Chapter 600 Shameless
"Miss Watson, back on the way up the mountain, I spotted a farm about a mile or two in the direction we came from," Casey marked a massive boulder on the map.
The boulder was large and imposing. Trained professionals like her might manage to climb it, but Natalie couldn't, not to mention the safety risks were immense.
After scouting the area, Casey pointed to a spot on the side nearest the mountain. "We could start here. We could blast through this point to create a passageway on our side."
"Blowing it up is too dangerous. If we can't control the amount of explosives, we might not only injure people but also cause a landslide," the bodyguard immediately dismissed the idea. He had considered and ruled it out.
Casey gave him a knowing look. "So you do have the materials, then?"
The bodyguard was silent. Was she probing to see if they had the explosives? By not denying the presence of explosives but highlighting the risks instead, the omission spoke volumes.
"Sir?" The bodyguard wasn't sure of the identity of this formidable woman in their midst but could tell she was no ordinary person; he looked to Oliver for direction.
Today's bodyguards were proficient in hand-to-hand combat and coordinated fighting, but blasting wasn't their expertise. The Windsor Group did train specialists for such work, but none were present on this mission.
Oliver examined Casey, seemingly evaluating her expertise and worth.
Casey allowed his scrutiny, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor.
"I can't say I trust you," Oliver stated.
Casey frowned.
"However, I have a better person in mind." Oliver handed the umbrella to Natalie and then took a few steps into the rain.
A bodyguard rushed to shield Oliver from the rain with the umbrella.
Natalie pursed her lips. Though curious whom Oliver might be calling, she guessed it was someone tied to classified matters and did not follow.
All she could see was the man's upright figure vanishing into the drizzle, his voice indistinct.
"Get Lucas on the phone," Oliver ordered.
Lucas was standing by the highway with Lilian, who was nestled close to him wearing a water-resistant windbreaker, engrossed in playing Snake on her phone.
"Mr. Watson, Mr. Windsor is on the line for you."
Lucas gave a lazy "Ah," took the phone, and greeted, "Hello."
"You know how to handle explosives?" Oliver asked straight to the point.
Lucas slowly sat upright, glanced at Lilian, and stepped out of the car.
Seeing this, the accompanying bodyguard quickly opened an umbrella for Lucas to shield him from the rain—everyone knew that the young master was the darling brother of the lady of the house.
"Yeah, what's on your mind?"
"Have the bodyguard hand you the materials; I want you to set up a charge against the mountainside. We'll come through the breach."
"You... you didn't leave? Is my sister with you?" Lucas' expression shifted as he had seen a convoy moving away on the winding road earlier and thought they had already left.
Oliver couldn't bother to answer such a mindless question.
"Be mindful of the blast strength; we don't want to trigger a landslide. We'll stay fifty meters back."
"Oliver, is this how you take care of my sister? In this weather, do you think she can just stay put?" Lucas said in a rough tone, "Looks like you don't want a wife anymore!"
Oliver was silent for a second, then said, "Thanks."
Lucas was puzzled: "?"
It dawned on Lucas that his earlier remark indirectly acknowledged Oliver as his brother-in-law—a realization he didn't exactly relish. But what could he do if his sister didn't take a firmer stance against Oliver?
"Don't get wet; don't make her worry," Oliver advised one last time.
It was clear whom he meant by "her"—undoubtedly Natalie.
"...Does my sister know?" Lucas asked quietly.
A hint of amusement rose in Oliver's tone, "As long as you don't interfere, she won't."
As long as Lucas didn't meddle in matters between him and Natalie, she wouldn't find out about Lucas's explosives expertise or that he was a core member of a secretive organization.
"Oliver, are you threatening me?" Lucas was incredulous, "How can you be so shameless?"
"Shameless?" Oliver uttered with feigned surprise, then casually added, "Your sister usually says I'm thick-skinned. Maybe your description is more fitting."
Fuming, Lucas hung up the phone.
"Mr. Watson, do you have any instructions?" The bodyguard barely finished his question when he was met with Lucas's deadly glare, sending shivers down his spine.
Though he had heard about the significance of the lady's younger brother, he was just shy of his twenties, mostly seemed lethargic, and was known to be unwell; the bodyguards had never taken him too seriously.
It was at this moment that the bodyguard truly sensed the aura of authority that Lucas carried.
"Oliver wants you to hand over the explosives to me," Lucas composed himself, not wishing to alarm Lilian.
"Who's going to handle this?" the bodyguard asked in disbelief, "You? You're doing it?"
"Make it quick."
"Yes, right away!"
To be prepared for any situation, the bodyguards had stocked Lilian and Lucas's car with plenty of gear, since both were part of the team and trustworthy.
The explosives and tools weren't excessive; everything was carefully chosen for efficiency and compactness.
Lucas reviewed the materials and surveyed the terrain, finding the optimal spot to set up the charges.
"What are you doing, Lucas?" Lilian called out, hesitant to approach as Lucas seemed busy. She didn’t want to interrupt him.
"Take her further back," Lucas instructed the bodyguard covering him with an umbrella.
The bodyguard with the umbrella gave a nod to another, signaling another bodyguard to take Lilian to safety. Once Lucas had almost finished setting up, he said, "Mr. Watson, I can handle the ignition."
"Are you sure?" Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"Absolutely. It's part of our basic training, though my skills might not be up to Mr. Watson's level," the bodyguard confessed, admitting he wasn't as adept at getting the explosive ratios and structures just right, but he knew his way around the gear.
Weighing the options, Lucas realized the bodyguard, who was trained and faster in both running and reaction, was indeed better suited for the job.
"Got another umbrella in the car, or something else for cover?" Lucas asked.
"Yes."
The bodyguard brought over a spare umbrella.
Carefully avoiding the rain, Lucas ran the fuse a good distance under the cover of the umbrella to keep it dry.
"What are you doing, Mr. Watson?" the bodyguard asked, puzzled.
Why extend the fuse to nearly six feet when half a foot would normally suffice?
Lucas was meticulously preventing the makeshift fuse from getting wet.
"Done," Lucas said, having extended it to nearly ten feet. He stood, took the umbrella from the bodyguard, and said, "I'll hold onto the umbrella; it would only get in your way when you run."
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