Chapter 93: Chapter 28: Encirclent and Suppression - Strategic Deploynt
The next few days passed.
Ogrande City was unusually calm.
Zorn knew this was just the quiet before the storm!
He remained at his estate, practicing his fist techniques, cultivating his Skills, and improving his strength as usual.
Beyond that, he taught Vanessa various pieces of Extraordinary Knowledge and combat techniques.
Although Transcendents of different Sequences could all unleash their own Magic and Skills after mastering their Sequence,
overall combat Ability wasn’t as simple as just using Skills.
Close-quarters combat, mid-range engagents, and long-range magical duels all required a significant degree of expertise.
When it ca to combat, Vanessa still possessed extrely high Talent and was improving by leaps and bounds.
When a Level 1 `rciful Witch` was guarding an `Evil Spirit Wizard`, especially one shrouded in a large amount of Calamity Black Mist,
her efficiency in acquiring Witch Essence was extrely high.
And this was one of the benefits of a Lower Rank Sequence.
The higher the Level of the Upper Rank Sequence, the more astonishing the acquisition efficiency of the Lower Rank Sequence.
If Zorn were Level 5,
it would only take about a week for the `rciful Witch` to reach Level 2.
Zorn was currently Level 3.
Vanessa would need about a month or so to reach Level 2.
If she were more diligent, that ti could be shortened even further.
The mid-August weather grew increasingly scorching.
The whole of Ogrande City felt like a giant furnace.
As his Sequence Level increased,
the powerful resilience of a `Fighting Master` greatly reduced the effects of the weather.
[Star Trace Fighter]
Level: 3 (65%)
[Talent]
Gangyi Iron Bone (SS-Level)
[Skill]
Shattering Spirit·Skull-Splitting Fist: Level 2 (3%)
Vigorous Qi Mastery (Passive): Level 0 (75%)
Thousand Streams·Gale Step: Level 0 (98%)
...
His gaze swept over his Sequence panel.
’Thousand Streams·Gale Step is about to level up.’
’The condition to level up Thousand Streams·Gale Step is to engage an enemy in a chase of speed and agility, and ultimately win!’
’In other words, hunt down an enemy and erge victorious.’
’The stronger the enemy, the lower the difficulty of the breakthrough.’
Although Zorn could use his Sacred Mark to force a breakthrough,
the level-up condition for Thousand Streams·Gale Step wasn’t harsh, so it didn’t seem necessary to use the precious Sacred Mark.
’If...’
Zorn raised his head and looked out the window toward the street, in the direction of the Bay Area.
’If I get an invitation, perhaps I can level it up today.’
Just as Zorn was contemplating this, a carriage ca speeding to a halt outside his estate.
The person who stepped out was none other than Officer Ansel Hall.
’They’re here, as expected!’
「A few minutes later.」
At their invitation, Zorn boarded the carriage.
Looking at Officer Ansel’s solemn expression, Zorn asked with a hint of curiosity.
"Officer Ansel, may I ask what this is about?"
"Even if a Transcendent from the Soul Feeder Sequence has lost control, it shouldn’t warrant this much urgency, should it?"
"Mr. Zorn!"
Officer Ansel said seriously.
"This ti, it’s a direct order from our superiors to Director Caroline, and it was just issued at noon. I believe that besides Director Caroline, no one in the entire police departnt knows what the order is."
"The order I received was simply to bring you over."
"I see."
Zorn nodded slightly.
’The secrecy for this operation is quite strict.’
’If my guess is correct...’
’The high-level powerhouses of Ogrande City and the Bishops and Vice Bishops of the Holy Fierce Sun Church should already be in position.’
’And they’ve likely used so powerful ans to tie down the enemy.’
’Therefore, secondary but still formidable Transcendents like
can participate in the deploynt of the second or even third layer of defense.’
’The powerhouses from the Holy Fierce Sun Church and Ogrande City’s upper echelons will focus on killing the enemy’s strongest mbers.’
’anwhile, people like
are here to prevent ordinary Transcendent enemies from escaping and to hunt down those who flee.’
As these thoughts ran through his mind, Zorn closed his eyes to rest, secretly mobilizing the power of the Black Mist to give the Lantern-carrying Elder a signal.
Zorn and the Lantern-carrying Elder had made their arrangents long ago.
This signal was to inform the Lantern-carrying Elder that the plan was officially starting, that he needed to raise his guard, and that he had to ensure the plan was completed perfectly.
Soon, Zorn arrived at the police station with Officer Ansel Hall.
The mont he arrived, Zorn could feel the tense atmosphere.
Large numbers of police officers were bustling back and forth.
Outside the station entrance, a fleet of carriages was mobilizing even more officers.
He pushed open the door to Director Caroline’s office.
Director Caroline was standing by the window, looking outside as if deep in thought.
Three Transcendent police officers were seated to the side.
Besides the three officers, Mr. Borne, the Demon Apostle, and Lady Gaido Isaiah, the Holy Poem Ranger, were also present.
With Zorn’s arrival, Director Caroline finally turned to look at them.
She spoke in a crisp, business-like voice.
"Alright, now that everyone’s here, I’ll explain today’s mission."
"We need to guard the intersection of the second street leading from the Golden Palm Beach Club in the Bay Area to the Fog Zone. No Transcendent is allowed to pass."
"Any Transcendent who tries to force their way through can be killed on sight."
"That is the entirety of the mission."
"When the mission is over, you will naturally be inford of the full picture."
"But for now, please follow the mission directive."
"Alright! Move out!"
In line with Director Caroline’s decisive style,
the group imdiately sprang into action.
The Transcendent consultant agreent he had signed with the police departnt included an option to participate in battles between Transcendents.
For a `Fighting Master`, it was impossible not to participate.
There were also quite a few benefits to participating.
For example, he could receive a nice combat subsidy.
If he was injured, the departnt would cover all dical expenses and provide a stipend equivalent to the salary of the highest-ranking officer during his recovery.
Soon!
Inside a carriage,
Director Caroline, Lady Gaido, Mr. Borne, and Zorn were squeezed together.
As the carriage set off, Director Caroline glanced out the window for a mont before retracting her gaze.
She was still looking in the direction of the Bay Area.
"Mr. Zorn."
Director Caroline’s gaze fell on Zorn.
"I heard that a few days ago, over in Split Mist Town, you displayed so rather extraordinary thods."
"Also, so very interesting rumors about you have been circulating these past few days."
"The rumors say that you’re the `Fighting Master` who fought the Rat King deep underground, and that you possess incomparably imnse power."
As Director Caroline spoke,
everyone in the carriage turned to look at Zorn, their eyes glinting with curiosity.
After all, the `Fighting Master` who had fought the Rat King for several hours deep beneath Ogrande City had not only made the newspapers,
but had also changed many people’s perception of the `Fighting Master` Sequence.
Zorn didn’t even have to think to know that this slanderous rumor must have been started by Duke Mu Huo.
During the last exploration of the underground ruins,
he had sided with Madam Mable, allowing her to gain a certain advantage.
This had naturally infuriated Duke Mu Huo.
After the rumors about the `Fighting Master` and the Rat King surfaced,
although that `Fighting Master` had burned the Rat King and destroyed many valuable things,
he had also taken quite a few good items from the Rat King’s corpse.
This would naturally make him a target of covetous eyes.
Duke Mu Huo’s mudslinging revenge couldn’t truly harm Zorn, but it would always create a lot of trouble for him.
"I wish I were that hero-like `Fighting Master`."
Zorn spread his hands in a shrug.
"Unfortunately, I was only Level 2 back then."
"I think I must have struck a nerve with soone, causing them to deliberately elevate
to a status I don’t deserve, building
up just to tear
down, and siccing other Transcendents on
to cause trouble!"
Hearing this, Caroline smiled softly.
She was naturally aware of the struggles between high-level powerhouses like Duke Mu Huo and Madam Mable.
However, rumors like this always piqued one’s curiosity, and even she couldn’t help but be intrigued.
Besides!
Mr. Zorn the `Fighting Master`’s strength was truly imnse.
Who could say for certain that the `Fighting Master` before her wasn’t that very sa person?
"Whether you are or not, your previous suggestions and the ritual you provided have played a significant role for Ogrande City."
"In my eyes, you are one of Ogrande City’s heroes!"
Director Caroline said sincerely.
Caroline always held a certain respect for Transcendents who contributed to Ogrande City.
"Your strength is formidable. I even heard that His Grace Duke Albert Wild sings your praises."
"I hope you can provide us with as much help as possible this ti. After all, the enemy we face will be unprecedentedly powerful!"
Zorn nodded upon hearing her words.
"Director Caroline, you can rest assured!"
"As an outstanding citizen of Ogrande City, I won’t let those who would harm it escape from my grasp."
Soon, the group arrived at the crossroads of the second street leading from the Golden Palm Beach Club in the Bay Area to the Fog Zone.
Just as Zorn had expected,
a large number of ard police officers were already there, having sealed off the area.
Not only were there large-caliber revolvers, but there were even the latest models of "Steam chanical Guns."
’Miniaturized Steam Source Pool Furnaces.’ Zorn understood the construction of the Steam chanical Guns with a single glance.
Revolvers still used gunpowder to propel bullets.
But the "Steam chanical Gun," with its energy transmission pipes, was already energy-driven.
It drew "Steam Source Energy" from an adjacent Steam Source Pool Furnace, which was then processed by the Steam Gun’s internal chanisms, and finally, the energy was structured into a magic model—a "Steam Bullet"—and fired.
Although they currently looked a bit bulky and clumsy, not very convenient or flexible,
in the future,
this would be a terrifying power capable of moving the entire World.
WHOOOOSH...
Several Steam Source Energy Furnaces emitted low, urgent whistles—the signal that Steam Bullets were now chambered.
Zorn and the others moved behind the cover of a nearby corner wall.
Long-range combat was best left to steam, gunpowder, and Casters.
Only when a Transcendent charged at them would it be ti for Zorn and the other Transcendents to act.
Looking into the distance,
the civilians on the street had already been evacuated.
Down the empty street, he could see the iconic golden palm trees of the Golden Palm Beach Club, as well as the club’s brown flag, fluttering in the wind.
At this mont, the inside of the Golden Palm Beach Club still looked calm and normal.
As if... nothing was happening at all.
As Zorn carefully observed the Golden Palm Beach Club, his pupils constricted slightly.
’They’ve surrounded it directly.’
’It seems the Church really brought out the big guns.’
’Otherwise, the people from the Sun Secret Cult would have detected it long ago and would have already charged out to fight.’
’They wouldn’t have waited for second-line personnel like us to arrive.’
’Is it the Ti Zone Alarm Clock, that terrifying Upper Rank Level Forbidden Sealed Object?’
’Or a strategic resource like a World Projection?’
’Or perhaps they’ve used all these top-tier treasures at once?’
There was clearly so kind of ritual struggle happening over there.
Zorn was too far away to get a detailed sense of it.
It wasn’t impossible for him to use a Visual Curse to forcefully probe the area, but that would just be asking for trouble.
This battle was a duel between powerhouses.
Zorn was just a second-line, or perhaps even third-line, defender. He only needed to do his job.
’It would be best if the Evil Spirit Divine Mage dies here.’
’I’ve already paved the way for what cos after.’
’If he doesn’t die here, he’ll flee to his steamship, and I’ll go and take care of him then anyway.’
Just as Zorn was observing, he suddenly sensed sothing and imdiately shouted in a stern voice.
"Everyone, close your eyes, now!"
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