With a high-level protagonist in my party, unexpected events always seem to occur. All I want to do is quietly practice my strength for a while, why is that so difficult...?
Han Xiao sighed helplessly and waved his hand.
"Since someone is causing trouble within the Empire's borders, you can stop them while you're at it. I'm entrusting this matter entirely to you. If you encounter any problems, you can call upon my personal guards... Also, I'm giving you another task: you and Aurora will conceal your identities and infiltrate that Punisher Boy Band to find out the whereabouts of something for me."
The Blood Hammer Church and the Punisher Alliance were far too different from him. Normally, Han Xiao would have been willing to get involved himself, but now he wanted to focus on upgrading his Energy Training Method and had no interest in getting involved in such low-level matters. So he simply let Fording do it for him, inquiring whether the sealed artifact was currently in the hands of the Punisher Alliance.
Then I can easily get the special skill by taking down the BOSS with one shot, saving me time and effort.
Han Xiao felt completely at ease entrusting this task of finding things to someone as lucky as Fording, even more so than relying on himself.
"Alright then." Fording tilted his head. "Then, about concealing my identity..."
"I'll have Phillip create two fake resumes for you, without any loopholes, enough to convince them," Han Xiao said thoughtfully. "Since you need to hide your identities, don't act too outrageously. Just cooperate with Raymond; don't be too proactive."
"Well... alright." Fording hesitated for a moment, "Actually, I wanted to ask you for help in using virtual technology to locate the Blood Hammer Church."
Han Xiao shook his head. "Without clues, if I wanted to investigate, I'd have to hack into the Aynia Hub's central AI, sift through all entry and exit records, and even control the Aynia Hub's quantum network base station to monitor all information in this area in real time. That's a massive undertaking. This planet is, after all, the territory of another Beyond Grade A ally; they have their own Police Department. I don't need to interfere. Didn't I just say not to overstep my bounds and arouse Raymond's suspicion?"
Listening to an entire planet and filtering out targets from the communications of countless citizens requires enormous computing power. Although he could do it, it was quite tedious.
The Blood Hammer Church is too low-level, and Han Xiao doesn't want to waste his energy on it. The Police Department in the Aynia Hub also uses similar methods to track down suspicious persons, so let them handle it. He, as an outsider, doesn't need to put in that effort.
"I understand." Fording thought about it and agreed. It seemed like making a mountain out of a molehill to bother a Beyond Grade A officer with such a small matter. As a guard officer, what kind of logic was it to ask his superior to do things for him?
Raymond and his group were only at the Grade B combat level. He, a Calamity Grade, was more than capable of handling the situation. If all else failed, he could always mobilize Hadavy and his gang of idle bastards.
If they don't do something soon, these guards officers will really become lazy bums.
Fording turned off the communicator and explained the situation to Aurora, Aurora eyes immediately lit up.
"Let us handle this ourselves? Great, finally something to do!"
Fording smiled, contacted Raymond, and, following Han Xiao's instructions, accepted his invitation to join the Punisher Alliance.
Upon hearing this, Raymond was overjoyed.
"Great! On behalf of the Punisher Alliance, I welcome you. I'll immediately notify the others and arrange for your membership!"
Seeing that Raymond was about to hang up the call in a hurry, Fording had no choice but to stop him, sighing, "Joining always requires procedures, don't you remember?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Raymond slapped his forehead and immediately got to work. "I'm so excited! Joining requires filling out an application form; I'll send it to you right away."
Fording shook his head, accepted the application form sent by Raymond, opened it and glanced at it. The only information required was normal information such as name, ability, rank, and past experience.
He filled in the false identity that Phillip had created, changing the rank of the false identity to Grade B, so that it would appear more ordinary. If others knew that he was Calamity Grade, his status would be completely different, making it difficult for him to infiltrate the organization. Although the proportion of Calamity Grade in the Central Galaxy is higher, they are still rare high-level combat forces.
After filling it out, he sent it to Raymond, Raymond, without saying a word, hurriedly forwarded it to the members of the Punisher Alliance.
At this very moment, two star sectors away, a small spaceship is rapidly warping towards the Aynia Hub. Its external armor bears a faction insignia representing the Punisher Alliance.
A group of people were in the cabin, some sitting, some standing. Some were wiping their knives, some were maintaining their guns, some were resting with their eyes closed and not saying a word, and some were watching entertainment programs and laughing foolishly. They were all superheroes from the Punisher Alliance.
They have no actual leader; everyone is an equal partner fighting side by side, each with their own duties and social circles. There are a few nominal leaders, all of whom are senior members with high prestige within the organization. This organizational structure is common in superhero groups.
As I was doing my own thing, suddenly, a virtual screen appeared in the center of the room, displaying Raymond's message.
"Raymond sent a message!"
Everyone paused, turning to look at the screen, and the temporary leader of the team stepped forward to read it aloud.
In his message, Raymond recounted his experiences and emphasized Aurora's abilities, expressing his desire to recruit both of them.
"It's a rare and powerful healing ability!" The captain's face lit up with joy, immediately recognizing its value.
Their superheroic alliances have a hard time recruiting new members; basically, every death is one less. If they had such partners before, they could have received timely medical care, and many people wouldn't have perished.
Are their resumes clean?
"Hmm... I checked, it's all true," said a Mechanic Class superhero.
"That's reassuring. I approve of these two joining us."
"Wait a minute."
At this moment, a gaunt man spoke calmly, "Be careful, this is a conspiracy by the Blood Hammer Church. Perhaps they deliberately infiltrated us. Don't forget, they also possess evil priestly healing abilities. Ask Raymond if he personally witnessed anyone healing him?"
"Seli, you're overthinking it. Raymond may be a bit impulsive, but he's generally reliable." The captain frowned.
"I believe Raymond, but I don't believe in such a coincidence," the thin man said coldly.
His Seli, a long-time member of the Punisher Alliance. He is very wary and believes that time reveals true character; no newcomer can gain his trust at first.
Knowing he couldn't persuade him, the captain shook his head and changed the subject, "Let's not talk about this now. We need to hurry on our way; unraveling the Blood Hammer Church's conspiracy is more important."
"That's right."
Everyone's expression hardened.
However, these people were unaware that they had only seen the tip of the iceberg, and the situation behind it was far more complex than they imagined.
A conspiracy is brewing in the shadows, unknown to anyone.
Somewhere in the Aynia Hub, a temporary stronghold of the Blood Hammer Church.
Several Bloodhammer priests who had attacked Raymond returned to the stronghold, immediately attracting the attention of the other members there.
Inside the room, a tall man stood up. He was more ornately dressed and held an even larger warhammer. This man was the archbishop of the Blood Hammer Church, and his eyes were now hostile.
"There's a smell of blood. Have you encountered the enemy?"
"It's someone from the Punisher Alliance. He was following us, and we used a barrier spell to try and take him down, but he broke through the barrier and escaped."
"It's that group again! They've ruined so many of our operations, we just can't shake them off!"
Bishop Bloodhammer was furious; he hated these persistent old adversaries.
Raymond assumed the Blood Hammer Church was there for sacrificial purposes, but that wasn't the case.
If it were a normal blood sacrifice, it would be one thing, but this was an important operation undertaken by a hired hand, concerning the future missionary prospects of the Blood Hammer Church, thus intensifying the bishop's anger.
"This base is no longer safe; we must relocate immediately." The Bishop Bloodhammer's face was ashen. "This operation cannot afford any mistakes. Pack your things now."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the stronghold sprang into action, tidying up their rooms.
Bishop Bloodhammer walked to a conference table and looked down at the paper map spread out on it.
The map depicts the terrain of a key area in the Aynia Hub, with detailed action plans marked on it, and arrows pointing directly to the core location of this area.
And this is precisely where the Evolutionary Totem is placed in the Aynia Hub!
A dozen blocks away from the Blood Hammer Church and their group, there was a secret stronghold of another faction.
Inside the room, several people were gathered around a table, on which lay another architectural blueprint of the Evolutionary Totem Storage Point.
This group is a well-known thief gang on the black market, specializing in stealing important items for their clients. This time, they were hired to work at the Aynia Hub.
"This time, we're stealing the Evolutionary Totem from the Aynia Hub. It's heavily guarded and under heavy protection, making the mission very difficult. The day the client agreed upon for the operation is fast approaching. Do you have any good ideas?"
"During my previous reconnaissance trips, I gathered sufficient intelligence. The area has advanced 24/7 security and surveillance equipment. I have a general plan, but it still needs refinement."
"We can't steal anything on our own. We only have a chance if we have helpers, as the employer said."
The group lowered their voices and discussed their plan of action.
Aynia Hub, Airport Terminal Number One, Entrance/Exit Hall.
The hall was bustling with people; all passengers entering and leaving the port had to pass through this area. In a casual beverage shop near the main entrance, an ordinary-looking woman was reading a paper book, with a half-empty bottle of light blue sparkling beverage on the table in front of her.
She had been sitting there for quite some time, seemingly waiting for someone.
Just then, a commotion arose from the exit of the dock, and a group of bodyguards escorted a young man into the hall.
Two of the bodyguards were different from the others; they made no attempt to conceal their aura, radiating energy fluctuations of Calamity Grade. They flanked the man on either side, clearly indicating that this young man was someone of importance.
Upon seeing this, the passersby who were blocking the way quickly made way for them.
Watching the group leave the hall, the unremarkable woman paid for her drink, then stood up, a book tucked under her arm, and strode out of the airport, heading in the opposite direction from the group.
After walking more than ten blocks, the crowds thinned out. She stepped into the shadows of a building, only to be confronted by a burly man whose books were nowhere to be seen.
This person possessed the ability to disguise himself, changing his appearance multiple times along the way. Finally, he arrived in another city by vehicle, entered the hotel where he was staying, and returned to his room.
There were three other people in the room, of different species. If anyone familiar with the wanted posters of various star systems were here, they would recognize that these three were once vicious, Calamity Grade wanted criminals who later became members of the Fallen Ark. After Han Xiao captured the Sorokin, they all left the Fallen Ark and disappeared without a trace.
After closing the door, the disguised man nodded to the group and spoke in a deep voice:
"The information was correct. The target has arrived. He's accompanied by two Calamity Grade bodyguards, the two from the intelligence."
"Very good, proceed according to plan." A strong killing intent flashed in one of their eyes.
The Crimson Dynasty's homeworld, Tyrant Hamill Palace, the Presidential Administration Building, high-level conference room.
At this moment, a meeting concerning the current situation of the Crimson Dynasty was drawing to a close.
Since the Federation of Light and the Arcane Church officially implemented their suppression plan, the Crimson Dynasty has been targeted and blocked in many areas, and has been under tremendous pressure. The Empire has invested a large amount of resources in the Shattered World, and inevitably some oversights have occurred in other areas, which have been exploited by the other two.
Because of the difficult situation, report meetings like today's are being held frequently during this period.
"... The Federation of Light and the Arcane Church are targeting us in these areas, putting pressure on us from multiple angles. Their purpose is obvious: to force us to openly sell Evolutionary Totem. What are your thoughts on this?"
Urranrell, seated at the head of the table, spoke in a serious tone as he surveyed the crowd.
Some of the high-ranking officials below nodded, while others remained expressionless; what they all had in common was that none of them spoke.
These people are not all officials from the Führer's faction; some of them are important members of other factions, and it is precisely these people's opinions that Urranrell values.
Urranrell looked at a rather elderly high-ranking official on the left and asked in a deep voice, "Ludwell, what are your thoughts?"
Ludwell, a high-ranking official in charge of the economy and the leader of the neutral faction, held a transcendent position. Upon hearing Urranrell's question, he slowly replied, "Your Excellency, whether or not to open up the Evolutionary Totem has both advantages and disadvantages for us."
What are your thoughts?
"Alright." Ludwell nodded. "The advantage of not disclosing the purchase rights is that it increases our political vassals, gains more allies, and optimizes our species' potential in the long run, allowing us to produce more talent and gradually surpass other civilizations. The disadvantage is that it will make us a target of the other two and many other civilizations."
The advantage of publicly purchasing rights is that it alleviates pressure, consolidates the dominance of the Three Universal Civilizations, and allows us to acquire new political benefits through quotas. The disadvantage is that it forgoes long-term potential, cannot exclusively enjoy the benefits of the Evolutionary Totem, and loses an opportunity to surpass others in species talent.
At this moment, Ludwell suddenly changed the subject, raised a finger, and said calmly:
"However, opening up the purchasing rights has an unavoidable problem: the device for creating the totem is not under our control, which is an unstable factor. We are currently under such enormous pressure, yet most of the profits from the totem are going to Black Star. This is not a good thing. If we are to open up the purchasing rights, we must consider this issue. If we cannot obtain all the profits from the totem, then enduring so much pressure is a loss."
"I understand your opinion." Urranrell raised his palm, neither confirming nor denying.
Seeing this, Ludwell knew that Urranrell didn't want him to continue, so he had no objection and kept quiet.
Seeing this, Urranrell felt somewhat helpless. Ludwell was the faction leader, but he did not disobey her orders. He simply had different political views in some areas, and the issue of ownership of the Evolution Cube was one of those points.
Ludwell was a staunch advocate of the top leadership. As a high-ranking official in charge of the economic field, he thought about issues primarily from the perspective of economic and political interests, and did not favor military considerations.
He was dissatisfied that the Empire suffered suppression from the other two entities but did not receive all the benefits of the Evolution Cube. He had always advocated for the recovery of the Black Star's Evolution Cube, whether by exchanging resources or by force, he was determined to let the Empire control this Universal Treasure.
Urranrell values Black Star, which is a political point of contention with him. It is precisely because of her position as head of state that this staunch supporter of the handover faction has not caused any trouble.
"Let's adjourn the meeting for today." Urranrell shook his head.
The remote projectors in the conference room kept disappearing.
Ludwell nodded in salutation before turning off the remote communication. He turned his gaze back to his office, sighed, and rubbed his eyes, revealing deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.
"Dududu--"
At that moment, the internal circuitry on the desk rang, and Ludwell immediately answered it, his secretary's voice coming through the channel.
"Sir, your grandson has called. Would you like to transfer him?"
"This kid, how many times have I told him not to call my office's internal lines!" Ludwell frowned. "Bring him in."
The secretary responded and waited a moment before a young man's voice came through the channel.
"Grandpa? I've arrived at the Aynia Hub. I'm letting you know in advance so you don't send people looking for me everywhere like last time, making my company think I've disappeared."
"Hmph." Ludwell snorted through his nose, looking a little embarrassed.
"Oh, by the way, you said you wanted to try some of Ainia's local snacks last time. I'll bring some back for you when I go on my business trip this time."
"That's more like it." Ludwell's tense expression finally relaxed. "Be careful and stay safe. The world is not peaceful right now. There have been many attacks within the Empire. Hmph, they're all for stealing Evolutionary Totem. Shall I send the two bodyguards I sent for you stay with you?"
"Oh dear, these two old men are watching me like I'm a criminal. They even follow me to the toilet. Grandpa, please, have mercy and take them away. With them around, people think I'm the boss. Even my boss doesn't dare to reprimand me. If this continues, I'm afraid they'll fire me one day."
"No, that won't do. You're my only grandson. Safety comes first. I can only feel at ease with them by your side."
Ludwell spoke seriously, then paused, realizing his tone was inappropriate, and softened it, sighing, "Well, anyway, take care of yourself. Also, you're not an Imperial official, so stop making those internal calls. Someone from the Internal Affairs Department recently gave me a vague complaint about it."
"Alright, alright, I'm hanging up now."
After hanging up the call, Ludwell let out a breath and a kind smile appeared on his face.