I'll Put Him in Federal Prison
Even during their escape, Gu Ding and his group hadn't neglected their cultivation. However, since they had all recently made breakthroughs, it was unlikely they could increase their strength again in a short time; they were only focusing on consolidating their cultivation. Gu Ding himself could feel that he was getting closer and closer to the Demigod Realm, and that he could break through at any moment.
On this day, another shocking piece of news arrived from the Universe Sea — the Violent Bear Mercenary Crew in the Deep Sea Zone had been completely wiped out by the Federal Government. Of the tens of thousands of members of the Violent Bear Mercenary Crew, all three leaders and vice-leaders, all possessing the cultivation of Peak-rank God, were killed. Of the hundreds of core members, over seventy died, and the remaining twenty-odd were captured. Of the tens of thousands of mercenary members, over seven thousand died, and the remaining three thousand were all captured. The more than eight thousand universes occupied by the Violent Bear Mercenary Crew in the Deep Sea Zone were all taken over by the Federal Government.
This news caused a complete sensation throughout the entire Universe Sea. Not only in shallow and deep seas, but even in the Undersea Forbidden Zone, this topic was being discussed.
Gu Ding had just opened his eyes from his cultivation when the Sea Emperor told him the news.
"Why did the Federal Government suddenly take action against the Violent Bear Mercenary Crew?" Gu Ding was puzzled. According to the information provided by the Sea Emperor, the Federal Government had no motive to intervene. The more than eight thousand universes occupied by the Violent Bear Mercenary Crew were a vast and terrifying territory in the eyes of the people on the Shallow Sea side, but in the eyes of the Federal Government, it was nothing at all.
"According to the information I've found, the Federal Government did not deliberately organize this operation," Sea Emperor explained. "It was actually just a regular 'training exercise,' only on a larger scale."
Gu Ding was speechless at the Sea Emperor's statement. In his eyes, the Violent Bear Mercenary Crew was still an unshakeable behemoth. The group had three Peak-rank God and hundreds of High-rank God. If any one of them were to escape, it would be a huge crisis for Gu Ding Team.
It's important to understand that the one currently hunting down Gu Ding Team, Wayne, is only Two-Star High-rank God. If he were in the Violent Bear Mercenary Crew, he'd barely be a core member. Yet, this very individual forced Gu Ding Team to flee. This is because, with their current strength, Gu Ding Team is no match for High-rank Gods. Any enemy at the High-rank God level would be a catastrophic threat to Gu Ding Team at this point.
Fortunately, the Titan Warship's performance was far superior to other ships. After several long-range Space Shuttle, it finally left Wayne's territory and temporarily escaped Wayne's pursuit.
"Gu Ding, there's someone you know in the Federal Government's recent 'training' operations." After much consideration, Sea Emperor decided to reveal Reed's information.
"An acquaintance? Isn't the person in charge of the operation one of the top 3 reserve members? I don't know any of the top 3. How could someone be one of my acquaintances?" Gu Ding was somewhat surprised.
"Your acquaintance isn't a member of the top 3, but rather the person in charge of directing these operations." Sea Emperor thought it was unlikely that Gu Ding would guess who it was.
"A commander at the Federal Government Headquarters? I don't think anyone I know works there. But since you've said that, he's likely been promoted later, and anyone who can get into the Federal Government Headquarters must have special talents. So, there are only two possibilities: one is the commander with the 'Gambiter' ability we met in the Long Teng Universe Country, and the other is Reed. But judging from your tone, Sea Emperor, this person seems to be someone I've met more than once, so Reed is more likely." Gu Ding slowly analyzed the identity of the acquaintance Sea Emperor mentioned.
"I didn't expect you to actually guess it." The Sea Emperor also noticed that Gu Ding was usually carefree and didn't care about many things. But given enough time and details, his ability to deduce things was terrifying; it's just that Gu Ding didn't usually pay much attention to developing this ability.
"Sea Emperor, is it really Reed?!" Gu Ding was also somewhat surprised; he wasn't even sure himself when he gave this guess.
"Yes, Reed awakened his 'Gambiter' abilities before graduation, and was discovered by the Federal Government Headquarters during his graduation test. Just a few days ago, he attended a meeting where he caught the eye of Marshal Balin, who then put him under further testing and began to cultivate him extensively. These recent 'training sessions,' ostensibly to give the top three a chance to hone their skills, were actually training Reed. And Reed's performance has been outstanding. I predict that after this incident, besides Balin, more high-ranking officials will recognize his talent. He might even become a candidate for future Marshal."
"Amazing!" Gu Ding hadn't expected that Reed, who started so much later than him, would be doing so much better. He was currently just a tiny shrimp in the Universe Sea, only able to flee when faced with a big fish. Reed, on the other hand, was clearly already a fisherman; although he hadn't yet fully grown, his future achievements were sure to be astonishing.
"What I'm trying to tell you is that Reed's current identity puts us in an adversarial position," Sea Emperor warned. "Moreover, he is an extremely dangerous person to us. Not only because of his extraordinary intelligence and terrifying 'Gambiter' abilities, but more importantly, he grew up with you and knows you all too well."
"The Federal Government Headquarters can't possibly be unaware of your relationship with him, so you are the biggest obstacle on Reed's path to becoming a Marshal of the Federal Government Headquarters. Only if he personally sends you to prison or kills you will the Federal Government allow him to take the position of Marshal. If you ever encounter him in the future, I hope you won't hold back." Sea Emperor finally revealed his purpose.
Hearing Sea Emperor's words, Gu Ding didn't refute them, but just grinned again, revealing his neat, white teeth. "Reed is a good opponent, but I won't lose."
Meanwhile, at the Federal Government Headquarters, in a magnificent golden hall, three beings whose auras resembled those of ancient behemoths sat side by side on the throne. Below them stood a blond youth.
"Reed, you've done quite well these past few days. It seems I was right about you." The first to speak was Balin, a man with graying hair and beard sitting in the middle.
"Without the opportunity given to me by the Marshal, and the support of those top 3 geniuses, these operations would not have been successful." Reed bowed slightly. After cutting his hair short and putting on his green military uniform, he really did look like a soldier.
"Reed, as far as we know, you grew up on Deep Sea Star?" the woman on the left finally spoke.
Reed knew her identity, and Angelina, one of the three marshals of the Federal Government Headquarters, did not dare to be negligent. "Yes, although I am not a native of Deep Sea Star, I did grow up on Deep Sea Star."
"Recently, there's a newcomer in the Universe Sea named Gu Ding, who is said to be a human from Deep Sea Star ..." Angelina didn't continue, wanting to see how honest Reed really was.
But Reed knew that this kind of thing couldn't be hidden from the eyes and ears of the people at the Federal Government Headquarters, and he had no qualms about it. "Yes, I grew up with Gu Ding and we were always classmates in school."
"What's your opinion of Gu Ding?" Angelina then asked.
"He's actually very smart, but sometimes he's prone to acting impulsively. But anyone who's met him will find that he has a lot of personal charm and is a natural leader; people around him are unconsciously influenced by him." Reed didn't hide anything; what he said was the impression Gu Ding had given him. Although it was concise, it clearly explained Gu Ding's personality traits.
"I heard he once invited you to join his Pirate Crew. Is that true?" In fact, the Federal Government didn't have any concrete evidence for this, because when Gu Ding said this, it was just him and Reed.
Reed didn't intend to hide it. He shook his head and smiled, "Yes, he's invited me many times. Since I was five, he's brought it up almost every now and then, and he'll try to persuade me in various ways. He wants me to be his strategist."
"Then why didn't you agree?" Angelina asked curiously.
"Everyone has different dreams. Gu Ding's dream since childhood was to become Interstellar Pirate, which is related to his upbringing." Reed took a deep breath and continued, "But my dream since childhood has been to become a high-ranking general in the Federal Government and do my best to make everyone's life better."
"Do you mean your family and friends when you say 'everyone'?" Angelina's eyes flashed with a strange light.
"It's all of humanity." Reed clenched his fist slightly as he said this, worried that his words would be ridiculed. But to his surprise, the three people in the hall fell silent.
"I also have a question," the middle-aged man sitting to Balin's right, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke after a moment of silence. "Before Gu Ding entered the Universe Sea, he was already quite famous in both the Fei Me Universe Country and Long Teng Universe Country. You were still in school at the time. Did you ever regret your choice? Did you ever think that it might have been better if Gu Ding Team and become an Interstellar Pirate?"
Reed knew that although the middle-aged man looked much younger than Balin, he was actually the oldest of the three and the most powerful marshal in the Federal Government Headquarters — Adams.
"I have never regretted my choice. Becoming Interstellar Pirate was never part of my plans. Gu Ding's achievements were inseparable from his hard work. It was because of his hard work that I saw many of my shortcomings and corrected many of my bad habits, which led to who I am today."
"Then let me ask you one last question," Balin said again, "If one day, Gu Ding becomes the biggest obstacle to your achieving your dream, what will you do?"
"Gu Ding asked me this question ten years ago. My answer is still the same: I will do everything I can to put him in Federal Prison!" Reed gave this answer without the slightest hesitation.