The Land Plane

Old District.

Ten minutes before network lockdown began.

News that the men sent to test the waters had died beneath Qin Annian's fists reached the ears of the faction leaders hiding deep within the Old District.

"How did he dare?!"

"Is that Qin determined to fight us to the death?"

"Does he think that just because he wears a Peace Officer's uniform, we can't retaliate?"

The fury of having their authority trampled upon, and the killing intent nurtured by a century of unchecked arrogance, swelled madly within their chests in an instant!

"Qian Yuansen?"

"He's just an outsider!"

"It's time to let them know who the true masters of Taiyu City are!"

The shadows lurking in the Old District began to stir, as though they were about to devour everything.

They resolved to launch the most sensational retaliatory operation against the Peace Officer who had scorned their dignity.

"A Peace Officer who only just became official."

"Is the Security Bureau really going to completely fall out with us over him?"

"Unless they want to turn the Old District into a battlefield!"

At the same time.

These shadows parasitizing Taiyu City's dark side, along with the powerful figures behind them, also began mobilizing their influence after learning that Qin Annian had used lethal force.

They pressured the City Government, the Security Bureau, and every department of authority, calling those who held power.

They rehearsed their words in their minds, intending to voice their dissatisfaction the moment the calls connected and protest to those in power.

However.

What these powerful figures had not expected was this.

The calls that had always been answered within three rings now produced nothing but an unreachable busy signal.

The first call was like this.

The second and third calls were the same.

At that moment.

A sense of foreboding quietly arose in their hearts.

Then.

All kinds of news came flooding in.

The Old District had been placed under martial law, Taiyu City had entered Level Two combat readiness, and the Security Bureau had deployed in full force...

Smash!

An expensive wineglass fell to the floor, crimson wine soaking into the priceless handmade carpet.

Their former confidence and arrogance shattered alongside the glass.

"Quick!"

"Send someone to make an appointment at the City Government!"

"No! I'll go myself! I need to see Mayor Qian!"

"And!"

"Tell the people in the Old District immediately—under no circumstances are they to make a move!"

Amid the chaos.

"Sir!"

"This is bad!"

"Communications in the Old District have been cut off! We can't reach them!"

Accompanied by a dull thud as someone collapsed.

"Sir has fainted! Get him to the hospital!"

Old District.

Three minutes before network lockdown began.

The underground rail freight line, originally built to facilitate cargo transportation but long since abandoned, had been converted into a massive underground base.

Funded by five century-old Taiyu City clans, the Cultivation Holders Association had, after a hundred years of development, become the undisputed overlord of Taiyu City's underworld.

They had people; every member had undergone augmentation surgery.

They had money; the five century-old clans controlled nearly thirty percent of Taiyu City's assets.

Even the Security Bureau had to show them some respect in the past.

"A Peace Officer who just became official?"

"Heh!"

So what if he was a genius martial artist?

So what if he was a Security Bureau Peace Officer?

He would still get sent up in a land plane!

But.

Just then.

"Chief!"

"Our cameras have been hacked!"

Someone was drenched in sweat, their eyes filled with unease.

"Chief! This is bad!"

Another person rushed in, panting and soaked in sweat.

"Our lookouts spotted the Security Bureau's Assault Team approaching!"

"They've even brought in infantry fighting vehicles!"

What?!

The Cultivation Holders Association's leader abruptly rose to his feet, disbelief flashing through the depths of his eyes.

"Assault Team? Infantry fighting vehicles?"

"Go verify the intelligence immediately!"

"Contact the old masters at once and ask what exactly happened."

The underground base immediately descended into chaos.

Less than a minute later, someone brought even worse news:

"None of the calls are getting through!"

"Our information network has been cut off!"

Cold sweat instantly soaked the leader's shirt, and his breathing became rapid.

Every sign indicated that the Security Bureau seemed to have suddenly lost its mind and was preparing to go to war with them.

How was that possible?

With the Five Great Families applying pressure together, not even Taiyu City's mayor could act unilaterally!

What exactly had happened outside?!

Boom!

Just then.

The shockwave from the violent explosion the leader had been waiting for finally reached the underground base.

But.

At that moment, his face first turned pale.

Then it twisted into utter madness.

"We've been abandoned!"

"We've been treated as expendable pawns!"

The leader panted heavily, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at his trembling subordinates.

"Now, we only have one path left!"

"They want war, then we'll give them war!"

"Starting tonight! Let the Old District burn!"

The leader's expression was crazed, but it also stirred up their morale.

No one had expected the situation to escalate so rapidly.

Opportunities vanished in an instant.

Qian Yuansen and the other "war hawks" seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, determined to cut out the "cancer" that Taiyu City had allowed to grow for a hundred years.

And Qin Annian, who had provided them with this opportunity, was covering his mouth and nose as he waved away the dust before him.

"Qin Annian!"

"Are you all right?"

Lin Xiao shouted anxiously through the haze.

"I'm fine."

"Don't come over yet."

"Check whether there are any more explosives nearby."

At the critical moment before the bomb detonated, Qin Annian's Mindlight had suddenly flashed, seemingly allowing him to glimpse a brief moment of the future.

Before the explosion, he had retreated at top speed and avoided the bomb's effective lethal radius.

"Bring the equipment! Check immediately!"

Captain Chen's face was dark as water as he directed his team to sweep for bombs.

When he thought of what would have happened if his squad had walked just a little faster, killing intent could not stop boiling within him!

"Those people."

"They've completely disregarded the law!"

The explosion scene here was transmitted in real time to the Security Bureau's command screens through the Drones overhead and the surrounding cameras.

Zhang Qifeng stood with his arms folded across his chest, watching expressionlessly as the Assault Team advanced through the footage to clear the explosives.

Buzz!

Buzz!

Buzz!

Inside the command room.

Communication requests from Personal Terminals rang out continuously.

Gulp.

The sound of someone swallowing was exceptionally clear in the deathly silent hall.

"Have Peace Officer Qin withdraw and rest."

"His district will be taken over by the few of you."

The people swept by Zhang Qifeng's gaze were all Security Bureau higher-ups whose Personal Terminals were ringing nonstop.

After an inspection.

It was confirmed that there were no other explosives nearby.

The Assault Team's Wheeled Combat Vehicles then sealed off the entire street.

It was also then that Qin Annian received Miss Ju Zi's order to withdraw and rest.

"I'm fine."

"I can continue..."

Captain Chen walked over at that moment and spoke to Qin Annian meaningfully.

"Peace Officer Qin."

"You're seriously injured. Everyone in our squad saw it."

He removed his combat headset and mouthed to Qin Annian:

"The mayor and the director both need you to be injured."

"Rest for half a day first."

Qin Annian raised an eyebrow and immediately understood.

"Then I'll leave this place to Captain Chen."