Chapter 584
Skyscraper, A World in the Apocalypse
Black gravel, swept along the ground by the gale, crashed against the rock surface, producing a dense rustling sound.
"The master is still cultivating at the top of the tower, and now is the critical period for breaking through that threshold."
The man in white had his hands tucked into his sleeves, his face hidden behind the swirling sandstorm, and spoke indifferently:
Even if the sky falls, we must not disturb them.
The red-haired man frowned, a hint of anxiety flashing across his sharply defined face.
"I have an urgent matter."
He took a step forward, and the hard rock beneath his feet instantly shattered into dust:
"The cleanup operation in Dongdu went wrong, which also affected our cooperation projects with the military."
"This matter must be reported to the adults immediately."
"Urgent?"
The man in white curled his lips into a mocking smile, his eyes glancing sideways with undisguised contempt.
"Are you in a hurry to apologize?"
"Black Shark used to be the sharpest tooth in the organization, but in the years since it was handed over to you, it has degenerated into second-rate stuff."
He spoke slowly and deliberately, each word like a needle piercing the other person's sore spot.
"This cleanup operation involved a lot of manpower and resources in the early stages, searching all over the world to locate the target, and finally the task of finishing the operation was handed over to you."
"And what you've done is worse. You can't even handle a mere S-rank body enhancer, and you've even let this guy ruin our other plans in Dongdu."
Although the man in white was in this post-apocalyptic wasteland, he seemed to have a complete understanding of the situation outside.
His gaze was icy, mercilessly exposing the other person's true colors:
"Claude, you've completely disgraced Utopia."
"you shut up!"
The red-haired man, Claude, who had been reprimanded, suddenly gleamed with a fierce light in his eyes.
A visible heat wave suddenly rose from his body.
The surrounding air was instantly distorted and deformed by the high temperature, and even the sand and gravel on the ground showed signs of melting.
The two clearly harbored deep resentment, and only a spark was needed to ignite it.
"That target... is not simple!"
Claude gritted his teeth and retorted:
"He's not just a superhuman with enhanced physical abilities; he's also colluding with the Special Investigations Team."
The man in white chuckled.
"The mighty leader of the Black Shark, Claude, who is revered by outsiders as the 'Crimson Flame Demon King,' is actually afraid of those henchmen of the Special Investigations Team who only bite randomly based on their smell? If this joke gets out, people will probably laugh their heads off."
"What do you know, you idiot!"
Claude roared:
"I'm worried that starting a war without authorization and killing the special search team members would ruin the plans that you've spent years developing in Xia Country!"
"Otherwise, I would have personally crossed the ocean to Dongdu long ago, twisted that bastard's head off, and kicked it like a football. Do you really think the mere Special Investigation Team is worth my attention?"
Seeing that the man in white remained noncommittal, Claude slightly tempered his anger, then dropped a bombshell:
"Moreover, the target of the suspected murderer Bai Xiao is very likely Fang Shijie, a former member of our organization who defected seventeen years ago."
The man in white was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
He retrieved the name from the depths of his memory, and his brow furrowed involuntarily.
"Fang Shijie? He died in that fire seventeen years ago during the siege."
Immediately, his eyes lit up as he stared intently at Claude:
What evidence do you have?
Claude's face was cold and stern, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes, as he spoke in a deep voice:
"For this operation, I sent two high-ranking officers stationed in Dongdu to carry out the mission. One of the targets was Fang Shijie's son, who was left behind in Dongdu."
"When they found out the address of Fang Shijie's son, they discovered that he was connected to the special investigation team, so they decided to try to get information out of him first."
"However, some unexpected things happened later. One of them was ambushed by a third party when he was making contact with the target and was unfortunately killed in battle."
"But the informant in charge of perimeter surveillance had already overheard Fang Shijie's son admitting through wiretapping that his father was still alive and had become a mole working for the special search team!"
As Claude spoke, he took a step forward.
His imposing figure, like an iron tower, stared at the white-clad man with an intense sense of oppression, his dark red eyes filled with unwavering certainty.
"Afterwards, I sent someone to investigate the specific situation of Fang Shijie's son. He has indeed been in frequent contact with high-ranking members of the Special Investigation Team recently and has an unclear relationship with them."
"Perhaps our plan against the Chen family in Tiannan Province was deliberately sabotaged because of him, which is why the special search team targeted it."
"Therefore, it can be concluded that the target that the adults asked us to investigate, the murderer of Xuanzhen, is not Fang Shijie's son, but Fang Shijie himself who faked his death and escaped!"
"He's been lying low for so many years, and now he's suddenly reappeared, willing to risk his life for the special investigation team, all for the sake of revenge against us. Only in this way can all the doubts be explained!"
Claude's lips curled into a cruel smile, his voice like the clash of swords, radiating absolute confidence:
"He thought he had pulled off this elaborate deception flawlessly, but little did he know that even if he hid in the gutter like a rat, I had already figured out his hand perfectly."
"You take a bite as soon as someone throws out a bait?"
The man in white suddenly spoke coldly, interrupting his arrogant arrogance:
"Fang Shijie was burned to a crisp back then, but that was repeatedly confirmed by intelligence personnel. How could he possibly have come back to life?"
"Claude, you wouldn't be making up such an absurd excuse just to cover up your incompetence, would you?"
"you……"
Claude was instantly enraged and lost all patience after being silenced by the other party's unyielding words.
"Get out of my way! I don't need to explain anything to you. It's none of your business what happens to Black Shark!"
His fists clenched so tightly they cracked, veins bulged on his neck, and crimson lines like lava were faintly visible beneath his skin.
It seemed like he was about to suddenly attack and kill someone, blasting this annoying pretty boy in front of him into pieces.
"Heh, I hit the nail on the head, feeling guilty now?"
The man in white advanced instead of retreating.
The feminine aura emanating from him instantly transformed into a chilling cold, and the surrounding temperature plummeted.
The icy chill and Claude's raging heat collided suddenly in mid-air, generating a burst of crackling static electricity.
"Failure is failure. In the ideal world, incompetence is the greatest sin."
Boom—
Just as the two were about to draw their swords.
The enormous, entirely black tower overhead suddenly trembled violently.
Immediately afterwards, an extremely terrifying will descended from the top of the tower, enveloping the entire wasteland.
It wasn't an oppressive aura directed at any one person; it felt as if the entire sky had collapsed.
The previously raging sandstorm instantly froze in mid-air, and a huge, invisible force tore a large hole in the thick, dark clouds.
Even the purple lightning coiled around the tower's spire stopped leaping.
It was as if the laws of this world had all yielded to this will.
The white-clad man and Claude's expressions changed drastically.
The two instantly released all their power, no longer caring about their argument. Almost instinctively, they bent down, facing the giant tower's gate, bowing their heads deeply.
Under that overwhelming pressure, as if a god were looking down upon them, their bodies trembled uncontrollably.
That was a surrender etched into the very marrow, originating from the depths of the soul.
After a long while, the terrifying fluctuations subsided like a tide, receding back to the top of the tower.
Claude wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
The violence in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a fervent adoration.
"The adult's power... has become stronger again."
The man in white straightened up and reached out to straighten his clothes, which had been ruffled by the wind.
He then resumed his indifferent demeanor, only his voice held a hint of seriousness:
"Since you know that, just wait here quietly."
He glanced sideways at Claude:
“I’m not targeting you personally. You should know that any personal interests or grudges are nothing but dust in the face of our great creative ideal.”
"Humph."
Claude snorted coldly:
"I know it better than you do."
The man in white said no more, only calmly stating:
"Regarding what happened in Dongdu, whether it's really Fang Shijie's resurrection or his son's doing, it won't last long."
"Once the master emerges from seclusion, he will personally decide the fate of the target. At that time, even if the special search team intends to protect them, it will be as easy as crushing ants for the master to eliminate them."
"Before that, you'd better pray that the white owl hasn't caused any bigger trouble."
Claude gritted his teeth and didn't continue to argue.
He turned abruptly, gazing at the distant, gray, and chaotic horizon, a cruel glint reappearing in his eyes.
"Don't worry, that guy can't cause any trouble."
"I'll go to the Eastern Capital right now and take charge. There'll be no need for you to do anything; I'll personally dismantle his bones one by one and burn them to ashes!"
Having said that, he took heavy steps and walked straight into the storm ahead.
The man in white narrowed his eyes, watching his companion leave.
The raging hurricane quickly engulfed the burly figure.
On this desolate wasteland, seemingly stripped of all life, only that pitch-black skyscraper remains.
Standing silently amidst the swirling sand and gravel, it resembles an insurmountable monument to the abyss.
....................................
The evening breeze flowed into the carriage through the half-lowered windows, dispelling the heat accumulated during the day.
On both sides of the street, flashing neon signs and dim streetlights intertwined, turning into streaks of light that sped across the black hood of the Land Rover SUV.
Fang Cheng gripped the steering wheel with both hands and drove the car steadily.
But his thoughts were still replaying what had happened before.
After lunch, Shi Chengyi took Wei Zheng and left the Li family's courtyard.
Fang Cheng originally thought that even if the special search team went through the green channel, it would still take at least two or three days to complete the cumbersome registration and approval process.
Unexpectedly, Wei Zheng was incredibly efficient in his work.
Just before I was supposed to leave work at 5 p.m., a phone call came in.
Wei Zheng said on the phone that all the exam materials and registration forms had been prepared.
Now all that's missing are a few ID photos of Fang Cheng and his personal signature. He even offered to drive to Wanghu Town to run this errand for him.
Fang Cheng would certainly not be so rude.
He hung up the phone, changed his clothes, and personally drove to the headquarters building of the Special Search Team in Jing'an District.
This was also his first time officially setting foot in that place that symbolized national power and authority, so he considered it as a way of getting acquainted with the place beforehand.
After completing the formalities and signing the papers in the lobby.
Before leaving, Wei Zheng brought him a thick stack of review materials, which were all compilations of the Special Search Team's spring recruitment written test questions over the years.
Senior Brother Wei patted him on the shoulder and said in a relaxed tone that he didn't need to feel too much pressure.
For the written exam subjects like law, Chinese language, foreign language, psychology, and political science, just skim through them and get a general idea.
As long as his grades aren't among the bottom few, Minister Shi will naturally cover for him.
Fang Cheng smiled noncommittally, simply thanked him, and accepted the documents.
He chose to join the Special Investigations Unit to conceal his true abilities, using his official position as a cover to develop his skills in secret.
But that doesn't mean he enjoys playing dumb to fool others!
In the eyes of those important figures, he was a martial arts prodigy with abundant energy and extraordinary talent.
Since they intend to seek the position of "special needs expert" in the medical team as traditional martial artists, they must offer the corresponding qualifications.
If he were to be hailed as a divine doctor and a genius, but end up ranking last in the written exam, it would not only be a slap in the face to Shi Chengyi, but would also bring him a lot of unnecessary contempt and trouble.
Therefore, he must demonstrate performance that meets the standards of a "special needs expert" in both the upcoming physical fitness test and the written test.
Only by demonstrating sufficient value can one gain more say and freedom within this massive bureaucracy.
Of course, this result was both reasonable and somewhat surprising to them.
The car drove to an intersection.
The red light is on.
Fang Cheng stepped on the brake, the car paused slightly, and came to a steady stop in front of the stop line.
He turned his head and his gaze fell on the passenger seat.
There was a brown paper bag there, containing a thick stack of exam papers.
There is still almost a week until the re-examination on June 5th.
For other test takers, memorizing these fixed knowledge points covering more than a dozen categories in just a few days would be harder than climbing to heaven.
But for Fang Cheng, with his photographic memory, dealing with a rote memorization exam is no problem at all.
The traffic light changed from red to green.
Fang Cheng looked away and lightly pressed the accelerator.
With a deep roar from the engine, the Land Rover SUV rejoined the traffic ahead.
For the next few days, stay home and be a good student again, reviewing all your lessons. (End of Chapter)