Versatile Mage: Get the Desert Emperor clone at the start

Chapter 231 A Surprising Discovery: That Kid Might Be the Queen Ant's Puppet

Ophelia maintained her smile: "We have come here to invite you all to discuss the aftermath of the conflict between the national pavilions."

"invite?"

Qin Xiaonan's gaze swept over the eight imposing temple "Iron Guards" behind Ophelia.

“Deacon Soren, your temple’s method of ‘invitation’ is truly unique. Bringing a whole squad of fully armed elite temple battle mages to block the hotel room door and issue orders… Is this definitely an ‘invitation’ and not coercion?”

Ophelia's smile remained unchanged, as if she had expected this question, and she answered fluently: "'Coercion' is a word I dare not accept."

"As you all know, a major incident occurred in Newt City last night, and the situation within the city is now extremely complex. We have received intelligence that there may be infiltrators from unknown forces or powerful demons roaming the city. As the future geniuses and elites who will participate in the final National Government Competition, your identities are sensitive."

"The temple's leadership has issued a strict order that we must ensure the absolute safety of the foreign team members who are stranded."

"The 'Iron Guard' squad is here to ensure your safety."

These words were impeccable and sincere, effectively packaging the armed escort as a "VIP-level security escort."

Many team members, such as Lu Yilin and Guan Yu, relaxed their tense expressions slightly, as if they felt that what the other party said made some sense.

After all, the shadow of the fallen forbidden spell and the appearance of an emperor-level demon still looms over the city, so having a powerful team of bodyguards does sound safer.

However, those who were observant could still sense something amiss. Qin Xiaonan, Ai Jiangtu, Mu Ningxue, and others all felt that this matter was not so simple.

"We have had formal communication with several of the coaches leading your national team beforehand and have obtained their understanding and consent."

"Come with us now."

Did the supervisor agree?
“Since the mentors have already made arrangements,” Ai Jiangtu took a deep breath. As the team leader, he had to make a decision. “Then let’s go with Deacon Soren. Thank you for your trouble.”

Ophelia stepped aside to make way, "Please, everyone."
-

A day after the death of the forbidden spellcaster of the Temple of Liberty, they immediately imposed martial law and lockdown on the entire city of Newt.

The death of a forbidden spellcaster has a huge impact.

The Temple of Liberty was established to prevent unscrupulous organizations and other demonic forces from taking advantage of the chaos to cause destruction.

"Activate the highest defense mode of the 'Free Will Barrier'! Immediately seal off all magical ports and transportation hubs! Entry or exit and large-scale magical fluctuations are prohibited without the authorization of the temple!"

The Temple Master's voice echoed in the emergency meeting, "Simultaneously... activate 'Eye of Freedom'! Target: Citywide, indiscriminate, deep scan of magical and mental fluctuations! Priority: Highest!"

“Palace Master, the consumption of the ‘Eye of Freedom’… especially with the Goddess Statue’s power not yet fully recovered from last night’s impact, the cost is…” An elder in charge of resource allocation looked troubled.

"The cost?" The temple master whirled around, his eyes sharp as knives. "Compared to the fall of the four forbidden spell elders, compared to the potential disasters that Newt City and even the entire American continent might face, what is the consumption of resources?! Execute the order! Find all the 'destabilizing factors' that could threaten the temple and the city, leave no one alive!"

Orders are absolute.

The colossal Statue of Liberty standing on Liberty Island is once again imbued with immense magic.

The torch she held aloft transformed into an invisible, city-wide detection field. It gradually enveloped every corner of Newt City, permeating every building and scanning every individual possessing magical abilities.

This is an extremely domineering and costly method, and countless demons and monsters hidden in the shadows have nowhere to hide under this giant net.

Within just a few hours, several groups of Black Vatican members who attempted to take advantage of the chaos to cause damage, steal intelligence, or carry out sabotage were precisely located and swiftly arrested.

Some lurking demons and spies were also captured.

The temple's "Iron Guard" forces launched attacks in all directions, and the magical roars and shouts of arrest echoed over the city.

However, when this sacred and cold scanning field swept across the hotel where the Chinese National Government team was staying and focused on one of the rooms, the temple's super-rank mage, who was responsible for monitoring the feedback from the "Eye of Freedom," had his expression change drastically!
"alarm!"

"Abnormal energy reaction detected! Coordinates locked: China National Government Team base, target: Qin Xiaonan!"

"The target's aura... is a perfect match for the Silverwing Ant Queen, a king-level demon that infiltrated the port last night! Repeat, a perfect match!"

The monitoring room was deathly silent. On the screen, the dot representing Qin Xiaonan was marked in a glaring scarlet color.

"This...this is impossible!" a mage exclaimed. "He's just a high-level mage! How could he possibly possess the aura of an emperor-level demon?!"

When the Silverwing Ant Queen fought the Deep Sea Giant Whale King, her crystal wings were damaged.

Qin Xiaonan crafted it into a winged magical artifact and used it frequently, so naturally it retained some similar energy fluctuations.

At this moment, such details were detected by the "Eye of Freedom".

Just then, an old mage in charge of compiling information about the Silverwing Ant Queen spoke up.

His voice trembled with excitement and fear: "No! It's possible! Everyone, look at these! We've overlooked them all!"

The magical light screen quickly unfolded several confidential briefings marked with different times and locations:
"Briefing 1: Time: Month X, Day X. Location: East coast of Sakura Country. Event: The day after the Chinese National Government Team finished their training in Sakura Country and left, Sakura Country was attacked by sea monsters led by the Silver-winged Ant Queen."

"Briefing 2: Time, Y month Y day. Location, Peru, Atacama Desert. Event: During the ancient ruins exploration mission carried out by the Chinese National Government Team in this area, an energy fluctuation of an unknown emperor-level demon (now confirmed to be the Silverwing Ant Queen) erupted deep in the Atacama Desert, and the entire desert area was subsequently shrouded by a solar disk."

"Briefing 3: Time, Z month Z day (i.e. yesterday). Location, Newt Port. Event: Less than 48 hours after the arrival of the Chinese National Government team in Newt City, the Emperor-level Silverwing Ant Queen infiltrated the port, triggering a forbidden-level battle."

"Yokohama! Atacama! Newt Port! Every single time! Every single time, they've barely left or arrived before a catastrophe of imperial scale erupts! Is this just a coincidence? Once is a coincidence, twice is luck, three times..."

He suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the scarlet dot of Qin Xiaonan on the screen.

"And then there's the aura on him that's the same as the Silverwing Ant Queen's, which 'Eye of Freedom' detected! Isn't the answer obvious enough?!"

The results of their investigation shocked them.

The monitoring room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; a bone-chilling cold crept up everyone's spine.

(End of this chapter)