BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Chapter 923: The situation

"The authorities are still expecting the citizens to have a permit to leave their homes," she said.

Erik frowned. "That's unacceptable," he said. "People deserve their freedom, but I guess Volkov is not someone willing to leave it to people."

But that wasn't surprising. Volkov was a well known ruthless and remorseless piece of shit, deriving joy from torturing others.

His methods were designed to break people mentally and physically. Stories of his horrific practices abounded, detailing how he inflicted pain with zest, watching his victims squirm and beg for a mercy that he never granted.

His father ended up on the receiving end of this. Even the Blackguards hadn't been so cruel against him, despite the beef that went on between them for years. When Lucius told this to his son, Erik was horrified.

One prominent incident concerned a journalist who spoke out against him. Volkov shackled the journalist for weeks, feeding him only enough to survive.

Every day, he would slice new wounds into the journalist's skin, laughing at his pain.

When he was finished, Volkov discarded his victims without hesitation.

This was the horrible nature of the man who now ruled an entire nation.

"I agree," Emma said. "That's why the resistance is fighting."

Erik nodded.

"I'm not alone this time. Richard Stone's daughter, Caiden Joyce's daughter, and a mercenary from my guild are with me, along with four of my clones, including June."

"Is June with you?"

"He is."

Emma looked briefly surprised, but then nodded. "Any allies against Volkov are welcome," she said. "Their help could make a difference, especially considering strong June is. If the other clones are like him, taking care of Volkov will be a matter of time. As for the three women, we already know two of them will be a tremendous help."

"Yes, but there is a problem," Erik said. "They are too easy to recognize."

Given Amber and Emily's status in New Alexandria, Erik was aware of the possibility that they would be recognized.

"Amber helped many during the parasites' attack as much as I know, which made her famous," Erik said.

"In the meantime, Emily's beauty is well known all throughout the country. Given that they are also the daughters of powerful families, their looks will inevitably attract attention."

Emma nodded in agreement. "We'll have to be cautious then. I can make them reach the Red Palace through some secret tunnels, but bringing them to the entrance will be on you." "Where is the entrance?" Erik asked.

"In the eastern district, near the slums. There is an abandoned hospital in the eastern district," she said.

"Just outside the train station there. Make your way past the overgrown courtyard to the front doors to access the building. In room 318, which is on the third level, there is a false wall that conceals the entrance to the tunnel. "

Erik committed the directions to memory.

"Because the tunnels follow the layout of the city, you will have to walk quite a bit. You will be able to lead your friends to the Red Palace from there. However, you must be careful because there are guards present. It would be best to let the higher-ups know you are in the city and that you are going to them."

"That's a convenient place," Erik said. He knew the slums well and understood what hospital she was talking about.

"I will bring them to the Red Palace safely," Erik said. But there were many things swirling in the man's mind. The resistance could have a lot of information, and he needed those.

"What about Richard Stone? Any idea where he could be kept prisoner?"

Emma didn't know everything; there were a lot of things the others didn't tell her, and there were a lot of things the resistance didn't know.

"We've received word that the high-priority prisoners are being held in the Grande Ducal prison," Emma said. "But security has been intensified since the stunt in Fasard."

"Yeah, that is clear."

"Grand Ducal Prison," Erik said, making a note of it. "We will need to find out if he really is there."

"I bet he is. That place is a fortress. There is no better place for Richard to be kept prisoner. If he is here in New Alexandria, I must be there."

"I wouldn't be that sure if I were you. Volkov is shrewd, and so are the blackguards. I bet they are keeping him somewhere easy to reach to lure me out. They know I'm going to rescue him; they are not stupid. Maybe they kidnapped him for this exact reason."

Erik then stopped. He looked out the window at the Red Palace. He remembered the last time he had been there. With a pensive look, Erik then turned back to Emma.

The best thing to do would be to enter the Red Palace and talk to Major Fischer or the Red Palace's leader, Principal Van Dyke. These guys would not let him lead this campaign.

It wasn't Major Fischer who gave Erik worries. When Erik was here, collaborating with him and the others, he basically did whatever he wanted. He showed his tactical acumen and intelligence more than once, and Fischer learned to trust him in this regard.

But the Red Palace, albeit having joined the resistance, was made by the elite. They were arrogant and thought they knew everything. It was hard to think they would leave the helm to him, even if Becker did.

"Would it be possible for you to bring me to the Red Palace? I want to talk to the resistance higher-ups."

Emma hesitated. It's not like she didn't want to, but the situation within the Red Palace was complicated. Those guys joined the resistance, but it was also clear they thought they were superior to them, despite the resistance mainly being made up by soldiers.

"I would need to get permission first."

Erik nodded in understanding. "Of course. Please do what you think is necessary."

"I will contact the person in charge and explain the situation," Emma said. "Given your history of helping the resistance, I think they will be happy to meet with you. But we must

proceed with caution."

Erik nodded.

"Don't worry. The last thing I want is to cause trouble. Just let me know what they say." Emma agreed. The two fell into a brief silence as the woman seemed to contemplate how to

proceed.

Erik wondered who was in charge of the Red Palace now and what help they could offer against Volkov and the Blackguards. However, despite everything, the most likely thing was that the Red Palace leader was still him: Tom Van Dyke.

Before the era of the two legends: Armand Becker and the Fierce Lioness - there was just one name that resounded across the world. Tom Van Dyke.

The man was basically a legend, at least here in Frant. Erik didn't know if there were stronger people around in the other countries. Maybe there were and were simply hidden.

Though it was impossible to deny the strength this man held in his youth.

The thaids he had killed were many, his services to the country were even more. When Erik fled from the Red Palace because of the Blirdoth's attack, Van Dyke joined the fight.

If it wasn't for him, he would have died that day, along with hundreds of other people. Yet, the old man was far from being as strong as he was in the past. After all, the guy was 81 years

old this year.

There was also something else to consider. The Red Palace's members who survived the parasite were some of the most gifted fighters in the entire nation.

The Red Palace was a place that took people from all over Frant, if they showed potential, and turned them into deadly killing machines.

Based on what he understood, many remained within the establishment, but it was clear there were also a lot of them who decided to join Volkov.

This was a double-sided problem, because those who remained might have been arrogant pricks with a superiority complex. Those who left were going to help Volkov.

"I will contact them now and get back to you," Emma said, pulling out a communication device. "Why don't you wait here? It shouldn't take long to get an answer either way." "Very well. Please let me know as soon as they give you a reply. There is not time to waste." He watched as Emma gave him a curt nod before leaving the room and disappearing around

the door.

Erik sat back, lost in thought, as he considered what the Red Palace's help would bring him in fighting Volkov and the Blackguards.

Besides, the Red Palace had its own agenda, whatever it was, and aligning with them might come with strings attached. Yet, with Volkov's ruthless grip tightening and the Blackguards growing bolder, Erik knew he needed every ally he could muster.