Chapter 225: 【186】Knight Order in position, check the harvest (seeking monthly tickets, recommendations, and support)_1
Chapter 225: 【186】Knight Order in position, check the harvest (seeking monthly tickets, recommendations, and support)_1
A glimmer of light suddenly appeared in the distance.
The roar of engines shattered the quiet of the outskirts as several helicopters arrived, one beam of light after another piercing through the layers of dark clouds and converging on the two figures in the sand dunes.
Lei Ya looked up and saw the figures emerging from the sandstorm, and his serious expression finally relaxed with a grin towards the tattooed man not far across from him.
“Hey, you’re dead meat.”
The tattooed man’s gaze remained unchanged from beginning to end, but without a doubt, the immense pressure he exerted on everyone was now suppressed by an even stronger force.
Before he could move, the drop of water suspended mid-air suddenly transformed into a torrential wave that engulfed him. Within just a breath’s time, the swirling wave had frozen solid.
The tattooed man could only move his eyes as he turned into an ice sculpture, completely immobilized.
But if one listened closely, grinding and shattering sounds could be heard from within the ice. These were quickly covered by new layers of ice, clearly indicating the damage couldn’t keep up with the rate at which the ice reformed.
The dust storm had not yet fully settled.
An old man in a deep blue cloth robe slowly walked out.
“Old Dragon,” Lei Ya nodded in greeting.
Smiling, the elder walked over, “You dare to come here with your old wounds still unhealed. Is your master really that reckless?”
“Came here on the sly,” Lei Ya scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed.
“Admirable courage.”
The elder walked up to the tattooed man, whose eyes were moving slower and slower. After sizing him up, the elder said, “It’s been a while since I last saw you. You’ve become much stronger than when we caught you last time. The member of the Old Gods Association that appeared in Storm City, was he there to meet you?”
With great difficulty, the tattooed man managed to form a slight grin, chilling yet unmistakable.
“Take him away.”
The elder was ready to leave, but he noticed Lei Ya looking around. “What are you looking for? Does he have accomplices?”
“No.”
After some thought, Lei Ya decided to speak up, “There was a strike just now that was quite interesting, but it’s unfortunate I didn’t notice who made it.”
“Oh?”
The elder raised an eyebrow, showing interest.
“If even you, Lei, are impressed, it seems there are indeed some talented people in Da Peng City.”
Suddenly, the elder turned his head to look at the undulating dust in the distance, a bizarre smile forming at the corner of his mouth.
Meanwhile, several burly special forces soldiers were working together to place the large ice sculpture inside an egg-shaped containment unit.
The helicopters soon took off.
A familiar voice came through everyone’s earpieces.
“Team, return to base.”
The next second.
A message from the commander-in-chief in Storm City came through, “Thanks to the brothers from Da Peng City for your assistance.”
“Don’t mention it.”
…
The two groups of people withdrew along the line of the suburbs, with their car fleets winding through the dust like two diverging dragons.
On the ride back to the Investigation Team’s Base, Pei Jinye was sitting with two others.
Zhou Ye couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “Brother Bi, do you think we have a chance at getting the Third Class Merit this time?”
“Did you get injured? If not, you’ve got the nerve to ask for commendation.” Brother Bi said irritably, “Do you really think you get a Third Class Merit just for participating in a mission? If it weren’t for Lei Ya and that big shot who showed up later, the three of us would have been in deep trouble.”
“…”
Zhou Ye’s face fell.
Pei Jinye suddenly asked, “Who was that old man who appeared at the end?”
Zhou Ye was also puzzled, “I’ve thought it over and can’t recall anyone like that. He seems quite unfamiliar. Brother Bi, you’ve been around for a while, do you know?”
Brother Bi thought for a moment and then asked, “Did you see the insignia on the helicopter?”
Zhou Ye shook his head… he had been too busy fleeing to notice any insignia.
But Pei Jinye said, “Was it a war lance?”
“More precisely, it was a dragon wrapped around a war lance,” Brother Bi added.
Zhou Ye murmured with a puzzled tone, “Dragon, war lance?”
Pei Jinye hadn’t thought of it before, but now reminded by Brother Bi, a certain organization came to mind.
“Knight Order!” Brother Bi confirmed, “They’re from the Knight Order!”
“The Knight Order that administers the Five Continents? I’ve heard that even the chancellors of the continents don’t rate in their eyes,” Zhou Ye gasped.
Brother Bi nodded, his face starting to flush with excitement, “Who would’ve thought we’d have the chance to be involved in a mission of the Knight Order.”
“That Third Class Merit…”
“Stop dreaming, the real heroes are them,” Brother Bi cut him off.
Zhou Ye immediately began to sigh and lament.
Ignoring the two discussing the rewards, Pei Jinye was lost in thought.
In the memories of Yang Qingdan, there was quite a bit about the Knight Order.
The Judgement Place had always had a tense relationship with the Knight Order. Decades ago, a Priest died under suspicious circumstances that were possibly linked to the Knight Order, and ever since then, relations between the two had completely soured.
It’s worth noting that the selection for the Knight Order is completely different from that of the Judgement Place and the Investigation Team, and other law enforcement bodies.
The latter are selected through a series of tests or by recommendations from higher-ups.
But the former… depends on knights taking on disciples.
Only by becoming a disciple of a knight does one have the opportunity to join them.
Even though the Judgement Place regards this as nepotism, the Knight Order does as it pleases, known for its brusque temper and for overpowering the Five Continents.
For the powerful, the Knight Order is like the radiant sun — holy and inviolable.
But for the masses, the Knight Order might not be as well-known as the Investigation Team.
Yet, the reality is that even the head of the Da Peng City Investigation Team wouldn’t dare to utter half a word of dissent against them.
Lin Xiawei’s voice came through the communicator.
Brother Bi looked stiff, “It’s almost midnight, and they’re still not letting us go?”
Zhou Ye, on the other hand, was excited, “Do you think the new team leader is going to give us a reward?”
Brother Bi turned to look at him, “If only I had half your optimism.”
Pei Jinye kept silent at the side.
Head bent, as if he was dozing off.
In reality, he was examining the results of the mental analyses in his mind.
The modeling performed a staggering 120,000 times yielded only three relatively useful results for him.
[Intermediate Technique 1]: Gang Qi Shock Explosion (leans towards utilizing metal oscillation, suitable for the Metal Class; drawback: prolonged use can easily cause muscle damage);
[Intermediate Technique 2]: Muscle Control (muscles form a solid Body Shield; drawback: suspected lack of a corresponding mental method)
[Intermediate Technique 3]: Sword Draw Shock Pattern (Shock Pattern formation allows the use of other offensive techniques; drawback: requires a tremendous amount of Vitality and body control)
…
Out of 120,000 modeling attempts, he could only narrow it down to these three.
Pei Jinye suddenly felt dissatisfied with the capabilities of Heavenly Calculation.
He needed more of the Psychic Network System to fuse and enhance his own psychic power.
He couldn’t even model that old man from the Knight Order because the latter was too powerful to be included in his current analysis.
“Still too weak…”
The muttering of Pei Jinye was mistaken by Zhou Ye as sleep talking; he looked up and exchanged a glance with Brother Bi, both of them keeping their voices down.
…
Ten minutes later.
Inside the office of the Team Two leader.
Lin Xiawei casually handed a document to the three of them, “This is the confidentiality agreement for this operation. Sign it; it’s valid for twenty years.”
Zhou Ye looked disappointed.
Brother Bi, on the other hand, seemed relieved.
Pei Jinye, being dull and obedient, was the last to sign. Lin Xiawei watched him, her gaze calm, saying nothing.
Watching as Pei Jinye put down the pen and handed over the document,
Lin Xiawei took it and casually said, “You can go back now.”
“Yes, team leader, goodbye,” Brother Bi nodded and bowed.
Zhou Ye looked disdainful.
Just as they were about to leave, an elderly man dressed in dark blue robes appeared in front of them.
Brother Bi and Zhou Ye were stunned on the spot.
“Holy shit, is that…?”
“Greetings, senior,” Brother Bi bowed obsequiously as he extended his hand.
The old man was quite amiable, smiling as he shook hands, “Young and promising, keep up the good work.”
“Certainly, certainly,” Brother Bi’s face glowed.
Zhou Ye’s previously disdainful gaze had vanished, and he followed suit, nodding and bowing.
The old man’s gaze shifted to Pei Jinye.
Then he suddenly looked up at Lin Xiawei with a smile, “Since when did the Investigation Team start hiring children… workers?”
Brother Bi introduced him, “This is Pei Jinye, recommended by the school for a trial, will enroll next year… The senior here is incredible, he single-handedly took down two Old Gods Association criminals at the start of the month.”
“Oh?”
The old man’s eyebrows rose slightly, showing interest.
“Combat Type?”
Pei Jinye mentally “smiled in gratitude” for Brother Bi’s commendation and modestly replied, “Psychic Class.”
“Psychic Class?” Far from being disappointed, the old man looked even more intrigued as he stared at Pei Jinye’s arms, “You were able to achieve all that with the Psychic Class; you’ve got a solid foundation, keep it up; I have high hopes for you, young man.”
“Thank you for the advice, senior.”
Pei Jinye followed Brother Bi out of the office.
Lin Xiawei had already stood up to meet him; after closing the door, she softly called out, “Master.”
She seemed to have a lot to say.
The old man waved his hand, “Don’t overthink this mission, you’ve done well enough. Regarding Iron Mark’s prison break… I’m only concerned about how he managed to escape.”
Lin Xiawei hesitated, “I’ve thought about it, but the urgent report said there was a malfunction in Xing Tian’s network.”
“Malfunction?” The old man shook his head, “Xing Tian is the son system AI with the highest similarity to Star Ring within the Five Continents; it couldn’t possibly have that kind of malfunction. Report this matter for resolution first, leave it for private investigation; perhaps the Old Gods Association has planted an unexpected piece among us.”
“Understood.”
Lin Xiawei’s gaze was fiery.
The old man suddenly remembered that young man from before and said with a soft laugh, “Lei Ya was talking about him, wasn’t he?”
Lin Xiawei nodded. In her perception, she was aware of everything that happened on the battlefield.
Pei Jinye’s thrown sword had allowed Lei Ya to dodge a claw; it was this delay that afforded the old man an extra second to appear.
“That kid is interesting.”
Lin Xiawei looked on silently.
Unperturbed, the old man yawned, “Does your Investigation Team arrange accommodations? You can’t leave an elderly person to sleep on the streets, can you?”
Lin Xiawei spoke gently, “Master, according to the regulations, you are supposed to return to headquarters.”
“Is that so?” The old man laughed heartily, “Do I look like the old-fashioned type to you?”
Saying so, he stroked his chin.
“Are there any culinary delights in Da Peng City worth recommending? I’ll bring some back for your fellow disciples. Never mind, I’ll go taste them myself.”
Lin Xiawei was helpless.
…
A quiet night passed.
Pei Jinye didn’t return to the Jiang family tonight; instead, he stayed at the Investigation Team’s Base.
Early in the morning at the base’s training ground,
Pei Jinye practiced the Play of Five Animals twice before slowly finishing the routine, then noticed an elderly man in a loose robe lying on a sun lounger nearby, sipping coconut juice behind sunglasses.
Noticing Pei Jinye’s gaze, the old man waved him over.
“…”
Pei Jinye approached, “Senior.”
The old man gestured to the coconuts on the table, “Help yourself.”
“No need, senior,” Pei Jinye promptly declined.
“Afraid I poisoned it? Try it. After practicing the Play of Five Animals, your Vitality is still boiling inside; drinking a bit of this Spirit Coconut, which comes from the south, will benefit your capillaries.”
Upon hearing this, Pei Jinye no longer hesitated.
The old man watched him with a smile and after a moment, he asked, “Last night, what did Iron Mark say to you?”
Pei Jinye’s hair stood on end in an instant!