Free Web NovelChapter 210: Chapter 137: A Dark and Windy Night for Murder
[Punitive Expedition defeated, suffers heavy losses at the hands of Lu Shan.]
[City Defense Department forced to withdraw from the Red River Region, leading remnant forces in retreat back to the shelter city.]
[Wilderness outposts have fallen. Warlord Ogrin has been killed in the wilds. Lu Shan has become the most powerful warlord in the upper Red River Region...]
For several days, similar news from the wilderness flooded the streets and alleyways of Ring City.
Everyone who saw the news was fraught with anxiety, their faces etched with worry.
"How could the Punitive Expedition have been defeated?"
"Weren’t things going well just a little while ago? They were saying the final offensive was about to begin."
"Don’t tell me Lu Shan is actually going to attack us?"
"We can’t go on living like this! The news of the defeat just came out, and prices have already gone up again!"
The chatter of neighbors echoed ceaselessly below the apartment buildings of Street No. 2, their grumbling voices a mix of complaint and concern.
This included Zhao Yuanqing. After finally getting off work and returning home, he was carrying bags filled with rice and daily food supplies.
"You have no idea. Several of the supermarkets downstairs have been completely cleared out."
He panted slightly as he set the items down. "Prices have gone up another twenty percent. The rumor everywhere is that Lu Shan is going to attack us here in Ring City soon."
"When that happens, the Iron Ring District will be the first to suffer. There’ll be nowhere to run..."
His tone was indignant and laced with worry.
Ring City’s history was not without similar incidents of warlords sieging the city. One had even come close to breaching its defenses.
Moreover, the Lu Shan of today was far more powerful than that warlord of the past.
After killing Ogrin and repelling the Punitive Expedition, he had not only subjugated several of Ogrin’s Superpower Level experts but had also completely seized the entire northern area of the upper Red River. His forces were formidable, and he now dominated the region.
If he were to truly wage war against Ring City, it would be an absolute disaster.
Hearing this, Lu Chao didn’t make any jokes. His expression was also grim.
This turn of events was truly unexpected.
No one dared to underestimate the ambition and audacity of a major wilderness warlord, especially during this period of weakness when the Punitive Expedition had suffered heavy losses and been forced to retreat.
’Was it a genuine defeat, or...’
As he helped Zhao Yuanqing move the food, Lu Chao frowned slightly, his mind filling with speculation.
The situation had been looking excellent, but it had taken a sudden, sharp turn.
He subconsciously recalled the information Yang Wangtao had shared with him earlier.
A sliver of suspicion even formed in his mind. ’Could the factions within the Punitive Expedition have done this intentionally?’
’Their goal might have been to put pressure on Yao Capital, forcing them to recognize the Punitive Expedition as an official organization of the Alliance Country—a true Wilderness Law Enforcement Team.’
The thought flashed through his mind, but he had no answer.
Rumors were flying around the Patrol Department as well, and even Yang Wangtao couldn’t tell him the real truth. All he knew was that the City Defense Department, the companies, and the martial arts halls had all suffered significant losses. It didn’t seem like an act.
As he was thinking, BUZZ! BUZZ!
His watch vibrated, and Lu Chao glanced down at it.
[Captain Yang: The recommendation application was rejected.]
His gaze hardened. Although he had expected it, Lu Chao still narrowed his eyes.
’Without a doubt, this is the intervention of the mega-corporations and local family factions.’
’In their eyes, these positions were probably already in the bag—reserved for people like Ruan Hui or Mei Ning.’
’In that case, the only path left is an exceptional promotion.’
Pushing aside his stray thoughts, Lu Chao’s mind became clear.
The benefits of an exceptional promotion were no less than those of a recommendation. In fact, he felt an exceptional promotion was actually more suitable for him.
Guidance from a Superpower Level expert wasn’t that important to him, because he had Master Luo to back him up and could ask for advice at any time.
Besides, resources were what he needed most. If he could get promoted, he would naturally be able to acquire more nutritional resources, accelerating his Potential Progress and Life Energy development.
Instantly, all his hesitation vanished.
Lu Chao replied to the message and then looked out the window.
High in the sky, a flying car streaked past, returning to the city’s inner rings and kicking up a wave of air.
His thoughts seemed to zoom out, no longer confined to immediate gains and losses.
’An exceptional promotion is inevitable. I will eventually climb higher.’
But... A glint flashed in his eyes. ’Since the Punitive Expedition has been defeated and returned to the city... then...’
’...it’s time to settle some old scores.’
...
WHIR!
「Several days later, at night.」
A layer of dark clouds had appeared at some point, like a black veil floating in the sky, obscuring part of the moon’s brilliance.
A commotion came from a villa in the inner city rings as a glass canopy began to open.
Several hover cars approached from outside, slowly descending.
The whirring downdraft from the hover cars kicked up dust from the open ground of the villa estate. As the cars landed completely, their cabin doors opened.
One by one, armed security guards from the Biotechnology Company, dressed in black combat uniforms, stepped out.
Some held [Viper] submachine guns, while others wore night-vision devices and special goggles. Each one had a steady presence, clearly a group of well-trained combatants.
CLOMP, CLOMP, CLOMP, CLOMP.
To the sound of their footsteps, they quickly completed the shift change with the villa’s internal security team and fanned out to various parts of the property.
Some stood guard with their guns at the main entrance, some patrolled along the villa’s courtyard walls, and others moved to the second floor and the rooftop to keep watch. A solemn, disciplined silence fell over the area.
"Ruan Hui is finally back. We’ve been waiting for so long."
"With such a huge disaster striking the Punitive Expedition, you don’t think anything happened to Ruan Hui, do you?"
"How could anything happen to him? Look at the security team with him—they’re from the Biotechnology Company! Plus, he’s accompanied by several Elite Level experts."
"That’s right. And I heard the Punitive Expedition’s defeat isn’t as simple as it seems. Apparently, there’s more to the story. Anyway, it doesn’t really affect us, so don’t overthink it."
