After receiving the news from Cold Wind, Su Wan began to deduce the situation in her mind.
A Level 4 Ability User would undoubtedly be arrogant.
Given his status and operating style, he likely wouldn’t bring a large group of people to parade through the streets.
As a Level 4 hidden operative, his specialty would be quietly infiltrating, observing, and then striking.
He would most likely come alone.
He would approach the Terminal Station silently, hide in the shadows to observe, figure out the building’s secrets, and then wait for the perfect moment to act.
A faint smile played across Su Wan’s lips.
Coming alone, is he?
That makes things much easier.
“System, can the Terminal Station’s Rule Power and abnormal characteristics be hidden from a Level 4 Ability User’s perception?”
【Analyzing...】
【Analysis in progress...】
【Analysis complete.】
【The “Rule Power” of the Terminal Station belongs to the system’s bottom-level authority. It is not a physical energy fluctuation and does not generate any energy signatures detectable by Ability Users.】
【Ability Users at Level 4 and below have no means of perceiving the existence of Rule Power.】
【The building’s exterior walls and structure have been reinforced by the system. There are no abnormal energy residues on the surface. Conventional perception, mental probes, and energy scans will find no difference between it and an ordinary building.】
【Comprehensive Evaluation: Without stepping inside the building, a Level 4 Ability User cannot discover the Terminal Station’s anomalies through any means of perception.】
After reading the system’s analysis, Su Wan felt reassured.
An experienced killer would always do two things before entering an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous area.
First, observe.
Second, test.
Observe the environment to find potential threats. Test the reactions to confirm if the target is capable of resisting.
Su Wan had to give him a chance to “test” her, to make him feel there was nothing to fear about the building, so he would naturally walk right in.
Just as Su Wan was pondering what preparations to make, an unexpected notification disrupted her plans.
【Ding! Enslaved targets “Cold Wind” and “Iron Bone” have entered the Ruin Zone.】
【Current Location: Edge of Area A5, approximately forty-five kilometers from the Terminal Station.】
【Synchronizing positioning data...】
Su Wan was slightly startled.
Cold Wind and Iron Bone were back?
Weren’t they under house arrest at the City Defense Force branch?
Why would they appear in the Ruin Zone at a time like this?
Furthermore, they hadn’t reported to her through the contract link before their return.
Su Wan’s brow furrowed slightly as she reached out to Cold Wind’s consciousness through the contract link.
“Cold Wind, why are you back?”
A moment later, Cold Wind’s consciousness responded cautiously. “Master, Butcher is here.”
“He is bringing me and Iron Bone with him; we are currently on our way to the Terminal Station.”
“Master, Butcher’s strength is immense. I am completely powerless before him. He has come this time to personally investigate the Terminal Station’s secrets.”
Su Wan remained silent for a moment, her mind rapidly analyzing this new development.
Butcher was bringing Cold Wind and Iron Bone along.
What did that mean? Did Butcher need them as guides? Was he using them as hostages? Or... was it some kind of test?
【Ding! System has detected an anomaly—】
【The location data for current enslaved targets “Cold Wind” and “Iron Bone” has been synchronized, but the system has failed to detect any other targets traveling with them.】
【Cause Analysis: The target’s strength exceeds the system’s passive detection threshold (Level 4 or above). Tracking must be performed indirectly using the enslaved targets’ positioning data.】
【The unknown target’s location has been inversely locked through the positioning data of Cold Wind and Iron Bone.】
【The unknown target is moving in synchronization with Cold Wind and Iron Bone, approximately forty-four kilometers from the Terminal Station.】
Su Wan looked at the slowly moving light on the system panel, a cold sneer curling her lips.
With Cold Wind and Iron Bone present, Butcher had nowhere to hide, no matter how deep he tried to conceal himself.
She would know exactly where he was at all times.
【Ding! Target data collection complete—】
【Generating target analysis report...】
【Analyzing...】
【Analysis complete.】
Su Wan clicked on the report, and lines of text appeared on the system panel.
【Target Codename: Butcher (Member of the Dawn Federation City Defense Force Dark Department)】
【Strength Level: Level 4 Early Stage】
【Ability Type: Shadow-type】
【Controlled Abilities: Unknown】
【Weakness Analysis—】
【1. Shadow-type abilities are light-sensitive. Strong light environments will significantly weaken the power of his abilities.】
【2. Shadow-type abilities are less effective against targets with powerful mental power. High-level mental-type users can use their perception to lock onto his location.】
【3. Having recently promoted to Level 4 Early Stage, his mastery over his abilities is not yet fully refined. There will be brief energy fluctuations during full-power output, which can serve as a window for counterattack.】
【Threat Evaluation: Extremely High】
【Recommendation: Avoid engaging him in lightless environments if possible. If fighting in the dark is necessary, it is recommended to prepare strong light sources in advance or rely on mental power perception to lock onto his position.】
After reading the analysis report, Su Wan gained a clear understanding of Butcher’s strength.
Shadow-type—a classic assassin-type Ability User.
Frontal combat wasn’t his forte, but in the darkness, he was the God of Death.
What Su Wan needed to do now was to lure this God of Death into the Terminal Station.
But the question was, how?
Butcher was no ordinary person.
He was a killer trained by the Dark Department—experienced and cautious.
The fact that he brought Cold Wind and Iron Bone with him showed that he was wary of the intelligence suggesting the “Terminal Station might have a Level 4 Ability User.”
He was testing the waters.
He wouldn’t easily step into a place that might be dangerous.
Unless—
He was certain the place was not dangerous.
Or, the place held a temptation he couldn’t resist.
This thought flashed through Su Wan’s mind, and she immediately called up the system interface.
“System, what is most important to a Level 4 Ability User? What kind of thing can tempt them?”
【Analyzing...】
【Analysis in progress...】
【Analysis complete.】
【There is a fundamental difference between the needs of Level 4 Ability Users and lower-rank ones:】
【For Level 1 to Level 3 Ability Users, the core need is “accumulation.”】
【Accumulating energy, accumulating combat experience, and accumulating mastery over their abilities. At this stage, conventional Energy Crystal Cores, basic potions, and ordinary equipment are sufficient to meet their needs.】
【Level 4 Ability Users have already touched the threshold of “Rules.” The effectiveness of conventional cultivation resources drops significantly for them.】
【To a Level 4 Ability User, what is truly valuable is...】
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