"If it really is an Imperial Inquisitor, Amir…" Joan hesitated.
"It's fine. I'm already wanted by the Empire. If there's truly no other choice, I'll step out and draw their attention." Amir saw that Joan wanted to keep her identity hidden.
It would not affect Amir much, but for Joan, it would be a major problem.
At this point, what existed between them could no longer really be called a transaction.
It was more like friends helping one another.
Amir admired this old auntie who had already turned herself into a partial machine. Not only for her technology, but also for her persistence and conviction.
Besides, Kahalman had already taken her data and started reading it. Amir would do his best to help Joan achieve her wish.
They still could not determine the Imperial Inquisitor's true objective, so they did not waste too much attention on them. They continued with the original plan and walked deeper into the slums.
Halfway there, Joan turned and gave Amir a signal.
By the side of the street, a raggedly dressed child in his teens lowered his head, swept his gaze over the group, then turned and entered an alley.
"They're all lookouts. We're getting close to Dead Hand's territory."
Amir also silently observed their surroundings. He had noticed many people glancing at them, deliberately or otherwise.
However, all of them were wearing robes and hoods, so unless someone came close, it was impossible to confirm their exact identities.
"This way." Joan led them into a passage. There was a man standing inside the passage, a cigarette in his mouth as he puffed out clouds of smoke. When Amir and the others approached, he only glanced at them casually, then shifted to the side and made way for the passage behind him.
Joan ignored the man and walked straight into the passage at the front.
The passage looked cramped, only wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Green fluorescent lights were mounted on the surrounding walls, but it was still very dim. The ceiling was sealed shut. Together with the garbage-strewn floor, it looked like a tunnel dug underground by rats.
"This place is called the Rat Tunnels. It has existed since before I came here. No one knows its origin. The Rat Tunnels have many entrances in this city, and just as many exits. They connect every corner of the city," Joan explained to everyone.
After walking through the tunnel for some distance, Amir gradually heard noisy human voices, and then they brushed past some people.
Following the route, the group soon arrived at a lively bar. A Gotar with imposing horns was beating a bizarre-looking drum, while many women from various species danced around him.
Joan walked to the bar counter with practiced ease.
"Well, Joan? Changed your mind? Make a robot and sell it to me. I guarantee I'll pay you enough money. From now on, every time you pass through my place, I'll give you a twenty-percent discount too!"
Behind the counter was a Snivvian, with yellowish skin, enormous nostrils, and thick lips. His species should have looked honest and simple, but he made himself seem like a greasy pervert.
"Enough nonsense. Five people." Joan pushed two pieces of golden ore toward him.
The Snivvian weighed them in his hand, grinned, walked out from behind the bar, and led the five of them toward the backstage area.
There was a large door there, guarded by several mercenaries. Seeing their boss bringing people over, they moved aside on their own.
Only after passing through did Joan explain, "Many junctions inside the Rat Tunnels are occupied by different gangs. If you want to pass, you have to pay a toll."
"They're pretty good at doing business," Amir said, finding it interesting.
"But it's worth it. Through the Rat Tunnels, we can bypass most of the lookouts and reach Dead Hand's territory directly."
"Since everyone knows about the Rat Tunnels, won't the exit be heavily guarded?" Amir asked.
"Of course it will. When we came in, the man at the entrance was a scout. If someone suspicious or someone threatening to the inside approaches, he will report it."
"There's a scout, so how do we…" Amir stopped halfway through speaking, because Joan had already taken out her dagger.
All right, then.
Amir also prepared his lightsaber.
Dead Hand would definitely not seal this tunnel, because it was indeed very convenient. Their own people would use it frequently as well. Especially the children they trained. As pickpockets, appearing and vanishing like ghosts was one of the most important skills. After stealing something, they could enter the nearest Rat Tunnel directly and disappear from everyone's sight. Their success rate would undoubtedly increase greatly.
Amir felt that the ones who had stolen the relic had most likely relied on the Rat Tunnels to escape as well.
Precisely because of that, the Rat Tunnel exit inside Nuruddin's gang territory would certainly be heavily guarded. Sneaking in was almost impossible.
But approaching from the outside was even less possible. Countless lookouts would have already locked onto your movements, and the moment you entered their territory, you would be surrounded. Relatively speaking, the Rat Tunnels were definitely the better choice.
Since they had chosen this route, no matter how tight the guard at the exit was, Amir and the others had to deal with the guards cleanly and efficiently. Otherwise, they would be exposed.
After walking for a long time, Amir heard voices talking ahead.
If Amir could hear them, the three lumps of machinery beside him must have heard them long ago.
Joan gradually slowed her steps and let Amir walk at the front.
"Can I shoot, Amir?" Millisyn, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly asked. It seemed she wanted to test the bat backpack's real combat ability.
"Better to use your lightsaber." Amir also took out his lightsaber.
Quiet and swift. In this situation, a lightsaber was undoubtedly the best choice. Using blasters would easily alert the people nearby.
"Mm-hm." Using a lightsaber also made Millisyn a little excited.
"There are three people at the entrance," 32 said. He had confirmed the number as soon as he saw the light from the exit.
After taking a few more steps, Valera added, "There's another one on a distant rooftop."
Amir activated his Force perception and confirmed that both of them were correct.
Four clusters of living Force floated in the distance.
"Let me handle it. You stay here for now. If we go out together, they'll probably discover us before we even reach the entrance."
Joan hesitated for a moment, but still nodded.
This straight tunnel really was not suitable for charging through directly.
Amir raised his vambrace and released the spider robot.
The tiny robot vanished into the darkness the instant it dropped to the ground. Amir gave it instructions through the panel.
After waiting for a short while, Amir walked forward step by step. His footsteps made almost no sound when they landed on the ground.
Amir used the Force to offset part of his own weight, while the hand beneath his robe silently gripped his lightsaber.
As expected, the people at the exit did not react at all. They were still loudly chatting in a language Amir did not understand.
They were nothing more than rabble. Expecting them to guard a gate with discipline and seriousness was impossible. The fact that they were still standing here was already fortunate.
Besides, no one dared provoke Dead Hand. This gang also had a fierce reputation in the city.
So it was not until Amir reached the entrance that the three people guarding the door suddenly realized someone was there.
Just as Amir was about to act, something unexpected happened. The three of them were not surprised, nor did they become wary. Instead, they all showed tacit smiles and surrounded Amir.
That actually made Amir curious. What were these people thinking?
"You're back, kid. Looks like you gained quite a haul." One of the men stared at Amir's backpack, almost drooling.
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🌌 STAR WARS: RELICS OF THE PAST
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Something older is still waiting.
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