The Plan

Hours later, <Li Yèlái> and his team, who were on high alert, didn't get the teammates they expected to rendezvous with. Instead, powerful reinforcements arrived.

<Plague Doctor>, along with over seventy Handlers, more than three hundred Iron Guards, and a large contingent of special forces and medical personnel, all recently returned from the front lines, surged into <Black Prison>.

While evacuating the wounded from the upper levels, they also pushed into the lower levels to support <Yáng Chén>.

With their arrival, the exhausted team members, who had been holding on by sheer will, suddenly relaxed. Several immediately fell asleep.

The continuous combat and their injuries had left them utterly spent. Upon seeing the reinforcements, they could no longer hold on.

<White Poplar>, who had lost an arm, was taken for surgery. His arm had been severed for too long, and it would take some effort to reattach it.

It was said that Captain <Plague Doctor> was a master of the <Divine Defense> path.

Unlike other <Divine Defense> path specialists who focused on combat, she excelled at treating the injured.

With her <Cell Domination> in one hand and <Flying Needle Suture> in the other, she had become the most skilled doctor in <Border City No. 3>, capable of reattaching almost any severed limb.

There was even a case where she operated on a beheaded individual, and they ultimately survived.

She could pull people back from the brink of death, even giving <Yánwáng> a slap on the way back!

With the captain herself intervening, <White Poplar>'s arm should be as good as new.

Meanwhile, <Li Yèlái>, <Cheese>, and the others were also transferred back to the rest area.

After <Li Yèlái>'s wounds were re-examined, he was assigned back to his own resting room, which was considered a safe rear area.

It was then that <Li Yèlái> spotted familiar faces among the reinforcements.

It was <Detective> and <Heavy Cavalry>!

They were part of the reinforcement group but had not gone deep into the lower levels.

So, <Li Yèlái> immediately called out to them, asking, "How are things outside? Are the family apartments safe?"

<Detective> and <Heavy Cavalry>, upon seeing <Li Yèlái> covered in bandages, were startled.

Although <Li Yèlái> was intact, the bandages wrapped around him and the crimson scars spreading from his chest indicated he had been through a dangerous battle!

As fellow newcomers, they were well aware of <Li Yèlái>'s strength, yet he was in this state.

<Detective> suppressed his surprise and quickly replied, "The incident occurred in <South City New District>, which is quite far from our <East City Branch> family apartments. They weren't affected by the chaos. However, a few family members watching the broadcast fell into extreme fanaticism. Fortunately, they were suppressed, and there were no casualties."

"Watching the broadcast caused them to be affected?" <Li Yèlái>'s expression changed. This was beyond his expectations.

<Li Yúnyān> had been constantly talking about wanting <Fantasy Band>'s autograph to sell. She might have been watching the broadcast then.

But at that time, <Li Yúnyān> should have been busy with her manuscript.

At the same time, the mention of "no casualties" allowed <Li Yèlái> to breathe a small sigh of relief.

It's good that no one was hurt.

"That's right. Even the sound from the broadcast can influence people with the power of the <Void Realm>. While it won't cause them to awaken as <Spirit Ability Users> or become distorted and lose control, they are still guided by the various powers of the <Void Realm>, controlled by their desires. Murders, robberies, self-harm, humiliation – all sorts of chaos, more chaotic than the wilderness!" <Detective> gritted his teeth as he spoke, "And the situation for the audience at the scene was even worse!"

<Li Yèlái>'s face turned grim. If just the broadcast could drive people mad, the scene must have been a living hell. He couldn't imagine how many people had become twisted and killed their own family members.

<Heavy Cavalry> thought for a moment before speaking, "Currently, there are still some residual chaotic waves on the ground, but overall, things have stabilized. A supreme official <Spirit Ability User> intervened and drove away the giant <Void Realm> creature."

"A giant <Void Realm> creature?" <Li Yèlái> was taken aback. "Why is this related to a giant creature? Did the Disaster Restricted Zone take the opportunity to attack the city?"

"No, according to the deductions of seniors from <Zeroing Path> and the analysis of the Handling Department, they used some kind of Class B <Forbidden Item>, causing people who heard the song and were influenced to voluntarily provide spiritual energy. That spiritual energy opened a <Void Realm> passage, allowing a monster of immense size to descend into the physical world."

<Detective> sighed, "Fortunately, <Border City No. 3> has supreme powerhouses who directly repelled the invaders, bringing this disturbance to a near halt. After the city defense forces took over, we came to support you."

"<Fantasy Band>. Damn them!" <Li Yèlái> gritted his teeth.

Influencing hundreds of thousands of people with their songs, summoning terrifying beings from the <Void Realm>, and even triggering the <Zhelan King's Banner>. How many innocent people were affected by this disaster? How many Handlers sacrificed their lives? They used at least two high-risk <Forbidden Items>! But for what reason? No, no matter the reason, they deserve to die!

"All members of <Fantasy Band> except the lead singer lost control and became distorted. They have been dealt with. Only the lead singer, <Qin Zhi>, is missing. He is likely the mastermind of this incident, or at least the mastermind we've identified so far." <Detective> replied, "All major branches are tracking <Qin Zhi> across <Giant City>, but there's no news yet. He seems to be a <Spirit Ability User> as well, and has accomplices assisting him."

"We must find him!" <Li Yèlái> gritted his teeth.

"All Handlers feel the same way, even Handlers from other nearby <Giant City>s have this sentiment." <Heavy Cavalry> interjected, "The closest <Giant City> to us was also watching the broadcast, and the result..."

Indeed, several of the closest <Giant City>s, such as <Border City No. 1>, <Border City No. 2>, and <Lava Mine City>, shared signals with <Border City No. 3>. They also broadcasted the event, leading to widespread chaos. This <Qin Zhi> had directly offended four <Giant City>s, acting against the will of heaven and directly attacking civilians! To find such a beast, all the <Giant City>s are conducting a thorough search!

The surroundings grew much quieter for Li Yèlái.

Cheese, from the adjacent lounge, was now standing by the door, her slightly reddened eyes fixed on the plaza.

Li Yèlái and the other two followed her gaze and saw that someone was bringing back the bodies of their comrades to the safe zone.

A large number of corpses were laid out in the plaza of the resting area.

This caused everyone to fall silent, their gazes fixed on the plaza.

There were too many. Processors, Iron Guards, and civilian personnel—over four hundred bodies were placed on the plaza, white cloths covering their faces and mangled remains.

It was then that Li Yèlái saw Yang Chén, covered in blood. He had returned from the lower levels at some point and was now back in the resting area.

His condition was poor, his eyes bloodshot, and his body bore countless scars.

These were wounds from the recent battle. Yang Chén was a Spirit Ability User of the True Martial Path's Six Senses, and he had reinforced himself three times with a killing intent.

He possessed extremely powerful physical capabilities, allowing his wounds to heal and scar quickly.

But now, he stood in silence, looking at the plaza, at the bodies covered by white cloths.

His physical wounds could heal, but the scars on his heart would not disappear.

After a long while, Yang Chén finally spoke calmly, "Are they all accounted for?"

"Over seventy are still missing; we are doing our best to find them," a processor replied in a low voice.

Missing? Li Yèlái sighed inwardly. This wasn't a case of being missing. It was being utterly annihilated!

Many Forbidden Items would directly devour flesh and blood, or tear it into pieces scattered across the ground.

More than 1,100 people were stationed in the Black Prison. Now, 372 bodies had been found, with 70 missing.

That meant over 400 deaths, including a team of 56 processors.

This incident had reduced the first team by nearly a third.

Li Yèlái felt a pang of sorrow. He had only just started to get familiar with his comrades in the first team, and now he had lost them forever.

Yang Chén remained silent. After a long pause, he spoke in a low voice, "Give everyone double the compensation, whether they were civilian or Iron Guard."

The processor from the logistics department nodded slightly, clearly having received instructions from above.

"It should be so. Their final words have been backed up, and their names will be inscribed on the hero monument of Giant City."

Yang Chén nodded slightly, then his gaze swept across the surroundings, pausing on Li Yèlái.

Then, his chapped lips parted slightly, "Remember them. Avenge them!"

The processors of the first team responded in unison, "Yes!"

Following that, Yang Chén collapsed to the ground.

The logistics team processors, who had been standing by, immediately rushed forward and carried him onto a stretcher.

He was utterly exhausted. Even while most of his teammates were severely injured or dead, he had faced two Class B Forbidden Items alone, and was now completely spent.

In the hours after Yang Chén fainted, a full complement of processors returned to defend the Black Prison.

They replaced the first team, who were all injured, and withdrew them from the Black Prison.

During this time, Li Yèlái met the last captain he hadn't yet seen.

The East City Branch had a total of six captains.

Captain of Team One: Yang Chén, True Martial Path.

Captain of Team Three: Melting Furnace, Myriad Paths.

Captain of Team Four: Moon Shadow, Zeroing Path.

Captain of Team Five: Pale, Spirit Eye Path.

Logistics Captain: Plague Doctor, Divine Defense Path.

Now, the one who appeared was the captain of Team Two, Yīnhuǒ (Darkfire).

He was also the strongest Spirit Ability User of the Nether Path in the branch.

Visually, he resembled a teacher, wearing black-rimmed glasses and appearing quite refined.

However, a cold aura emanated from him, keeping others at a distance.

Strangely, after lingering by the sleeping Yang Chén for a while, Yīnhuǒ (Darkfire) specifically sought out Li Yèlái, who was preparing to withdraw from the Black Prison.

"I heard you acquired a second Facial Mask?" Yīnhuǒ (Darkfire) asked calmly.

"Yes," Li Yèlái replied. "I obtained a second Facial Mask."

Yīnhuǒ (Darkfire) continued, "The database doesn't have that Facial Mask. Can you tell me who it was?"

"The Champion Marquis of Fenglangjuxu!" Li Yèlái answered.

The database certainly wouldn't be able to find Huo Qubing, because such handsome men were often portrayed by agile martial actors or young scholars in Peking Opera.

Drawing Huo Qubing as a Facial Mask wouldn't make him handsome. But Myriad Faces didn't care about that.

"Huo Qubing? His ability is the Shadow Army of the Nether Path?" Yīnhuǒ (Darkfire) asked again.

Li Yelan nodded slightly.

He knew his second Facial Mask would inevitably attract official attention, so he decided to tell the truth.

Of course, the existence of Mr. Shadow still needed to be kept secret.

Otherwise, the officials would think Li Yelan was an agent of some deity.

Tsk, it seemed he really was? With offerings and blessings, wasn't he?

It seemed even more crucial not to reveal Mr. Shadow, at least not yet, unless the officials fully trusted him.

"The first Facial Mask is Spiritual Eye, the second is Netherworld." Yin Huo said with a smile, "Can you find the pattern for unlocking the Facial Masks?"

Li Yelan shook his head. He couldn't exactly say he offered sacrifices to some entity, could he?

"Alright, more training then." Yin Huo didn't press further and instead smiled, "When your strength grows, I'll have a mission for you. You're the best candidate for it."

"An important mission?" Li Yelan asked, confused.

"It's related to this attack. You don't need to know the rest for now, to avoid pressure." Yin Huo didn't explain much, instead patting Li Yelan's shoulder and saying, "Work hard to become stronger."

Then, he turned and walked into the entrance of the Black Prison.

Left behind, Li Yelan felt lost. Related to this incident?

Was he being asked to avenge his colleagues?

Actually, it wasn't impossible. Li Yelan was willing to make a trade once to avenge his colleagues.

He could directly let Mr. Shadow slaughter all the attackers!

But they hadn't found the enemy yet, had they?

And currently, he was only a Rank 2 Awakened. Even with abilities like the Facial Mask, he was far from as powerful as the Captain or the Night Watchmen.

What kind of mission required him specifically? The officials didn't know about Mr. Shadow's existence, so sending him wouldn't be sending him to his death?

"Even with the Facial Mask, my strength isn't enough. Besides bad luck, is there anything else noteworthy about me?" Li Yelan pondered.

Afterward, he left the Black Prison with Cheese.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Yin Huo contacted headquarters.

"I didn't sense any external power from him, so we can rule out the possibility of him being a follower of some deity. However, we still need to be vigilant. That entity might have bypassed my senses. But I'm still willing to trust Night General himself. He previously risked his life to pursue King Zhelan and fought the Zhelan Iron Cavalry alone."

Yin Huo continued, "So, I believe arrangements can be made soon. The people sent before were too strong, and Ark would definitely be wary. His special psychic ability, despite not being highly awakened, is enough for self-preservation. However, we must ensure his safety. This incident has greatly impacted Yang Chen. If his successor dies too, he might completely lose control!"

"Naturally. This mission was undertaken while ensuring Night General's safety. As long as he doesn't act recklessly, it will be fine." On the other end, an old man responded.

"Also, his Facial Mask is indeed special, even bizarre! If he has a third or fourth Facial Mask, and they are abilities from other paths, his potential ceiling will be incredibly terrifying! Imagine a Myriad Manifestations Spirit Ability User possessing several different path abilities. How terrifying would that be!"

Yin Huo thought for a moment and smiled, "If that day comes, I suggest Old Mad King should abdicate directly. As for the Little Mad King at headquarters, forget it."

"Heh heh." On the other end, an old woman chuckled, "Due to the curse, you don't trust her. Alright, since you say so, we will contact Night General later."

After ending the communication, Yin Huo mused, "Ark, oh Ark, no matter how amazing you are, you're still just a vehicle, right?"