Chapter 212: Clash of Wills

Standing face-to-face, Director Wan Rou ignored Wang Xiaotian’s frantic signals and simply waved her hand sternly, as if ordering the Third-Stage fighters behind her to stop Yenir in his tracks.

“Rules are rules!”

“When you enjoy the resources provided by the Military, you have an obligation to undergo testing!”

“Not only the skill you just lost, but all your abilities must be subjected to our tests!”

“What, you want to flout Military orders?!”

After speaking, a strange glint flashed in Wan Rou’s eyes as she imposed the regulations without hesitation.

She had heard of Yenir’s talent and knew he was the best among the four streams.

In her eyes, an Awakener like Yenir was the perfect test subject—every ability and skill he possessed was worth studying!

Rumor had it… that during his Second-Stage, Yenir could already access Third-Stage enhancements, a prospect too enticing for her research!

Thus, as soon as news of Yenir surfaced, she began gathering every bit of information and drafted countless testing protocols.

Blood extractions, assays, bone strength tests, muscle cell vitality analyses…

If not for the Capital’s overvaluation of Yenir—making his status too high for her to simply ‘snatch’ him.

Frankly, in her view such a unique Awakener should be locked up for study; perhaps unlocking the secrets of his talent could yield a huge breakthrough! She had dedicated twenty years to researching how Awakening subjects could harness higher-level powers.

Having achieved nothing and even being criticized for squandering precious Awakener resources, she couldn’t let this opportunity slip by.

Success would mean a surge in her reputation, securing her position—and maybe even elevating it!

And if nothing came of it, so be it; after all, she wasn’t about to risk killing Yenir. She was confident that the higher-ups wouldn’t dare mess with her.

The rules were clear—who could say she was in the wrong?

There was one more thing: her son was also of the Willpower Type…

Noticing the unusual look in the old woman’s eyes, Yenir instantly guessed what she was planning.

What had previously been of little concern now made his heart sink.

He had experienced that gaze many times in his past life.

In fact, after being identified as possessing SSS-level talent in his previous life, swarms of crazed researchers had tried to use him for experiments.

Especially since his talent belonged to the Willpower Type, the most unique among Awakener archetypes.

Luckily, in the midst of intense battles, he had joined the fight at Third-Stage and grown rapidly, so that eventually nobody dared to mess with him.

Yet, he remembered those times all too clearly.

With a cold glare, Yenir fixed his icy stare on Wan Rou.

“You want to use me as a lab rat? To probe my talent? Give me a break! Even without the constraints of the Sword God System, even if I wanted to speak up, I couldn’t reveal everything.”

And even if I could, I have no desire to expose all my abilities!

Who knows what kind of experiment that old woman has in mind—let alone that I have no time to waste on it!

With a cold chuckle, Yenir completely ignored her attempts to use the rules against him and simply spoke:

“What if I refuse?”

“What, Director Wan Rou, you still intend to keep me by force?!”

Immediately, his hand went to the longsword on his back—compromise was never his style.

Although there were three mid-level Third-Stage fighters present, he was confident none of them would dare damage a single hair on him!

Not to mention that his guardian stood right outside!

If that old woman still wouldn’t back down…

and if she angered him, he’d tear the place apart!

In an instant, blades were drawn.

Wang Xiaotian, standing aside, felt his heart race in alarm; he hadn’t expected that within just a few exchanged words one side would be ready to strike.

Yenir never took a step back—he was well aware of Director Wan Rou’s research methods.

But he knew the value of priorities! He wasn’t as brainless as Wan Rou!

“Lord Yenir! That’s not the case! Rest assured, we would never force you to do anything against your will!”

“Director Wan, why not settle this another way?”

“Yenir’s talent is top secret anyway. Just having him unleash the Desolation Sword Technique once for documentation is enough—and it doesn’t break any rules.”

Both sides tried to offer a way out, and Wang Xiaotian, caught in the middle, just hoped they’d extend him some courtesy.

However, he was oblivious to the fact that neither Yenir nor Wan Rou was willing to compromise.

They gave Wang Xiaotian not even a shred of face.

“Yenir, listen up!”

“Don’t think that your high rank and the high regard from above give you the right to break the rules!”

“Others might be too afraid to cross you, but I’m not!”

“Rules are rules! Even if the Prime Minister shows up, you still must comply!”

“With guys like you, how can our work ever progress?”

Indirectly berating her deputy director, Wan Rou sneered disdainfully, paying him no mind at all.

She acted strictly by the rules—there was no need to consider Yenir’s opinion.

Although the regulations didn’t require additional data, she took the liberty of adding more tests. Who would dare point out her error?

After her words, Wang Xiaotian’s face turned ashen; he almost burst out cursing in response.

Was he really so afraid of offending Yenir?!

Doesn’t this madwoman understand the enormous sacrifices the higher-ups made to keep Yenir’s information confidential? Rules are ironclad, while people are fluid! Besides, he wasn’t unaware of Wan Rou’s schemes!

“Oh, so Director Wan Rou is threatening me now?”

“Using military orders to strong-arm me? What, are you planning to have your people arrest me?”

Expressionless, Yenir let out a cold laugh in his heart and decided not to waste any more words—he wasn’t interested in what the old woman was scheming.

Without hesitation, he pressed the communicator his guardian had given him.

What a joke! In the Capital, when everyone questioned his talent, he had managed to pass off his SSS-level gift without ever revealing his other abilities.

Under the current circumstances, there was no way he would yield!

“Threats?”

“If you think that counts as a threat, then so be it. It’s exactly people like you who have stalled our research progress!”

“You enjoy the state’s benefits, yet contribute nothing in return!”

“You break the rules, and even if I apprehend you, it’s all entirely legal!”

Wan Rou had assumed Yenir would comply obediently, but she hadn’t expected his attitude to be as arrogantly defiant as the rumors suggested!

Never before had anyone treated her so dismissively, and it set her blood boiling!

She couldn’t believe that as a proper director she was being undermined and…

“Boom!!”

Before Wan Rou could think further, a deafening explosion—shredding the air itself—rang out from above.

In the next moment, a terrifying aura, almost at Peak Third-Stage intensity, burst through the main gate and charged down.

Amidst the rapid blare of alarms,

a middle-aged man, radiating an aura nearly at Peak Third-Stage, suddenly appeared behind everyone.

“Who is the threat target?”

The voice was cold and mechanical.

Without delay, Liang Lie spoke in a low tone as he directed his question at Yenir—as if a single answer would prompt him to strike at once.

Yenir hit the alarm button; as his guardian, it was his duty to eliminate any threat to him at all costs!