HPDBC Chapter 67 You Won't Encounter the Thunder Crocodile in the Underground Sewers
Chapter 67 You Won't Encounter the Thunder Crocodile in the Underground Sewers
Titus lifted the iron manhole cover and went down into the private VIP passage, a spacious concrete sewer resembling a train tunnel.
He left not out of fear, but because he didn't want to be a burden to John and Gianna, and he had no interest in playing around with a bunch of mortals.
The sound of dripping water echoed from inside the pipes; this was the underground pipe system of the Karaca Baths.
Bathhouse staff once said that aging parts of the water supply system have caused some spring water to carry germs from more than 2000 years ago, which could potentially lead to meningitis.
He glanced down at the water, which was just above his toes, and thought:
Is it too late to ask for a loving father's blessing now?
Titus began to analyze the situation—he must have been recognized during the security check at the entrance, which is why the bounty hunters found him so quickly.
The reason he went through security was for convenience; from the moment he posted the photo with Santino on the Hunter website, he had no intention of hiding it.
Titus wanted to use this method to declare war on the High Table, to let assassins around the world see a special existence, an existence that transcends the High Table order.
He needs such a special presence, one that can render the High Table Society utterly ineffective.
But this alone will not cause any real damage to the High Table; at most, it will only make the world aware of the existence of such a privileged figure who reigns supreme over the High Table.
This privileged figure has to do something special. It's time for the old order of the High Table to be changed by the new order, and change is a good thing because change means opportunity.
The opportunity...
Those old fogies at the top have been sitting there long enough; the stench of their corruption is becoming unbearable for those below them. More and more people are getting overwhelmed by those meaningless rules and that utterly unreasonable gold coin system…
Titus's eyes lit up; he thought:
The High Table needs a true leader, a visionary leader, a leader who can lead them to a brighter future!
Now that he has appeared, he lives in this golden age of North America!
He appeared before everyone with special privileges!
He will overthrow the High Table order and abolish that damned gold coin system!
The replacement of the old order with the new one is his perfect opportunity!
A crazy plan slowly took shape in my mind, like a witch brewing a potion...
Lost in thought, his phone vibrated to announce an incoming call. The caller surprised him greatly, and a hint of anger crept into his brow.
After a moment's hesitation, Titus stopped and answered the phone.
"Detective Titus Gallagher, are you alright? Thank God you're still alive!"
"What, you're not happy that I'm not dead, Commander Crawford? To be honest, I'm currently hiding in the dark sewers enjoying a global manhunt."
"..."
There was a brief silence on the phone, and after a long while, Crawford spoke again.
"I'm sorry, the FBI is helpless in this matter. Your bounty was put forward through the Italian Camorra family, passed unanimously by all twelve members of the High Table, and was finally signed by the elder himself."
"You sent me undercover, and then betrayed me the moment things went wrong? The wanted poster clearly states: Real name: Titus Gallagher!"
"Why are you thinking about the phone now? Has that damn $2000 million finally unlocked your long-dormant heart?"
"That's not it, Detective Gallagher. You know you've been in the Chicago Express. I'm calling to give you a chance."
"Another opportunity! Crawford, do you remember when I first came to New York to arrest Vigo, you said the same thing—you're giving him a chance to redeem himself!"
"You promised me that this was just Jack the Killer in disguise. Now you have the evidence, Mr. Vigo is dead, and the mission is complete."
"So, can we announce that Detective Titus has been reinstated?"
"I'm sorry... I really can't do that. Detective Titus's situation is very complicated right now, and there's a lot of controversy among the higher-ups regarding your actions—"
"What, so we still have to go through a series of complicated political struggles, right?"
"If the higher-ups keep arguing like this, will they eventually let some assassin succeed and then arrange for Titus to be gloriously executed?"
"Titus, you don't understand... Listen, there's one last way—go to the Moroccan desert to find the elder. Legend says that if you keep walking towards the constellation Canis Minor until your last breath, the elder will appear."
"What a beautiful legend! Is this the FBI's solution—without the elders showing up, the FBI can finally get rid of the Titus problem as they wish?"
"Titus, I... have done my best. What you have done this time is far too serious and has exceeded my authority."
"To do one's best" means to engage in scheming internal power struggles. The FBI is really something, managing to infiltrate the infamous High Table and generously providing me, as the black glove, with valuable inside meeting information and elder legends.
"Listen up, Crawford! When I'm done here and back, none of those damn FBI high-ranking officials will get away—you better pray I'm hunted down to my death!"
"Beep beep beep..."
Crawford, far away in Chicago, heard the call being disconnected. He silently lowered his head, his wife beside him struggling in pain on a ventilator. She had been seriously ill for more than two years.
About three minutes later, he decided to resign...
In the sewers of Rome, Italy, Titus hung up the phone, threw it into the murky water at his feet, and then stomped on it until it was crushed. He no longer needed the flashy FBI uniform.
The slight vibration of the pipes pulled him away from the mess with the FBI. By this time, he had walked quite a distance, and the water beneath him was about calf-deep.
A group of ordinary assassins could not possibly catch up with Astartes, let alone Rome's intricate underground pipe system.
The water surface trembled, creating ripples that grew stronger and stronger, causing strings of water droplets to leap more than half a meter off the surface!
Titus looked ahead, where a shadow almost filled the entire tunnel, and the rapid sound of reptiles slapping the water with their webbed feet grew louder as he approached!
Damn it! What reptile made such a commotion!
Is Jurassic Park finally open?!
The entire pipe trembled more violently, and moss, rust, and water droplets clung to the precarious upper wall!
Titus opened the cello case, took out the power axe, and held it with one hand.
Before coming, he guessed that he would encounter unexpected dangers. After all, one cannot underestimate the heroes of the world. What if they come up with some tricks and cause him to capsize in his trap?
The power axe is his trump card, and it also gives him a sense of security.
A 14-meter-long thunderous crocodile burst out from a bend in the pipe more than 50 meters away, and the old, rusty iron grille was blown away!
In an instant, your Uncle Titus's mind went blank. He racked his brains but couldn't understand why a Thunder Crocodile could appear in the world of Fast & Furious!
Countless possibilities surged through my mind. If it were to this extent, the value of a global arrest warrant would be infinitely elevated!
After a mere 0.01 seconds of thought, Titus reached a conclusion, and an overwhelming surge of pure emotion welled up from his mouth:
"Special Crab Gift!"