Chapter 31: The Captured Group

Before the firework projectile could reach the masked man, he shot it out of the air. He then leveled his weapon at Briar, intending to give him a taste of his own medicine. Seeing Briar in danger, Bramble slammed his foot on the accelerator, surging the car forward.

In the vehicle, Bramble looked at Logger Vick, who was clutching Dudu. "Vick, I’ll drive out of the forest, and you take this chance to get Dudu to town and call the police. If we keep going like this, we’ll all be wiped out."

"Yeah, okay."

After clarifying the plan, Bramble shouted to Bramble in the back, "Bramble, keep up the suppressive fire!"

"Oh, what suppressive fire? If I stick my head out now, I’ll be turned into a sieve!"

Just then, sensing the silence outside, Bramble lit a string of firecrackers and carefully peeked out. He was met with the muzzles of five or six machine guns pointed directly at his head.

"Ah, no!" In a panic, Bramble hurled the firecrackers. They landed squarely on one of the masked men, and amidst the rapid popping, the man was blasted away like a charred, overcooked chicken.

Bramble seized the moment to zigzag through the woods, and after putting some distance between them and their pursuers, he skidded to a stop.

"Vick, hurry, get Dudu to town! We’ll buy you some time."

"Bramble, Briar, you two better not get yourselves killed! If—if something happens to you—"

Hearing this, the bears were about to feel touched, but then Vick added, "—if something happens to you, wouldn't all the trees in the forest belong to me? I’d be rich! Hahaha!" With that, Vick took off with Dudu.

"Vick, you son of a..." Watching him disappear, Bramble unleashed a string of colorful profanities before turning the car around to block the pursuers. "Come on then! We’re your targets, bring it on!"

But the masked men’s focus remained solely on Dudu. Seeing that she was already gone, they didn't even spare a glance for the bears. As they passed, they tossed a grenade their way. The bears stood stunned as the group moved on.

(They turned and left, looking as though they had made up their minds, never looking back at us again.)

A blast rang out, and two charcoal-like figures flew through the air.

"We’ll be back..."

***

As Vick reached the outskirts of town with Dudu, he felt a violent impact on his face. He felt with painful precision a size-12 boot connecting with his cheek, sending him flying backward.

"Ouch! My handsome face! Wait, where’s Dudu? Where did she go?"

Realizing Dudu was gone, Vick looked around anxiously. He saw the masked man carrying her toward an airship hovering in the sky.

"That is the last straw! Not only did you ruin my handsome face, but you dared to snatch Dudu? I’m about to explode!"

With a burst of primal strength, Vick grabbed a rock and hurled it at a masked man who was preparing to retreat. The man didn't see it coming, and his head was cracked open. Greedily eyeing the unconscious man, Vick gave a sly grin, stripped off the man’s flight gear, strapped it on, and took off in pursuit.

"You little punk! You’re the one who trampled my handsome face, right? Watch this—I’m paying you back for that kick!"

After kicking the man down, Vick grabbed Dudu, intending to return to the ground. But as if by magic, a swarm of others appeared out of nowhere, surrounding him. As one of them struggled with him, Dudu slipped from his arms and fell into the air.

"Dudu!"

Vick shoved his attacker away and dove, catching Dudu just in time. The two plummeted toward the ground, but the tree canopy broke their fall, leaving them both unconscious.

Just then, Baboon and Doggy were driving a stolen police car, heading back to apologize to their boss, when they spotted the fallen Vick and Dudu. They jumped out to investigate.

"I can't believe it! We found them! Doggy, we’ve hit the jackpot this time, hahahaha!"

They loaded Vick and Dudu into the car and headed toward the M Group headquarters. Meanwhile, the soot-covered bears were still searching the forest.

"Vick? Vick? Where are you?"

"Briar, it looks like Vick didn't make it to town."

"Yeah, he must still be in the forest. Let's keep looking."

A car engine hummed in the distance. They turned to see Baboon and Doggy, and following their gaze, they spotted Vick and Dudu in the back seat.

Bramble panicked. "Briar, what do we do? Vick and Dudu have been captured!"

***

"Don't worry. We left plenty of that flight gear behind in the forest. We’ll use that to save them."

Inside a factory, Su He, bound by steel cables and chains, sat with his legs crossed, staring at the boss of the M Group.

"Kid, you’re quite the fighter, leaving so many of my men in such a sorry state. Why not join me? I’ll guarantee you status and wealth."

"Listen here, you old geezer, save the nonsense. Where are Vick and Dudu? If I’m not mistaken, you’ve got them too, right?"

"Heh, so you’ve chosen the hard way. Bring them in, let them all be reunited."

As he spoke, men in black brought out Vick, who was tied to a chair, while Baboon and Doggy carried Dudu.

"Vick! Vick, wake up! Don't sleep!"

At Su He’s shouting, Vick slowly opened his eyes.

"Where am I? Why am I tied up? Hey, Su He, why are you here? And where is Dudu?"

"Vick, we failed. We’ve been captured, and Dudu is in the hands of those two losers."

Doggy, offended, rolled up his sleeves and pointed at Su He. "Hey, who are you calling losers? Say that again if you’ve got the guts!"

Su He looked at Baboon and Doggy with utter contempt.

"Aren't you two just losers? Can't do anything right, only good at picking up scraps. Why don't you just go become scavengers instead of pretending to be tough guys?"

"That’s enough. Let’s talk business," the M Group boss interjected.

"What’s there to talk about? You bunch of kidnappers, let Dudu and us go! Once the police catch you, you’ll be in for a world of hurt!"