"What?!" The expressions of Denis and Eric, father and son, froze almost simultaneously as they cried out in shock.
Fine beads of sweat broke out across their bald foreheads.
As Frenchmen bearing the Alphonse family genetics, they were not particularly tall and went bald early in life. Yet perplexingly, their hair remained sleek and glossy black, which inevitably gave them an oily, slippery look.
"Is he really storming headquarters?! That fool—has he lost his mind?!"
"Striking against us here—is he ready to die for it? Is he willing to throw away everything he's about to receive?!"
Thinking strictly from their own perspective, they could not comprehend how such actions could actually take place. Father and son acted as though venting indignation at Han Qingyu's resolute recklessness.
Yet behind their exaggerated tone was a bone-chilling cold down their spines and a shuddering terror.
To their very bones, they dreaded this possibility, yet unconsciously sensed it truly might happen. Because the one they were opposing right now was inherently an extraordinary name.
Sean was dead. He had been the family's strongest deathsworn, a hair's breadth away from super combat power, second only to Alphonse himself in martial might within the family. His life source energy combat style had been peculiar and immensely lethal, and under his command were more than twenty deathsworn trained specifically to trap and slaughter Han Qingyu. Yet he had died nonetheless, and even his sword had fallen into Han Qingyu's hands.
Earlier, it was precisely because their subordinates had brought that sword and the news that Han Qingyu was miraculously uninjured that they had rushed to leave.
And now, not even being inside headquarters could provide enough sense of security. They had to leave this place immediately and return to their estate... Eric spoke up at once:
"Quick, we're going to the airfield."
The three generations hurried to leave the military tent, source energy surging... but Denis suddenly came to a halt.
"What is it, Father?" Eric had to pause with him, asking anxiously.
Denis furrowed his brows in thought, turned back slowly, looked at Eric, then at Charles, and spoke:
"It suddenly struck me that this is actually an excellent opportunity... an opportunity to consign him to utter ruin. Or at the very least, an opportunity to enjoy his agony."
What time did he think it was? Enjoy his ass, opportunity my ass... Despair and extreme anxiety filled Charles's eyes as he asked in agony:
"So we're not leaving?!"
"No, of course we are leaving."
Facing the gazes of his son and grandson, Denis Alphonse continued, "However, before we leave, let's do something else. Rest assured, this won't take much time."
The Alphonse family's final arrangement was set in motion.
***
Meanwhile.
The rumors concerning them—including the suspicions surrounding the genius trial at the Third Fixed Exploration Site, Squad 1777's recent ordeal, and more—had spread across a vast area.
Discussions were taking place among ordinary Huaxia squads, among ordinary squads from the various fronts, including the Nepal Front. They were also taking place among the rank and file at headquarters, among the elite squads of the various fronts—in Mérida, in Long Blade, in Chichen Itza...
"I heard the Alphonses are suddenly leaving right now. They're going back."
"Why?! Isn't that strange?"
"What do you think?"
"If their family really did the things rumored... I suppose they truly dare not stay and face The King's fury and the consequences."
"'If'? After thinking through all the suspicious points, I don't believe this was a coincidence at all anymore. I think they're trying to flee after committing their crimes."
"Yes, they did it."
"Then what about evidence? There isn't any, right? I expect The King can't produce evidence either, or else he would have exposed them directly. But now, he can only watch."
"Yes. Acting on impulse would destroy him; he has no choice but to show restraint."
"Still, this is far too painful. Even just as a bystander, thinking about it fills me with pain and anger on The King's behalf."
The sound of hurried running footsteps appeared outside a certain tent.
The tent flap opened, and an orderly officer appeared in the doorway.
"Command order: Huaxia Front, White Eraser squad, assemble and deploy! Immediately! Move!"
The same command echoed in several places.
The squad members mobilized swiftly under orders, yet they were not heading toward the Perimeter Xilang Peak battlefield.
Mid-run, a member of an Argentina Front elite squad spoke up: "Wait... they couldn't be sending us to intercept The King, could they?! Did he make a direct move? Are we..."
Long Blade Squad.
"Things aren't looking right, Captain Lu..." Cao Min looked at their heading and said, "Damn it, it looks like they're having us intercept Qingzi. What do we do?"
Lu Chengzhong ran in silence without replying. It was a military order.
……
The first checkpoint was an additional post set up on the outermost perimeter, where several rotating watch soldiers from foreign fronts stood, seemingly having received no notice yet.
Due to the sudden emergence of Han Qingyu and his companions, they looked somewhat bewildered.
Wen Jifei walked in front of the four, striding forward until he came to a stop before them.
The sentries on duty saluted them.
Wen Jifei raised his hand with a grave expression to return the salute, then turned slightly and gestured toward the right breast of Han Qingyu's bloodstained combat uniform. There pinned was the Huaxia Front's Sole Witness Legion Legion Saber Insignia, famous throughout the world; Wu Xu also bore one on his chest, while Rusty Sister had hers fastened to her arm.
"Rusty Sister, tell them my identity cannot be disclosed, but when three warriors bearing Legion Saber Insignias are escorting and guarding a second lieutenant... I believe they should understand just how urgent my mission is."
"Understood," Shen Yixiu replied in a formal tone, swiftly translating the message.
The sentries looked at one another, momentarily at a loss as to what to do.
Wen Jifei walked straight past them.
"My plane is waiting for me."
And just like that, amid the sentries' bewildered hesitation, the four passed through the first checkpoint.
Not having to fight was the best possible outcome, bringing a touch of relief and gladness to all four of them. Whether out of emotional sentiment or concern over the consequences, none of them wanted to clash with the outpost soldiers.
Rounding a bend, the four erupted with source energy and continued charging forward.
Under the distant grayish-white sky, the airfield was already visible in the distance.
"Turn right," Han Qingyu said.
"What about the second checkpoint? We definitely won't be able to bluff our way through there," Wen Jifei asked as he ran.
Han Qingyu shook his head and glanced forward. "Accelerate and punch straight through. If there's really no choice, swat them aside with the flat of the blades. Mind your strength."
With that, Han Qingyu drew his blade and flicked his wrist, presenting the flat of the sword.
A turn, a straight sprint... The weeds on the ground had long been trampled away by pedestrian traffic, exposing sandy soil. With the rapid crunch and scuff of soles making and breaking contact with the dirt, the distance rapidly closed.
In the dim light, *whirrr, whirrr, whirrr...*
Sounds converging from all four directions abruptly intensified.
The sound of source energy surges.
Followed by the thudding of charging footsteps.
Soon, figures began appearing up ahead at the second checkpoint. One, two... ten...
Fifty, one hundred, two hundred.
Those people blocked the path forward.
"Elite squads."
"Yeah."
After that brief exchange, Han Qingyu, who was running in the lead, came to a stop.
Behind him, Wu Xu, Rusty Sister, and Wen Jifei stopped as well.
They could not help but stop.
The more than two hundred people ahead were all elites. Among them were many unfamiliar faces, but at the same time, even more were figures they knew best from the Xilang Peak battlefield. Long Blade Squad, White Eraser, and even fighters from Mérida and Chichen Itza were in their ranks.
"Fuck the Alphonse family's ancestors back eighteen generations."
The situation and intent were glaringly obvious now. Seeing this, Wen Jifei stood behind Han Qingyu and cursed through gritted teeth.
Chapter 349