As soon as the Human Emperor Banner came out, I became the Lord of the Old Ones

Chapter 231 Mules and Bullets

Upon arriving in Dawn City, Kelly Gracey realized that the problem was more serious than she had imagined.

With her extensive experience, she immediately saw through the hype surrounding Liming Heavy Industry's so-called "discovery of a new mineral vein," realizing just how much of it was exaggerated.

The reason I agreed to be a commentator for the Dawn Cup was to find an opportunity to infiltrate Dawn Heavy Industry and investigate the truth up close.

However, no matter how pessimistic she was, she never imagined that the economic situation in Dawn City had deteriorated to such an extent that even one of the three most prestigious clubs, and the most prosperous one at that, had its owner abscond with the money.

She originally intended to continue her investigation following the clues from the Shattered Star Club.

They happened to run into Ryūken-kan, who was also conducting a secret investigation.

The two hit it off.

For this newly formed task force, Kelly Gracey's greatest contribution is not her combat skills or extensive wilderness survival experience.

Rather, it's her connections at the higher levels.

For generations, the family has been passionate about reporting the most truthful and sensitive news, having exposed countless shocking secrets. They have a large readership even within the boardrooms of the four major card-making companies and the headquarters of the Lingka Association.

As long as she can produce a substantial and substantive investigative report in Dawn City, she has every means to "reach the ears of the emperor" and even influence the strategic decisions of the highest authorities.

Compared to renowned female war correspondents.

The next team member was much more low-key.

At first glance, the middle-aged man with gray hair and a face full of wrinkles doesn't look like a well-trained operator, but rather like a farmer working hard in an earthworm farm.

Pretty much the same, actually.

Although he had been a patrolman in Black Crow Town, a satellite town southwest of Dawn City, for more than 20 years.

However, the middle-aged man named "Han Zhong" had not received professional security bureau operative training.

For most of his career, he was a hardworking and reliable servant, a sturdy and durable tool, and a willing cannon fodder.

He neither signed a contract with the legendary heroic spirits nor cultivated any unparalleled extraordinary skills.

He was able to earn a living by enduring countless days of wind and rain, relying on his sweat and blood that soaked his clothes, and the numerous scars covering his body.

Unfortunately, the good times are not long.

Black Crow Town is the most remote town from the main city and closest to the wilderness area among all the satellite towns surrounding Dawn City.

Even more critically, the crystal veins beneath Black Crow Town were the first to dry up.

A mining town without crystal veins is like a human being drained of all blood, losing all vitality.

The negative emotions accumulated by the townspeople as they sighed and complained attracted the remnants of the past that had been wandering in the wilderness, leading to the outbreak of the ancient natural disaster.

Black Crow Town was completely abandoned about a year and a half ago.

Before that, the townspeople had already died, fled, or escaped, reducing their numbers by seventy or eighty percent.

Including his family, friends, and colleagues who had fought alongside him, Han Zhong witnessed firsthand how too many innocent people were swept up in the bloody storm unleashed by the old natural disaster.

The home that held all the beautiful memories was completely swallowed up by the bottomless crack that opened up in the earth.

Han Zhong did not want to see the tragedy of Black Crow Town repeat itself in more satellite towns or even Dawn City.

During the operation to hunt down the remnants of the Swamp Gang, Long Jianhuan met Han Zhong and found this hardworking old patrolman, who was as reliable as a mule, to be very reliable. He was relatively unknown in Dawn City and could be used to carry out some surveillance and infiltration missions, making him an indispensable "piece of the puzzle" in the special team.

Beside Han Chong, the man leaning against the wall in the darkness possessed a completely different aura from "Mule," like a bullet fired from a gun, the word "danger" etched on his forehead. Gao Ce, a veteran of the Spirit Control Legion, a gunner and mechanic.

During a routine reconnaissance mission, due to the intelligence officer's negligence and the superior's ambition, the entire team ended up in an unknown and unpredictable place.

With all nineteen of his comrades dead, he single-handedly fought his way out of the horde of malevolent spirits and returned to the real world alone.

Before he could receive treatment or even think about his achievements, Gao Ce quietly sneaked back to the camp, shot the intelligence officer in the kneecap with one shot, and then shot off his superior's ear with another.

Due to various reasons and the pleas of many people, Gao Ce managed to save one of his lives, but he could no longer stay in the Spirit Guard Corps.

Just like Xu Yan, he accepted Long Jianhuan's recruitment and became a special employee of the Dawn City Security Bureau.

This is all the power that Long Jianhuan can currently mobilize.

The more Xu Yan thought about it, the more interesting this personnel configuration seemed.

Their strengths, experience, status, and even ages are vastly different.

But they have one thing in common.

Neither of them has any connection with Dawn Heavy Industry.

He also has no experience working for the Dawn City Security Bureau.

It seems my guess was correct.

The waters of Dawn City are very deep.

Without external assistance, it would be difficult to find and eliminate all the lurking monsters and demons in the deep waters.

"As for Xu Yan, he is the team's expert in spirit cards. If anyone has any problems with their sealing cards, or if they feel they need a special sealing card during a mission, they can make a request to him. I think he can definitely help everyone complete the mission successfully."

Long Jianhuan had great confidence in Xu Yan.

Li Xinglan already knew Xu Yan's abilities, so she took off her earmuffs and made a face at him.

Kelly Gracey watched all the Dawn Cup matches up close and was deeply impressed by the three members of the Crazy Iron team.

Their tactics were certainly excellent, but the sealing cards they used were even more eye-catching.

Given the recent changes and miraculous rise of the Kuangtie Club, the well-informed female war correspondent naturally knows who the unsung heroes are.

Kelly Grace smiled slightly at Xu Yan, acknowledging his abilities.

Although Han Zhong was not familiar with Xu Yan.

But he was originally a hard-working, uncomplaining, and non-competitive person.

He also greatly admired Long Jianhuan for his courage and ability to uproot the Swamp Gang, which had been ravaging the wasteland for many years.

He had no objection to the card-making expert recruited by Long Jianhuan. Instead, he showed a simple and honest smile and took the initiative to extend his hand, saying, "That's great. I spend most of my time in the planning area and the wilderness area, taking a bold and unrestrained approach. I do need to make some minor adjustments to the sealing card to adapt to the intricate streets and alleys of Dawn City. I also need to figure out how to take action in the densely populated downtown area without harming innocent people."

"of course."

Xu Yan grasped Han Zhong's hand and sensed the unassuming strength of this veteran patrolman from the calluses on his hands and the grip strength.

He readily agreed, "Whatever questions you have about the sealing cards, feel free to ask me, and I will do my best to help."

(End of this chapter)