Chapter 271 - 12: News from Brother Hao, Goldstone Dark Bead

As for that unknown Superpower Level expert, he was clearly someone to be wary of.

’Could he be the Mage from the God-Worshiping Church?’

A guess rose in his heart, and the more Lu Chao thought about it, the more he believed it to be true.

All his doubts dissipated in that moment as he gradually pieced together the sequence of events since he left Ring City.

The God-Worshiping Church’s Mage searching for the magic book, and the Biotechnology Company growing more suspicious of him...

Although the former was currently drawing most of the heat for him.

However.

’This is trouble.’

Lu Chao sighed in resignation and shook his head.

He couldn’t have held back against Lei Wanjun, so he had expected some fallout.

But when it actually happened, it still felt too soon.

The Biotechnology Company was fixated on him. They would probably send people to probe him soon, searching for any clues from the past.

The pressure he would face then...

His expression flickered, and Lu Chao subconsciously clenched his fists.

For several long seconds, the bedroom was deathly silent.

Finally.

’Thunder Pearls...’

He finished reading the last part of the letter, which contained a special warning from Master Luo.

He then put down the letter and gently opened the red wooden box.

Inside were four orbs.

They were a deep brown, about the size of ordinary glass marbles, and didn’t look particularly special.

But upon closer inspection,

a brown Qi Flame could be seen flowing within them, seeming like a gas, yet also like a liquid, held in a state of absolute balance.

As he subtly sensed them, Lu Chao felt a faint palpitation in his heart.

’Thunder Pearls.’

’Or rather, Golden Stone Dark Pearls.’

Recalling Master Luo’s final warning in the letter, Lu Chao gradually felt a surge of confidence.

The four orbs left by Lei Wanjun had originally been a deep blue, like Thunder Treasure Pearls, because they were infused with his Thunder Extreme Flame.

Now, after Master Luo’s modifications, the Martial Arts Flame within these four orbs had been replaced.

It didn’t seem like much of a difference.

But this kind of object required a power of the same origin to be fully activated.

The previous Thunder Pearls were clearly incompatible with his own energy, making them impossible to use perfectly. Forcing their activation might have even backfired and injured him.

But now...

Lu Chao reached out and touched one lightly.

A familiar feeling of a shared origin surfaced in his mind. It was as if these orbs were extensions of his own body, and he could even briefly resonate with the Martial Arts Flame inside them.

’The Golden Stone Flame and the Golden Stone energy in my body both come from the same Martial Arts technique.’

’This way, the Thunder Pearls—no, the Golden Stone Dark Pearls...’ Lu Chao sensed them carefully and became certain. ’The power of the Dark Pearls hasn’t weakened at all. In fact, it has increased by about twenty percent.’

’If I use the Dark Pearl Secret Skill to activate them, launch them, and then detonate the Qi Flame mid-flight, it would be equivalent to a Superpower strike at the Peak of Limit-Breaking.’

His eyes gradually grew fervent and bright. Lu Chao knew exactly what this meant.

This was equivalent to having several high-energy bombs that were more powerful, more concealable, and more flexible.

Combined with his current talents and these Golden Stone Dark Pearls, he could basically handle any enemy who wasn’t above the Peak of Limit-Breaking on his own.

’However...’

His strong mental fortitude allowed him to cool down quickly, and Lu Chao soon put the Dark Pearls away securely.

He quietly drew back the curtains and looked out at the neon-lit night, at the bustling streets with their endless streams of traffic.

And at the Biotechnology Subsidiary building in the city center.

His eyes were bright as he quietly reflected.

’This isn’t enough.’

’As long as the matter isn’t completely erased, there’s still a risk...’

Clenching his fist, he knew what was truly critical.

’I still need to become stronger.’

With his mind made up,

he quickly used the night to devote his energy to cultivation.

....

「That same night, in Ring City.」

Several of the Biotechnology Company’s floating vehicles crossed the river surrounding the city and headed straight for the inner ring.

Passersby in the Iron Ring District stopped to watch, their faces filled with awe.

In front of a house in the backyard of the Jinshi Boxing Hall, a figure also stood with hands clasped behind his back, silently looking up to watch the scene.

WHOOSH!!

The vehicles’ tail flames were dazzling against the night sky as they cut through the air.

Under countless gazes, the vehicles maintained a constant speed under intelligent control, heading straight for the Biotechnology Company’s building.

The silver-gray cabin was nearly ten square meters. Seven or eight elite security guards stood on either side, treading on the silver metal floor. They were dressed in black combat uniforms, fully armed, their expressions grave.

Several blue light screens were projected in the center, switching between multiple pages, constantly displaying internal company messages and views from outside the vehicle.

And at this very moment,

standing in the center of the multiple light screens was Advisor Sun, dressed in a tailored suit.

"Useless!"

"It’s been this long, and you still haven’t found him!"

A cold, scolding voice emerged from a communication screen. Advisor Sun’s face flushed with embarrassment, and he lowered his head slightly.

"I’ve given you so many chances and even raised your personnel authority by a level."

"Is this matter really that difficult?"

The cold reprimand rang out again, cutting deep.

The silver cybernetic patterns on his neck flashed faintly. Advisor Sun felt utterly aggrieved.

’If a Superpower Level individual is determined to hide, how could they be easy to find?’

’Whether it’s Legos or that unknown expert.’

The thought flashed through his mind, but he didn’t dare to argue. He could only listen as the woman on the communication screen scolded him again. "I’m giving you one more month."

"If you still can’t find him, you can scram and head to Red Maple."

"Director Han, this..." Advisor Sun’s face stiffened. He quickly looked up, wanting to explain.

"What, you’re not willing?"

"No." Advisor Sun quickly shook his head, but he felt a knot of resentment in his heart.

’Red Maple is a major city circle, it’s true, but he had been in Ring City for many years. All the connections and relationships he’d built were here. If he suddenly left, wouldn’t he have to start all over again?’

"After you go, you’ll be responsible for keeping an eye on that little bastard surnamed Lu. Help me find out if he’s the real murderer."

Seeing through his thoughts, the woman on the communication screen snorted coldly. "If you succeed, I can raise your company authority by another level, and your augmentation module can be systematically upgraded as well."

"But if you fail, don’t blame me for demoting you."

Hearing this, Sun Gu quickly nodded, not daring to argue any further.

Finally, the communication screen shut off, and the atmosphere in the cabin eased slightly.

’That crazy bitch...’

Advisor Sun cursed inwardly, his expression shifting.

’She’s already swamped with work and back in Yao Capital, yet she’s still so fixated on this matter...’

The thought passed, and he then called up the ’Being’ intelligence system, looking at the analytical data.

Most of the suspects had already been cleared of suspicion or had their probability of involvement lowered.

And now...

[Suspect #1: Legos, a Rebel and Superpower Level metahuman...]

[Suspect #2: Unknown Superpower Level expert. Appeared near an apartment building in District Two after the war, acting furtively. Clashed with company security. Suspected to be a friend of Luo Qianshan or Lu Chao. Participated in the killing of Lei Wanjun and the destruction of the Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall (Probability: 70%)...]

After reading through the entries, his brow furrowed tightly.

There were only so many Superpower Level individuals in Ring City, and Lei Wanjun’s death had been a real shock.

Despite repeated investigations, Luo Qianshan had insisted he acted alone, but considering his injuries, he had most likely hired help.

At this thought, Advisor Sun’s expression darkened. This was a tricky situation.

Both Legos and the unknown expert were too good at hiding; they couldn’t be easily caught. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been so little progress for so long.

Luo Qianshan also had connections, so they couldn’t act rashly or go to his door and force answers out of him.

Suddenly, his gaze fell on the third suspect.

[Lu Chao: Estimated Life Energy 80-90. Suspected of appearing in disguise at Jinshi Boxing Hall and killing three Elite Level members of the Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall (Probability: 20%). Suspected of participating in the killing of Lei Wanjun and the destruction of the Thunder Extreme Martial Arts Hall (Probability: 5%).]

[Has a history of animosity with Ruan Hui, Mei Ning, and others. Suspected of possessing Superpower Level combat ability (Probability: 5%). Suspected of commanding a Superpower Level individual to commit the murder (Probability: 60%)...]

Among all the initial suspects, besides the few at the Superpower Level, he was the only one whose suspicion hadn’t been fully cleared or lowered.

’Could it be?’

’Did he really hire someone to kill that crazy bitch’s son?’