yasinovel Chapter 1289 - 625_2
Chapter 1289 - 625_2
Fang Cheng was silent for a moment, then asked coldly:
"Do you know how?"
Hearing Fang Cheng finally respond, the masked man secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
His life was half-saved.
"Of course, I know all about this. In terms of understanding the underlying logic of space-time gateways and intelligence on the Otherworld, in the entire East Capital, I claim second, no one dares claim first."
He straightened his back and then threw out the most important bargaining chip:
"If you’re interested, I can teach you these methods. Or, next time the gateway cools down, we can go in together and jointly develop the resources inside."
Fang Cheng’s eyelids drooped slightly, but he remained silent.
If what the other party claims is true, keeping him around indeed has great value.
After all, he absolutely does not want to risk his life each time he traverses between the worlds, resisting the tearing of space.
Nor does he want to enter the Otherworld, only to be forced to retreat within a few hours before officially taking action.
The masked man was extremely adept at reading expressions.
He noticed the golden glimmer on Fang Cheng’s fist dimming slightly and immediately pressed his advantage:
"I understand your aim in taking the exam to join the Special Search Team, seeking an official identity as cover."
"Actually, on this matter, you and I are on the same side. I would never use this to threaten you."
Saying this, he folded his fingers and tapped the completely dim diamond-shaped crystal on his chest:
"This set of Reproductive Armor is bound to my vital signs and connected to a micro-computer system."
"If my heart stops beating, the system will immediately activate the highest-level emergency plan, recording the final scenes and body data, sending them encrypted to the terminal at the Special Search Team Headquarters."
The masked man’s gaze at this moment seemed particularly sincere, as he said frankly:
"In this way, your identity could easily be exposed, leading to an investigation."
"At that time, not only would your exam qualifications be invalidated, you would also face endless pursuit by the state apparatus."
He finished listing numerous reasons and continued by presenting a condition most suited to the current situation:
"Keeping me around, tonight’s surveillance logs of this area and the battle traces, I’ll use my privilege in the subsequent investigation to erase them completely for you."
"Moreover, in the future while you work within the Special Search Team, we can totally cover each other, helping one another."
"And, one last point."
The masked man slowly stood up, brushed away the dead leaves and mud from his thighs:
"The things in the relic are hugely significant; even if you obtain rare resources in the Otherworld, they are tough to safely dispose of in the outside black market."
"You need an agent within the system who is all-knowing, to help you legitimize and cash in these resources."
"And I am your best choice."
These reasons connected logically from technical support to identity cover, and then to interest realization, directly addressing Fang Cheng’s current pain points.
After thinking for a few seconds, Fang Cheng slowly retracted his right fist.
The seething True Qi inside gradually calmed down, and the suffocating golden flames around him also retreated into his body.
"Since it’s a collaboration, show a collaborative attitude."
Fang Cheng’s voice was cold and firm, his gaze like a torch as he looked at the masked man:
"What’s the point of hiding? If you’re sincere, take off the thing on your face first."
Upon hearing this, the masked man’s body stiffened slightly.
This bronze mask is not only physical defense but also his disguise to evade the official limits and act illegally in the dark.
But looking into Fang Cheng’s emotionless eyes, he understood there was no room for bargaining now.
This humanoid T-Rex before him may be reasonable but definitely has little patience to waste.
Thus, he raised both hands, thumb hooked on the hidden latch at the sides of the mask’s chin.
With a soft "click," the internal seal valve loosened.
He yanked the mask off, holding it in his hand.
Then, a face with high cheekbones and neat stubble was revealed, a tough square-jawed visage.
About a man in his early thirties, with an old, fine scar at the corner of his eye.
This did not affect his appearance but added a few touches of military valor and a murderous aura.
"Lu Tianming."
He looked Fang Cheng straight in the eye, openly reporting his real name:
"Special Search Team Headquarters, Chief of Internal Investigation Department. Rank, Special-level Investigator."
Fang Cheng raised an eyebrow and couldn’t help but ask:
"The Chief of Internal Investigation Department, acting like a thief at your own exam site?"
"Looking for a relic entrance, such a task the Special Search Team can issue a random directive, a few reconnaissance teams flipping this forest upside down. Do you, this Chief, need to sneak around all night solo?"
His tone carried more than a hint of undisguised mockery as he raised his doubts.
Lu Tianming chuckled bitterly, the bruise at his mouth corner tugging painfully, and he couldn’t help but suck in a breath.
"Finding the relic entrance is not as easy as you think; it’s purely a chance occurrence, sending more people won’t change finding it or not."
"I came personally to control the situation and avoid complications."
"Moreover, the waters within the Special Search Team are muddier than you can imagine."
At this, his voice naturally lowered, a heavy tone:
"Some matters are too complicated to explain in one go..."
"Woo—woo—"
Before he finished speaking, high-pitched sirens suddenly pierced the air from afar, interrupting Lu Tianming’s words.
Two beams of white searchlights tore through the dense fog, shooting rays like swords criss-crossing through the forest.
Heavy off-road vehicle tires crushed past shrubs, making continuous ripping sounds.
Short and professional tactical commands drifted along with the night wind.
Clearly, a large fully-armed team was deploying and advancing, closing in on this battered battlefield.
Lu Tianming’s expression changed drastically as he looked at the approaching lights.
"It’s the first line defense convoy from West Mountain’s interdiction forces."
Quickly withdrawing his gaze, his words came faster:
"I’ve revealed my true identity, which is my sincere gesture."
"For the rest, we will find another opportunity to discuss, or else if they catch us here, neither of us will escape blame!"
With that, he gave Fang Cheng a deep look, without waiting for consent, suddenly turned away.
With remaining strength, sprinting toward the other side obscured by the darkness, away from the searchlights.
In the blink of an eye, his silhouette merged quickly into the dense fog.
Fang Cheng stood his ground, staring at the direction where Lu Tianming vanished, without stepping to chase.
The rumbling of the off-road vehicle’s engine grew more distinct, its searchlight halo breaking through the tree gaps, scattered across the nearby ruins.
The distance was incredibly close.
Clearly, this brutal fight just now had alarmed the defense forces of the Special Search Team stationed in the West Mountain Forbidden Area.
Fang Cheng did not linger anymore, turning to stride towards the concealed relic entrance several kilometers away.
The mercenary corpses left on site and the messy combat traces on the ground must be cleaned and disguised before the main forces completely isolate the area.
Absolutely no one can discover that tonight someone crossed that Golden Light Barrier, exposing his secrets.
Fang Cheng powered through with his legs, like a ground-skimming arrow, shooting into the deep fog.
As his running speed climbed, he acutely sensed something unusual in his body.
The wind hitting directly seemed to morph into an invisible uplifting force.
With just a toe tap on a moss-covered rock, he could glide forward dozens of meters effortlessly.
The tendency to fall became exceedingly weak, his body growing lighter with every step.
Eventually, he hardly needed to push off the ground, merely borrowing a bit of force from tree branches or tall grass tips to cross large distances in midair.
The surroundings blurred at the edges of his vision as if painted with shadows.
An exhilarating sensation of freeing himself from gravitational shackles, almost flying, spread in his heart.
"What is this?"
Fang Cheng’s mind stirred slightly, as if thoughtfully.
At that moment, brilliant light suddenly lit up before him.
A light blue screen rapidly unfolded across his retinas, a few clear notification lines sprang up:
[Congratulations, through persistent training and insight, you have surpassed the human airborne limit, unlocking the Flying Skill]
[Flying Level 0 (0/100)]