On the way back, Shi Rang sat in the backseat of the car, playing with his newly acquired loot and scrutinizing the exquisite internal structure of the small device.
Deep within the triangular pyramid-like device, a tiny red dot of light seed imprisoned, occasionally warping and pulsating, waiting for a single signal to expand into a Reality Stabilization Field.
Jing Zi shifted his attention from Shi Rang to the passenger seat. The hired thug sat there in silence, pretending to be deep in thought.
Acting as the driver, Jing Zi continued to focus on the road.
When he first t Shi Rang, Jing Zi thought he had found a comrade-in-arms to fight against the Managent Bureau alongside him.
He admired Shi Rang's willpower and felt deep regret regarding what happened to his wife, even considering many ways to help him. Who could have known that in just a few days, Shi Rang would skyrocket to prominence? First, Deacon Huo had smiled apologetically and treated him to a al, and later, the Head, Ghost Spirit, had valued him imnsely, pulling him in to beco a trusted confidant.
In contrast, Jing Zi, who had appointed himself a "half-friend," had been reduced to his driver.
If soone had told him this outco beforehand, he would never have believed it.
Jing Zi's main purpose for staying in the Ascension Society was to exact revenge on the Managent Bureau. Knowing he lacked combat capabilities, he spent his days handling transportation and rescue missions. Over ti, he had grown accustod to it, treating it as just a job.
A job that belonged to the bustling world beyond the high walls—the kind of work he often heard the adults in his village talk about when he was a child.
The other half of the reason was for safety.
Under the protection of the Ascension Society, he had companions—people who knew of his abilities but wouldn't arrest him, choosing instead to help and accept him. If he ever wanted to retire and leave this world of Anomalies, there would be a safe haven waiting for him to live out his twilight years.
Following what he had seen and heard tonight, the desire for "revenge against the Managent Bureau" in Jing Zi's heart began to grow restless and ready to strike.
With two pieces of Managent Bureau trash dying right in front of him, how could he not be thrilled?
He had never been this close to the front lines of an operation.
Naturally, he did not understand why Shi Rang had suddenly co to Dongshang City, why he made him run around here and there driving, and why he eventually requested a hired thug to co to the cetery, masquerade as a Managent Bureau mber, and perform so bizarre and rather degrading actions just to help the Bureau dispose of two scumbags.
Shi Rang was truly an eccentric man.
He did not hold the title of a Cadre, yet his power and influence overshadowed ordinary Cadres. Despite this, he remained quite low-key, making his actions impossible to predict.
Shi Rang was also not the type of Ascender who could employ Reality Bending with a re gesture, dictating terms and taking lives at will. Deep down, Jing Zi had always harbored a bit of disdain for him, though he hid it well—true big shots were superiors who ordered you around, not your friends, right?
Since Shi Rang had not achieved that, why was he continuously favored by the big shots?
However, Jing Zi had found the answer today.
"Mr. Shi, we have arrived."
After getting out of the car, Jing Zi proactively opened the door for Shi Rang and waited to the side.
"Separate from us and et at this address in the Capital," Shi Rang instructed, writing a note and handing it to the thug. "I will have use for you later."
"I won't let you down, boss."
Standing nearby, Jing Zi revealed a faint trace of contempt.
The thug was more than a head taller than Shi Rang and had previously worked as a rcenary in the outer districts. However, people with his level of combat proficiency were a di a dozen in the Ascension Society. Being picked to stand by Shi Rang—a confidant of the Head—was purely good luck, so naturally, he would not give up such a bright future.
Once the outsider left, Jing Zi accompanied Shi Rang upstairs, returning to the hotel suite.
Only after entering the door did Shi Rang turn to face him.
Shi Rang's expression was grave. With his hands shoved into his pockets, he scrutinized Jing Zi.
In just one short night, Shi Rang truly possessed the deanor of a big shot, making it seem as if the open conversations they had shared in the past were nothing but illusions.
"What do you think about tonight's events?"
'It's finally here.'
Jing Zi had long anticipated that Shi Rang would want to speak with him privately; he had been waiting for this mont since the operation began.
"You killed two elites from the Managent Bureau, and your reasoning was perfectly justified. The execution was flawless. There's no way they could ever suspect this was the work of the Ascension Society."
Shi Rang quietly rolled the two Reality Stabilization Anchors around in his pocket; they felt remarkably like a pair of dice.
Not getting the answer he wanted, Shi Rang fought off the drowsiness brought on by a long day of running around here and there, and pressed further:
"..."
"What else?"
"What else..." Jing Zi hesitated.
Shi Rang's heart skipped a beat.
His greatest fear was that he wouldn't be able to gloss over the fact that he possessed multiple abilities.
Phantom Transformation could still be explained away by saying he didn't use it often in the past or that its effects were subpar. But his trick with the "award call" was incredibly difficult to justify.
Tonight, he had displayed an excessive familiarity with Managent Bureau secrets. This was completely unlike the level of knowledge soone who joined the Ascension Society "by accidentally obtaining intelligence from Director Bjorn" and "having Shi Shixin as his biological father" should possess.
'What if Jing Zi suspected he was a mber of the Managent Bureau?'
He wouldn't even be able to defend himself, because in a sense, he really was a mber of the Managent Bureau!
'Should I just run away?'
'But even if I ask, Jing Zi probably won't tell the truth, right?'
'What should I do?'
Shi Rang steadied his mind and asked again, "Speak. I won't bla you."
Finally, Jing Zi mustered his courage and pointed out what he believed Shi Rang was thinking: "You did all this not just because you despised those two Managent Bureau mbers, but also to test the maximum power of your Reality Bending abilities, right?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Jing Zi accurately caught the flash of astonishnt on Shi Rang's face.
'I knew it! I guessed right!'
It wasn't until tonight that Jing Zi finally discarded the rebellious disdain in his heart.
When that ocean was brought in through Teleportation into the night sky, his breath had hitched in his throat.
He finally understood why the Head had sought Shi Rang out for a conversation, and why he had entrusted him with such heavy responsibilities shortly after.
Shi Rang had to be an incredibly powerful Ascender, but he simply hadn't known his true level before. It was the Head who had discovered his talent, realized his boundless potential, enlightened him, and brought this "hidden gem" under his wing!
With this, everything made sense.
Everything Shi Rang was doing now—all those bizarre actions and mysterious movents—were just ways to verify his true strength!
It was just a pity that Jing Zi was not yet at the level of a confidant, otherwise, Shi Rang wouldn't have needed to hide his actions from him.
However, given their early friendship, Jing Zi firmly believed that as an "early companion," he would be in a pri position to enjoy the benefits first.
In just a matter of days, creating an entire expanse of ocean had beco effortless for Shi Rang.
In the future, he might even witness Shi Rang launching an assault on the Managent Bureau with his own eyes, setting out to destroy, ravage, and annihilate that sinful organization whose sole purpose was to maintain the "veil"!
He couldn't beco a big shot himself, but he could stand behind one, looking down as everything that had once hurt him was reduced to ashes!
Naturally, Shi Rang had no idea what was going through Jing Zi's mind.
But the downright fanatical anticipation on the other man's face genuinely confused him.
'But looking at it this way... my cover hasn't been blown, right?'
Knowing that saying too much would lead to mistakes, he nodded, pretending that this was the original intent of his question. "I will likely take action many more tis in the near future."
Jing Zi stood ramrod straight, eager to respond. "I understand! Unless you personally report it to the Head, everything remains strictly confidential!"
'...He answered that better than I could have ever planned to say.'
Shi Rang turned his back, pretending to gaze out the window at the vibrant, sleepless Capital. Amidst his relief, he felt a tinge of sadness.
That familiar sense of loneliness ca surging back.
'What should I even say to you, Jing Zi?'
'When we first t, I thought you were a man of action—cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Now I realize you're just naturally cut out to be a subordinate...'
"The commotion this ti was too massive; the Managent Bureau will undoubtedly be furious. After returning to the Capital, keep an eye on Shi Shixin. Check on the current progress of the Charity Foundation's affairs. He's not honest. Warn him if necessary."
"Understood!"
Leaving Jing Zi—who looked as though he wanted to tattoo 'loyalty' and 'reverence' right onto his face—Shi Rang returned to his room and shut the door, finally able to relax.
Throwing himself onto the bed without even taking off his shoes, he rushed to check if the Managent Bureau had found any clues from this incident that might threaten him, only to receive an unexpected ssage.
Shi Rang's mind abruptly focused on the header of the ssage.
It was from the First Council mber, "Tian Ying."
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