Chapter 43: Discord and Deals

Reading the accusatory message, Zhang Chu’s face contorted in confusion.

The Zhenjiang Security Zone is located near Tianfeng and is considered one of the more powerful private forces in the region. With over six million people, it boasts six Tier Three specialists, and its commanding officer, Liao Ming, is a mid-level Tier Three.

Compared to Tianfeng, the Zhenjiang Security Zone can easily be called a local hegemon.

Accusing Tianfeng of being overbearing? What nonsense!?

Suppressing his shock and suspicion, he forced himself to ask:

“Commander Honggang, you need to clarify: What do you mean by saying our Tianfeng is overbearing?”

“Did someone under your command clash with our forces?”

Zhang Chu frantically recalled the movements of the search teams dispatched these past two days, unable to fathom which of his units would dare engage a Tier Three.

After sending the message, the next second, Honggang responded with a cold laugh:

“Commander Zhang Chu, why pretend not to know!?”

“Not long ago, I hunted a Tier Two mutant near your Security Zone, only to have a Tier Three suddenly appear from behind and snatch our spoils!”

“In such a vast area, a Tier Three ambushing in secret—and even calculating the angle of attack—who else but the one constantly tailing us could pull this off!?”

“I know your Tianfeng forces have been launching relentless operations, with jets constantly in the air. Surely you were aware that a new peak Tier Two mutant emerged near the Suburbs, just waiting for us to make our move before swooping in?”

“What? So the mutants on your turf are automatically yours? Waving the Military’s banner around like that is just too overbearing!”

After unloading his barrage of messages, Honggang still seethed with a burning fury inside.

This is outrageous! Not only did they snatch our mutant tiger, but they didn’t even spare our damn Tier One corpse hounds!

In hindsight, although the attacker was undeniably a strong Tier Three, he might not have been as formidable as he appeared in the moment.

After all, lying in wait to build strength and then unleashing a lethal blow is par for the course. That all-or-nothing attack style is unmistakably the hallmark of the Military Department.

On the other end, Zhang Chu was utterly baffled.

What the heck!? Tianfeng had a Tier Three strike and even snatched the enemy’s spoils?

What a joke! In all of Tianfeng, only Xiao Hai is a Tier Three—and he’s busy supporting the front lines!

“Commander Honggang, you must be mistaken. Besides the great Xiao Hai, Tianfeng has no other Tier Threes!”

No sooner had he sent the message than Zhang Chu was suddenly stunned.

Wait a minute!

A Tier Three!?

In that instant, he recalled the earlier energy surge. Coupled with the suspected skirmish, wasn’t this exactly what Commander Honggang had been referring to!?

Before he could say another word, Honggang fired off another message:

“Commander Zhang Chu! Keep playing dumb and this will only get worse!”

“Are your men not aware of their own capabilities?”

“In that case, the Zhenjiang Security Zone will pay you a visit to demand an explanation! I also wish to see for myself who this mysterious Tier Three really is!”

After the private chat ended, Zhang Chu stared blankly at the messages, a bitter smile creeping onto his face.

What the hell is all this about!?

You come looking for me?! We’re out here searching the entire world for that Tier Three!

Yet, as this turned out to be fresh intel, Zhang Chu’s face darkened. An unknown Tier Three striking from concealment carried implications that were worth pondering.

“Search! Sweep the entire city—and don’t worry about causing panic!”

“Have the city defense units check if any mysterious figures have been coming in and out of Tianfeng recently!”

At his command, everyone promptly acknowledged the ramped-up search order.

……..

Fanghua Middle School.

After parking in a desolate area outside town, Yenir carefully surveyed the interior.

This was the instance location for a paranormal mission.

Unlike standard mutant hunts, this paranormal instance was exceptionally tricky—a challenge even most awakened individuals dared not face.

In contrast to genuine combat, when facing these eerie beings without a solution, even a Tier Three would be forced to retreat in defeat.

The town’s desolation clearly showed that ever since the apocalypse and subsequent paranormal incidents, this area had long been designated a forbidden zone by Tianfeng.

Once a thriving town boasting over sixty years of history, it now resembled an eerie ghost town.

Under the pitch-black sky, the wailing cry of a phoenix sliced through the town in shrill, piercing notes.

At the center of town, Fanghua Middle School looked especially ominous.

“Ding-dong, your trading request has been accepted.”

Just as Yenir was about to enter the instance to complete his advancement mission, a system prompt suddenly chimed.

“Did you request to purchase Windcarved Feather Wings?”

The sender was a C-level awakened individual, a Tier One specialist.

“That’s right—do you have them?”

Eyeing the trader who had reached out to him, Yenir casually inquired.

To save time, he planned to purchase the mission item directly through the trading channel.

“I have them. What’s your price? I worked hard to obtain these.”

On the other end, the voice was cautious—clearly, the trader prized his Windcarved Feather Wings.

Furrowing his brows, Yenir immediately realized from the cautious tone that this Tier One awakened individual was inexperienced in trading. Seasoned traders would quote a price straightaway to avoid wasting time. Despite their rarity, Windcarved Feather Wings are essentially just low-level materials, hardly worth much.

Judging by his approach, it was clear he was a low-tier awakened individual who regarded his Windcarved Feather Wings as a prized treasure.

“800 Credit Points.”

Without further ado, Yenir immediately offered his highest price. Normally, these wings were worth about 400 Credit Points, so any rational trader would know he was offering a premium.

On the other end, a young man clutching a silver feather widened his eyes in disbelief at the number Yenir sent.

“800 Credit Points!? My God, that’s an amount he couldn’t even earn in a year by hunting mutants!”

With his Tier One abilities in the Corpse-Hunting Group, his captain might dole out a maximum of 90 Credit Points a month. After expenses and training costs, he wouldn’t save even 200 in a year!

Yet at the sight of that tempting figure, a hint of greed flickered in his eyes.

The feather he’d picked up in the wild—could it really be a priceless treasure? Otherwise, why would the other guy part with it so generously!?

Without hesitation, he sent a message with greedy determination:

“900… no! 1000 Credit Points! I earned this feather with blood, sweat, and tears!”

Standing there, Yenir’s gaze suddenly turned icy.

Blood, sweat? How could a Tier One even struggle over Windcarved Feather Wings? It was obvious he’d merely found them in the wild.

Faced with such audacious lies, Yenir sneered:

“850 Credit Points. Take it or leave it.”

The young man holding the feather fell silent, clearly unwilling to concede.

“1000! Nothing less will do!”

However, just as he anxiously awaited Yenir’s concession, he was shocked to find that the private chat had abruptly been disconnected.

Like a bucket of cold water, the sudden disconnection shattered his dream of a windfall, leaving him panic-stricken.