Chapter 358: The Grumpy Youngster, Part 2

‘When the time comes, it’ll be easy to find an opportunity to make a move on that Old Count.’

‘By the same token, helping those kids in the forest… I’ve done enough…’

‘And now…’

‘…’

His mind quickly settled on a plan: ‘Get a new teammate, then smash through their line of defense!’

His mind made up, he turned and headed north.

As a Mercenary, Lü Xiaobai had almost certainly arrived in Giant Horn City. However, the firefight between Giant Horn City and Skinning Manor had yet to break out. This left the Mercenaries with nothing to do, so they were probably still at the airport.

[Ladder of the Abyssal…]

Han Su recited the Spell, and his figure instantly vanished, melting into the night. It was as if he took a single step and reappeared five meters away. He planted one foot, then took another step, and his body vanished once more.

A single step covered five meters. At this bizarre speed, he traversed the entire city.

‘So this is the potential unlocked after the Divine Material—or rather, the Golden Cells—split?’

Even Han Su himself was experiencing this bizarre change for the first time.

An inexplicable joy rose in his heart. He could feel his body changing. This wasn’t a change brought on by using some power, nor was it from unlocking some latent potential. Instead, as the Divine Material split, it felt as though he himself had grown.

His body, his mind, his Spiritual Power—they had all been given a powerful shove forward. This physical growth, in turn, made his Mysterious Power vastly more effective.

‘With this feeling… it’s like I could take down an average Investigator with my bare hands, no Mysterious Power needed.’

‘No wonder Independent Investigators are all so unbelievably arrogant…’

‘This kind of boost to one’s physical baseline could easily change a person’s mentality. They stop seeing themselves as human…’

‘…’

‘I’m the type who’s immune to distortion; my body won’t mutate.’

‘But for anyone else, the physical distortion combined with the mental shift would make it incredibly difficult to keep holding onto their human principles and face the world!’

At this thought, Han Su suddenly found himself admiring Zhang Chiguo of Qinggang City.

He was mocked by Song Chushi and Li Moxi, and even some Investigators at the Disaster Management Bureau didn’t give him the respect he deserved.

‘But he genuinely sticks to his principles…’

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Han Su grew slightly alarmed. He immediately began to perceive his current changes from a “human” perspective. He didn’t realize that as he shifted his mindset, the faint, bizarre characters in his eyes faded away.

It seemed this line of thought had allowed him to preserve something important, just in the nick of time.

…

“Miss Fatih, the commotion here in Giant Horn City seems a little loud…”

Wei Lan gently set her wine glass on the table. With a wave of her hand, she erased all traces of anyone ever having been in the room, including the fingerprints and lipstick on the glass. Only after doing all this did she turn and leave with a light step, then send a message.

“Are you sure you don’t need my help?”

“…”

Wei Lan had long since picked up on the faint panic Miss Fatih had been showing ever since the conflict between Giant Horn City and Skinning Manor erupted. But as long as Wei Lan didn’t mention it, Miss Fatih pretended nothing was wrong.

But now, prompted by Wei Lan’s message, Miss Fatih could no longer hold back. Her reply came almost instantly: “Miss Wei Lan, perhaps you can help me…”

“…deal with a little… unfinished business?”

“You’re the only one who can do this. As an Empress from out of town, it’s convenient for you, and you won’t attract any trouble.”

“And I guarantee you’ll receive a nice sum of Ancient Gold Coins. I’ll also give you a reward of equal value…”

“…”

As Wei Lan descended in the elevator, a sly, fox-like smile of triumph touched her lips. She sighed softly and said, “Miss Fatih, you’re too kind. I came to Giant Horn City hoping to become your friend. What’s a little favor between friends?”

“Of course, there are certain things in Giant Horn City that interest me…”

“…Such as the previous Fertile Inheritor?”

“…”

Investigating the identity of the Fertile Inheritor was a task Han Su had entrusted to Lu Neng, but since it was convenient, Wei Lan certainly didn’t mind lending a hand.

If Lu Neng managed to complete the task later, she wouldn’t steal his thunder; she’d just keep what she learned to herself. If he failed, then she would have served as a backstop for the mission.

‘Goddammit, “flexible backup”? What the hell is that?’

Unlike Wei Lan’s composure, Dr. Rong Qiyue was getting genuinely angry. ‘I may be a Doctor, a respectable man, not one for all that fighting and killing,’ he fumed, ‘but since I’m in this game, I came fully prepared to pull my weight, you know?’

‘Are these people looking down on me? They didn’t call me for the meeting, and now they’re ignoring me when it’s time to act?’

‘A bunch of uncultured thugs. Are they forcing me to prove myself?’

‘…Still, this is a war between a city and the nobility. What is there for me to do?’

‘…’

He mulled it over and realized there really wasn’t much he could do.

Members of the Rong Family were born to pursue knowledge, not to fight and kill.

Even the Rong Family’s hereditary Totem was only good for self-preservation. When it came to actually fighting, they usually just summoned their elders. But Rong Qiyue, simmering with anger, racked his brains and finally made a decision. On a spiritual plane, he summoned his secretary:

“Miss Sisi, I need you to monitor the entire city for me!”