Sunday, 9:00 p.m. sharp.
Swordbearers Binhai Branch, top floor main conference room.
The solemn atmosphere was almost tangible.
The circular conference table, large enough to seat dozens, was packed without a single empty seat.
Lin Mo sat at the head, his expression calm and composed.
Gu Qiancheng, rarely putting aside his usual playful indifference, sat to the left, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the smooth tabletop.
Zhao Dongyuan sat opposite Gu Qiancheng, brow slightly furrowed as if deep in thought.
Besides them, all elite Swordbearers at or above the Tongque level in the branch, along with the commanders of the mobile units urgently transferred from the provincial capital a few days ago and not yet returned, were all present.
No one spoke; even their breathing was deliberately kept light.
All eyes were fixed on the enormous electronic screen at the front of the conference room.
The screen was pitch-black.
Only in the very center, a single line of white system text floated silently: [Real-time communication connecting… Loading image…]
The constantly flashing ellipsis seemed to drum on everyone’s nerves, heralding that the message about to come was no trivial matter.
Suddenly, the black screen lit up without warning, soft light dispelling some of the dimness in the conference room.
“Swish—”
Almost simultaneously, everyone in uniform—regardless of rank—instinctively straightened their backs, shoulders tense, gazes sharp as they turned toward the screen.
It was a response engraved in their very bones: awe and respect for the higher echelons and absolute power.
The image stabilized.
An old man appeared at the center of the screen.
He wore a perfectly pressed Swordbearer ceremonial uniform, his epaulets and collar insignia immaculate.
His hair, streaked with white, was combed back meticulously, every strand reflecting discipline and authority.
The years had carved deep lines on his forehead and at the corners of his eyes, but those eyes themselves were sharp as a hawk’s—no trace of murkiness at all.
As they swept across the room through the screen, they exerted a heavy, almost soul-piercing pressure.
But the most striking feature was the dazzling Chiming Bird insignia pinned to his chest.
Within the entire Swordbearer system, this badge was the pinnacle of honor and strength.
…
Qin Xiangnan.
Vice Chief Commander of Huafu Swordbearers.
A legendary Swordbearer, known as the [Eternal Great Wall], the second-in-command of the Huafu official Oracle system!
The old man’s gaze was calm as he spoke.
His deep, magnetic voice, transmitted through the high-quality sound system, filled the entire room with undeniable authority: “Good evening, everyone.”
The simple greeting made the air even heavier.
Qin Xiangnan paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across the room like a tangible force, finally settling on Lin Mo.
“I believe you all have your suspicions already…”
His voice was steady, weighted with authority.
“Minister Lin Mo’s sudden assignment to Binhai is no ordinary personnel transfer—Headquarters has received definite intelligence that someone is secretly conducting aberration experiments within Binhai Experimental Middle School.”
As these words fell, the air in the room seemed to freeze even more.
Although many had already prepared themselves mentally, hearing it confirmed by the Vice Chief Commander himself brought immense pressure.
“Lin Mo,” Qin Xiangnan’s gaze locked onto the young man at the head of the table, “you will now explain the mission details and deployment specifics.”
“Yes!”
Lin Mo stood up at once, his movements crisp and precise.
His right hand clenched into a fist, brought heavily across his chest to his heart—a standard Swordbearer salute.
He turned to face those present, his eyes sharp, voice clear and cool.
“Tomorrow, Monday, is the centennial celebration of Binhai Experimental Middle School. The festivities will last the whole day. This is our best chance to expose the person pulling the strings behind the scenes.”
He paused, letting the information sink in.
“Prior to this, we have integrated leads from various sources and conducted covert investigations, gaining preliminary knowledge about the aberration experiment.”
“At this point, we can basically confirm that the [Professor] manipulating everything from the shadows is most likely a current faculty member of the school, or… a certain alumnus returning for the celebration tomorrow.”
“After discussion with Chief Gu Qiancheng from the Headquarters investigation team, and Director Zhao Dongyuan of the branch’s Security Division,” Lin Mo’s eyes swept over Gu Qiancheng and Zhao Dongyuan, both nodding slightly, “we have narrowed down a list of key suspects. Tomorrow, our elite members from each division will blend into the celebration crowd, dispersing to monitor and tightly surveil these targets, recording any abnormal behavior.”
He laid out the monitoring points, personnel assignments, communications procedures, and contingency plans, each instruction clear and precise.
At last, his gaze landed on the officer sitting ramrod straight, the insignia of a colonel on his shoulder.
“Tomorrow, all eyes—both overt and covert—will be on Binhai Experimental Middle School,” Lin Mo said gravely.
“That means, inevitably, that routine defensive strength in other parts of the city will show some gaps and vulnerabilities.”
Colonel Song Changming, in full uniform, met Lin Mo’s gaze and responded without hesitation in a deep voice, “Minister Lin, just give the order! My unit is at your command at any time. We will ensure the Binhai Barrier stands firm!”
Lin Mo nodded and gave Zhao Dongyuan a look.
Zhao Dongyuan understood instantly, immediately picking up a handheld terminal that had been prepared in advance by the table.
He stood and handed it to Song Changming.
Song Changming took the terminal.
Upon seeing the contents displayed on the screen, his eyes narrowed.
“This is…?”
“The distribution and history of all city defense facilities in Binhai since its founding a hundred and forty years ago, including every adjustment,” Lin Mo explained.
“The branch intelligence team has worked for forty-eight hours straight, compiling all archival records and the latest data.”
“Colonel Song, I’ll count on you and your men for patching up gaps in the city’s defense firepoints and mobile patrols in critical areas.”
Song Changming quickly scanned the dense markings and historical layers on the terminal, his expression growing more solemn.
He straightened his back, his voice resolute: “This is my duty. I will not shirk it! Leave it to me, Minister Lin!”
On the huge screen, Qin Xiangnan took in Lin Mo’s calm and orderly arrangements, a barely perceptible glimmer of satisfaction flashing in his sharp eyes.
But when his gaze shifted to Gu Qiancheng, who since the meeting began had seemed a bit absent-minded and was now studying his own fingernails, his look instantly became icy.
The oppressive aura was palpable even through the screen.
Gu Qiancheng instantly felt the death stare.
He jerked his head up, meeting Qin Xiangnan’s utterly frigid gaze on the screen.
His whole body gave a shudder!
“Ahem ahem…”
Gu Qiancheng hurriedly straightened up from his previously relaxed posture, both hands placed properly on the table, his face switching at once to an extremely serious and focused look, his gaze fixed on Lin Mo.
From time to time, he even nodded, as if deeply pondering each key point, acting totally absorbed…
Outside the city, deep along the coastline.
A tall figure clad in liquid armor walked at the front, with several twisted and frightening figures trailing behind.
The next moment, a sharp click from a lighter came from a nearby low slope.
“Hiss—whoosh—!”
Bearded Jinghu sat on the slope leaning against a rock, smoking as he watched the figures below, his tone mocking.
“The [Suffering Monk] Morton, [Chaos Aether] Chiersinan, [Polar Storm] Mier…”
“Tsk tsk, you really brought all your most elite subordinates, didn’t you?”
He slowly blew out a smoke ring, his gaze moving to the especially tall figure at the very front.
One of Eastern Europe’s Four Catastrophes—[Twilight King Rider] Kieran Biscarr.
“I respect the agreement between us…”
The liquid armor on Biscarr’s body writhed like a living thing.
There was no discernible emotion in his crimson eyes.
“I hope you do as well, Mr. Jinghu.”
At these words, Jinghu took a greedy drag of his cigarette, then slowly stood, leaping down the slope to stand before Biscarr.
“As you wish, Mr. Kieran.”
“Those who know me know that I, well…”
Jinghu curled his lips into a grin, a grayish-white sheen rising in his eyes as his pupils instantly turned into a beast’s vertical slits.
“Always keep my promises.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.