Chapter 61: Locke Warning (II)

He smiled faintly and said, "If you have something to say, just say it."

Hearing this, Locke shook his head.

"Nothing much."

He paused before looking at Jackson with a solemn expression.

"Still, thank you."

There was a depth to those two words that Jackson could clearly feel.

Then Locke’s expression became even more serious.

"Bitter Rain, I know you’re formidable, but you’d better watch your back."

His voice dropped considerably, as though he was worried someone nearby might overhear them.

Jackson’s brows furrowed.

There was clearly more to this warning.

He didn’t interrupt and simply waited.

"You might not know this," Locke continued, "but the leader of the Desolate Troop comes from a powerful family in Sector Nine."

Jackson’s expression remained calm, but his attention sharpened.

"His elder brother is a Gold-Rank hunter."

Locke’s voice became even lower.

"So you need to be careful."

Jackson’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Sector Nine.

That was considerably far from Sector Sixty-Seven.

But distance meant very little in their world.

With the technology and communication networks connecting the various sectors, information could travel across enormous distances in a matter of minutes.

It was only a matter of time before news of the Desolate Troop leader’s death reached his family.

And once that happened, the Gold-Rank hunter would undoubtedly learn about the person responsible.

Locke’s group had already been preparing to leave the sector for some time, so he guessed Jackson might not know about the Desolate Troop leader’s background.

That was why he had chosen to warn him.

After all, Bitter Rain had become their benefactor today.

Without Jackson’s intervention, Locke might never have gotten the opportunity to settle the grudge that had haunted him for so many years.

He could not repay that favor with silence.

At the very least, he could give Jackson a warning before they parted ways.

"Gold-Rank hunter..."

Jackson’s eyes, hidden behind his mask, flashed with a sharp light.

He had never imagined that someone like the leader of the Desolate Troop could have such powerful backing.

The hierarchy among hunters was extremely strict. First Sequence corresponded to Iron-Rank hunters, while Second Sequence corresponded to Bronze-Rank hunters. Following that progression, a Gold-Rank hunter would be at the Fourth Sequence, a realm that already lay beyond the First Life Transformation.

The difference in strength between them was something Jackson couldn’t even begin to estimate.

A Fourth Sequence existence was simply too far above his current level.

Yet Jackson wasn’t afraid.

He had already taken enough precautions to conceal his identity. His appearance, name, and real-life information had never been exposed, and he had been careful not to leave behind obvious clues connecting Bitter Rain to Jackson.

As long as he remained cautious, he was confident that his identity would not be exposed so easily.

There was no reason to panic.

Locke could clearly see the confidence radiating from Jackson.

However, he couldn’t tell where that confidence came from.

Perhaps Bitter Rain truly possessed enough strength to protect himself.

Or perhaps there was some powerful force standing behind him.

Either way, Locke had already delivered his warning.

What happened afterward would depend on Bitter Rain himself.

After exchanging a few more words, Locke finally said his goodbyes and left with the rest of his group.

Jackson also didn’t remain outside for long.

After making a few simple preparations, he returned to his home in the Golden Radiance District.

...

The core area of Sector Sixty-Seven was completely different from the ordinary districts.

It was one of the most heavily protected regions in the sector, where luxury vehicles moved along spotless streets and powerful hunters could frequently be seen coming and going.

Not a single speck of dirt could be seen on the immaculate roads.

Rows of carefully maintained greenery lined the streets, their leaves swaying gently in the breeze. Every so often, patrol teams passed through the area, their sharp gazes sweeping across the surroundings as they maintained order.

This was where many of the major corporations and powerful organizations in Sector Sixty-Seven had established their headquarters.

Among them stood the headquarters of Green Soul Corporation.

Inside one of the luxurious conference rooms, Veronica Green Soul was sitting in the middle of an important meeting.

Several large screens displayed various streams of information while senior members of the corporation discussed matters concerning the company’s recent operations.

Veronica listened quietly.

Then her hunter license suddenly vibrated.

Her brows immediately furrowed.

She had explicitly instructed everyone not to disturb her during the meeting unless something truly important had happened.

Yet someone had still sent her a message.

If this isn’t important...

A faint coldness flashed through her eyes.

Whoever had sent the message would have a very unpleasant conversation with her later.

Veronica lowered her gaze and opened the message.

There was no lengthy explanation.

No complicated report.

Just a video.

She tapped it.

The screen immediately displayed a familiar figure dressed completely in black from head to toe.

A mask concealed his face.

Bitter Rain.

Standing several meters away from him was Tian Shen.

Then, without warning...

BOOM!

Tian Shen’s body suddenly exploded.

The video ended.

Veronica remained silent.

The irritation that had initially filled her eyes slowly disappeared.

Her expression became serious.

For so long, she had been searching for Bitter Rain.

She had investigated his battles, tracked every clue she could find, and even attempted to contact him directly.

Yet nothing had worked.

No matter how much information she gathered, there was always something missing.

She had even begun to wonder whether finding him was simply impossible.

But now...

She finally had something.

Veronica replayed the video.

Her eyes remained fixed on the masked figure.

The posture.

The height.

The equipment.

Every tiny detail suddenly became important.

Her mind began working rapidly.

She immediately contacted her personal assistant.

"Five Eyes."

The call connected almost instantly.

Veronica’s voice was calm, but there was unmistakable urgency beneath it.

"Quickly filter through the list of potential matches."

She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Search for anyone who is five feet nine inches tall."

Her investigation had finally found its first real clue.