Chapter 420 - 83: Klar Civilization

「That night.」

After completing the escort mission, Lu Chao left the Superpower Bureau and returned to his apartment.

The streets below were as bustling as ever under the night sky, their neon signs shining relentlessly.

However...

He soon looked away, turning his attention to the light screen on his watch and accessing the Superpower Bureau’s intranet.

Although he hadn’t received any definitive news about the day’s events, he already had his suspicions.

And at that very moment...

His finger swiped across the light screen, and he quickly entered the data section of the intranet. His current clearance level granted him access to certain files.

[Klar Civilization: An interstellar civilization that benevolently aided Earth Star during the wasteland era!]

It was a very simple sentence, with no additional information.

Even as a Superpower Team leader, he could only learn this single, brief sentence. There was very little information about it, as if the topic was classified as a top secret or some special taboo.

"Klar Civilization."

Lu Chao silently committed the term to memory.

Though there were many rumors circulating outside, he knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.

The Klar Civilization couldn’t have possibly helped Earth Star for no reason; there had to be a price to pay.

Furthermore...

He thought of something Mr. Ji once said.

Behind the Five Major Enterprises were forces from extraterrestrial civilizations.

Perhaps that was how these enterprises came to be.

At this thought, Lu Chao shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it.

It didn’t matter what the interstellar civilizations were like, or what wonders the vast universe held.

Ultimately, what mattered was having enough strength.

Perhaps one day, after he completely passed Robert’s trials, he would learn the full truth.

TAP, TAP!

With that, he was in motion.

He turned and headed for the Cultivation Chamber, determined to use every available minute to train.

...

「Two days later.」

Red Maple City had fully entered the July summer, and the scorching sun beat down from a cloudless sky.

Under the sweltering sun, most pedestrians wore thin, short-sleeved shirts or breezy skirts. Cars speeding down the road kicked up waves of suffocating heat.

[Red Maple News: The United Committee has announced that, in a joint operation with the City Lord’s Mansion, they have captured two warlord leaders. They also stated that after the Beast Tide ends, they will further expand their crackdown on the warlords to end the wilderness wars as soon as possible...]

[Red Maple Daily: In response to the numerous problems recently exposed at the Jinggang Chamber of Commerce, the City Lord’s Mansion has established a special task force to take over the company’s management. It was also announced that a management meeting will be convened with three major local corporations: Primordial Oasis, Steel Union Machinery, and Star Peak Communications...]

[The City Lord’s Mansion publicly announced that it will launch a cleanup operation in conjunction with the Yao City Committee to strictly investigate corruption within the Patrol Corps and the City Guard Army...]

Newsflashes appeared on the floating light screens below the skyscrapers and on the suspended displays inside the trams, a synthetic female voice continuously broadcasting the reports.

Witnessing this...

A man in a gray, short-sleeved shirt walking along the roadside stopped and looked up.

His face, hidden beneath a baseball cap, was utterly unremarkable—the kind that would disappear in a crowd.

But now, he watched the news intently, and a glint seemed to flash in his eyes as he finished.

’As expected.’

Lu Chao nodded to himself. Everything was happening just as he had guessed.

Although Dong Xiao had failed to apprehend the hidden Exploration Level expert two days ago and had returned empty-handed...

...he wasn’t the only one with theories about who was pulling the strings. Speculation was running wild within the Superpower Bureau.

Ever since that day, he’d had a feeling the situation in Red Maple was about to change.

And now, it was clear the City Lord’s Mansion was seizing the opportunity to crack down on the Tan family.

’But... don’t the rumors say the Tan family is backing Su Tianyang?’

’The other four great elder families are supposedly on his side, too... Would he really stand by and let his own supporters be suppressed?’

Slightly puzzled, Lu Chao realized the internal power struggles within the City Lord’s Mansion were far more complex than he had imagined.

With that thought...

He shook his head, then turned and strode directly toward the nearby Platinum Hotel.

He had discovered a few days ago that someone was selling Purple Jade Ore at this branch.

It was a key material for purifying Magic Blood Crystals and could also be used to produce energy mineral essence. Naturally, he had to acquire it.

And so, he was on his way.

Lu Chao passed through the iron gate, walked past the hotel’s flowerbeds and fountain, and entered the lobby.

Just as he had before...

After exchanging a code phrase with the receptionist, a burly man in a suit soon led him to a hidden room on the second basement level.

He had disguised his face again, using a different appearance from his last visit, so the man in the suit didn’t recognize him.

CLICK!

Finally, the door to the room opened, and Lu Chao stepped inside.

Rows of glass wine cabinets lined the walls of the secret room. Behind the bar stood Hel. Though heavyset, he was impeccably dressed in a gray suit, wiping a red wine glass with a silk handkerchief.

Noticing the movement, he looked up.

For an instant, their eyes met.

His pupils contracted. He quickly waved a hand, dismissing the subordinate who had led Lu Chao in.

"Sir, you’ve arrived."

Hel spoke first, his face, framed by brown curly hair, full of reverence.

"You recognize me?"

Lu Chao raised an eyebrow. ’I’m sure I didn’t give myself away.’

"Haha, Sir, there’s something you may not be aware of."

Smiling, Hel explained, "My ability developed in a peculiar way. I’m extremely sensitive to certain thermal-energy signatures."

"You used a Secret Technique to change your appearance, but your aura is the same as last time. That’s how I was barely able to recognize you."

’So that’s why.’

Lu Chao nodded. It was unexpected, yet it also made perfect sense.

As the head of a Dark Web branch and an Exploration Level expert, he would naturally possess powerful abilities. Otherwise, he never could have secured such a position.

Still, this served as a reminder for Lu Chao to be cautious, and he mentally filed the information away.