Forge a path to success.

Chapter 382 Full Intensification

At the headquarters of all the Divine Guards, the captains stared at the broadcast with expressionless faces.

Beneath the amusement park, demons gathered in front of a small water curtain.

In every corner of the city-state, the Blood Oath assassins waited silently.

A hoarse roar echoed from a basement room, and Lylena, who was guarding the door, silently covered her ears. Guo Yutu tapped on the workbench, his glasses reflecting a ghastly white light.

“This isn’t a holiday game…” he said in a low voice.

Parriman's speech was frozen in time after it ended, shrunk, and became the background of the news studio. A sexy and eye-catching female anchor and an elegant male anchor sat in front of the camera; they were Landa and Kozaburo, the star hosts of the popular national program "City 24 Hours".

Randa kept rambling on, "Speaker Parryman's speech was so impactful, I haven't recovered from the truth yet..."

Kozaburo sighed, "I completely understand. Who would have thought that the terrorists who caused this tragedy would be our own allies?"

"There are still two things I don't quite understand regarding Speaker Parriman's measures. Does a state of war mean that all political activities within the city-state will cease?"

“You’re right, this is to prevent terrorists from inciting citizens to riot under the guise of political demands.” The camera zooms in on Kozaburo’s perfect smile. “In wartime, all voting will be temporarily suspended, and the number of votes required for any petition will be doubled!”

“I understand~~ This way, terrorists can no longer exploit loopholes in the Thorn Law.” Landa nodded repeatedly. “Please tell our viewers what a city-wide special warrant means?”

"The 'Special Wanted' designation is a countermeasure specifically designed for terrorists who have caused immense destruction within city-states and are hiding in densely populated areas, making them difficult to directly punish. The Divine Tree will apply a refined divine power suppression to these targets, rendering them powerless. No matter how high their original mass point was, after being wanted, their strength will be limited to mass point 3 or below!"

A large "3" flashed on the background screen, and Landa exclaimed, "Particle 3! That's below the First Abyss!"

Kozaburo revealed a inflammatory smile: "As everyone knows, there is a chasm between 4 and 3 called the First Abyss. In order to ensure public safety, the destructive power of the terrorists has been limited. Please rest assured, our Divine Guards will have no problem arresting them."

"Perhaps even a concerned citizen could arrest him?"

“Citizens confident in their abilities may wish to make a contribution to the city-state, and the city-state government will reward them handsomely!” Gangsaburo reached behind his back. “The production team has just received the latest news: Speaker Parriman has announced the bounties for the three terrorists!”

The screen displayed the portraits of the three people, along with the words "Regardless of life or death" in red. The wanted posters for Chu Hengkong and Ji Huaisu offered a bounty of 3000 million emerald branches, while Violet's bounty reached 5000 million emerald branches, along with the official title of "Honorary Iron Thorn General"!

"An honorary title?"

“All official positions in our city-state are protected by a minimum amount of divine power. The rank of Honorary Iron Thorn General is one of the highest ranks in the military system, which means…” Gang Saburo paused, as if trying to pique the interest, “that is, the same as the Speaker’s own strength, equivalent to a 6-point mass!”

"You can become Point 6 by arresting or killing the leader of the terrorist group!"

At this moment, countless heavy breaths echoed throughout the thorny camp. Unaffiliated mercenaries, vicious fugitives, staunch supporters of independence, and Blood Oath assassins. The outrageously high profits spurred them to their feet, contact their comrades, devise plans, and head towards the armory.

"See that?" "Let's go." "Let's go." "Let's fucking pull off a heist."

"The sacrificial serpent has been suppressed to point 3, what's there to be afraid of!" "The divine tree is suppressing it!" "Go!"

They took up arms, unleashed their power, and released the most ferocious beasts from their cages. In this turbulent world where the strong prey on the weak, no amount of money or treasure can compare to tangible power!

The outlaws raced through the streets of the city-state of Thornco, every water screen along the roadside projecting the same image: the face of an iron-faced politician and the star anchor addressing the entire nation. They continued their incessant tirade: "We also want to remind all citizens not to be deceived by good intentions. Citizens who voluntarily assist terrorists will be treated as accomplices of the three individuals mentioned above."

"And citizens who actively provide intelligence will receive a reward from the Speaker himself!" News anchor Landa picked up the conch shell. "We've already received the first tip from a concerned citizen; those three terrorists are currently..."

"The Third Lineage Seafood Bookstore!"

·
First team vice-captain Vari tidied his hair and stepped out of the divine teleportation array. His subordinates reported to him one by one: "The wind tunnel has been severed." "The wind tunnels of all current pulse sequences have been stopped." "Defenses have been deployed around the bookstore."

“Very good. The enemy has powerful Floating Light Path Ascendants; we cannot give them even the slightest chance to utilize the equipment.” Vari put his hands behind his back. “Second and third squads will remain outside, first squad will follow me in. Stand up straight, don’t be intimidated by mere reputation. The Speaker has issued a warrant; we are the law and reason of the city-state!”

"Yes, Vice Captain!"

Wari straightened his neat white collar and walked towards the ridiculous mushroom-shaped house. He pushed open the bookstore door, his cold shout drowning out the sound of the wind chimes: "The First Team of the Thorn Robe Divine Guard is on a mission. All citizens are requested to cooperate with the investigation!"

The bookstore was surprisingly quiet. The manager was still slumped in the pool, while the other employees were eating dinner while watching a wanted poster program. Everyone looked at him blankly, seemingly not quite understanding what was happening.

"Oh, hello, hello." The otter editor put down the small plate and nodded to him. "What books are you looking to buy? This month, our shop recommends this book, '3000 Years of Allied War History'."

The seal shopkeeper took down the massive tome and held it up like a treasure. Vari looked down at them with a cold laugh: "No need for jokes here. Your intelligence teams are all in control. The three terrorists currently wanted throughout the city are probably in your bookstore right now!"

Manager Jiyu nodded hurriedly, "Yes—yes!"

"Hand over the three terrorists immediately..."

The otter editor blinked innocently: "What if we say no?"

"I'm afraid you veterans are about to experience firsthand the current enforcement力度 ​​of the Divine Guard!"

The editor covered his mouth with his paw, exclaimed in surprise, and then pressed the small button under the counter.

All the bookshelves flipped over simultaneously, their colorful covers disappearing, replaced by a uniform, cold, iron-gray. A full array of weapons—swords, spears, halberds, and all manner of firepower—were on display, including beam sabers, grenade launchers, and rocket launchers, providing ample firepower from all directions. The entire mushroom-shaped house was instantly filled with the gleam of weaponry, with countless gun barrels protruding from the seven floors.

"And now?" the otter editor smiled.

Vari turned around, mouth agape, and saw an infinitely magnified book cover. The seal shopkeeper swung the giant book, sending Vari crashing through the shop, down the street, and through a desolate forest. The immense force propelled him to the other end of the third tier in a mere ten seconds!
The roar of the behemoth could be heard throughout the entire canopy of poetry: "Get out!!"

Vari felt as if every bone in his body was broken; if not for divine power, he would have been a pile of minced meat by now. He let out a scream that was not human: "Charge! Charge! Arrest them all!!"

Upon receiving the order, the team members rushed in, only to be swept into the sky by the icy storm a mere second later. Manager Carp screamed and summoned the floodwaters, sending the second and third teams, who were observing the situation outside, flying along with them. The bewildered first team members cried out and clutched their throats; the floodwaters even contained a murky brown hue.

That's poison mixed into the water! The deadly poison has spread with the help of elemental power!
The Poison Otter editor held a jeweled cup with a smile. It shook the Cup of Honor again, thoughtfully releasing double the amount of toxins.

"Have they forgotten that we used to sell arms?"

"Each generation is worse than the last!" Bangbangji angrily retorted.

Violet came down from the second floor and apologized to everyone, "I'm sorry for the trouble." "It's alright, little girl, go ahead and do your work, don't let these idiots hold you back," the seal shop manager said. "Gulibo, are you done yet?"

"Alright, alright!" Gulibo rushed down the stairs in a hurry. "Bang bang, assault boat, fire!"

The top floor of the giant mushroom house opened, and a massive, emerald-green vehicle was forcefully propelled by the mushrooms into the flooded street, its shape resembling a speedboat that had been smashed into a modified tank by an orc. The small animals poured out, boarding the assault boat in an organized and disciplined manner. The seal shopkeeper was the last to squeeze through the door, hanging a sign that read "Closed Today."

At this moment, the other members of the first team who had transferred over arrived, carrying battering ram-like war plants. They nimbly plunged into the water, like a giant torpedo bombarding the enemy, opening their blood-red maws at the pale-faced team members.

"Hey!"

"Ah!! The Great Hammer of the City has been eaten!!!" "What the hell did you say?!" "Eaten—don't eat me! Help! Ahhh!!"

On the other side of the battlefield, the mercenaries of the Third Order lay in ambush underwater, preparing to flank the bookstore from behind. Their plan was disrupted by a hail of bullets. The editor, Otter, rapidly opened fire from the turret atop the assault boat, sending the hit mercenaries flying out of the water like fish struck by lightning.

It adjusted its reading glasses and said with satisfaction, "My eyesight is still pretty good."

"I want to say something politically incorrect," said the manager of the carp company.

"I think you can do whatever you want now."

"I've long thought that some of the idiots within the city-state deserve to die."

“Oh!” the otter editor exclaimed in surprise, “I wholeheartedly agree.”

They joined forces with the seals in their assault boats, becoming an invincible force in the flood. No pursuers could stop their advance; this was the combined might of three 1/5 mass scale units, and even the other captains wouldn't dare to act rashly!

A few pursuers, trying to avoid direct confrontation, took a side path to bypass their target. As they rushed into the path, they were struck by a frying pan that suddenly appeared, knocked down by a gardener's shovel, and hit on the head by a cello. In the village under the umbrella of poetry and literature, every household's door was wide open, and the veterans, armed with their eating utensils, glared angrily at the group of "law enforcers," their fury coalescing into a wave of roars.

"Get out of the umbrella of poetry and literature!!"

The pursuers were brutally beaten, and a few members of the Divine Guard shouted in the channel: "Attacked by a mob! Requesting support from the third team! Requesting support from the third team!"

"The terrorists are escaping!!! What is the Third Guard doing?!"

Just then, the citywide broadcast of the third pulse sequence was activated, and a lazy voice came through: "Testing the sound~ Testing the sound~ Can everyone hear it?"

"Tonight, just like what was said in the water curtain, there will be a city-wide manhunt or something. Ultimately, it's just wishful thinking on the part of politicians; it has nothing to do with us. Anyway, ordinary citizens should remember to keep a close eye on their children and prevent them from running around and getting frightened! That concludes Captain Trek's instructions. End of message."

The squirrel vice-captain's chattering voice rang out: "This can't end like this! This is a broadcast to the entire pulveroid order, please be serious for once!"

"This is so troublesome, do I really have to say it seriously..."

"Yes, you are speaking on behalf of Team Three. Please pay attention!"

"Alright, let's get serious then..."

The man's tone on the radio suddenly changed: "The Third Divine Guard of the Thorn City-State will neither support nor participate in this so-called 'city-wide manhunt' operation. Because the Divine Guard members of the Third Lineage are not shameless enough to attack the heroes who recently saved the Lineage!"

In my capacity as Third Captain Jastryk, I question the Speaker of the House's findings regarding the misrepresentation of the truth. I also strongly condemn his despicable tactics of inciting unhealthy public opinion and sowing discord among Allied forces without ascertaining the facts!

Trek's voice echoed through the empty night, leaving the first team members involved in the manhunt almost dizzy. The captain of the Divine Guard openly challenging the Speaker—such an absurd event had never occurred in the history of the City-State of Thornsa. This was a blatant damage to the credibility of the government…

No, not only that. Such remarks have practically driven both sides to the brink of war! Do they want a civil war?!
“It’s really reassuring to hear such a strong statement,” Van der said.

"I'm so touched that Dad's finally cheered up!" Lico stretched. "So, what's the plan now?"

Vilbert handed her a storage crystal: "The petitions from 7100 million people collected so far are all inside. To be on the safe side, I haven't explicitly stated the purpose of the petitions. Please take this to your father, and he will know what to do."

Lico returned the salute, picked up the scroll, and flew towards the Third Squad headquarters. Velbert picked up Vande and handed it to Ji Huaisu.

"Miss Guangshi and Miss Qingxia have gone to intercept the enemy. Miss Ji, you and Fande will be in charge of the propaganda war."

"Define what constitutes a propaganda war?" Ji Huaisu asked.

Van der was also puzzled: "Neither of us are very good at media studies..."

Velbert tossed her another specially made Millennium Bug, pointing it at the omnipresent water curtain.

"Let the speakers change from them to you."

"Got it." "No problem!"

Ji Huaisu picked up Vande and set off, taking her fully armed secretary with her. Violet adjusted her backpack, walked out the back door of the bookstore, and the assassin greeted her from the doorway.

What is the mission this time?

She took out her phone and tapped it twice. A stretched Cadillac roared in, its engine humming and someone whistling happily.

"I'd like to ask you to deliver something."

"what to give?"

"Give it to me."

Chu Hengkong opened the car door and helped her into the car. He walked to the other side and got in, touching the steering wheel he hadn't used in a long time, and slightly stretching his shoulders.

He felt that the innocent young man from more than ten years ago had quietly come back to life, so he laughed without fear.

"Roger that," the assassin said. "Mission initiation."

He floored the accelerator, and the luxury car sped across the muddy ground, rushing towards the distant city center like a roaring beast.

(End of this chapter)