Lu Fang looked at the tough man before him, his face full of self-reproach, and spoke softly.
"Uncle Ji, the enemy came prepared, and their methods were bizarre. The Guard Team can't take all the blame."
"No. A failure of duty is a failure of duty. There are no excuses."
Ji Xiuneng spoke with absolute conviction.
Then he turned to face everyone, his voice ringing like a bell as he made a public promise.
"I, Ji Xiuneng, guarantee you all right here! The Guard Team will take full responsibility for this incident!"
"And I will report Lu Fang's astonishing military achievement today to the National Alliance exactly as it happened! You won't be denied a single bit of the glory you deserve!"
Hearing that it would be reported to the national authorities, all the students present cast envious looks at Lu Fang.
Lu Fang, however, was not particularly moved by such empty honors.
He looked at Ji Xiuneng and suddenly spoke.
"By the way, Uncle Ji, there's something I find strange."
Lu Fang narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sharpening.
"My parents and Wang Yixing's father received emergency orders to head to the front lines as the Three Pillars. That should have been a military secret of the highest level, right?"
Ji Xiuneng froze for a moment, then nodded.
"Of course. Only a few people at the very top of the City Lord's Manor knew about a deployment at that level."
Lu Fang pointed at the bodies of the Blood Wolf Association leaders on the ground, his tone quiet.
"If it was top secret, why did those Blood Wolf Association bastards know so much about it?"
Boom!
Those words exploded like a thunderclap in Ji Xiuneng's mind.
His face instantly turned ashen, and a terrifying killing intent erupted in his eyes.
That was right.
How could the Blood Wolf Association have known with such precision?
Unless...
"You mean..."
Ji Xiuneng clenched his teeth and forced the words out between them.
"There's... a mole among us?"
Lu Fang said nothing, merely looking at him quietly.
But his meaning was already clear.
There was a Blood Wolf Association spy among Jiang City's top brass! And their rank was definitely not low!
Ji Xiuneng was so furious that he laughed, his clenched fists cracking.
He took a deep breath and made Lu Fang a solemn promise.
"Xiao Fang, rest assured."
"Even if I have to turn Jiang City upside down, I, Ji Xiuneng, will drag that traitorous bastard out! I'll give you and the Three Pillars an answer!"
With that, Ji Xiuneng swept his hand.
"First squad! Seal off the scene! Clean up the traces!"
"Second squad! Medical team, treat the wounded immediately! Counseling team, calm the students down!"
As the orders went out, the well-trained Guard Team members swiftly took control of the scene.
Order finally began to return to the chaotic gymnasium.
Lu Fang glanced at the busy scene, then at Jiang Xia, who was still standing dumbstruck beside him.
"Let's go."
Lu Fang patted Jiang Xia on the shoulder.
"Huh? Oh! Okay!"
Jiang Xia snapped out of his daze and hurried after him.
Just like that, the two passed through the crowd toward the gymnasium doors under the awed, admiring, and complicated gazes of the entire school's students and teachers.
The hillside villa district.
The moment Lu Fang entered the front gate, the old butler's familiar figure came into view.
He had already been waiting for quite some time.
Although he had not gone to the school, he had clearly learned through some channel that Lu Fang had returned safely. Unconcealed relief now filled his wrinkled face.
"You're home, young master."
There was a slight tremor in the old butler's voice.
"As long as you're safe. As long as you're safe."
Lu Fang smiled.
"Uncle Jiang, I made you worry."
"Fortune watches over you, young master."
The old butler straightened, his expression suddenly turning solemn.
He turned and lifted an exquisitely crafted black-and-gold box from the shelf behind him with both hands.
A muted luster flowed across its surface. One glance was enough to tell it was no ordinary object.
"Young master, before the master and madam left Jiang City, they specifically instructed me to leave this for you."
The old butler offered the box to Lu Fang, his gaze respectful.
"They said this was a gift prepared for your class awakening. No matter what class you awakened, this gift would be of help to you."
Something stirred in Lu Fang's heart, and he reached out to take the box.
It felt slightly cool and heavy in his hands.
"Something Mom and Dad left behind..."
With a trace of anticipation, Lu Fang gently undid the box's clasp.
"Click."
The box opened.
There was no earthshaking phenomenon. A single card simply lay quietly inside.
It looked as though it had been polished from crystal, its surface radiating a dreamy, mesmerizing rainbow glow.
Lu Fang picked up the card, and information instantly appeared before his eyes.
[Item: Equipment Upgrade Card (special)] [Grade: None] [Effect: Select a piece of equipment below Diamond grade. Upon use, the equipment will unconditionally rise by one major grade, retaining its original traits and enhancing its attributes.] [Description: Turn the mundane into the miraculous. This is the power of rules.] [Uses: 1/1]
Lu Fang's pupils contracted slightly as he read the card's attributes.
An unconditional increase of one major grade!
This was downright heaven-defying!
In this world, every increase in equipment grade meant a world of difference in value.
And this card could even retain and enhance the original traits!
"Good stuff."
Lu Fang took a deep breath, put the card away, and nodded to the old butler.
"Thank you. I like it a lot."
Back in his room, Lu Fang locked the door and sat on the soft bed.
Without the slightest hesitation, he slipped off the Ring of Money Barrier that had served him so well today.
The ring was currently Gold grade, just right.
"If it were another piece of equipment, I might hesitate, but this ring's mechanics suit me too well."
Lu Fang's gaze was firm.
As he was now, his attack power was already excessive. What he lacked most was the ability to stay alive.
Upgrade.
Holding the ring in one hand and the card in the other, Lu Fang spoke silently in his mind.
Hum!
The rainbow card in his hand instantly shattered into countless mysterious runes, which surged madly into the dark-gold ring like rivers pouring into the sea.
The ring, originally plain and antiquated, even somewhat dull, began to tremble violently after absorbing the runes.
Its surface began to change. The original coin patterns grew more intricate and exquisite, and a crystalline structure as clear as diamond faintly emerged over the dark-gold setting, radiating a mesmerizing glow.
A few seconds later, the light faded.
A brand-new ring appeared in Lu Fang's palm.
It was no longer as unassuming as before, instead exuding an air of nobility and indestructibility.
Lu Fang immediately checked its new attributes.
[Item: Ring of Money Barrier (Diamond grade)] [Slot: Finger] [Attributes: All attributes +50] [Active skill: Ten Thousand Gold, Unbreakable (advanced)] [Effect: Consume 20,000 gold coins to instantly generate a shield lasting 2 seconds. The shield's defense equals the number of gold coins consumed × 100.] [Cooldown: 12 hours]