<h4>Chapter 205: The Long Arm of the Law</h4>


    Yun Bing and Chu Feng left after confirming that Zhang Lie was fine. After they did so, Zhang Lie had everyone work on assimting their newly obtained peak gene fragments into their body.


    The suite turned silent, but outside the suite, the entirety of Odinstadt was in an uproar about the public assassination attempt that had urred. News of the attempt was spreading all around the world, and it naturally caught the attention of the media and of thosepetitors aiming to be Earth''s champion—for example, the favorite to win the tournament before Zhang Lie''s arrival, Charles Murphy.


    Within the penthouse suite in the best hotel of Odinstadt, Charles Murphy was ncing at news articles about the assassination attempt, a European leader seated before him.


    "General Hill, there''s nothing interesting to be found here—these monkeys are simply making a fuss to advertise their supposed champion! Once we''re on stage, I''ll let them know just what truly strong hunters look like."


    Hearing Murphy''s words, Hill frowned. "I just knew someone as arrogant as you would give me such a response. You need to understand just who he is—the Dragonwolf Zhang Lie, the hunter who first developed and revealed the existence of limit fragments!


    "Although we''ve managed to make a potion that''ll allow you to temporarily break through the constraints of the first realm, don''t forget that he''s the pioneer of all this. If I''m not mistaken, what he''s revealed to date is only the tip of the iceberg. In other words, it''s quite possible that he''s ahead of us even in terms of our research direction.


    "You''ve seen his dojo''s opening ceremony, haven''t you? Can''t you sense just how strong he is at full power? He managed to fend off a whole group of second- and third-realm hunters today, almost all by himself! You have an amazing gift that allows you to handle even multiple peak-grade soulshards at once, and you might be able to replicate the same feat, but you would surely have suffered quite a few injuries.


    "If nothing else, remember this: if you end up facing him in the Void Cup, you need to make him drop his guard, and then strike back with full force. There''s no other way for you to win. Dr. Federenko hasmanded that we have to win the Void Cup this year, and I''m here to direct you as per his rmendation. You deserve to be proud given your skills and aplishments, but that doesn''t mean you can getcent," General Hill urged.


    He was tired of lecturing Murphy, and Murphy was even more tired of being lectured at.


    "Alright, enough! I understand—tell Federenko that northern Europe''s sure to win the Void Cup!"


    "Good, I''m counting on you!" General Hill left Murphy''s suite immediately, unwilling to stay even a moment longer.


    Such a scene happened in the rooms of promising champions all over Odinstadt; everyone wanted to win, after all. Even before thepetition began, Zhang Lie''s dominating presence was already increasing the stress that all thepetitors were feeling.


    Of course, those who were most incensed by Zhang Lie weren''t thesepetitors, but rather a few ns thousands of miles away. In the Long manor at Lingnan, the elder n Head Long stared at the soldier in front of him with fear and astonishment. He knew the soldier before him, Zhou An, the currentmander-in-chief of the military troops stationed at Lingnan.


    He was decisive and ruthless, and his appearance at the Long manor made the old n head suspect that something was amiss.


    "May I ask for what reason you''vee to visit, Commander Zhou?" the elder n head asked, his tone intentionally rxed.


    Zhou An''s silence, however, only increased tensions further. Only when a red light shed by Zhou An''s wrist did he respond, "Do you really not know, Elder n Head Long?"


    The old n head paused in contemtion, but ultimately shook his head. The Long n hadn''t made any big moves recently, and none of their hunters in the military had reported anything amiss. What could have gone wrong?


    "In that case, let me be explicit. The red light you saw just now was an alert that the military''s are now in ce to seize all the Long n''s assets—yes, all its assets, all over China—including this manor. Onemand from me, and the Long n will vanish overnight. Does this perhaps jog your memory, Elder n Head?"


    Zhou An''s words struck the Long n head and his assistant, standing behind, dumb. "What?"


    "I believe I''ve made myself clear. If you doubt my words, feel free to open the windows and look behind you."


    The elder n head staggered up to the window, where he saw the reflection of sunlight on metal on just about every visible surface.


    "n Head, there''s something wrong. Something''s very wrong!" the first elder shouted from outside the conference room, shocking the n head so much that he almost fell to the ground. He hastily instructed his assistant to ensure that no one barged into the conference room.


    If the military truly wanted to get rid of the Long n, there would be no need to provide any warning, and Zhou An wouldn''t be here in front of him. The fact that Zhou An had appeared meant that there was something he wanted from the Long n, something that would guarantee the Long n''s survival.


    "Commander Zhou, the Long n has been an honorable n, one that has supported the country through weal and woe. For what reason—"


    "Indeed? The Long n has long had a reputation for being bossy and domineering to the citizens of Lingnan. Recently, it''s even grown so bold as to dare scheme against honored members of the military! Long Lin, do you recognize your crimes?!" Zhou An called out, finally revealing the reason for his appearance.


    Long Lin recognized the implications at once, of course, but he had no clue why the military would do so much just for Zhang Lie. Was he really the illegitimate son of some militarymander?


    Before he could say anything more in his defense, however, he heard, "Do it— no matter the cost, even if you have to drag the entire city down with you!" The recording was his finalmand to the assassins in Odinstadt.


    "Elder n Head Long, aren''t you the one whose voice is recorded here? Exin yourself!" Zhou An shouted.


    Long Lin gritted his teeth. "Indeed, I was the speaker of that recording—but so what? Zhang Lie killed both my sons. Am I not entitled to seek revenge on their behalf? Will the military exhibit such favoritism to a first-realm hunter? Commander Zhou, the Long n can trace back its roots for millennia. You might be able to extinguish us all today, but we won''t go out without a bang!"


    Zhou An scoffed. "First, the reason Zhang Lie killed your sons was because they tried to kill his team. Is this how far the Long n has regressed after millennia? Furthermore, let me be even clearer: if I were to destroy the Long n today, no one fifty kilometers away would hear of the news. Do you think the military isn''t aware of your n''s research into high-energy nuclear physics?"


    Long Lin was bbergasted by the knowledge Zhou An revealed. It was evident that Zhou An was well aware of the Long n''s capabilities, and even the secret weapon he was nning on using if things turned dire.


    "Listen up. From today onwards, Zhang Lie will be designated a top-priority target for military protection. If you dare target him again—"


    "Top-priority target? What? On what grounds?!" Long Lin stared at Zhou An in shock.


    "On what grounds? Because he''s the one who discovered the existence of limit fragments, because he''s the one whom the military is putting in charge of its soldiers'' training regimen for their foundational breakthrough!" Zhou An responded.


    Indeed, he was very impressed by Zhang Lie, who had devised the ''rite of shame'' that all recruits now sumbed to in order to experience their foundational breakthrough. As expected, it produced significant results, but he had also be the nightmare of many a new recruit.


    Zhou An continued, "This is the Long n''sst chance. If you try something like this again, you''ll be destroyed before you know it—and as a reminder, don''t try to get around this restriction. Are we clear?"


    Long Lin''s head drooped; he was well aware that the Long n''s supposed revenge would now be little more than a joke.