. Almost instinctively, he dove behind Ji Rong, crying out in desperation, “Save me! I’ll talk, I’ll tell you everything, don’t kill me, don’t kill me! He really wants to kill me!”

He was certain that person would really kill him! Would really end his life!

Ji Rong blocked Jiang Yuan, shocked that he nearly strangled this guy to death. If he didn’t stop him in time, there would only be a corpse left.

He said sternly to Aimé, “Tell us everything you know. Don’t lie, or you know the consequences.”

Aimé nodded frantically like a startled bird. He believed everything now! This person was too ruthless. Seeing the darkening eyes of the man who had nearly strangled him, he couldn’t help but shudder. He dared not keep any secrets now. This person was truly capable of murder. After that scare, he didn’t dare hide anything, terrified that Jiang Yuan might actually snap his neck. He trembled at the mere sight of him.

“I-I don’t know much, I can only take you to the person who contacted me, they should know a lot…”

“Then take us there,” Ji Rong said gravely.

“Okay…”

Possibly out of fear, Aimé kept hiding behind Ji Rong. He would tremble all over whenever he saw Jiang Yuan.

Even Ji Rong was frightened by Jiang Yuan. He really thought Jiang Yuan was going to strangle that person to death! He couldn’t help but look at Jiang Yuan. Was that adopted brother really worth all this?

Jiang Yuan noticed Ji Rong’s complicated expression and vaguely knew Ji Rong was troubled by what just happened. Actually, he had never intended to take a life for a life. He had AI Alphonse calculating the precise force and timing the whole time, making it seem like he could actually strangle someone to death, but stopping just short, enough to break through the person’s psychological defenses with fear.

From his past experience as a space adventurer dealing with sketchy characters, he knew that if you didn’t truly frighten them, they’d turn around and screw you over. Only when someone feared you from the depths of their heart would they properly behave.

He didn’t have time to waste. He just needed that guy to know that if he didn’t talk now, he’d never get another chance to!

Soon they arrived at their destination.

A food processing factory on the outskirts by the sea.

Knock knock knock.

After the knocking, several seconds passed before someone appeared on screen. The person had yellow hair and skin as cracked as parched earth. He frowned when he saw Aimé’s face on the other end of the comm.

“It’s you. Didn’t we agree you’d contact me first? Why did you come directly?”

A voice came from inside. Aimé glanced at the two people hiding on either side, out of the camera’s view, and after a pause said, “My communicator broke, and I lost your contact. I had to come find you in person.”

“Oh, found some good stuff again?” The office door opened as the man inside walked out while muttering his question.

Aimé didn’t answer, because the moment the man came out, Ji Rong grabbed him, twisting both his hands behind his back.

“Fuck, you bastard, you actually brought people!”

“Richard, don’t blame me, they almost killed me!” Aimé backed away two steps when he saw the man’s twisted expression, pointing at his own neck. “L-look at my neck, they nearly strangled me to death!”

The man called Richard’s eye twitched when he saw the horrible bruising on Aimé’s neck.

“What do you want to know? I’ll tell you everything… but I advise you to just go home. Even if I tell you, you won’t be able to find that person anyway.” Richard raised both hands, looking completely at ease.

“Fuck, you…” Aimé was stunned. He thought his contact would at least put up some resistance, but this guy surrendered without any fight at all!

“Where is this Omega?” Jiang Yuan took out Qiu Jingming’s photo to show the man.

Richard clearly had a strong impression of Qiu Jingming. After a few seconds of silence, he said, “He’s not on Longluo Star anyway. You won’t find him even if you search all of Longluo.”

“Not on Longluo?” Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow as he frowned at the man.

Richard took a deep breath and said, “That’s right, not on Longluo. Actually, I’m just like this kid, only a peripheral figure. The only difference is I happen to know someone on the inside.

“Every time my bros and I grab someone, that person takes them away on the spot.

“Before, others like you found their way here. Those people reported me to the police, but after some time, I got out and they disappeared. So I suggest you let me go now and pretend you never found this place.”

“Are you threatening me?”

Jiang Yuan narrowed his eyes, carefully observing the expression of the man before him. A hint of smugness crossed the man’s face. It was obvious he wasn’t lying.

What kind of background did these kidnappers have? Although missing persons cases in foreign countries usually ended up unsolved, since they’d tracked it down to this place, it shouldn’t just end here!

This person was obviously confident. Jiang Yuan’s heart sank. In one swift move, he dislocated the man’s arm with a crack. The man let out a piercing scream before passing out.

After getting him conscious again, Jiang Yuan gripped his chin and said, “I’m not very patient. If you dare provoke me again, I can’t guarantee what might happen.”

“Don’t mess with him. This guy almost strangled me to death just now. No, he actually wanted to strangle me to death!” Aimé fearfully backed up two steps toward Ji Rong as he warned his contact.

“Hah—” Richard let out a long breath and said, “I knew you wouldn’t give up no matter what I said. I’ll tell you everything I know, but don’t blame me for warning you if you disappear too.

“Actually, the first time someone tracked me down here, I was terrified. But later I got out, and they were gone. I’m actually more scared of those people. They can make things happen so quietly…

“Like I said before, every time we grab someone, their people would come take them away directly. Once I followed their people and saw them deliver someone to a private spaceport. I saw a ship docked at the port.

“The person you’re looking for should still be on that ship. I observed for a while. Sometimes the ship leaves briefly for two days, sometimes it stays docked at the spaceport. During this time, all the captured people are imprisoned on the ship. Then after a while, the ship disappears for a long period. I think that’s when they actually transport the people away. As for where the ship goes after takeoff, I have no idea…”

Jiang Yuan frowned. “Rick allows private spacecrafts to fly freely in space?”

Richard rolled his eyes and said, “Of course not. Only ships approved by nobles can do that. So now you understand what I meant earlier?!

“There are nobles involved in this. Even if you want to rescue someone, you can’t. Besides, all those kidnapped people were sold to rich people. Their lives are much better than before. They might not even want to come back!”

“Heh, so you’re saying those kidnapped people should thank you?!” Jiang Yuan glanced at the yellow-haired man, restraining his urge to hit him.

“I… I just once met an Omega who’d passed through my hands, and they seemed to be doing very well,” Richard said, growing uneasy, because besides Omegas who were doing well like that, there were also some Omegas who appeared in public during their heat.

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