Chapter 667: Shadows of Conspiracy

Noticing Yu Keran glaring at him in pure anger, Yenir was briefly taken aback as he remembered who the young girl was.

Before he could decipher her unusual expression—and not wanting to get tangled with the little girl—he soon spotted a Second-Stage youth striding toward him from the girl’s side, his stare burning into him.

“Keran, is this the kid you mentioned?”

“Exactly, bro! It’s him! He’s from the Fire Wolf Squad! He followed me and even disrespected me!”

Yenir was left speechless. He had no clue if this youth was the girl’s brother or just a close friend. Yet when Yu Keran pointed him out, the buzz-cut youth’s glare seemed murderous.

(Damn… such over-the-top drama… What’s next? Is he going to test me, then come taunt me? Trying to provoke me to see who dares step up?)

Yenir muttered under his breath, unwilling to waste any further time on him.

More than wasting time, Yenir was fixated on uncovering the rebels’ hidden conspiracy. One misstep, and a disaster—similar to the one that erupted three years after his past life—could break out at any moment!

“I haven’t seen anything, and I don’t want any conflict with you.”

“If you can avoid testing, I advise you not to come over.”

With a dismissive wave, Yenir stepped back, signaling his desire to avoid a fight. However, to the youth, this only underscored Yenir’s haughty yet nervous aura.

“You bullied my sister and now think you can walk away? What about the Fire Wolf Team? I’m a Military Reservist, and I’m itching to see if your so-called credentials hold any weight here!”

Ignoring Yenir’s ‘advice,’ the youth quickly closed the gap and reached out instinctively to grab Yenir’s collar.

But before he could act, a surge of cold intent seized him, freezing his movement!

In an instant, Ming Luo and three others had encircled him. Their raw killing intent, honed on the battlefield, made the youth’s scalp feel like it was about to explode—more terrifying than being hunted by a Third-Stage Mutant!

Who are these people…!?

“I told you, I don’t want any trouble.”

“Yu Keran, if you feel wronged, remember what I said. And if you’re looking for a rematch, I might reluctantly agree.”

Shaking his head slightly, Yenir calmly spoke before signaling Ming Luo and the others to release the youth.

Offering a word of advice was the best he could do as compensation. He had no time to explain further—survivors scrambling for testing spots were, in his eyes, as doomed as the four he stood with, perhaps even worse off than death.

It wasn’t that Yenir didn’t want to help; he knew that unless he uncovered the mastermind behind it all, the mystery would never be solved, and no one could truly be saved.

Disregarding the ashen expressions of the siblings, Yenir nodded and, along with Ming Luo and the others, prepared to begin the test.

This team was all Third-Stage fighters. With proper preparation, they should avoid infection. Testing in person was the only way to figure out what the rebels were planning.

“Ming Luo, make sure your test scores are high.”

“The focus is on the underground structure—the higher your level, the deeper you go. I’ll secure the top rating, and you just need to be one level below me.”

Quickly giving instructions to Ming Luo and the others, Yenir’s eyes flickered as he eyed the three testing devices.

From his observations, test ratings depended entirely on endurance. Typically, a Second-Stage Peak Fighter could achieve a B+; with his true strength, an A+ was effortless. And if someone was SS-Level, they’d likely grab that top rating as well.

————

“Bro! Are you alright..!?”

“What did they do to you? Do you need help…?”

“I’m fine… Little Sister…”

He panted heavily.

Under Yu Keran’s supportive arm, the youth, still in shock as he watched Yenir in the testing line, was overwhelmed with terror. Although Yenir’s strength appeared to be around Second-Stage, that pressure was far beyond what a Second-Stage fighter should exert!

Could the Fire Wolf Squad be this formidable? Moreover, the youth inexplicably sensed an instinctive fear radiating from Yenir.

That Zao Xi may have spoken in riddles, but his demeanor and tone echoed that of formidable figures—perhaps even more intimidating than any leader he’d ever seen!

Not entirely sure if it was just his imagination, the youth finally composed himself and glanced at his sister’s worried, shocked face.

The thought of not only failing to restore his sister’s honor but also acting so cowardly filled him with a surge of shame and anger!

“Keran! Don’t worry, this isn’t over! I promise I’ll help you teach them a lesson!”

“Aren’t they going to test too? Come on, let’s go! I know some insider information. Once I get high-level access, I’ll figure out a way to join forces and give him a beating!”

“Bro..!?”

Listening to his brother’s relentless determination, Yu Keran recalled the earlier scene and felt a sudden urge to back down. Furious as he was, the eerie behavior of those people and the absence of the usual glint in that guy’s eyes made Yu Keran worry for his brother’s safety.

“Bro, maybe we should just call it off! I’m not done… That guy… he said no testing… I just have a bad feeling…”

Torn inside, Yu Keran couldn’t help but overthink Yenir’s earlier words of advice.

Unlike the perceptive girl, the youth resolutely shook his head and, seizing Yu Keran’s arm, headed to join the testing queue.

“Keran, don’t listen to that kid’s nonsense! Didn’t you hear his last words? He was clearly teasing you! No testing? This is our best chance to turn things around!”

“My brothers in the Military have already told me that this test is the fastest way to join the Special Forces. This is the Military—we wouldn’t be harmed by them!”

Filled with patriotic fervor, the youth clenched his fist. It wasn’t just about high-level access to hassle Yenir; he genuinely wanted to serve the Military.

In this time of upheaval, no one knew when the traitors led by Yenir would strike. To protect his sister, he believed he needed to grow stronger!

———–

Before long, leveraging his reservist connections, the youth managed to start testing even before Yenir and the group.

Under Yenir’s mildly pitiful and helpless gaze, the youth, chest puffed and head held high, shot him an angry glare before stepping into the test.

“Buzz”

A blue light flared as an unsettling buzzing sound mingled with stifled cries of pain.

The onlookers were used to it, though they were curious to see what level this group of youths would reach.

Meanwhile, Yenir, monitoring the machines with his mental power, sighed in resignation.

In his view, the youth had clearly reached his limit yet stubbornly pressed on. Under Yenir’s intense scrutiny, even the blood vessels around his ankles had begun to deteriorate. Clearly, the youth had absorbed far too many viruses through reckless testing techniques!