Li Huan's Attitude

Li Tian's expression didn't change, but several thoughts flashed through his mind.

He'd been out on missions for the past few days, either supervising workers at an outlying outpost or attending functions in neighboring Base City No. 143. He hadn't returned to the city.

At the price he'd posted earlier, someone should have taken the job and started acting by now.

Had they failed to find an opportunity? Or was Jiang Mian far stronger than expected, and had she killed the assassin instead?

If she'd been staying in City Defense, perhaps it really was the former. But if it was the latter...

To be safe, Li Tian had set the minimum requirement for his earlier bounty at Second-tier.

He didn't believe that Jiang Mian, a green rookie who'd only awakened a few days ago, could kill a "professional" who was at least Second-tier.

There's something wrong with this Jiang Mian...

Li Tian turned away and didn't look at Jiang Mian again. In his usual tone, he directed the workers to take a break, as if his earlier stare had been no more than a casual glance.

Jiang Mian narrowed her eyes slightly as she watched Li Tian among the crowd below.

Thanks to [Gale] sharpening her senses, she was now remarkably attuned to both people's auras and their emotions.

In that brief moment when their eyes met, she'd clearly sensed a flash of malice.

Why?

Jiang Mian thought it over. She didn't know the man, but he'd brought the Construction Bureau's people with him, which clearly made him a mid- or high-ranking official. Add to that his Third-tier strength...

She remembered the rumors at school. Li Hao acted so arrogantly because his father was a high-ranking official in the Construction Bureau and a fairly powerful Awakened himself.

Li Hao's Father?

That was the only identity that could explain the malice she'd just sensed, as well as the Aberrant's earlier attack.

The unexpected encounter actually put Jiang Mian at ease.

Now that she knew what her opponent looked like and how strong he was, she could make plans.

She was in City Defense now, in full view of everyone. He couldn't do anything to her.

Even if he found a chance to make a move, he wasn't Fourth-tier, and she could handle him.

Of course, to be safe, she should first build up her advancement progress. Increasing her strength was what mattered most.

After Li Tian settled his people in, he turned his gaze toward the gap in the wall. Li Huan stood there with his arms crossed, watching outside with a bored expression, while Gu An chattered away beside him.

Team Five, huh...

He understood.

He'd dealt with this team several times. They were among the best in the East City wall's defense zone, and Qin Wu was famous for his upright conduct.

Since joining the team, his nephew Li Huan had improved at a remarkable pace. He was only in his twenties, yet already had a chance of breaking through to Third-tier.

He hadn't expected him to become teammates with Jiang Mian.

Li Tian knew Li Huan's temperament. He fought fiercely, but followed his own code. To put it bluntly, he was stubborn to a fault.

Still, perhaps he could sound out Li Huan about how the team felt about Jiang Mian.

"Ah Huan."

At the sound of his name, Li Huan turned around. When he saw Li Tian walking toward him, surprise flickered in his eyes.

"Uncle? You... just got back from a mission?"

"Yeah. I was passing by, so I stopped to rest."

Li Tian nodded, his gaze casually sweeping over the gap in the wall and the workers carrying materials nearby.

"You just finished a fight? Looks like it was quite a commotion."

"Yeah. A group of Sprinters attacked the outpost, but we've dealt with them."

"Good. How have you been lately? I think I saw a new face— that bespectacled young woman on the rooftop just now. Is she on your team too?"

He pointed in Jiang Mian's direction.

At that, Li Huan frowned, sensing something was off.

The Public Security Bureau had brushed Li Hao's case aside and ruled it an accident. But given how much Uncle cared about Li Hao, there was no way he hadn't looked into it privately.

And Jiang Mian's appearance was distinctive. There was no way Li Tian didn't recognize her.

Why was he pretending not to know her?

Several thoughts flashed through Li Huan's mind.

His uncle seemed perfectly calm now, nothing like the gloomy man he'd been during the period after first learning of Li Hao's death.

Could it be...

A trace of wariness rose in Li Huan's heart.

Jiang Mian was highly talented, with an exceptionally powerful Sequence Ability. She had a bright future ahead of her. She couldn't be allowed to die in pointless infighting—especially when the one who might target her was his own uncle. He had to stop it.

"Yeah... She's a new trainee. Her name is Jiang Mian."

Li Huan shifted slightly to the side and looked at Li Tian calmly.

"Uncle, you must have heard of her."

The composure on Li Tian's face cracked for an instant, but quickly settled back into place.

"Heh, so it's her. A High-tier Sequence... I wonder how she's been doing on your team?"

Li Huan heard the probing in his words. He thought for a moment, then replied:

"She's exceptionally good at controlling her ability. I'd say her talent is greater than that of most people I've ever met."

"Uncle, you know better than I do how quickly a High-tier Sequence can grow. The authorities will spare no effort to cultivate and protect someone like her."

The meaning behind his words couldn't have been clearer: Jiang Mian had already begun to show her potential. She was off-limits.

"Is that so?"

Li Tian answered coolly, his tone giving nothing away. He didn't pursue the subject. Instead, he patted Li Huan on the shoulder.

"I'm off. Take care of yourself."

Li Huan felt he'd made his warning clear enough. His uncle wasn't a fool; he should be able to weigh the pros and cons.

Still... as he watched Li Tian walk away, a faint unease lingered in Li Huan's heart.

Li Tian leaned against his car and lit a cigarette. White smoke rose from between his fingers, blurring his vision.

He looked up toward where Jiang Mian had been, but she was gone.

Li Tian truly hated her. His son had been a disappointment, but at least he'd awakened.

He'd kept thinking that once he had some free time, he'd help Li Hao get settled and bring him along, so he could keep an eye on him and gradually straighten him out.

And yet, just like that, he was gone—as lightly as dust. Meanwhile, an orphan girl who was no more than a blade of grass had awakened a High-tier Sequence and soared into the sky.

Li Tian had originally thought that even if Jiang Mian had awakened a High-tier Sequence, an orphan with no connections could still be made to "disappear" in an "accident" before she had a chance to grow stronger.

But she'd joined City Defense, even if only as a trainee.

What mattered most was that the authorities now took the Training Program very seriously. If he wanted to target her, he'd have to think carefully about whether he could afford the consequences.

Team Five didn't stay long. Once they'd finished their work, another team arrived to take over. By the time they headed back, night had already fallen.

In the car, Jiang Mian looked at Li Huan with a rather odd expression.

She'd clearly heard every word of their conversation.

The world really was small. She'd only killed Li Hao, and now the people connected to him were showing up one after another.

But judging from Li Huan's response, he was on her side... Yeah, he was a good person.

She didn't call him out. It was enough to let things stay as they were. If he still tried to target her, she'd take the chance to kill him.

But all of that depended on keeping her identity and strength hidden. If things really came to it, she'd have to use some special tactics...

The atmosphere inside the car was somewhat subdued. Su Wanning was still driving, while Gu An sat in the passenger seat, responsible for "clearing the way."

Jiang Mian glanced at Qin Wu and Li Huan, who were resting with their eyes closed, then asked a question she'd been holding in for a long time.

"Um... Captain Qin."

"Hmm? Go ahead."

Qin Wu opened his eyes and turned toward Jiang Mian.

"Isn't your ability [Knight]? Why is Sister Su still driving on the way back?"