Chapter 435: Who Exactly Is the Victim?!

Yang Ling landed steadily on both feet as the sound of hand crossbows being drawn filled the air around him.

Suddenly, over a hundred Ironclad agents emerged from every corner of the massive ship.

Their eyes were cold and piercing, their gazes sharp as ice.

But after recognizing Yang Ling's identity, their faces showed astonishment, and they quickly lowered their crossbows.

At the same time, the Canal Workers responsible for armed escort also relaxed their fists.

The soldiers accompanying the ship silently sheathed their swords.

All of this was clearly "seen" by Yang Ling's perception.

He couldn't help but marvel inwardly—Zhao State's coordination of force in this regard was truly something else.

If someone had attempted a surprise attack on this ship just now, even a Fifth-Rank Grandmaster would have been caught off guard.

He was currently standing on the deck of the massive vessel.

The deck was enormous in area—even if a thousand people stood on it simultaneously, it wouldn't feel crowded.

Quite a few people were gathered here at the moment, some being the various prodigies participating in the Sixth-Rank Top Hundred Battle.

Some were veteran Sixth-Rank experts.

At this very moment, Lu Xiangdi, guild master of the God-Slaying Guild, which had received Huang Sixth-Rank guild status with Yang Ling's personal approval.

Sun Jiayi, guild master of the Immortal-Slaying Guild.

Wang Baozhu, guild master of Heaven's Wrath Guild.

Yang Yi, guild master of the Green Gang.

These four player guild masters looked like they had suffered defeat before even setting out—they were kneeling on the ground, hands bound tightly behind their backs.

The guild members under their command weren't doing much better either—every single one of them was kneeling on the ground.

These players' eyes were filled with humiliation.

Before entering the Divine Realm, even if the Jade Emperor himself had descended, he couldn't have made them kneel!

Not to mention that so many Divine Realm Natives were standing nearby watching the spectacle, and quite a few players were secretly observing as well.

Xu Peng let out a sigh of relief when he saw Yang Ling appear.

Standing before them was a middle-aged woman wearing a Fifth-Rank Ironclad uniform.

Several Sixth-Rank Ironclad agents stood nearby, along with over a dozen Seventh-Rank Ironclad agents.

And one tall, imposing man clearly dressed in Water Transport Guild attire.

When Yang Ling locked eyes with this man, he sensed a faint pressure emanating from him.

He opened the man's Status Panel for a look—an Upper Fifth-Rank Water Transport Guild expert.

"Director Wei, that's Yang Ling from the First Division of the Public Security Department."

A Sixth-Rank Ironclad agent stepped forward and said in a low voice to the middle-aged woman.

Wei Xing looked Yang Ling up and down, then frowned:

"Yang Ling? Shouldn't you be on your own ship? What are you doing here?"

Yang Ling hadn't met this person before, but he had heard from Yun Buchuan that the Director of the Second Division of the Public Security Department was a woman with the surname Wei.

No surprises there—this was her.

Her attributes were nothing to sneeze at either; her cultivation level had already reached the peak of Middle Fifth-Rank.

Strength and Agility were both 299—dual attributes that made her even more formidable than a Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs expert like Cao Yunlong.

She also far surpassed the peak of Lower Fifth-Rank experts like Yun Buchuan.

Yang Ling smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "This subordinate, Yang Ling, pays respects to Director Wei."

After a pause, he turned his gaze to Lu Xiangdi and the others with curiosity:

"What's going on with you all? Didn't you tell them you're Ironclad agents under my command?"

The moment these words were spoken, everyone present was stunned.

Even that Upper Fifth-Rank Water Transport Guild expert had obvious astonishment in his eyes.

The Sixth-Rank experts nearby who had been watching exchanged glances, their expressions varied.

Some were curious, some surprised, some excited.

Wei Xing was also somewhat taken aback, then her brow furrowed slightly.

Her subordinates exchanged looks with each other, all seeing a hint of concern in one another's eyes.

"Chief Constable Yang, we were undercover in the Water Transport Guild on orders, searching for traces of Immortal God Sect believers. We didn't dare reveal our identities lightly."

Lu Xiangdi quickly explained, letting out a breath of relief.

Sun Jiayi and Yang Yi were already so furious their eyes were practically blazing.

Wang Baozhu, however, remained quietly kneeling.

"Fools, the fact that you've all ended up in this state means your undercover identities were already exposed long ago."

Yang Ling chuckled: "You should have reported your identities to Director Wei in a timely manner, to avoid this kind of misunderstanding."

Having said that, he instructed the nearby Ironclad agents to untie Lu Xiangdi and the others.

These Ironclad agents hesitated visibly but didn't move an inch.

Yang Ling looked at Wei Xing and smiled:

"Director Wei, no matter what happened, it's all just a misunderstanding. How can you let Ironclad agents under my command kneel here in public and suffer such humiliation?"

"Director Wei, let's release them first. It seems there may have been some errors in this matter."

The two Sixth-Rank Ironclad agents under Wei Xing's command said in low voices.

Wei Xing didn't respond, merely sweeping a casual glance over Lu Xiangdi and the others before turning her gaze to Yang Ling:

"Chief Constable Yang, you haven't even asked about the circumstances, and you already know your subordinates committed no wrongdoing?

If they really are Ironclad agents, then their crime might be even more severe."

The smile on Yang Ling's face gradually faded, and his tone turned cold and distant:

"Director Wei, why don't you tell this subordinate what crimes my men have committed?"

"They used their Canal Worker identities to break into homes and steal Foundation Consolidation Pills, Spirit Nurturing Pills, and various rare exotic herbs and flowers."

Wei Xing said flatly: "There are victims for all of these, and the stolen goods were found on their persons—caught red-handed."

Yang Ling looked at Lu Xiangdi and the others.

Yang Yi was the most anxious: "Brother Yang, this is blatant frame-up!"

Wei Xing couldn't help but turn her gaze toward her, cold light flashing in her eyes as an intangible pressure washed over.

As a Ninth-Rank martial artist, Yang Yi could hardly withstand such a sensation—she felt like she was suffocating.

But the next second, Yang Ling had already stepped between them.

This pressure naturally fell entirely upon Yang Ling instead.

Seeing Yang Ling's expressionless face, as if he felt nothing at all, Wei Xing said coolly:

"Chief Constable Yang, although we are colleagues, your subordinates have done something that disgraces the Ironclad Department, and they must be punished doubly.

I plan to throw them overboard to feed the fish—it'll also save a meal ration."

Yang Ling: "Wei, you may be the Director of the Second Division of the Public Security Department, but if you dare punish Ironclad agents under my command without just cause, believe me—I'll kick your head clean off your shoulders!"

The atmosphere froze instantly.

Even that Upper Fifth-Rank Water Transport Guild expert was stunned, his face filled with shock and uncertainty.

A mere Chief Constable from below actually dared to speak to a Director like that?

An Upper Sixth-Rank threatening to kick the head off a Middle Fifth-Rank?

Wasn't that threat going a bit too far?

Wei Xing and her subordinates were also dumbfounded, as if they had misheard something.

It took a full several breaths before the Ironclad agents under her command finally glared at Yang Ling with fury and began shouting accusations.

"How dare you!"

"Utter insolence!"

Wei Xing's eyes narrowed slightly. She was just about to speak when she suddenly sensed a gaze falling upon her.

Her expression shifted slightly, and she quickly changed tack, saying coldly:

"This case is closed with both the stolen goods and the perpetrators caught. Many eyes witnessed it firsthand.

Don't you come here making a scene. If you want to save your subordinates, prove that they didn't commit burglary."

A cold sneer curled at the corner of Yang Ling's mouth as his gaze swept across the surroundings.

Face after face came into view, Status Panel after Status Panel opened up.

Each person's cultivation level, what Internal Technique they practiced, which faction they came from, whether they were players or Natives—all clear at a glance.

During this process, he also spotted quite a few familiar faces.

For example, Chen Zuo from the Extreme Flame Sword Manor, and their former team leader Pei Ran.

"Those victims over there? Get over here, now."

Yang Ling said flatly.

Several Sixth-Rank experts' expressions shifted slightly, anger surging in their eyes.

Just who exactly is the aggrieved party here!