"I... I forgot." A daze drifted across Emma's vacant eyes.
"Where is Vic Fowler?" Winni Berent demanded.
"We broke up," Emma murmured. "I don't know where he is. It wasn't until after we parted ways that I realized I hadn't even met his family."
"Who was your handler?"
"Elder Godzilla of the Bio-Alchemy Society."
"Besides you, how many other people from the Covenant of Freedom are embedded within Heaven's Punishment?" Winni pressed.
"I don't know..." Emma mumbled.
Hearing that, Winni felt a tinge of disappointment, though it was only to be expected. One-way contacts and strict compartmentalization were the most fundamental operating procedures for spies. Expecting to roll up an entire network by capturing a single operative was virtually impossible.
Still, the intelligence gathered today was already substantial.
"Her cognition has been warped," Winni reasoned aloud. "She was taken by that man named Vic Fowler to some gathering, where she listened to a divine revelation on a bed forged of gold... That was likely a ritual—a ritual designed to corrupt Orderly professions.
"As for whether the source of corruption is that so-called 'god' or the golden bed itself, that remains unknown."
Zhao Chenghuang's expression grew solemn. "The function of that golden bed is probably similar to the Holy Grail of Corruption in the Second District—a tool used by evil professions to control Orderly professions."
In the Second District, the Holy Grail of Corruption was a rule-based item that struck terror into every Orderly profession. Even an incomparably gifted figure like the Demon Lord had never managed to break free from his fate as an enslaved thrall until he returned to the Spirit Realm.
If the First District possessed a similar artifact, it meant the Covenant of Freedom could reliably manufacture corrupted turncoats. Today's comrade could easily become tomorrow's traitor, making them impossible to guard against.
*A divine revelation... When Catherine spoke of a divine revelation, was this what she meant?*
*Looking at it that way, Catherine must have undergone her corruption ritual on that golden bed too!*
*The evil professions always have items to corrupt people, but do the Orderly professions have anything to reform an evil profession back into an upright person?* Zhang Yuanqing gained a far sharper understanding of the insidious way evil could erode order.
*I need to find a way to destroy that golden bed, or seize it. The best approach would be to draw the snake from its hole and prompt the evil faction to host a gathering on their own... But Sect Master Tongtian belongs to an evil profession, and one drenched in deep malice at that. In the eyes of the Covenant of Freedom, having him listen to a divine revelation would probably feel like contaminating their god...*
While his thoughts churned, he heard Winni ask, "Apart from Carlyle's address, what other tasks did Godzilla assign you?"
With a blank face, Emma answered, "Find opportunities to observe Jody Berent's daily routine, and report back to Godzilla on a regular basis."
Winni's complexion changed drastically. Turning to her bewildered subordinates, she explained, "Jody Berent is my grandfather!"
Her expression darkened further. "What is Godzilla's objective?"
"I don't know," Emma murmured. "But I suspect they plan to make a move against Jody Berent in the near future."
Murderous intent gradually congealed in Winni's eyes. Coldly, she asked, "How do you contact Godzilla?"
"By calling his mobile using a virtual burner number. The passphrase is: 'Chaos is the end of order!'" Emma replied.
Winni asked several more questions. Once she verified Emma possessed no further intelligence, a blue light flashed across her irises, and arcs of electricity crackled loudly.
A thick pillar of lightning materialized out of thin air, crashing straight down onto Emma.
Emma's tall, fair body instantly dissolved into drifting ash, fluttering down across the office floor.
*Tsk, decisive and ruthless!* Zhang Yuanqing praised her inwardly.
Winni walked straight back to her desk and said, "You all may head back for now. I need some time alone."
Without a second word, the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter took Zhang Yuanqing by the hand and led him out.
Zhao Chenghuang glanced at their clasped hands, studied the Palace Master's retreating back, and furrowed his brow slightly.
He felt Yuanshi simply had too many female confidantes.
He couldn't help worrying on behalf of Sun Miaomiao, his childhood friend, and Guan Ya, with whom they shared battlefield camaraderie. Soon enough, however, he cast those emotions aside.
Yuanshi was bound to become a Dominator in the future—a peak Dominator, with hopes of even challenging the demigod realm. Having a bevy of romantic partners was hardly rare; his own great-grandfather had kept plenty of women.
At their annual family gatherings, five generations filled the hall, easily numbering three to four hundred people.
He had long grown accustomed to such sights.
Secular morality and mortal laws held little sway over transcendent figures who walked like living gods.
"Let's go hang out in your office!" Holding her sweetheart's hand, the Palace Master bounced along cheerfully.
*Give me a break, please...* Zhang Yuanqing looked toward Zhao Chenghuang. "Right, Xiao Zhao, don't we have an assignment this afternoon?"
He blinked furiously, dropping frantic hints.
Zhao Chenghuang didn't bat an eye. "You're misremembering. We don't have any assignments whatsoever."
"..." Zhang Yuanqing quickly pivoted. "Palace Master, why don't we go shopping instead?"
The Palace Master curled her lips, smiling at him without uttering a single word.
***
By that afternoon, the official account of the New York County branch published an announcement on Heaven's Punishment's internal forum: Beast Haas had been hunted down and slain by the Five Elements Alliance support team.
In an instant, the post became the hottest topic across Heaven's Punishment.
From the perspective of Heaven's Punishment's various regional branches, this support team in New York County was composed of foreign interlopers who strutted arrogantly across the soil of the Free Confederation.
Injuring two outstanding youths of the Meade clan in succession had practically been a slap in the face to Heaven's Punishment.
Even Spirit Realm walkers who detested the Meade clan couldn't help scowling in annoyance: *It leaves a bad taste in my mouth. These foreigners are far too arrogant.*
Who would have guessed that in just a few short days, this bunch of arrogant outsiders would take down Beast Haas—a Level 6 peak Saint ranked ninth on the Heaven's Punishment Headquarters Class A Most Wanted list.
Each regional branch of Heaven's Punishment maintained its own wanted list, just as every state had its own laws.
Beast Haas had ranked fifth on the New York County Class A Most Wanted list, and ninth on the Headquarters Class A Most Wanted list.
The evil professions in the top ten of the headquarters' Class A Most Wanted list were all top-tier elites with genuine prospects of ascending to Dominator—geniuses among geniuses. Such figures usually only perished in large numbers during killing trials.
In the real world, they were outlaw desperados who operated beyond the reach of the law.
If such a monumental achievement had been credited to Heaven's Punishment members, they would have been promoted on the spot.
"These guys are something else! To think they actually took down Beast Haas. It reminds me of that Chinese saying: 'It takes a rogue to grind a villain.'"
"The Saints in New York County must be utterly embarrassed. Since the war broke out between the Merchant Guild and the Dionysus Club, the single greatest merit recorded was snatched by the Five Elements Alliance!"
"My view of these Five Elements Alliance foreigners has totally flipped. Sure, they're obnoxious and arrogant, but having them as allies makes you feel remarkably safe."
"I really didn't expect a figure like Beast Haas to meet his end like this."
Gradually, word reached the Sea God Church, the Merchant Guild, the Association of God of Beauty, and the various civilian Orderly organizations across New York County.
The intelligence sent sizable shockwaves through every major faction!
Local Spirit Realm walkers realized at once that the conflict had escalated yet again!
With the evil faction losing a peak Saint, the Bio-Alchemy Society would certainly launch frantic retaliation. In the days ahead, a ferocious hunting war between Saints was all but inevitable.
A war of that magnitude was enough to wipe out weaker civilian organizations altogether. Even a major civilian syndicate like the Anti-Black-and-White League would sustain heavy injuries and take a massive hit to its vitality.
Yet despite their lingering anxieties, the Five Elements Alliance support team's successful hunt of Beast Haas injected a badly needed dose of confidence into New York County's Orderly factions.
The authorities remained the authorities!
While storms brewed across the outside world, the atmosphere in the Five Elements Alliance office seemed ordinary on the surface, but was bizarrely rigid underneath.
"Jumang is my boyfriend. When I heard he was on a business trip to New York County, I traveled thousands of miles to chase after him!" The Palace Master had ordered takeout, delivering a portion to each of the Transcendent walkers.
The Musician profession was the eastern counterpart to the Desire profession. While not nearly as wanton, it carried similar bonuses to charm and physical allure, making it second nature for them to win people's favor.
This girl, who introduced herself as Chu Guaiguai, had a delicate, ethereal oval face. Dressed in a charming, earthy forest style, she resembled a pristine white lotus, and her sweet, gentle voice quickly won over the Five Elements Alliance Transcendents.
They all thought Deacon Jumang's girlfriend was gorgeous, sweet-voiced, and an ideal match—truly a couple of golden youths!
In stark contrast to the harmonious Transcendents, the Saints wore bizarre expressions, working in silence and hardly daring to breathe loudly.
Even the notoriously reckless Brother Red Chicken chose to keep his head down!
After all, Guan Ya was already in her office, simmering with fury to the brink of exploding.
Yet she was Yuanshi Tianzun's girlfriend. What did Jumang have to do with her? Jumang's girlfriend had even less to do with her.
The Palace Master had calculated precisely that Guan Ya wouldn't dare reveal herself to start a scene, intentionally stirring up trouble just to spite her.
Sipping hot coffee while clutching a box of fried chicken, Yuan Ting trotted back from the general office into the Saints' office, singing high praises:
"Jumang, your girlfriend is wonderful! Great personality, gorgeous, and oozing charm. Huh, why isn't anyone heading out to grab some fried chicken? What are you all doing sitting around looking like statues? His girlfriend came all this way; give the lady some face!"
He shot a dissatisfied glare at the Saints, who were all playing dead.
"Shut your trap and eat your fried chicken!" Sun Miaomiao ground out through clenched teeth.
"Huh? Sun Miaomiao, are you unhappy?" Yuan Ting scrutinized her suspiciously. "You have no reason to be unhappy."
"I... I'm thrilled! Absolutely thrilled..." Sun Miaomiao forced a strained smile.
Yuan Ting inexplicably caught the scent of juicy gossip. At the same time, he sensed he had been shut out of some inner circle—an intuition honed through years of practicing the art of gossip.
Just as he was about to pry deeper, a Transcendent assistant's voice called from outside the office area: "Deacons, leadership from the Supervisory Department is here."
As if granted a royal pardon, Zhang Yuanqing and the others sprang to their feet and rushed out of the room.
The Supervisory Department leadership had arrived to deliver their rewards. In the reception room, Osido William, Deputy Minister of the Supervisory Department, sat at the table accompanied by two assistants.
This Level 7 Dominator appeared to be around fifty years old, sporting short, brownish-yellow hair, pale green eyes, a square jaw, and slightly downturned lips that gave him a stern, domineering aura.
Seeing the Five Elements Alliance Saints arrive, he placed a bank card on the table and said, "This is the cash reward Minister Winni requested on your behalf. The total amount is nine million federal dollars, to be distributed among yourselves."
Next, he took a sheet of paper from the subordinate standing behind him and continued, "This is a manifest of items and materials. You may select three Saint-grade items and ten Saint-grade materials from it. Again, distribution is up to you."
Under normal procedures, rewards were never processed this quickly; they were typically disbursed the following month. However, the Five Elements Alliance team members were not official employees of Heaven's Punishment, but rather operated with the status of mercenaries.
A mercenary's pay had to be settled immediately upon completion—that was standard international protocol.
Zhang Yuanqing exchanged glances with Tianxia Guihuo and the others, smiles breaking out across their faces. With this reward combined with last night's spoils of war, they could practically guarantee an item for every single Saint.
Factor in the materials and cash, and Return of the Dead had reaped an immense harvest.
Sure enough, nothing brought in wealth faster than war.
Once the Five Elements Alliance Saints reviewed the sheet and finalized their selections of materials and items, Deputy Minister William said, "The Enforcement Department has been investigating Cocktail lately, and word is they're launching an operation tonight. You've certainly put considerable pressure on them."
The Enforcement Department was specifically charged with investigating and apprehending evil professions.
The Five Elements Alliance support team had pulled off a massive achievement right after arriving in the Free Confederation, which undoubtedly delivered a resounding slap to the Enforcement Department's face.
"It's all for peace and order!" Zhang Yuanqing replied solemnly.
Deputy Minister William nodded. "Keep a low profile over the next few days. The Bio-Alchemy Society will certainly seek revenge."
With that, he led his two subordinates out of the reception room.
***
At six o'clock that evening, Zhang Yuanqing personally escorted the Palace Master back to her apartment. Wearing a grave expression, he said, "A proper green tea bitch shouldn't put a man in such an awkward, mortifying position. Palace Master, I'm not talking about you, of course—just sharing an earnest, spontaneous observation."
The Palace Master smiled radiantly. "A skilled fishpond master managing a whole school of fish shouldn't focus all their feed on just one fish. Jumang, dear, I'm not talking about you, either—just sharing an earnest, spontaneous observation."
Zhang Yuanqing cupped his hands in defeat, conceding the match.
After leaving the apartment, he retrieved his spare burner phone, powered it on, and checked for messages.
One missed call. One unread text.
He opened the text message:
*Catherine: There is an internal gathering tonight. Ten o'clock, the usual place—No. 69 Hamburg Street, Queens!*
Chapter 696