56: Chapter 56: Aftermath – Ruffled Cripple – Who is the Phantom?
56: Chapter 56: Aftermath – Ruffled Cripple – Who is the Phantom?
“I can still manage, go…
Team Leader Zuo…” Li Ming managed to squeeze out a pale smile, his hair messy, covering his forehead.
Zuo Ling looked at him with a complex expression, marveling at the strength of Li Ming, who, despite his critical injuries, still insisted that she clean up the aftermath.
Such a promising young man.
“There should be no danger here now, colleagues are nearby.
Just be careful on your own,” Zuo Ling instructed before leaving the chaotic situation, realizing the scene indeed needed strong support to wrap things up.
After Zuo Ling left, Li Ming’s expression changed as he looked toward the opposite building where traces of the electromagnetic armor-piercing bullet he had fired still lingered.
If not dealt with, ballistic analysis could easily determine it was fired from below.
Thus, he also needed to wrap things up, but no one knew there was another sniper opposite, which wasn’t a big problem.
Of course, there was another matter, submitting a bounty task for Feng Yue on the Black Hole Network.
“Minister, 364 people injured, 32 dead, 26 Bounty Hunters killed, and additionally…
the city guard building has been checked, there is no nuclear bomb.”
“They only disrupted the detection system.”
Half a day later, the head of security was reporting the situation while members of the special operations team were positioned around.
Qin Xiao’s expression was cold.
Feng Yue’s decapitated body was already covered with a white cloth.
Du Cheng stood up, holding a silver disc the size of a thumb, “Minglong Alloy, casing removed for acceleration, special bullet called ‘Falling Star.’
“Only a better mechanical kinetic sniper rifle could fire such a bullet.
An old-fashioned Bounty Hunter, with seasoned experience, seized the moment well.
If old Feng hadn’t been injured, and the energy barrier on him had still been active, he might still be alive.”
Lin Yaoxian, still unsettled by the shock, was beside him.
Feng Yue had died right in front of him—if the enemy had fired a second shot, or if the target had not been Feng Yue but him, would he have been able to escape this calamity?
“But…” Director Wang hesitated, “Would they cause such a big commotion just to kill Feng Yue?”
“Several rockets, EMP electromagnetic interference, plus other expenses, and finally the bullet that killed Feng Yue—it all adds up to a significant cost.
How much could each member of that team possibly earn?”
“This wouldn’t even be enough to hire a D-grade life form.”
With that reminder, Qin Xiao’s expression suddenly changed, and he said in a deep voice, “Let’s go, back to the building!”
“This is the place…” A Santian Lizard Man, wearing a hooded robe, lay on a sand dune, occasionally flicking its tongue, said to the limping man beside it, “Friend…
The person you’re looking for is in the oasis ahead.”
The limping man nodded, took out his smart terminal, ready to open the Black Hole Network to make a payment, but suddenly a message that popped up made him stare wide-eyed–
“A hundred thousand Star Coins!?”
The limping man was stunned, looking at the split payment information, this share from Li Ming, who had completed a million-level bounty.
For the limping man, it was as if lightning had struck him on the head.
He had left the crappy Silver Grey Star just a few days ago, and Li Ming had reached such an outrageous level?
What exactly happened at Silver Grey Star?
At that moment, his curiosity peaked, and after pondering for a moment, he muttered firmly under his breath, “No, I have to go back and see, maybe…”
He didn’t even know what he was thinking, but his expression grew more determined.
He turned off the split rewards notification, made the payment, and tucked away the smart terminal.
Ignoring the matter at hand, he turned and walked away, leaving only the baffled Lizard Man, still flicking its tongue.
In the office, various scenes were projected on the virtual screen while the city guards worked anxiously.
Lin Yaoxian looked at the latest information submitted by the intelligence department.
“The bounty for Feng Yue was submitted by a Bounty Hunter named Specter.”
“According to the intelligence department’s profile, he is very cautious.
The first time he acted, he only killed a non-initiated ordinary life form, probably to test our reaction and to figure out the overt and covert rules of Silver Grey City,” Du Cheng said as he stood up, with virtual screens showing various images behind him.
“From Zhou Ze to Red Rose to Feng Yue.”
“Such bounty hunters cannot be traced, and they might have already left Silver Grey Star.
According to onsite reports, that Li Ming almost succeeded in stopping him, right?” Lin Yaoxian shook his head and then continued.
Du Cheng casually said, “It’s just the colleagues exaggerating in the reports.
If the other party wasn’t worried about being entangled, he could have dealt with him quickly.”
It wasn’t until dusk that the city guard department issued an announcement—
numerous bounty hunters launched a sudden attack on the city guard headquarters…
resulting in the heroic sacrifice of Feng Yue, the head of the internal affairs department!”
“Additionally, the Sixth Patrol Fleet will arrive at Silver Grey Star soon to maintain public order.
Please, citizens, rest assured.”
Instantly, the uneasy citizens of Silver Grey City were in uproar, unaware of what had transpired, only knowing that there were continuous roars in the morning, as they shivered inside their homes.
Unexpectedly, even Feng Yue had perished in this battle, sparking discussions across the local star network—
“These bounty hunters are too arrogant.
Doesn’t Blue Star care at all?”
“Luckily, it’s been martial law recently; I didn’t venture out recklessly.”
“It’ll be fine once the Sixth Patrol Fleet arrives; those bounty hunters won’t be able to jump around anymore.”
Anxiety and restlessness enveloped Silver Grey City, yet were forcibly suppressed.
“As of this moment, members of the special action team are granted open operational authority.
Each person is their own leader, and at the same time, they enjoy logistical intelligence support from the city guard department!”
In an internal meeting, Qin Xiao looked as grim as water, evidently furious to the extreme, no longer opting for traditional methods of killing, and even not caring if someone falsely claimed credit by killing an innocent.
Put nicely, it was out of urgent necessity; put harshly, it was letting them stop at nothing.
“The first one to find those bounty hunters will be credited as having killed twenty bounty hunters!” Qin Xiao really showed his ruthlessness by setting such a reward.
Many were breathing rapidly—it was just a discovery, no need to stop or kill, much simpler.
Li Ming, hearing this, felt it strange, was Minister Qin and Feng Yue’s relationship really that close?
After the meeting, Yang Peng stopped Li Ming, ensuring his injuries were minor before saying, “Zuo Ling mentioned you took out a sniper, and old Yao even said you saved their lives.”
Yang Peng fell silent for a moment, then clapped Li Ming on the shoulder and solemnly said, “You’re pretty good, but don’t stray from the right path, or else, I won’t be polite.”
Somehow, he felt many things lately carried an eerie sensation, and Li Ming seemed to be surrounded by an enigmatic veil.
Perhaps it was his suspicion towards Li Changhai, or perhaps other factors contributed to this feeling.
Li Ming pondered for a moment, then hesitantly asked, “Do you know everything?”
Yang Peng was startled, instantly becoming alert, and pretentiously said, “Just found out not long ago.”
“Don’t blame Yang Yu—the blame is all mine,” Li Ming earnestly said.
Yang Peng was dumbfounded, then his eyes widened, and his face turned dark with rage, “What do you mean blame you, what happened between you and Yu’er!?”
“It’s not about this matter?” Li Ming looked utterly confused.
“I knew it, you were up to no good!” Yang Peng ground his teeth in anger, almost charging at him.
Those around hurriedly stepped in to separate them.
Moments later, Yang Peng was still suspicious, tugging at his tie, “So there’s really nothing between you two?”
“I’ve assured you already, if you don’t believe me, go back and ask Yang Yu,” Li Ming emphasized repeatedly, then changed the subject, “Uncle Yang, are our minister and Feng Yue really that close, to be gnashing his teeth about avenging him?”
“Impossible,” Yang Peng shook his head, looked around, and whispered, “However, I heard that something important was missing from our department.”
“Oh…” Li Ming understood.
So, the bounty hunters were a decoy.