Chapter 106: The White-Clad Heavenly King’s Rare Oversight

Yato bowed as well: "So it was you, Excellency, who intervened. I offer my gratitude!"

In a single encounter, two factions previously harboring mutual hostility were now offering synchronized thanks to him. Furthermore, the entire pace of events had been completely hijacked by the Heavenly King in White.

A single detail made this evident. Before his arrival, all communication had been in the Fusang language. Even someone like Huang Chengwang spoke Fusang when visiting the country. Yet, the Heavenly King in White insisted on speaking the Daxia language, and everyone who spoke to him was compelled to do the same.

This was the demeanor of the strong: I have no need to adapt to you; you must adapt to me!

"Excellency, Heavenly King in White!" Gucun said, "You said the person who came was not 'Thunderbolt.' Does that mean you know who he is?" His Daxia was also remarkably fluent.

"I do not know who he is, but I can confirm he is not Thunderbolt!" the Heavenly King in White replied. "Do you know why? Because if it were Thunderbolt, he would have no need to flee. He could have slaughtered all of you, sat down on the island to enjoy a cup of tea, and then left."

Gucun’s eyelids twitched. Thunderbolt... to think he was such a terrifying individual. Even a person like the Heavenly King in White used such terms to describe him.

"This person is strange!" the Heavenly King in White continued. "I have some impression of most of the true experts within the 'Hidden Dragon' organization, but he is certainly not among them! He is a newcomer!"

A newcomer? Did his methods look like those of a newcomer? If one were to say his gold-medal rank was outside the top fifty, no one would believe it, yet he called him a newcomer? Still, in the face of the Heavenly King in White, whatever he said was the truth.

The Heavenly King in White added, "There is someone else who is quite frightening. Have you all realized it?"

"Are you referring to... his companion, Excellency?"

The Heavenly King in White shook his head slightly. "I am talking about the mastermind behind this strategy! Since ancient times, no matter how powerful one's combat strength, one can only dominate a single territory. Only those who excel in planning and judgment can achieve legend."

"A strategy?" Director Yato frowned deeply.

"Director Yato, do you not see it? This person executed a chain of schemes. In a situation where there was absolutely no opportunity, he forcibly created one, seized the Purple Demon Stone, and killed Watanabe. If I am not mistaken, Huang Chengwang is dead as well, is he not?"

Gucun shuddered. "Your insight is as bright as a lamp... as bright as a torch! Huang Chengwang’s head was indeed taken in the chaos..."

The Heavenly King in White sighed. "I have heard many missions from the Hidden Dragon; some are brilliant, but it is rare to see one this exquisite! The mastermind behind this plan truly understands human nature—manipulating people and their hearts. Every step he set left his opponents with no choice. He turned espionage into an art form. A true talent!"

Yato’s expression changed. Only now, prompted by the Heavenly King in White, did his mind fully clear. It was a scheme! Once viewed through the lens of a strategy, everything suddenly made sense.

Disguising himself as Huang Chengwang was an act of deep psychological insight. Only Huang Chengwang could meet Watanabe without obstruction—after all, Huang had personally handed the Purple Demon Stone to Watanabe just yesterday; how could Watanabe refuse to see him? Upon meeting, the reason provided for the stone having a hidden mechanism was perfectly plausible, fitting the mindset of someone seeking protection. Knowing there was a mechanism gave him the opportunity to get close to the stone. Everyone else was barred, but the giver of the stone was an exception. In everyone’s perception, he was the one who gifted it; if he had intended to do something crooked, why hadn't he done it when he first controlled the stone?

Of course, the security was tight, and no one feared that this "Huang Chengwang" would harbor such intentions. Under that mindset, he struck suddenly, catching everyone off guard. If it had ended there, it would only have been an impressive heist. However, his chess game had only just begun.

He calculated that the Imperial Research Institute would not let it go and would surely come to Etorofu Island to confront Huang Chengwang. He followed them in, broke through the supposedly impenetrable defenses of the island, cut the power, incited internal strife between the two factions, and mimicked the voices of their leaders to goad them into a bloody conflict. Once the fighting started, who would care about Huang Chengwang? He could have killed ten Huang Chengwangs in that chaos.

"Since you have seen through his intricate schemes with such superior wisdom, Excellency, could you intervene once more to find this person and recover the Purple Demon Stone?" Director Yato asked.

The Heavenly King in White smiled. "That is precisely why I have come!"

Everyone was energized.

"The Purple Demon Stone is not a treasure of this world; it emits a unique energy fluctuation," the Heavenly King in White said. "These small devices are designed specifically to detect such fluctuations. Take them! Deploy them at airports, docks, and every place he might attempt to escape. As long as the Purple Demon Stone comes within a kilometer of these monitors, they will react! By the way, the greatest characteristic of the Purple Demon Stone is its ability to penetrate everything. No matter what container he uses to pack it, he cannot lock in the energy leakage."

With a flick of his hand, a dozen crystalline objects flew toward the shore. The Heavenly King in White turned and walked away. On the vast, dark sea, a small boat with no motor, no sails, and no oars vanished into the darkness.

Yato and Gucun exchanged a glance. "Go!"

They left the island that very night to set up the perimeter. Although the Four Islands were large, they were not insurmountable. With ten monitors and sufficient manpower scouring the area, even if the thief were a ghost, they would flush him out! Once the stone was found, the man would be locked down. In the country of Fusang, did he really think he could turn the world upside down? Did he truly believe he was Thunderbolt?

Lin Xiaosu and Changye had already reached the shore and checked into a hotel. Were they planning to celebrate their victory? Of course not. They had to leave immediately! The storm was already brewing; the waves were rising beyond sight. Staying a second longer carried enormous risk; they had to go now.

Changye produced two silicone masks. After Lin Xiaosu put his on, he transformed into a middle-aged businessman. Changye, remaining a woman, became his secretary. Their identities had naturally changed as well, now that of a company owner and his secretary—complete with traceable names and histories. Passports and tickets were all in order. They boarded a taxi and headed straight for the airport.

The airport seemed normal, yet Lin Xiaosu sensitively noticed that the atmosphere was extremely tense. But if others were nervous, he didn't need to be. They boarded their flight smoothly and began their return journey.

Meanwhile, a rigorous surveillance operation and a dragnet search were in full swing on the Four Islands. Including the main island, airports, and docks, hundreds of speedboats were out on the sea, staring at the crystalline jade pendants in their hands, waiting for them to glow. Without these pendants, they might have resorted to primitive methods, searching everyone leaving the country. But with this high-tech equipment, it was much more convenient.

Unfortunately, what is gained through high technology can also be lost through it. There was one thing Lin Xiaosu possessed that transcended the realm of technology: his Secret Realm space.

The Secret Realm was, in essence, another world. It was true that there was nothing in this world that could lock in the energy waves of the Purple Demon Stone—otherwise, it wouldn't produce the "neutrinos" capable of penetrating everything. However, once the stone entered the Secret Realm, it was effectively in another world. Setting aside the fact that the monitors only had a range of one kilometer, even if they could monitor a thousand miles, what would it matter?

This was likely the only oversight of the Heavenly King in White. And that single oversight was all that was needed. After an hour of flight, Lin Xiaosu and Changye landed in Jiangcheng at the stroke of midnight.

As his feet touched the ground of Jiangcheng, Changye’s heart finally settled. As they walked out of the airport, Lin Xiaosu finally asked a question he had wanted to ask for a long time but hadn't found the time or convenience: "That monster in the sea... was it really an Awakened?"

Changye smiled. "Do you feel particularly badass? That you could knock out even a legendary-level Awakened with one punch? I have to pour some cold water on you... That was an Awakened, but not all Awakened are like him."

"What do you mean?"

Changye explained, "The 101 archives don't have detailed records on Awakened, so let me tell you... 'Awakened' is a broad concept, divided into three categories—or rather, three paths. First is Body Awakening, second is Bloodline Awakening, and third is Ability Awakening."

"Body Awakened evolve the most powerful physical forms of primitive creatures. The one we encountered was a Body Awakened, possessing only brute force and sturdy defense. Bloodline Awakened awaken the power of their lineage. What is the power of a bloodline? It’s the basic principle of primitive creatures. An ant can lift ten times its body weight; a grasshopper can jump a hundred times its height. If a genetic human awakens this kind of bloodline power, he can lift ten times his weight and jump a hundred times his height. A grasshopper jumping a meter is common because it's small, but if you scale that to human size, a person would fly over a ten-story building."

"Bloodline Awakening is already miraculous, but Ability Awakening is even more so. Some can control water, some fire, others lightning..."

Lin Xiaosu felt as if a whole new door had opened.

"And Thunderbolt? What power did he awaken?"

"Him? Everyone who observes him only sees the tip of the iceberg. No matter what answer I give, it might mislead you. Let’s not talk about it; it’s unlikely you’ll ever cross paths with him anyway," Changye said. "Go find a hotel and get some rest. I’m leaving tomorrow."

They took a taxi to the Chutian Hotel. When they entered, they were still the "boss" and his "secretary," but once they were in the room, they reverted to their true selves. Taking off the masks meant waving goodbye to the trip to Fusang.

It was midnight—the quietest time. After Lin Xiaosu finished showering and came out, Changye was sitting on the bed wrapped in a sheet, her fair skin blindingly bright. Changye, sensing the light was too harsh, dimmed it. The change made the lighting less sharp, but a hazy beauty made Lin Xiaosu’s heart race.

"Is this half of the bed left for me?" Lin Xiaosu touched the large mattress.

"Yes."

"Are you going to pin me in the frying pan again?"

"Do you think I have it easy while frying you? I'm being fried too. Your little 'color' techniques are lethal..."

Once these words were spoken, the conclusion was easy to imagine: they would simply do it all over again.