The "Fishermen" Hidden in the Shadows
An impromptu meeting is currently being held in the main conference room on the sixth floor of the Citroën Machinery Company.
The entire floor-to-ceiling window was covered by blinds, blocking the midday sun and preventing any prying eyes.
Around the spacious conference table sat some of Citroën's senior executives and managers.
The overhead incandescent light cast a shadow over the serious-looking attendees.
"Chief Engineer Xu, when will the Warship Thruster and Psychic Energy Barrier be shipped?"
Li Hao, the company director at the head of the table, slightly turned his head and asked Xu Xing, who was sitting in the first seat on his right.
Xu Xing's tone was somewhat flat and cold as he reported.
"The Warship Thruster and Psychic Energy Barrier ordered over there have been completed."
"All products have undergone finished product testing, three rounds of quality spot checks, and final testing."
"Currently, all Psychic Energy Barrier have been installed on the ship, while the Warship Thruster are still being transported."
"Loading is expected to be completed before 5 PM today."
Li Hao frowned upon hearing that the move was not yet complete.
Xu Xing immediately knew what the other party was thinking, and he spoke up in advance, "Due to confidentiality requirements, there shouldn't be too many loading workers."
Li Hao thought for a moment, then spoke to the head of the loading and filling department who was sitting some distance away from him.
"Have the workers currently in the harbor warehouse seal the containers first, and then send more people to load them onto the ship."
"In addition, you and the flight management team should both go to the site to oversee things and make sure nothing goes wrong."
He also knew that the more people there were, the easier it would be for the news to leak out.
However, this shipment was of great help to the front lines, and if used properly, it could even influence the course of some small and medium-sized battles.
On the battlefield, every second counts, and he didn't want to delay any longer.
So he gave the order.
"Make sure all preparations are completed before 4 PM. The cargo ship must depart immediately at 4 PM!"
"Clear."
All the managers in charge of product manufacturing and transportation responded in unison.
The impromptu meeting then quickly came to an end.
Those who had received their assignments and those who already had work to do all left the conference room quickly.
A short while later, the mahogany doors to the conference room closed again, leaving only Li Hao and Xu Xing in the large space.
"Chief Engineer Xu, how's the Wu City going?"
Upon hearing Li Hao's question, Xu Xing thought to himself, "Just as I expected."
Without delay, he recited the report he had reviewed before the meeting.
"That illegitimate son has temporarily taken control of the Bo Xi Family and is now leading his men to Mao City."
"With the resources mentioned above as bait, more than half of the Wu City vendors have mobilized together."
They expect to arrive at Shengtian Public School around 5 o'clock.
Li Hao pondered for a moment, then said, "Delay them a bit, let them arrive at dusk."
"The turmoil at Shengtian Public School has resulted in more losses than anticipated. Let the Aristocratic Faction have some time to recover."
"Although the goal is to weaken their strength and influence, they are ultimately the fighting force of the Human Race, so it's better to have fewer casualties."
"Um."
The two quickly went over the general action plan and left the meeting room one after the other.
Xu Xing strode quickly to his office on the sixth floor, where his assistant was waiting for his next instructions.
His eyes, behind his square-framed glasses, held a cold calm, making him seem like a machine operating at high efficiency.
After he entered his office and closed the door, the first thing he said to his assistant was, "Have the defense force go out to sea for patrols right now."
"Yes!"
The assistant acted immediately, connecting the communication equipment of the Academy Island Defense Force.
He exaggerated his report to the guards, then cut off the communication.
After his assistant quieted down, Xu Xing, who had already reached the bookshelf, immediately gave the instructions again.
"Have someone keep a close eye on the situation in Shengtian and guide the unrest to subside as soon as possible."
"We'll tally up the casualties among the Academic Faction later."
"And tell our people in the Wu City to lie in wait and not make any rash moves."
"Yes, I'll take care of it right away."
He spoke very quickly, but his assistant was clearly used to it.
The assistant bowed the instant he finished speaking, then immediately retreated to the door, turned around, opened the door, and left.
Relying on his memory, Xu Xing found what he wanted on a bookshelf on one wall, among all the identical folders.
He pulled out three documents, opened them, and two of them were clearly intelligence reports on all the forces in Mao City and Wu City.
The last document was a notification regarding assisting in regaining actual control of the Two Rivers Estuary.
The notice was signed by an agency directly under a Human Race high command.
On the other side, in a dark and damp palace, a group of creatures with horns on their foreheads and covered in scales stood respectfully in a row.
They had just finished reporting the unusual activity at Citroën Company when they heard a dignified yet youthful male voice coming from the darkness.
"Hmm, next, the Human Race high command will probably start taking control of the situation behind the scenes."
The leader answered immediately.
"Yes, Your Highness, our people planted in the Knowledge-Seeking Society have reported that Human Race are deliberately manipulating the unrest to subside."
"Furthermore, our people monitoring the area near the shallows have also discovered the Human Race high command supplies ship."
"It is expected that the two Human Race factions will clash tonight, and most of Mao City's fighting force will gather on Academy Island."
"At that time, the defenses of Mao City will inevitably have weaknesses."
The shadowy figure listened for a moment, then gave the order, "When the time is right, finish this quickly."
"Yes!"
The subordinates accepted the order, their vertical pupils brimming with excitement and greed.
Thick fog lingered in front of the administration building of Shengtian Public School, where Shisui was enjoying his lunch.
"Um?"
An indescribable feeling traveled from the outside world to the brain through the senses, causing Shisui, who was eating, to pause.
What's going on? The atmosphere inside Shengtian Campus seems to have calmed down.
Instinct made him realize that the situation had changed, Shisui immediately stopped the [Metamorphosis] that had only lasted for a short while.
Zi Koukaku covered his face with Shisui, the crimson mask concealing his striking features.
Then, he waved his hand, causing the Feather Powder to instantly gather.
The scattered debris on the ground also turned into bright red crystals and were collected together.
As their understanding of spatial attributes deepened and their control over their own Psychic Energy became more refined...
The Flesh Crystals extracted by Shisui also became more solid and translucent.
After cleaning up his spoils, Shisui had no intention of staying any longer.
Just as he was about to fly towards the school gate, the illusory burning sensation of being stared at vanished in an instant.
With a sudden change in the direction of Ukaku's swing, Spatial Energy flowed through the feathers, Shisui vanished from his spot in an instant.
Two kilometers away, a woman stood on the roof of the teaching building, observing the square in front of the Administration Building with binoculars.
"Huh? Where did he/she go?"
"Did you need something from me?"
The eight Bikaku converged, instantly entangling the woman's body.
Shisui appeared behind her, asking in a calm tone, as if casually inquiring about her last words.