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Neither US dollars nor shares were of interest to Suming.
However, he was very interested in the mutated fox bats; animals in the zoo that had been in contact with spiritual power for a while were constantly mutating to so extent, growing larger in size and becoming more intelligent, but there had never been mutations as strong as a change in diet.
Suming was curious, was there a connection between the two?
Besides, if there really were large groups of blood-sucking fox bats in the mountains, why hadn't anyone in Maoxi County noticed? According to Antonio, the place where the fox bats were found wasn't too far from Sun Town.
If there really were large groups of blood-sucking fox bats, the plans for the nursing ho couldn't go ahead; who knew when a swarm of blood-sucking bats might fly out of the mountains and bite people.
Therefore, it was imperative for Suming to find out the truth about the mutated fox bats.
Antonio graciously agreed to Suming's request, and they decided to prepare separately and head into the mountains early the next day.
They had a night to prepare.
When Antonio talked about his family, he was vague, and Suming had to be wary. He flew back to the zoo that day, went to the back mountains, and also called Su ng to join him. In the mountains, Su ng could be more useful than a tiger.
At the crack of dawn the next day, the group t at the road outside Sun Town. Suming brought Su ng, Antonio ca with two bodyguards and Su Lijun, and a total of six people took a small path from below Sun Town into the mountains.
Last night, Suming had specifically asked around the town, but nobody had heard any rumors about blood-sucking bats nearby. There were plenty of mountain bats, and occasionally people would catch large bats for barbecuing, crunchy with skin and tendons.
After less than half an hour's walk, the path disappeared under their feet. Antonio, though the oldest, was as nimble as his two young bodyguards and probably enjoyed sports regularly. On the other hand, Suming and Su Lijun found the trek sowhat difficult.
By nearly noon, the six n were deep in the dense old forest. Perhaps it was too hot or maybe to show off strength, Antonio's two bodyguards took off their coats, revealing muscle-bound bodies in tight vests, each with a dagger prominently displayed at the waist.
After a few more hours of walking, around four-thirty in the afternoon, a rudintary shelter appeared in the woods ahead, built from branches on the spot, resembling a bus stop's rain shelter but even shorter and narrower, barely accommodating three people side by side with only half their bodies.
Su Lijun strode to the front of the shelter, plucked a branch off the top, and started rummaging in the dead leaves on the ground, uncovering the decayed corpse of a small animal that looked like a squirrel.
"This is the place." Antonio kicked aside the animal corpse, set down his backpack, and looked up at the sky.
Suming peered around curiously, the dense forest blocked even the sunlight, with only intermittent bird calls being heard.
Where were the blood-sucking bats?
"Wait a bit, bats are nocturnal and won't appear until the sun sets," Antonio said as he squinted and surveyed the surroundings for a mont, then spoke a few words in Italian to his two bodyguards.
The two bodyguards and Su Lijun took out large bundles that resembled fishing nets from their backpacks, spread them out, and hung them on several large trees surrounding the modest rain shelter, creating a net barrier around it.
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"You're using this to catch bats?" Suming frowned, "That won't work, even kids know bats are blind, relying on echolocation to grasp their surroundings clearly. Using a net to catch bats seems like a good idea, but it's actually quite ineffective. Bats will detect obstacles from afar and simply evade them."
Moreover, those nets were huge, with ropes as thick as pinkie fingers; even the dimst bat wouldn't just fly into them.
Antonio grinned mysteriously: "In theory, you're right."
"Then…" Suming was puzzled.
"You'll see when the ti cos. What are you doing, Su, hang that net a bit higher! If there's a mishap, we're all in danger. Are you trying to kill us?" The latter part of his speech was directed at Su Lijun, spoken with severity.
Su Lijun had been stony-faced throughout the journey, trailing behind like an attendant with two bodyguards. Suming and Antonio were up front. Upon arriving at this small camp, Suming and Antonio rested under a shed, with Su ng vigilantly behind him, leaving only Su Lijun and two bodyguards working.
Having just descended from a tree after setting up a net, sweating profusely, Su Lijun turned his head and gave Antonio a sowhat dark look upon hearing the reprimand. Yet he said nothing and climbed back up, adjusting the net.
"Su is actually a pretty good agent," Antonio nodded to Suming. "However, I lack powerful partners like yourself in Huaxia. I understand you manage many animals, and with your zoo backed by the Qinling mountains, we have many opportunities for collaboration."
After a thought, Suming said, "If it's a partnership, then we should be honest with each other, shouldn't we?"
"Mr. Su, do you feel I'm not being honest enough?" Antonio asked.
"You know everything about , while I hardly know anything about you, for example, what exactly does your family do?" Suming smiled softly. He could roughly guess that while Antonio's family dealt in legitimate business, their specific thods might not all be aboveboard.
Regardless of protecting animals, Antonio's secret capture and research of a large number of bats without the Huaxia Governnt's consent was illegal.
"Mr. Su, once we have further cooperation, you'll understand," Antonio smiled. "Perhaps our actions are illegal, but our achievents could greatly benefit humanity. Many bats carry a variety of viruses, such as the Ebola virus which could potentially lead to human extinction. If we can understand the truth behind this mutation, it would be a significant contribution to all humankind."
Suming had never heard illegal activities described so nobly; he simply smiled and said nothing, only remarking, "And your family will rise to glory from this."
While they were talking, two gunshots rang out in the distance. Not long after, a bodyguard returned dragging a chevrotain, a deer-like creature still bleeding from its hind legs. The bodyguard hung it upside down, allowing its blood to drip into a small enal cup placed beneath.
"The sll of blood will attract passing bats," Antonio explained.
Suming probed with his spiritual power and discovered the chevrotain's hind leg had a wound neither too big nor too small, made by a sharp object. It wasn't necessarily lethal, but it was remarkably precise.
Suming couldn't help but take a second look at the bodyguard. Known as the "mountain antelope," the chevrotain was highly agile and alert, not easily approached. The bodyguard must have targeted the chevrotain from a distance, using a dagger as a throwing knife. Hitting it without killing it indicated great skill.
The sky gradually darkened, and the chevrotain initially struggled a few tis. Suming secretly transferred so spiritual power to it, and soon it fell into a deep, listless sleep, swinging weakly on the rack.
"Whoosh, whoosh…" In the distant thickets, the sound of flapping wings approached, as if a large group of flying creatures was nearing.
"They're coming!" Antonio's eyes lit up.
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