Chapter 517: A Gamble on Fate

In the early hours, a faint glow seeped through the gap in the curtain.

Inside the office, Yenir stared blankly as Li Xuanguo fixed his unblinking gaze on him. Only then did he realize that Li Xuanguo was waiting not just for a promise, but for a spark of hope.

Since when had it all begun?

The East Sea? The Otherworldly Ghost dungeon? A Death Duel?

Had the higher-ups, with Li Xuanguo at their helm, really been taking note of everything he’d done?

Was that torn suit merely a cryptic hint?

National War…

“If I participate, what exactly will I be facing?”

Taking a deep breath, Yenir asked in a low, steady tone.

One month was far too short…

It wasn’t like his former life, when he could battle mutants on the front line with his eyes closed—relentlessly hunting monsters while advancing through the Supernatural Plan.

The safest bet was a two-month window…

Two months would nearly be enough to complete the Supernatural Plan.

After two months, he was absolutely confident he could take down any Peak Third-Stage fighter without relying on Divine Rage!

Seeing Yenir’s challenge, Li Xuanguo’s normally meticulous eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.

As expected!

Even though Yenir’s query was about the number of foes he’d face, it clearly revealed that he was confident enough to rival a Peak Third-Stage!

Without hesitation, Li Xuanguo decisively declared:

“This National War will see a massive participation of Third-Stage Advanced warriors! Each Battle Zone will send at least six Peak Third-Stages!”

“Yenir, if the veteran Peak Third-Stage fighters hold back, the Military can only spare four of our own!”

“So…”

“In one month, you must at least be able to hold off two Peak Third-Stages!”

“I’m not demanding more! As long as you can stall them, our losses will be manageable!”

“Provided your ranking isn’t too low—the System’s penalties are something we can endure. The Military can bear that cost!”

After his words fell silent, Li Xuanguo couldn’t help but cast a nervous glance at the young man before him.

To be honest, he couldn’t understand why he believed Yenir could pull this off.

It was downright… insane.

But if it worked, it meant they had taken the crucial first step!

Under the crushing pressure of veteran Peak Third-Stages, the Military not only lacked fresh talent but even promising recruits were being seduced by the opposition.

All resources were funneled to Lu Haishan and his circle, leaving grassroots control increasingly fragile!

With no way to turn back or challenge the power without rocking the boat, this last band of resolute top brass was left to slowly decay, waiting helplessly for the end.

“Is the Border situation really that dire…?”

“Two Peak Third-Stage fighters? From the Japan-Korea Battle Zone?”

Exhaling softly, Yenir hesitated upon hearing Li Xuanguo’s report—his fists clenching involuntarily.

Although Li Xuanguo hadn’t mentioned how many Peak Third-Stage fighters were under the command of the Military, led by Fang Hao,

a little thought made it clear that the Four Commanders wouldn’t act lightly—and were unlikely to intervene…

Thus, four plus four, plus the hidden strength of Li Xuanguo and his allies…

All told, it amounted to barely a dozen Peak Third-Stage fighters!

Even if each fighter outclassed those with Lu Haishan, it would still be roughly 20 Peak Third-Stages clashing against 90!

That was at least a threefold disparity in strength!

No wonder the Military was in chaos internally—the pressure was enormous…

“This National War will likely unfold in the Japan-Korea Battle Zone, though it might also erupt in our old stomping grounds in South Vietnam.”

“Based on past experience, the rules shouldn’t be too brutal.”

“As for the Border issue…”

He let out a bitter laugh.

The Prime Minister turned to glance at the Huaxia Battle Zone map hanging on the wall, a bitter twist forming at the corner of his mouth.

“Resource dungeons are most common at the Border, including high-level enhancement materials which abound there.”

“Hence, a great portion of our strength is focused at the Border—untouchable without great cost.”

“Yenir, you must have noticed the issues over at the Far Frontier, right?”

“I don’t know if you’ve been to the Far Frontier Border, but if you get the chance, please offer my apologies to those soldiers.”

With nothing more to say, Li Xuanguo sighed—a rare sound, his eyes laden with fatigue.

Internal strife and external threats.

He knew the Far Frontier’s plight and understood how many in the Battle Zones cursed the Military and the Authorities for their inaction. Yet who could know it wasn’t from unwillingness, but from incapacity?

Maintaining the current order and merely setting nominal strategies was the best they could muster through sheer effort.

Now, all he awaited was Yenir’s answer.

After a brief, silent moment with his head bowed, Yenir lifted his gaze, his eyes burning with resolve.

“Two Peak Third-Stages, is that so?”

“I’ll join the National War!”

His words struck with the weight of destiny.

Gazing steadily at Li Xuanguo, Yenir saw the Prime Minister momentarily frozen—eyes that spoke of both relief and complex determination.

He believed in Yenir’s certainty, even if outsiders would call it madness…

Yet he had witnessed miracles too many times to doubt it now.

Perhaps, just perhaps, it really could happen?

No further words were exchanged.

With a slight nod, Yenir bid farewell and turned to leave without further ado.

Li Xuanguo was gambling too—pushing himself as hard as he expected Yenir to.

To outsiders, it seemed he could easily forgo the Death Duel and evade everything with a mere apology.

But only Yenir knew that there was no retreat left.

“The only issue now is… once Lu Haishan is dead, will those Peak Third-Stages come after me?”

Stepping out of the office, Yenir immediately spotted Liang Lie, who had been silently waiting outside.

Liang Lie said nothing; his thoughts were solely on the next move.

“It shouldn’t be a major problem…”

“If I kill Lu Haishan, the veteran Peak Third-Stages will launch a wild, vengeful counterattack. The Prime Minister would surely try to talk me out of it, not to mention the National War looming after…”

“Pay the price… so that I can survive…”

Murmuring to himself, Yenir soon ceased overthinking.

If Li Xuanguo dared utter such words, then there’d be no need to worry about the aftermath! If he couldn’t stave off the retribution from those Peak Third-Stages, he could always flee to the Far Frontier!

He would bide his time—once he ascended to Peak Third-Stage, he’d return with vengeance!

“It doesn’t matter…”

“Let chaos reign… let it all spiral out of control!”

“What of a hundred Peak Third-Stages! With Godlike Innate Talent and the Sword God System at my side, I alone can suppress anything!”

Absolute confidence.

Renowned in a past life as the greatest among the gifted, Yenir naturally held an almost invincible belief in himself!

Every sword strike in this apocalypse forged that unwavering conviction!

Trailing silently behind Yenir, Liang Lie suddenly looked up as if he had something to say.

For some reason, Liang Lie sensed that the usually calm Yenir exuded a sudden, awe-inspiring aura as he led the way.

Yet, that radiant aura vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

…………………….

“Prime Minister… are we really willing to bet everything on him?”

“Isn’t this just… too risky…?”

As the curtains parted, dawn bathed Li Xuanguo in light. The Secretary General, standing just behind him, couldn’t help but whisper, his eyes laced with worry.

“Whether Lu Haishan survives or not, whether Yenir can overcome them or not…”

“The upcoming National War directly affects our nation’s fate…”

“What you’re doing is incredibly risky…”

“He’s only a Third-Stage Mid-Level! His combat prowess barely matches a Third-Stage Advanced! The gap with the Peak is simply too vast!”

It was beyond comprehension.

The Secretary General, worry etched on his face, stared at Li Xuanguo’s back, feeling strangely disconnected from the man he once knew so well.

Having followed Li Xuanguo since his days as a clerk, he knew all too well the man’s decisiveness and caution.

Not only did he have exceptional judgment, but he was also steadfast and profoundly calculating.

In just twenty short years, he had risen from an inconspicuous Military Awakener to his current stature.

In his eyes, the Prime Minister had never been this reckless.

“Risky?”

In the ensuing silence, Li Xuanguo suddenly laughed softly and turned to face his longtime Secretary General.

“Aren’t we dangerous enough?”

“Do we even have a choice?”

Shaking his head with a slight smile, Li Xuanguo dismissed further words from the Secretary General and spoke quietly:

“Human resources are finite. Sometimes even the most meticulous plans crumble before absolute power…”

“To shatter the current stalemate, all we can do is hope for a miracle.”

Listening to the weight of his words, the Secretary General was momentarily stunned, though he still felt compelled to offer more.

“A miracle? But you just admitted that nothing stands against absolute power!”

“I think it would be wiser to preserve our strength and wait…”

Against the Secretary General’s expectations, Li Xuanguo slightly raised his eyelids, chuckled, and said:

“You still don’t grasp my point.”

“When I speak of absolute power, I’m not referring to those old-timers…”

“Two hours ago, Liang Lie informed me…”

“That Yenir, in the Far Frontier dungeon, seemingly summoned…”

“A Fourth-Stage Phantom!!”

Huh!? What!?

After a brief moment of stunned silence, the Secretary General’s mouth dropped open as the words ‘Fourth-Stage’ rang in his mind like a crashing bell.

“Fourth… Fourth-Stage!?”

A jolt ran through him.

In that instant, he finally understood why the Prime Minister was willing to bet everything!