A small black taxi with a collapsible rear roof stopped across the street in the smoke.
Two ladies in performance costumes, moving with some difficulty, slowly got out of the car.
“Wow, perfect. ” Wang Zhi said. “Let’s take this car to the Museum of Dramatic Arts. “
A soldier nearby immediately remarked, “If there are four of us to sit, we’ll probably need to call another one, right? “
“No need. Even if we walk, it’s not that far. It’s just… ” He Yishu glanced at the two ladies’ costumes.
“Is there enough time? ” Wang Zhi asked, turning his head in confusion. “I heard your schedule today is pretty tight. “
He Yishu chuckled and said, “There’s time. We already know the content of the story. I think, once I tell Chairman Yang, he should know what it’s all about. “
He stepped forward towards the two ladies.
“About it? You know? ” Wang Zhi took a step and followed him.
He Yishu, with his chiseled face, crossed the street as he spoke. “I’m not sure exactly what needs to be done, but I think it’s related to something the Chairman already has. That’s just my guess, though. “
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhi just let out a reluctant “Hmm… ah… ” and fell silent.
……
On the hilltop, trees thundered and fell in a rapid bow-shaped arc before crashing down.
In less than a quarter of an hour, that Nightmare Motorcycle had completely circled the hundred-meter-diameter stubby hill, its roaring engine bursting out from the woods, dust and smoke swirling in its wake.
“Zorro… ah… let me take a break, will you? “
The skinny man covered in sawdust on the motorcycle gasped for air as he shoved his two half-elbow-length cleavers into the back of his belt. Getting off the vehicle, he walked toward Zorro, who was already spreading gasoline on several tree trunks in the center of the forest.
“Not bad, you’ve been through several spots and still haven’t collapsed. “
“Well, I’ve been doing this since I was a kid. ” A’Ku tugged at the corner of his mouth, his ash-gray face unreadable—whether smiling or weary. “Back in our place, it wasn’t like herenfor you folks. My dad would head into the mine to quarry stone before dawn and only come back after dark. Before I turned ten, I’d already gone down the pits with him a few times. “
“No wonder your skills are way better than mine. ” Zorro chuckled, his gaze crossing the small slope and settling on the firebreak that the Little Red Horse had carried, and A’Ku had cleared.
A wind passed through the treetops, and amid the slight swaying of branches, he raised his hand, struck a match, and brought it close to a green conifer, painted with gasoline and resembling a pine or cypress.
With a “whoosh! “, under the Little Red Horse’s gaze, which was still curious no matter how many times it saw this, the tree began to burn rapidly from its trunk upward.
Then, among the roaring sounds of flames, tongues of fire slithered up like snakes, darting to ignite the tips of the branches, and with a gust of wind, scattered sparks in all directions. Some sparks died out mid-air, while others landed on nearby treetops.
Within a few breaths, two other trees also started crackling and burning fiercely.
The roar crackled and rumbled on…
A’Ku, breathing heavily with his hands on his hips and his mouth half-open, watched the blazing campfire and let out a soft sigh.
“Alright, ” Zorro said, turning and walking back. “There are still dozens of other spots we need to light up. Let’s give it our all, my friend. “
“Hmph! ” A’Ku gave a bitter chuckle, turned around, and followed Zorro toward the motorcycle. Straddling across, he held onto the young man’s waist, taking his seat on the back of the Infernal Motorcycle.
Amidst the roar of the engine, the motorcycle vanished into a phantom trail in the blink of an eye, disappearing over the hill where the flames were swiftly spreading.
……
The propeller of the Science Evil Craft plane turned slowly as it gradually descended from the clouds, flying almost level with the dark clouds flowing across the sky.
Two roaring planes passed by beneath, slicing through like a pair of birds.
Zhao Anlong stood in the plane’s cockpit, arms crossed, one foot planted on the edge of the opening, looking down at the city that was faintly visible below.
Colonel Golden Lion Iska hugged his briefcase, craning his neck to look down from the other side.
“Are you sure this is the place? ” the Colonel shouted loudly, turning around and yelling at Zhao Anlong, his voice barely carrying over the howling wind:
“Isn’t this too dangerous? “
“No, it’s not. “
Zhao Anlong stared down with dragon-like ferocity, standing atop the clouds like a god.
“Your plan is certainly safe and sound. But my intel is no slouch either. I’m sure that down in that house is one of those bastards in that group. “
“What did you say? ” Colonel Golden Lion Iska stood up.
“I said! ” Zhao Anlong shouted loudly, “Our people are confirming all over the world where those saboteurs are. “
The sound reached the pilot and Colonel’s ears, and Zhao Anlong turned around and spoke in a loud voice:
“I don’t know how they’re doing on their end. But I don’t intend to let them go here! “
As he spoke, Colonel Golden Lion felt from the young man beside him a powerful, tearing sense of danger, as if instinctually approaching a rotating metal saw blade or an onrushing high-speed truck, causing his body’s muscles to tense.
“I still advise you to be rational, Mr. Anlong. “
“Your counsel is received. ” Zhao Anlong smiled, “Thank you for your tacit understanding, my friend. You are a good Grainwood man. “
Zhao Anlong turned around, his other foot also stepping onto the edge of the aircraft, four faint rings of varying colors gradually lighting up in his eyes.
Accompanied by a distorted, blurred phantom condensing onto the hand grenade he held, Zhao Anlong straightened his arm holding the grenade and a “Secret Fruit, ” and slowly released his thumb, index, and middle fingers.
The grenade, with its pin pulled, dropped.
“One grenade… “
The small black dot fell from the height with an arc.
“That’s enough. “
Zhao Anlong crushed the Secret Fruit. The somewhat erratic black dot immediately became much more stable, heading straight for a building below as if equipped with a guided sight.
“Just like how they have their ‘Secret Envoys’. ” A faint, satisfied smile touched Zhao Anlong’s lips, “This one contains the destructive effect condensed from my ‘Glory Light’ seal. “
Colonel Golden Lion’s pupils shifted slightly.
The plane slowly entered the deep clouds.
The tiny black object glided silently and weightlessly down through the air.
In the room, several busy men dressed in white wide-leg pants and sleeveless open-chest work suits were loading some packed wooden boxes onto a small cart nearby.
Outside the warehouse door beside them, a man in a black suit and a round-top hat, with a profound expression, anxiously raised his wrist to check the time.
A figure trotted in from the outside. “Mr. Xioru, several patrol officers from the Security Bureau who scoped out our place earlier have already brought people over. They’ll be here in less than fifteen minutes. “
“We’re still too close to the bustling city. That’s enough though. Move faster! ” He lowered his arm and shouted to the workers inside. “Our clients are pressed for time. “
“Yes, Mr. Xioru, ” the busy workers replied respectfully.
Suddenly, Xioru, who had already diffused a thin aura of stellar perceptual energy to sense his surroundings, abruptly looked up toward the sky above. A jolt went through his gaze, and without even time to yell, he pushed off the ground to turn and flee.
The small black grenade, already unstable with energy, plunged straight down into the upper part of the building, tearing through several floors.
The people inside had just started to look up.
Boom!
Along with the sudden explosion of billowing black fumes, the entire house was torn apart from the center by a deep, dark energy that split everything apart, devouring all in its spread. Many TNT bombs inside the house didn’t even have time to detonate before they were shattered into fragments by this overwhelming force.
The residual force of the blast, mixed with dust and smoke, spread to a few nearby streets.
…
High above, a pilot who had looked down through the plane’s protective canopy and saw nothing except a faint, spreading black dot withdrew his gaze.
“President Anlong, ” the pilot said, turning his head. “That hand grenade of yours is terrifying. “
“Everything comes with a price, ” Zhao Anlong said with a chuckle.
“Where are we heading next? ” the pilot asked.
Colonel Golden Lion fixed his gaze on the land below for a few moments, then sat upright and said calmly, “Head southwest to Ordon County. “
After speaking, he continued, slightly solemn, to Zhao Anlong:
“President Zhao, according to your account, that ‘gentleman’ used the radio and hijacked the World Ark’s broadcasting system to truly initiate his campaign of spreading doomsday panic. “
“Yes, and so? “
“Well then, the logical move for all nations would be to immediately cut off these communication lines. “
Jin Shī finished speaking and looked up at the pilot, saying, “Our signal receivers should also stay turned off for now. ” Then he turned to Zhao Anlong, who was looking at him, and said, “Mr. Anlong. Do you recall any targets in Orton County that can be eliminated? If not, please give us an address where there are. “
“Huh? Yeah, let me think. “
……
“Reporting to the Colonel! “
At the entrance of a command room shrouded in a tense, smoke-filled atmosphere, the arriving officer raised his arm in a sharp salute, his legs snapping together with a thud as his heavy military boots clicked shut.
“What is it?” The man in the gray-green military uniform, who had been briefing a few others, turned around, casting a glance with eyes the color of pale tangerine.
“The surveillance targets in the Baiya District of Terry Town have just been completely eliminated.“
“What!“
Not just the colonel, but several other officers in the middle of their discussion in the room shot to their feet in shock.
“Quick, prepare men and ammunition, and gasoline too!” The two men inside immediately yelled at the two soldiers waiting by the door.
Amidst their shouts, the colonel paused to think for a moment, then walked over swiftly. Staring intently at the soldier who was still holding his salute, he spoke in fluent local dialect:
“Deliver this news immediately to that visiting air force officer from Havenkirk.“
“Yes, sir!” The man didn’t hesitate. He turned on his heel, swinging his arms and legs vigorously, and rushed toward the staircase at the other end of the corridor.
……
Havenkirk.
“Someone has destroyed it in advance, General.“
“We should start as well.“
The General in the office rose to his feet, squaring a sheaf of documents on the deep, polished desktop as he replied.
From Ferheim to Solte, from the Kingdom of Ailenting to the Free Duchy of Carinthia, from Havenkirk to the Polis of Verins—these cities, young or ancient, were formed from countless towering edifices.
Dense rows of civilian tiled houses, or intersecting city streets and bridges, witnessed explosions roaring through the city almost within the span of two minutes.
Terrified citizens rushed into the streets, unable to believe their eyes as these buildings turned into flames. Some burning figures screamed and tried to run out of their houses, but were swiftly executed on the spot by armed men who arrived.
“The action report has arrived. “
The report was rapidly transmitted back to Hazel Palace.
The prince, with neatly trimmed beard on his lips, glanced at the report in his hand, sighed softly as he set the document down, and looked out the window at the overcast sky where several aircraft shadows streaked across.
He turned to look at his assistant and bodyguard of decades and asked, lowering his gaze: “What do you think of General Ross’s capabilities? “
The man, who appeared to be in his forties and dressed in a ceremonial-like uniform, replied:
“Judging from the declassified documents of the Seawater Dukedom action, among those dispatched who survived, his abilities are exceptional. “
The prince nodded, “Thank you. Go and rest for a while; you’ve been busy for quite some time. “
……
In the quiet, dimly lit room,
The group of people wearing headphones in front of the radio meticulously twisted the knobs of the devices before them, as if listening for the faint rustle of wind passing through countless moments of silence.
Suddenly, one person pressed the button under their finger with rapid precision, causing a second spool device—already spinning like a wide magnetic tape—to begin turning as well.
Behind them, a man who had been pacing back and forth with a solemn expression stirred. He immediately walked over, placed one hand on the operator’s shoulder, propped the other on the desk, and pressed his own ear tightly against the operator’s headphones.
After crouching for a few seconds, this man whispered excitedly to the radio operator, “Found it? “
“Found it! “
The man’s lips trembled with excitement, yet his fingers remained extremely steady.
Some people around them looked over.
“In all that silence, only two fleeting radio waves have traveled recently—one passed to Sorath Region, the other to Carinthia. “
“Excellent! ” The major slammed a fist into his palm with excitement.
“As expected, it’s impossible for them to remain completely indifferent to our collective surprise attack! “
“Quickly contact all departments to urgently coordinate our people in those two nations. “
He turned and paced nervously, then realized that a small country like Sorath was unlikely to wield any effective armed resistance. He immediately rushed out and instructed the messenger running by the doorway:
“Make sure our top-tier Warriors get over to assist right away! Whatever methods they have to use, we can’t afford to hold back now! “
……
Several figures, clutching messages in their hands, frantically ran and gathered towards this row of connected huts.
“Mr. Gong·Adingzan! It’s terrible!“
A man with thick, horizontal brows, who had been staring wide-eyed at a letter in his hand, looked up to see a man in a brown, broad-shouldered coat walking in anxiously.
“What matter is so important that you have to report it so loudly?!“
“Yes, sir!“
The man in brown, who was reporting, was already used to Mr. Adingzan’s fiery temper. He pretty much snapped at everyone around him for everything.
“Mr. Adingzan, we have just received news from…“
“Wait.“
Adingzan suddenly raised his arm, stopping the man from continuing his report.
The few people turned their heads to look outside, where a private plane wobbled down from the sky and landed in the courtyard of a civilian house not too far away.
“Is that…“
The group of men had a bad feeling about this. The plane had gotten so close to them.
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