The news of a water curtain suddenly appearing at the Lyu family manor spread throughout Huangshan City, and some bold citizens flocked out of their homes to watch the spectacle.
As for the influencers who didn't fear death, they had already set up their cameras and lenses long ago.
“Everyone, this is the original location of the Lyu family manor, which is now completely shrouded by a water curtain!”
“According to professional analysis, this is highly likely to be a powerful transcendent item, or perhaps even a sealed object!”
“I urge everyone here not to approach recklessly!”
“If you are interested in this incident, please stay tuned to us. We will provide full coverage and won't miss a single detail!”
“Next, let's turn the camera over to our professional analysts.”
The scene cut, and three elderly men in suits appeared on screen.
“Hello everyone, the three of us will be helping with the analysis today.”
“I'm sure everyone has heard about the recent events regarding the Lyu family, so I'll just jump straight to the conclusion.”
“I believe it must be a cult!”
“There are three reasons. First...”
“I object!”
Before he could finish, another man raised an objection.
This was the biggest selling point of their program, and the audience watched with great interest.
“If it really were a cult, wouldn't the Security Bureau have warned us not to approach long ago?”
“If it really were a cult, wouldn't the surrounding area have been placed under martial law already?”
“So I believe this isn't a cult at all, but something the Lyu family created!”
“I object! Something the Lyu family created? What, a drill?”
“With a commotion this big, anyone with half a brain could guess there's definitely danger involved.”
“Like you said before, if there were danger on this scale, wouldn't the Security Bureau have set up a perimeter long ago?”
“I object...”
The third person also raised an objection, and the three of them began to argue incessantly.
High above the water curtain, Xia Yitiao and Principal Han were confronting the man's avatar.
The man smiled, left the journalist's body, and switched to another avatar.
“Bureau Chief Xia, how is it?”
The other party's voice remained calm and unhurried, as if everything were under control.
Xia Yitiao's smile didn't change. He glanced back at Principal Han and was about to speak when a phantom appeared out of thin air.
“Just asking for a person—a minor issue.”
When Xia Yitiao saw the figure, his expression immediately turned solemn.
“City Lord.”
The phantom waved a hand to signal him to be quiet, then spoke in a calm voice.
“However, I don't like the thing you're using for the trade. The lives of the people in Huangshan City don't belong to you, nor do they belong to me; they belong to themselves.”
The opponent's avatar broke into a smile.
“Then what does the City Lord want?”
“It's simple. I know you recently acquired a stone plate. I want it.”
The smile on the avatar's face slowly vanished, replaced by a grave expression.
“The City Lord doesn't even leave his house, yet he knows such news?”
“What's so difficult about that?”
“In that case, would the City Lord be willing to make another deal?”
“What deal?”
“I can trade a rubbing of that stone plate for the identity of the person who gave you that information. How about it?”
“Hahahaha~”
The City Lord's phantom laughed, but his voice grew colder and colder.
“This is the biggest difference between us and you cultists. We don't sell out our own.”
“You want Black Death Lolita's life? Fine. Trade the stone plate for it.”
As the phantom spoke, he looked back and clicked his tongue twice.
“She won't last much longer. You'd better make your choice quickly.”
“Hehe, City Lord, I...”
The phantom raised a hand, signaling him not to continue.
“I admit, the 【Marquis of Theft】 sequence is indeed rare, but you aren't Sequence 4 after all!”
“As long as you are in Huangshan City, I can find you within half an hour. Don't push your luck!”
The other party's expression shifted repeatedly, while the phantom stood with his hands behind his back.
“I'll give you five minutes to consider. After five minutes, if I don't see the stone plate—Yitiao.”
“City Lord.”
“Open the water curtain in five minutes. You don't need to worry about the rest.”
“Yes.”
Xia Yitiao respected this City Lord very much; the man's word was law in Huangshan City.
After finishing his instructions, the City Lord's phantom looked at the avatar.
“In five minutes, I will take action!”
“If you think you can rescue the person from my hands, be my guest.”
The avatar frowned deeply.
“City Lord, there is no sincerity in this deal. That stone plate isn't with me. How could I possibly deliver it in five minutes?”
“That is your problem, not mine.”
The phantom's reaction was flat. He lowered his head as if checking a watch.
“Four minutes and thirty-eight seconds left.”
With those words, the phantom slowly dissipated.
Xia Yitiao stretched and looked at the other party.
“And here I thought you were Sequence 4. So it was all just an act?”
“Well? Are you going to save your girl or not?”
“If you aren't, stand a bit further to the south. The wind is blowing from the north today. After your girl blows up into dust, you might still be able to collect some of her ashes. Hahahaha~”
Xia Yitiao's words were incredibly biting, leaving the other party no face at all.
Principal Han shook his head and said very seriously.
“Don't listen to him. He's lying to you. You won't even be able to find her ashes.”
“Hahahaha~”
Hearing this, Xia Yitiao laughed even harder.
The avatar gave the two of them a deep look, then lowered his head and sneezed. When he looked up again, the expression on his face had returned to normal.
Once the man left, Xia Yitiao pointed at Principal Han.
“Of all people to learn from, you learn from me? I'm a man with nothing to lose; even if he's a 【Marquis of Theft】, I'm not afraid of him. But you? Even if you don't think of yourself, don't you have to consider your family?”
Principal Han waved his hand.
“My son and grandson are in Central City. Besides, did you forget what my son does for a living?”
“Hahaha~ True!”
...
Command Center.
The City Lord slowly looked up, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and then lowered his head to continue signing documents.
“These cults... idling around all day, contributing nothing to the world, only knowing how to waste food and resources.”
“And those parasites at the top don't even bother to handle them. I really don't know if they've taken bribes or if they're just keeping the threat alive for leverage. Hmph!”
The City Lord snorted coldly. The clerk beside him acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, quietly making tea.
Their City Lord was like this; he only did three things every day at the Command Center.
Scold his subordinates.
Work.
Scold the leaders.
If all his words were recorded and sent to Central City, those big shots would probably be driven to a heart attack.
“Sir, the higher-ups are pressing us to prepare more resources.”
“Like hell I will! This is all the tax we've collected this year. Let them find someone else!”
“Uh, sir, the higher-ups said these are strategic resources.”
“Tell them to find 'strategy' for their strategic resources. I don't have any!”
The City Lord slammed the documents down.
“Tell them that Huangshan City only has these supplies. They want more? Fine, let them ask me for it in person!”
“Yes, sir.”
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