A Guess

The Human Rights Alliance sounded good in name, but in reality, it was just an alliance that strengthened the power of those super families. Martial artists called it the Underground Alliance.

Of course, whether they called it the HR Alliance or the Underground Alliance, no matter what martial artists called it, the HR Alliance was still the world's largest martial artist exchange platform—and deservedly so!

After all, they were the richest organization in the world!

How many people in this world could escape the shackles of fame and fortune?

"Our alliance has tremendous influence all over the world! Join us and become one of us. Whether you go to America, the European Union, or any other region, you'll enjoy the highest level of service."

"Our alliance has powerful military and political influence. Join us..."

On the train car's screen, the middle-aged man spoke for a full fifteen minutes. Luo Zhe watched him for all fifteen minutes. Luo Feng and Yang Wu chatted animatedly beside him, but he showed no interest in joining at all.

Luo Feng was sitting directly across from Luo Zhe, so he could see his expression and gaze clearly. They were exactly like the ones he'd had back in school whenever he faced a problem he couldn't solve.

It was the first time Luo Feng had seen that lost look on Luo Zhe's face. Usually, Luo Zhe's eyes were always full of confidence and fighting spirit!

"Future martial artists."

At that moment, the screen hanging in the train car switched to another man, his expression stern. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm the deputy director of the Jiangnan Base City Security Bureau. My surname is Liu. In our Huaxia Nation, the government and military unquestionably possess the greatest power! Join the government and enlist in the military, and wherever you are in Huaxia Nation, you'll receive the best support."

As the image of the HR Alliance's middle-aged representative disappeared from the screen, Luo Feng noticed that Luo Zhe had lowered his head. The look in his eyes had returned to normal.

After apologizing to Yang Wu, Luo Feng sat beside Luo Zhe and asked quietly, "Brother Zhe, what's wrong? Do you know someone in the HR Alliance?"

Luo Zhe was startled. He turned to look at Luo Feng, then shook his head. "No, I don't."

"But the man just now looked a lot like Tong Yang, my former Dojo instructor. No, they looked exactly alike! What's going on? Are they father and son? But Tong Yang is clearly an instructor at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, and he's on good terms with Supervisor Zhuge!"

Luo Zhe couldn't understand why a man who was obviously a core figure in the HR Alliance looked so much like his instructor, who always seemed to have the innocence of a child.

"Supervisor Zhuge?" Luo Feng froze. How had Supervisor Zhuge gotten involved in this?

Luo Feng had heard a little about Luo Zhe's former instructor, Tong Yang. He was an instructor at the Dojo, on the same level as Instructor Jiang Nian. Martial artists in their neighborhood had mentioned him in passing. Apparently, he was the illegitimate son of some important figure. After making some kind of mistake, he'd been thrown into the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and left to fend for himself.

But it made sense. If Tong Yang really had powerful connections behind him, he probably wouldn't have been stuck as an insignificant instructor in Jiangdu District, Yangzhou City, one of the Eight Satellite Cities.

Still, this Tong Yang, who was rumored to be an illegitimate son, was connected to Supervisor Zhuge Tao, one of the four major figures at the Jiangnan Base City headquarters. There had to be more to it!

"Brother Zhe, you'd better not worry about what their relationship is. Important people like them have plenty of romantic entanglements. Who could possibly know all the details? Besides, I think there's a lot more going on here!" Luo Feng said seriously.

"That middle-aged man was clearly a core figure in the HR Alliance. We're nobodies; this isn't something we should get involved in. Let's just pretend we didn't see anything!"

Luo Zhe frowned and looked at Luo Feng. "Do you know something? Tell me."

Luo Feng couldn't help frowning too. This didn't look like he was about to let it go. Was Brother Zhe really going to get involved?

So he told Luo Zhe everything he knew and all his suspicions, without holding anything back.

After listening, Luo Zhe's brow furrowed deeply.

If things really were as Luo Feng suspected, then Tong Yang and Supervisor Zhuge were probably plotting something big—and their ambitions were likely considerable.

"Tong Yang, what made you come looking for me today? Have you made up your mind?"

"What do you mean? Are you planning to give up, or do you have something else arranged?"

Remembering the two things Supervisor Zhuge had said to Tong Yang, almost casually, during their video call, and combining them with Luo Feng's suspicions... Supervisor Zhuge was probably the true mastermind behind their plan!

As for Tong Yang's role—or whether he was acting of his own free will—there wasn't enough information to tell.

Seeing Luo Zhe lost in thought, his brow furrowed, Luo Feng couldn't help interrupting him. "Brother Zhe!"

Luo Feng's voice jolted Luo Zhe out of his thoughts. Seeing the concern on his face, Luo Zhe felt warmth in his heart. He knew Luo Feng was worried about him.

He patted Luo Feng on the shoulder, smiled, and assured him, "Don't worry. I promise I won't get involved in any of this."

At the sight of Luo Zhe's smile, some of the worry faded from Luo Feng's face. Still, he couldn't help asking, "We still don't know what Supervisor Zhuge and the others are planning, but judging from their current status, they're probably after something big. What if—what if we get dragged into this by accident? What would we do?"

"For people of their standing, crushing us would be no harder than crushing an ant!"

A smile tugged at Luo Zhe's lips. "They may be big shots now, but in two years, it's anyone's guess who'll be stronger. And we're no easy targets."

"If they want to swallow us, they'll have to lose a mouthful of teeth doing it!"

Luo Feng nodded and said no more.

But inside, Luo Zhe was burning with anger. Tong Yang, what exactly are you planning?

Before long—

"Quasi-Martial Artists, the train is about to pull into the station. Please prepare to disembark." The announcement came over the train car's loudspeaker as the train gradually slowed to a stop.

Whoosh—the train car doors opened, and the Quasi-Martial Artists from every car stepped off.

Soon, the vast crowd of Quasi-Martial Artists entered a sprawling military camp. It covered a huge area, and heavy weapons of all kinds were stationed in abundance along its perimeter, their barrels aimed outside the camp. Soldiers everywhere held an array of high-grade weapons.

Luo Zhe and Luo Feng followed the crowd off the train. Outside, all the Quasi-Martial Artists looked around them.

"Look outside the camp!" Yang Wu pointed excitedly into the distance.

Luo Zhe looked closely. Beyond the camp's perimeter, several starving monsters, their bellies sunken, let out growls. But none dared approach the camp.

"Gaaah—"

At the shrill cry, nearly all the Quasi-Martial Artists looked up at once. Hundreds of flying monsters streaked across the clear blue sky, packed tightly together.

"So this is the world outside the Base City."

Though Luo Zhe was strong, he'd never had much ambition. Even his recent, earnest training had been meant only to ensure that Tong Yang and Supervisor Zhuge's efforts hadn't gone to waste.

But now he knew Tong Yang and the others were likely plotting something behind the scenes. And now, seeing with his own eyes the monster-infested world of the Wilderness Zone, Luo Zhe finally felt just how weak he was.

Strength was the greatest support a person could rely on! Connections and backers—everything would be crushed before absolute power!

For the first time, Luo Zhe had that thought.

I need more strength!