Following the method the Priestess had given him, Zhang Heng contacted the people at the perfume shop. Aside from sensing the Blade of Balance's confidence, however, he gained nothing else, and an uneasy feeling rose in his heart.
The veiled woman was right. Zhang Heng truly did not know the Blade of Balance's real strength. Yet he had just encountered Autrus not long ago and knew that someone like him would be extremely difficult to deal with. What was more, Autrus was clearly working with the Hounds now, preparing to destroy the Blade of Balance together.
In Zhang Heng's original estimation, the war between the Blade of Balance and the Hounds had lasted for over two hundred years. This time, too, it should have been difficult to determine a victor. That way, as a candidate of the Blade of Balance, he could coast along while watching the methods employed by both sides.
But now, it seemed he might have overestimated the abilities of the Blade of Balance's current leader while underestimating the resurgent Hounds. If Megaphone was one of the Hounds' people, then the Hive behind him was likely an outer organization affiliated with the Hounds as well.
And that meant the Hounds had likely been operating in Rome for quite some time. The assassination in Britannia had probably only been a means for the Hounds to divert attention. The Blade of Balance had known nothing about an enemy growing under its very nose, making it difficult for Zhang Heng to believe they truly held the initiative in this war.
And if the Blade of Balance collapsed, then he, as one of its candidates, would obviously find it difficult to remain unscathed.
Zhang Heng knew he needed to make preparations early in case the situation suddenly deteriorated. According to the