Chapter 272: The Gambler

Fleet Admiral Magantae and her Commanders had taken the time to analyze the metallic Cube that Lowengren gave while their ship traveled underwater.

Because they had to avoid detection, the ship's speed could not be fast as to cause ripples in the sonar system used. The vessel traveled slowly but quickly across the dark ocean.

Their attempts led them to open it as Lowengren had done manually.

The theories they had led them to believe that it was Lowengren's fingerprints to activate it. But since the Commanders didn't want to further deal with the perverted, disgusting, chauvinistic, and insane person, they attempted to reverse engineer the tech and try to bypass the possible fingerprint activation system.

But to their surprise, the Cube they had in front of them was like a piece of metal.

The group tried to apply heat, electricity, and several techs against it.

"It maybe Lightning Rod technology… Commander… You have the dildos?" The Fleet Admiral asked.

During the short period before they left, one of the Commanders immediately moved to acquire more of the dildos. And to do that, the Commander raided several shops that had sold the same dildos and stole them.

The events confused the local residents as it was broadcasted on their news, but the Commanders in charge immediately returned as fast as they left that they didn't care what news would circulate for they would die in shame.

The dildos of the same brand were placed side-by-side next to the Cube, and they performed various tests to see if it would trigger it.

Of course, nothing happened.

It was then that a very important call was made.

It was from the Atlantis.

"Fleet Admiral. An Emperor has taken control of the Atlantis." A Commander reported.

"I am well aware. Commander, the Emperor, knows of my mission, and I will be comm-silent moving forward. I do not know how long this will take. We will be entering the land where a possible WGP traitor lies. And since we have no clue as to what technology awaits us, it would be best that no messages or signals will be sent. Even using the priority pings should be avoided as it will hint to the enemy that there are other WGP soldiers within Africa. Although they can't hack on and listen in to our communication, they can still detect the source and destination of this ping."

"I understand, Admiral. Good luck on your mission." The Commander answered.

"Fleet Admiral… We will arrive in twenty minutes." A Commander reported.

"Is it possible that General Vender gave us a blank cube?" One of the Commanders guessed.

The Fleet Admiral had already suspected this when their attempts failed. She gritted her teeth and began to move towards the medical bay.

She took off her mask, revealed her beautiful face, and even allowed her bright orange hair to cascade down her shoulders.

She moved into the room and saw Lowengren eating MREs. The gap on his mouth was too small. Magantae couldn't make out the face of Lowengren but could see that his lips were burnt.

Lowengren ignored the beautiful face and continued eating the MREs.

"You seem to like our MREs."

Lowengren was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice the Fleet Admiral. And even when the Fleet Admiral called him, Lowengren did not allow himself to flee out of his own thoughts.

"Time to test it out. Let's see if she will respond perfectly to my actions. Arthur is someone who can calculate thoughts and things. But I can mislead someone, so I should create my future through the lies I make. I guess it's time to bring out the old Gambler in me." Lowengren thought to himself.

"This tastes way better than African MREs. But of course, you do have all the techs you need." Lowengren scoffed.

"Judging by your expression… It looks like you failed in analyzing the weapon. Not that I'm surprised. However, it's been a few hours. You already stalled for a few hours to study those techs. Can we get a move on and get to the Caliphates? You don't expect me to think that your vessel requires a few hours to cross the Red Sea? Moses did it with a Staff, you know…"

The expression of Magantae immediately changed at this accusation.

"We did not stall. Since we are trying to enter the Caliphate region without being detected, we have to limit the speed. While our techs can bypass many, there are simple techs that can detect the movement of water. We are going at the best speed we can."

"I don't believe you. You could easily bypass this, can't you? Or is the WGP so pathetic that your little vessel can move as fast as an orca whale?" Lowengren laughed. His eyes were locked on the expression of the Empress.

The Empress twitched but did her best to hide it. But to the eyes of Lowengren, these micro-expressions were clear as day.

She forced a laugh and turned to Lowengren with a smiling expression.

"How did you originally intend to break through the defenses of the Caliphate army?"

Lowengren sneered. Thankfully, his mask was on; otherwise, this would have caught his attention.

"Perfect. This should make it easier for me to define our entry…" The plan was approaching completion.

"The easiest way. Bribery. I have contacts on the other side. Soldiers in key positions who can help me get in."

"You trust bribed men?" Magantae frowned.

"I trust desperate men." Lowengren's voice turned serious.

"I have searched for men like me! Men who are willing to sell themselves to anyone to help them. Do you think I'm the only one who's desperate? I know the game of deception well. So I don't put my life in people who have more to gain. I put my life in the hands of people who have nothing to lose!" Lowengren's voice thundered.

The Fleet Admiral was surprised at Lowengren's serious tone.

"You know… I think I can relate. My mother is a WGP Empress. But she committed a grave crime."

"Public streaking?"

"What? No!"

"What crime can an Empress of the WGP commit? She's an Empress, for crying out loud! I assumed that whatever crime she committed was something like dishonoring or tainting the WGP name!"

"She fell in love with someone."

"Is it Elmer?"

"What? Who?"

"I don't know. I randomly called out a name."

"You!"

"Look. I don't have time to make guesses. She's an Empress. Who could she fall in love with that would make her so targeted."

"Anyone who isn't a direct descendant!"

"There's such a rule?"

"Why do you think the WGP has not yet been betrayed from the inside all these years?"

"A shared online streaming account?"

"Test my patience once more, General, and I'll-"

"Test your patience? Test your patience? You brought me in here, without even making preparations to save my daughter! You shipped me out of my base, disallowed me to communicate with anyone, and you even stalled for hours while you try to dissect the tech of Lennox! I gave you the Cube, which I know is the only reason why I am valued! If you had found a way to study it, I would be dead now!" Lowengren stomped angrily towards Magantae.

"And then you come here and ask me questions that I do not know! How would I know how the WGP maintained its loyalty and how they could avoid infighting for nearly a century? Test my patience? You've been testing mine! Shall I just blow this ship up with Lennox's tech?"

Magantae contained the rage in her heart. Lowengren was able to counter and point out the pointlessness of her questions perfectly.

"Rage, confidence, resolution, and sarcasm. Since she took off her mask, it's obvious that she's trying to develop some rapport with me. But no… I have to take control of this momentum. She should rage and hate me for now. If I want her to fall for my trap, I can only build that rapport later!"

"Here is your Cube. We've reached the destination, and I'm here to return your tech. We will infiltrate the place and get you inside." Fleet Admiral Magantae threw the Cube recklessly.

As the Cube was being thrown in the air, Lowengren used his Unlocking to think.

"Should I do it? If I enrage her too much, she would want to prove how great the WGP is and try to show me how easy it is to infiltrate the WGP… If I enrage her too little, she won't challenge me… I need to enrage her, but at the same time show capability… I hope this works…" Lowengren was actually afraid. He needed to guide the WGP in. He needed to be the first one to go in.

Lowengren stepped forward and caught the Cube.

"Judging from her expression and lack of fear, she might think that this Cube is fake… I see. Perfect." Lowengren sneered.

Right before Magantae could turn around, Lowengren flicked the Cube and activated the Lightning energy.

"You thought this to be fake?" Lowengren sneered as he held the Cube.

Magantae was bewildered by what she saw. She believed the Cube to be fake and wanted to broker a deal with Lowengren through her rapport. But Lowengren kept brushing off her attempts that it angered her. But now, she was surprised to see that the Cube was real.

Right before Lowengren was about to deactivate the Cube, he sent a small bolt to attack his nether regions once more, just as it did the first time. Lennox programmed the cubes to attack him the first time, so Lowengren decided to replay this scene as he already used the lies regarding the necessity of lightning rods.

The bolt struck him, and Lowengren hardened his rocks.

The attack reached and caused Lowengren to grunt.

"Ugh. I hope this is the last time I-"

But then…

ZAP!

A powerful slamming bolt struck his sack like a hammer smashing eggs.

"Oh? Did I, Doctor Lennox, manage to fool He Who Treads in the Counsel of the Wicked? How does it feel to be deceived?" Lennox's cold and uncaring voice echoed in Lowengren's mind once more.

Lowengren assumed the fetal position.

"RARGHHHHH!" Lowengren made an angry scream.

Behind his scream was a vow to hurt Lennox.

Magantae's expression was that of fear as she witnessed the lightning energy dancing wildly.

Lowengren wanted to attack the Fleet Admiral but kept urging his angered self to stop.

The Lightning energy subsided.

Lowengren was angry.

"You still think I lied? See what you made me do?! This is the real deal! This is my resolve, Magantae! You underestimate me too much! You WGP aren't all-powerful! There are techs you can't beat and resolve and wills that you can't overcome!" The confident and arrogant voice rang out.

"I've already prepared for this day, and I will achieve it in my hands! Do you say you will get me inside? I will get myself inside by myself!" Lowengren shouted.

The Fleet Admiral couldn't help but shiver seeing two bolts struck Lowengren.

With the tech equipped in her Exoskeleton, she could tell that Lowengren was hurting.

"I apologize for not believing you. I do not hold you in contempt or underestimate you. I just want to assure you that my mission won't fail."

"I've already said it. I don't trust you. You enter the Caliphates, looking for something to gain. Fame, power, position. I enter it with nothing to lose. And the people who will help me are such."

"Can you get us in?" Magantae asked.

"Yes. I'll go first. Wait for my signal, and don't do anything stupid like get yourself spotted."

"I can promise you that that won't happen. Consume these." Magantae threw several small pills.

"Those are the most advanced recovery pills. It should help you with your wounds. In ten minutes, your wounds should be healed. I have prepared a uniform for you to wear in the locker room. Head to the Launch bay once you're finished. We will give you a Caliphate Exoskeleton, which we acquired when we attacked this place earlier. Suit up and see you."

"I'll need to bring dildos. Can you secretly launch it towards the western side of the coastal base?" Lowengren asked.

The Fleet Admiral was surprised.

"Can your body tolerate the pain of using that cubes again and again?"

"A single Dildo brings out that power. But more of it, and I can increase the range of the attack." Lowengren explained.

"If the dildos are scattered everywhere, the Lightning field will react at an even wider range. Of course, the more dildos there are, the faster the energy inside the Cube it uses. I need it to level this base."

"Alright. We'll send it towards the western side, but you have to create a commotion first."

"Oh… Then you'll know when to send it." Lowengren laughed.

Magantae moved towards the door.

"Fleet Admiral Magantae. I did get what you wanted to tell me. Your sympathetic because your mother did everything to protect you, and you admire someone like me. Is that what you wanted to say?"

Magantae did not answer.

"We only want to see our daughter safe and happy. The best way you can thank your mother is to find your own happiness. If I can only see my daughter happy, I could die content."

Magantae sighed.

"Do you… want to call your daughter one more time?" Magantae offered.

Lowengren sneered. His gamble worked. The balance of agitation, irritation, and sympathy allowed Lowengren to get what he wanted.

"If possible…" Lowengren answered softly. He even added a slight cough to make it look like he was trying not to laugh.

The Fleet Admiral fiddled with something and threw a small device to Lowengren. It appeared to be an earpiece with a small microphone.

"I've already dialed it. Just say call, and it will call. You can't say anything obvious. This isn't a secure line like the other one."

"I know what to say…" Lowengren answered.

Magantae left.

Lowengren had silently gone back to eating more MRE's and pretended to consume the small pill that Magantae gave him since several cameras were observing him. He looked tranquil, but in his mind, he continued to rage.

"That damned Overcomer! I'll get him!"

Lowengren then paused and wore the earpiece.

"Call."

"Vender?!" A surprised woman answered on the other line.

"Hi…" Lowengren slowly answered. But in the gap of his voice, he began to speak to another person.

"Charles. Are you there? I need your help…"

"I'm listening…" Charles answered.