Chapter 495 - 312: Weak Network Signal, Loading Failed (2)

Nearby, King Arthur was doing something similar, constantly taking pictures of the scene and sharing her analysis in the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps’ temporary chat window.

...

King Arthur: "[Image] Liu Xingyuan has made his move. He isn’t affected by the monster’s Ability. His speed is insane, and his physical fortitude is high, too—at least Tier Three level."

King Arthur: "Who would’ve thought that in a mid-to-low-tier Cyber City like Red Fruit City, the head of the managing corporation would be a Tier Four Wizard. He’s way too low-key. Good thing I’ve never taken on a mission inside Red Fruit City."

Master Ma: "Liu Xingyuan’s Tier Four power seems to be some form of Electromagnetic Force, which fits the profile of a Tier Four Wizard’s Abilities. It’s a shame Wizard isn’t here, or he’d definitely be able to analyze it for more intel."

King Arthur: "He’s using a new power. Looks like some kind of teleportation? Should be a Tier Three level power. I feel like Liu Xingyuan’s powers are a bit too... righteous. Not at all like a scummy Wizard."

King Arthur: "Wait, Wizard, I don’t mean you’re scummy. I mean Wizard Professionals are scummy."

King Arthur: "No, that’s not right either. Anyway, I wasn’t calling you scummy."

Lin Qi felt a little more at ease as he read the messages from King Arthur and Master Ma.

It seemed the crisis in Red Fruit City was about to be resolved.

If the situation were truly hopeless, Baili Xueyuan would have definitely sent a message to Lin Xin.

Her silence meant that Baili Xueyuan believed Liu Xingyuan’s power was sufficient to defeat the sole Bearer—or at least, the sole Bearer in its current stage.

King Arthur: "Liu Xingyuan drilled his way in. The eyeball burst—kinda gross. [Image] Looks like Liu Xingyuan is going to succeed."

King Arthur: "@Guang Ling, the danger seems to be over, but our mission is probably shot."

King Arthur: "Master Ma won’t show his face, and there are three other Tier Fours here. I’ve got no chance in a one-on-three. The Eastern Alliance is definitely going to take the sole Bearer."

King Arthur’s mindset had already shifted from urgent to that of a curious spectator, just here for the drama.

She wanted to see what choice Guang Ling would make now.

Hidden inside her Exoskeleton, King Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly. Her suspicion of Guang Ling had been buried for a long time.

Ever since the mission in Alliance City, something had been off about Guang Ling!

She always felt that Guang Ling placed too much importance on this so-called "mother specimen."

Guang Ling: "If it’s a lost cause, cooperate with the Eastern Alliance’s operation. I’ll find an opportunity to arrange for you two to withdraw."

Seeing this message, not only King Arthur but even Lin Qi was a little surprised.

’He’s giving up?’

’Guang Ling is actually giving up?’

’Didn’t Guang Ling consider this mission extremely important?’

Lin Qi had once thought that Guang Ling had fabricated the mission himself, that the supposed billion-Credit-Point client never existed in the first place.

But now, Guang Ling was making the choice of a conventional Mercenary Corps commander.

’Why would Guang Ling give up on this mission? It makes no sense.’

King Arthur couldn’t figure it out. She desperately wanted to pull out her bracelet, chat with Wizard, and ask for his opinion.

Unfortunately, with Wu Yong and Baili Xueyuan standing next to her and Master Ma observing from the shadows, King Arthur had no chance to use her bracelet.

Just as King Arthur was stewing in her thoughts, Baili Xueyuan, who was beside her, suddenly spoke up. "When is the other member of the Yellow Bear Expedition Team arriving? You’re already past your mission’s required time, aren’t you?"

Although the tables had turned with the powerful backup from Liu Xingyuan, Baili Xueyuan had still noticed the missing person.

Master Ma was still hiding!

He had no intention of showing himself.

King Arthur quickly suppressed her various doubts about Guang Ling and started cursing Master Ma inwardly.

Facing the question from this Tier Four Peak expert, King Arthur could only bite the bullet and reply, "He should be... here soon."

As she answered, King Arthur was frantically sending messages in the Highest-Level Mercenary Corps’ temporary chat.

King Arthur: "Master! Get over here! This broad is getting suspicious of me!"

King Arthur: "Master, don’t screw me over! There are three Tier Fours here, I can’t escape!"

King Arthur: "Master! Where are you?"

King Arthur: "Master Ma! Where the hell are you!"

The barrage of messages showed just how much pressure King Arthur was under.

Baili Xueyuan looked at King Arthur and said, "I will compile a report on the Yellow Bear Expedition Team’s operational failures this time and submit it. Your daily training standards need to be raised."

Although Baili Xueyuan was putting a lot of pressure on King Arthur, she hadn’t yet reached the point of doubting her identity.

The Yellow Bear Expedition Team was a clandestine force of the Eastern Alliance.

Furthermore, all its members had special custom Exoskeletons and identification codes that were absolutely impossible to forge!

This was technology that the Eastern Alliance had paid a tremendous price to develop in collaboration with the Cyber Network Company.

If the Yellow Bear Expedition Team’s identification codes could be forged, it would mean there was a major vulnerability in the underlying technology of the cyber network.

At that point, not only would the Cyber Network Company have to conduct a full technical investigation, but a large number of people in the Eastern Alliance’s technical department would also be held accountable.

Therefore, even with Baili Xueyuan’s sharp mind, she couldn’t possibly guess Guang Ling’s plan in such a short time.

’This trick can only be used once!’

’After this, the difficulty of impersonating Eastern Alliance personnel or infiltrating the organization to cause trouble would skyrocket exponentially.’

Although King Arthur hadn’t thought that far ahead, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But she still glanced around uneasily, as if trying to find Master Ma’s hiding spot.

Master Ma: "Relax. If she starts to suspect your identity, I can hold off two of them to create an escape opportunity for you. But I absolutely cannot show myself before then. The moment I appear, I’ll definitely be recognized."

’F... K!’

’S... T!’

King Arthur continued to curse inwardly, even letting loose some colorful words from her hometown.

’What in the world is the relationship between Master Ma and this old hag?’

’He’s all wrapped up, and he’d still be recognized at a glance?’

’That’s so ridiculous, she could probably recognize him even if he were burned to ash, right?’

Just as King Arthur’s emotions were growing more and more complex, a sudden change occurred in the direction of the H4 Skyscraper.

Ever since Liu Xingyuan had entered the giant eyeball, the fleshy buds on the monster’s body had begun to tremble, as if trying to reject the invasion of this "foreign object."

Unfortunately, its transformation was not yet complete, and these fleshy buds and tentacles could not resist the direct assault of a Tier Four power.

Whether it was King Arthur, Master Ma, or the Eastern Alliance’s Baili Xueyuan and her group, they all believed that the completion of the mission objective was just within reach.

But at that very moment, a massive tentacle suddenly extended from inside the eyeball. Coiled at its tip was Liu Xingyuan, who was resisting with large amounts of metal swirling around him.

Although he wasn’t injured, his power wasn’t enough to break free.

"He failed?"

Baili Xueyuan was quite disappointed.

Even from such a distance, she could sense the specific power contained within that tentacle.

It was about Tier Four Second Stage, only slightly higher than Liu Xingyuan.

"Prepare to withdraw," Baili Xueyuan said, while also sending a message to Liu Xingyuan.

With the methods of a Tier Four Wizard, even if he couldn’t get inside the crimson eyeball, he should still be able to break free from this tentacle.

"Give me a little more time! I’ll try one more time!"

Liu Xingyuan’s expression was grim.

’I was so close!’

’He had almost touched the person from Ninghang Technology.’

’Not enough power?’

’Then... I just need to be stronger!’

The human form is not the peak of a Wizard Professional’s power!

Wizards have true forms, too!

In an instant, Liu Xingyuan’s body underwent a massive transformation. Tentacles and a single eye grew wildly.

He instantly changed from his human form to the true form of a Wizard.

Baili Xueyuan didn’t stop Liu Xingyuan. If he unleashed his full power, perhaps there was still a chance.

...

King Arthur: "Liu Xingyuan was forced out! He’s using his Wizard true form! Hiss... so ugly!"

Inside the Prosthetic Clinic, Lin Qi looked at King Arthur’s message. As for the "ugly" comment, he had to agree.

A Wizard’s true form was indeed very ugly.

But Extraordinary Professionals didn’t care about beauty or ugliness; as long as one’s power was great enough, that was all that mattered.

King Arthur sent an image, and Lin Qi was just about to view it.

But suddenly...

Highest-Level Mercenary Corps Temporary Chat Window:

[Weak network signal. Failed to load.]

Lin Qi shot up from his bed.

’Something’s not right!’

’A weak network signal?’

’How could something like this happen with Guang Ling?’

’Guang Ling’s methods have never had network signal problems before!’