In the early morning, as Yang Zicang rose from his bed, an extra letter lay by the door.
It was dark gold, with an elegant vertical line of pattern at two-thirds of the envelope. When Yang Zicang walked over, picked it up, and opened it, inside was an investigation report on the Han Mingxiao incident.
The final conclusion: According to the steward’s review, the security threat level from the Han Mingxiao clique within the company is currently less than –one.-
After a moment’s contemplation, the young man placed it beside his pillow, then washed his face, ate some bread, put on his coat, and set out for today’s cleaning work.
Around four or five in the afternoon, Yang Zicang used a photograph to arrive at City 11.
Seeing the young man arriving on a flying carpet, Robin Lo came over and said, –Zicang, people from City 23 have started harassing our hunting teams that went out.-
–Are they hitting hard?-
–Not hard, but damn annoying. We finally managed to lure away the ordinary earthbound spirits and isolate the ones with high bloodline concentration, but those guys deliberately sent people to create chaos, drawing monsters over so we couldn’t make a move.-
–They’re still somewhat restrained.- Yang Zicang bit his lip and looked at the fat man’s face. –How’s your side?-
Hearing this, Robin Lo chuckled slyly and said greasily, –A big haul.-
……
The sky was growing dark; the already poorly lit city became completely indiscernible even before six o’clock.
For safety’s sake, all the teams in the city returned to their respective camps.
In this arched building where the Four-Phase Heavenly Group is stationed, several Enightmare modules that emit light illuminate the interior. By the pots bubbling with broth and rice, everyone holds their routine evening discussion.
–The other side has stopped accepting invitations for new teams to enter. People in Hub Town are cursing us, saying that we planted spies and made them miss their chance to get into City 11.-
Cheng Yunze nodded. A blond-haired North American beside him spoke in halting Chinese:
–I heard that only those two guys from our team were flushed out these past few days. How could they know so precisely?-
As he spoke, his gaze swept over the crowd below, especially the seven or eight who had followed from other teams in the city.
Everyone exchanged glances. –No way, do we have spies from the other side among us?-
–Alright, stop being paranoid.- Cheng Yunze said. –Did any of you see that person who came running in wearing the red Moxel?-
They all shook their heads.
–Zhang Miao, Cui Rong—those three—haven’t even replied. Looks like they’ve sworn a turtle’s oath, dead set on following that kid.-
–Fine, that guy is a real standout. We’ll try to recruit him. As for the spy business, let’s drop it. Our focus now is on grabbing those high-level bound spirit cores faster and messing with their progress. If we can make them get one fewer void-zero weapon before the new year, that’s a big win.-
As the discussion gradually shifted to how to pull monsters, the vice-captain, who had been pacing in the main hall, suddenly stopped and said:
–No, Yunze. The big client side probably has a very formidable intelligence expert. Do you still remember that psychologist from before?-
Most people in the meeting room looked puzzled. Cheng Yunze looked up and suddenly seemed to recall something. Even a few veterans in the team shuddered in fear.
–You mean that guy who could tell truth from lies just by observing subtle changes in facial expressions, and even read hidden emotions from them!-
The vice-captain said, –They probably have someone like that on their side, otherwise how could they so quickly and precisely discover our infiltrators?-
Everyone looked at him with confusion.
–If they had that ability, Yang Zicang wouldn’t have been ambushed by the Shi Qian team.-
–Or maybe it’s the ability of someone from other cities who entered this time. If those experts are helping… Damn! It’s actually possible.-
–Regardless, let’s assume it’s someone from their side first. Everyone be extra cautious from now on.-
Just then, a financing line spread out, but vanished in an instant.
{Four Phases Heavenly Group Ning Jiajia, female, anti-tender old girl, can copy nine different light abilities for storage and recall. Currently collected four light abilities.}
–What’s this?- The people in the room were startled.
Ning Jiajia shot up from her seat, her face turning bright red with shame and anger.
–Old… uh?-
The people by the iron pot were left speechless.
–What are they trying to do?-
–Jiajia, ignore him. In this world, who isn’t a millennia-old tortoise? Age is just a fleeting cloud.-
–Yeah, don’t be upset. By the way, why do you only have four types of light power? Has the ‘Light Gate’ still not been replicated successfully?-
–Mind your own business!-
Ning Jiajia shot a glare at the person who couldn’t resist bringing up the wrong topic.
Another ripple of information spread out, sweeping across everyone’s chests.
{Zhang Zhiquan of the Four Phases Group: a proud otaku, whose greatest joy is to bask in the admiration others shower on his team, with the mindset of a protagonist.}
–Huh? What?-
Everyone looked at the man sitting not far from Cheng Yunze, known as ‘Fist Zhang’, who had sturdy arms and a bewildered expression.
{Every night before bed, he indulges in sweet fantasies: a dashing hero saving the masses from misery in a fate-defying journey, only to be praised by thousands. Unfortunately, his training turned him into a bulky brute, a far cry from the elegant scholar he wished to be. How sad.}
Bang! Zhang Zhiquan slapped his palm onto the stone pillar beside the tea jar.
–Fist, calm down.-
Zhang Zhiquan’s face flushed red as he snapped, –This is fake.-
–Wanting to be a hero is great—our Zhiquan is so admirable,- said some who knew his preferences.
–You’d better keep your mouth shut.-
Before the words faded, another zigzag ripple spread, and everyone panicked.
Fortunately, it wasn’t that person, but someone from one of the eleven cities who had entered.
{Who is Zhang Zhiquan? What are you guys up to?}
Zhang Zhiquan’s face was as black as soot from a pot, his fists clenched so tight they seemed about to drip water, his head buried.
The people inside the room whispered in terrified murmurs, when suddenly another folded line shot toward them.
{Wang Tianyi… so, you actually have this kind of problem. A pity—how will the girls who fall for you in the future cope?}
One person in the room erupted in rage, radiating Moxel outward.
[Who are you! Are you people from the Big Client Cargo Team?]
–Tianyi, don’t be impulsive.–
[I have secured 9999N investment.]
The man who had just shouted –Tianyi, don’t be impulsive– only saw that before his words faded, the furious man had vanished from his stool with a whoosh.
The room erupted in gasps of shock. The few people beside him stumbled back several steps in terror, as if seeing a ghost, scrambling away from the small wooden stools. Even though they knew he had been sent away by the other party investing ten thousand years of longevity, a chill still clung to them, each afraid of being the next one named.
The threads shot outward again with a whoosh.
{Oh, finally chimed in, eh? Sneaking around peeping these past few days, I thought you were some stray cat or mangy dog. Ah, by the way, let me declare: I’m just the one reading the words. If you want to invest in me, I’d be more than happy.}
Funding declaration carrying information flashed by. The furious deputy squad leader, itching to invest in a fit of anger, slammed a hand on the wooden table.
–Those bastards!–
{Miss Zhong of the Four-Phase Celestial Team, wow, you can actually see the excess stuff in the water ripples and even separate it out. My favorite thing? Touching the abs of those ‘puppy-boy’ types. And my biggest fantasy? Dating them.}
–Wha—what are you talking about?!– A girl clenched her fists and jumped to her feet, the Moxel on her chest flickering.
–Xiao Zhong, don’t follow in Tianyi’s footsteps!–
–I—I!– The girl glanced around with a hurt expression, tears welling in her eyes. Suddenly, she turned and bolted out. A young man in the group saw this and, ignoring everyone’s stares, immediately chased after her to comfort the girl.
A broken line rippled outward.
The butts of about thirty people all twitched in unison, and even Chen Yunze’s back stiffened instinctively.
{Is this Yang Zicang’s team? We’re from City 14. Where are you? Can we buy some talismans?}
The flickering Moxel lines multiplied.
{I’m from City 17. Yang Zicang, which light gate are you at? I want to buy some of your ‘Celestial Treasures.’ But speaking of which, Miss Zhong, I’ve got tons of handsome guys with abs over here—and I can make cat-ear hair clips too. Want to come over and make some friends?}
–These people are going too far!–
As everyone inside the hall fumed with resentment and rage, a financing declaration flashed and spread once more.
–Physical problems can be fixed, but a sick mind is beyond cure. Ah, forget it. This is way too cringey, someone. We’ll let you off for now. Your year-end performance review will speak for itself. You wouldn’t want us to reveal the specific incidents and names, would you? You know what to do.-
The crowd looked around suspiciously, trying to figure out from each other’s expressions who this time was the one whose name wasn’t even mentioned.
–{Mark of the Four Phases Group!}-
The named foreigner’s face stiffened as he shot up and screamed hoarsely: –It’s not me! They’re making it up!-
As soon as he finished shouting, the ripple spread again, as if gasping for breath.
–{Hehe, Mr. Mark, I won’t reveal your information either. I can only say: I wish you success.}-
–Wish me success? What do you mean by that!-
Then, everyone who had been scanning the room shifted their gaze simultaneously to the blond man named Mark.
–They’re lying.- Mark looked up and met Chen Yunze’s suspicious stare.
–Captain, this is their divide-and-conquer tactic.-
Ning Jiajia glared at him with fury, as if she had found an outlet for her anger, and pressed aggressively: –What are you plotting that they’d wish you success?-
–I’m not!-
Another ripple spread through the hall, and the members of the Four Phases Group nearly jumped out of their seats.
–{Let’s stop here for today. See you tomorrow.}-
–See you in hell.-
–Finally, it’s over!-
{Right, Anjuke, if you like Ning Jiajia, you need to step it up. She looks down on people without power or status, and besides, you’re just a triangle—give up that hope.}
The sound of a stool toppling over.
–Just a triangle?– The crowd stared in shock at someone in the group, and at Ning Jiajia, whose pretty face had turned the color of pig liver.
The man who called himself Anjuke rose, his face twitching, and in his shame and anger, he spread out a triangular Moxel from his heart.
–Wasn’t it supposed to be over today?!–
–Stop it!–
–Do you want to disappear?!–
With a sudden jolt, Anjuke cut off the financing Moxel.
{Aiyaya, that was just me jotting down Ning Jiajia’s info—it slipped out casually.}
Ning Jiajia stormed off toward a few tents behind the hall, leaving behind a roomful of teammates in a foul, chaotic atmosphere where everyone felt uneasy.
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