This is a Tradition of the Pioneer Team

Tu Ran didn't press further and instead changed the subject. "Mr. Tubin, you must have overheard our conversation just now. There's more than one Aberrant on this farm."

"I heard," Tubin said, his voice urgent. "So you need to help us get rid of them as soon as possible."

Tu Ran smiled. "Of course we will. But this Aberrant is well hidden, and we can't catch it easily. So instead of searching blindly, I thought we could set a trap to lure it out."

"How?" Tubin asked eagerly. "I'm willing to cooperate."

He looked like a man thoroughly tormented by the Aberrant.

"It's simple. These Aberrants feed on bones, so we'll prepare plenty of bones to attract it. Lure it into a trap and catch it all at once."

"Good," Tubin agreed readily. "I'll get on it right away." He turned to leave.

Tu Ran called him back. "Mr. Tubin, wait. There's something else I haven't told you yet."

Tubin stopped and turned to look at her, waiting.

"Where on the farm has the most surveillance coverage?"

Tubin thought for a moment. "The front gate of the villa."

"Then that's where we'll set the trap. And don't worry about the bones—we'll just use the remaining half of the mastiff's carcass," Tu Ran said.

Tubin was taken aback. "Mastiff? Carcass? Master Egan's mastiff is dead?"

"Didn't you know, Mr. Tubin? That mastiff was already half-eaten by the Aberrant," Ding Naiqing said.

Tubin's expression turned pained. "Those two mastiffs were Master Egan's favorites when he was alive."

Ding Naiqing tried to comfort him. "Don't be too upset, Mr. Tubin. That mastiff died for a good cause. If it weren't for it, we'd never have found out who the Aberrant was."

Tu Ran nudged him with her elbow.

If you can't comfort someone, don't even try. What nonsense was that!

Ding Naiqing looked at her, puzzled.

Tu Ran had already turned to the guard behind her. "Take the mastiff's carcass to the front gate of the villa."

"Yes, ma'am." The three guards turned and left.

"Come on, Mr. Tubin. We need to check the situation at the gate and connect your surveillance feed to our equipment so we can monitor it," Tu Ran said.

Tubin had somewhat recovered from his grief and asked, "Why do you need surveillance? Aren't you staying here tonight?"

"Of course we'll stay, we—" Ding Naiqing started, but Tu Ran jabbed him with her elbow again, signaling him to shut up.

Though still confused, Ding Naiqing obediently pressed his lips together.

Tu Ran looked at Tubin and explained gently, "We can't stay here. Some of our team members are investigating elsewhere and we need to rendezvous with them to discuss the strategy."

"Can't you do a video conference?" Tubin asked.

"No," Tu Ran said without batting an eye, fabricating an excuse. "It's a tradition of our Pioneer Team."

Ding Naiqing thought: Since when did the Pioneer Team have such a tradition?

The other guards thought: The Pioneer Team has such a tradition—no wonder they're so impressive!

Tu Ran thought: She just simply didn't think this place was safe.

If there was more than one Aberrant, how could they be sure there were only two? Who knew, this place might already be a snake nest.

She wasn't stupid. She had a place to stay—why risk staying in a place full of hidden dangers?