Forge a path to success.

Chapter 388 Cluster of Intense Pressure

Minutes before Chu Hengkong and Vilbert were still locked in a fierce battle.

Second pulse sequence.

"This is City-State 24 Hours, bringing you the latest intelligence."

“Three minutes ago, our concerned citizens caught up with two terrorists in the fourth pulse. Their vehicle has been completely destroyed, and their speed has now been reduced to no more than 60 kilometers per hour!”

The female anchor, Landa, made an exaggerated expression: "60 kilometers per hour! Even I could keep up with that speed!"

"Exactly, the terrorists have run out of tricks. Now, you, watching from behind the water screen, can also contribute to the cause." The male anchor, Gangsaburo, made an inflammatory gesture. "Furthermore, the whereabouts of the third terrorist, Ji Huaisu, have been confirmed. She is currently in the Second Meridian! Soldiers, now is the time for you to serve your country!"

·
"What utter nonsense are those shitty streamers spouting!"

Soldier Gralu threw his spear, smashing through the public water curtain. The independence soldiers covered their heads in confusion; although the wanted Ji Huaisu was speeding by in a vehicle not far away, these soldiers had no intention of taking action.

"I have absolutely no idea what this mess is all about from the very beginning," a soldier said with difficulty. "Saying that Master Chu is a terrorist is pure bullshit."

"Has the media been infiltrated by heretics?"

“But that’s exactly what the Speaker said…”

"The speaker's words aren't necessarily all true! Maybe he really was deceived..."

"But we're soldiers! The orders from above have been given, are we just going to stand by and do nothing?"

Disputes raged in the barracks, now focusing not just on independence, but on the crucial decision of whether to obey orders. To disobey even the highest directives from Mansa Star Fort would be tantamount to treason, something the loyal soldiers could not accept.

Fortunately, there were still people in the military camp who could make decisions. Captain Huan Ge's voice boomed: "Soldiers! The source of information about Mansa Star Fortress is quite ambiguous, and the truth still needs further confirmation. Until Lord Shenshu personally issues an imperial order, please remain in the camp and do not act rashly!"

"Yes, Captain!"

With Huan Ge as their leader, the soldiers regained their composure. A small number of loyal independence fighters attempted to take advantage of the chaos, but were stopped in time by the masked soldiers of the second squad.

Ji Huaisu drove the ice sled along the road, while his secretary, Hill, typed on a keyboard in the back seat, connecting with the second team. Huan Ge's projection popped up: "This is truly outrageous... We're currently unable to move!"

Through the projection, Ji Huaisu could see Huan Ge's current situation. Strips of white silk were bound to his body, tightly binding the giant to the Second Team headquarters. The white silk ribbons were covered with dense text: "Suppress terrorists," "The Divine Guard should strike," "The captain must fulfill his duties." When the camera zoomed in, countless chaotic voices could even be heard within them.

“It’s alright, Captain Huan Ge. The other pulse sequences have the same situation,” Vande said. “It’s probably a new tactic of Parriman, so please be careful.”

“Don’t worry about me. Banningtik just sent word that he will do his best to create opportunities for you.” Huan Ge said solemnly, “Let’s resolve this farce as soon as possible and get the media in Mansa Starburg to stop.”

"I have a bad feeling that Parriman won't do anything pointless!"

Communication between the two sides was cut off, and if they continued talking, they might use this as an excuse to impose sanctions. The border of the second line of events came into view, with a pure white city wall reminiscent of the ends of the world, connected by a single log bridge made of dark brown roots.

The city wall, curving upwards above the clouds, was the Great Lily, the city's defense system. From Ji Huaisu and the others' perspective, the Great Lily appeared as a dense, pure white barrier, but inside Mansa Star Fortress, the wall was completely transparent. The first team members could prepare in advance, but no attack was currently imminent.

"No attack?"

"This must be the opportunity Banningtik created. Let's seize it now!"

·
Somewhere on the border of Stargate Mansa, in a secret room filled with screens.

Guo Yutu stopped typing and stood up calmly, raising his hands. Banningtik pushed open the door, clutching a thick stack of documents.

"In order to cooperate with the Speaker's citywide manhunt, we are now conducting a security check on your organization. Please present your entry permit, heavy machinery operation certificate, and work permit."

“Here it is.” Guo Yutu handed over a stack of documents that had been prepared beforehand. “I have permission issued by the Speaker. Please check it.”

Banningtik wiped his glasses: "Sorry, my eyesight isn't very good, it might take a little longer than necessary."

“I’m nearsighted too, so I totally understand,” Guo Yutu said considerately. “Take your time, we’re all just working, there’s no need to get emotional!”

·
Beneath the walls of Mansa Star Castle, the three were nearing completion of their intense work.

Two streams of information flowed from the frozen vehicle. Vande sat in his custom-made mental amplifier, his single eye emitting a twilight glow. Under his gaze, numerous lines appeared within the white city walls, forming an illusory doorway.

“It’s going smoothly… Just as Vilbert predicted, it’s an information barrier created by the divine power circulation system, so my hypnosis works…” Vande muttered to himself, “I’ll set a small trap in half a minute, and then we’ll rush in in one go.”

"Vander is a great help."

Ji Huaisu tapped his watch repeatedly. No one spoke in the carriage, only the soldiers' anxious chatter and the incessant announcements from the water screen drifted on the evening breeze. Van der sighed.

“You still feel like something’s not right, right?” Ji Huaisu said.

“Well, it’s something temporarily unrelated to the present…” Vande said. “After the operations of the fourth and second sequences, we basically concluded that Parriman possessed the ability to control a wide range of minds. And of course, that certainly seems to be the case, but the more I think about it, the stranger it seems.” “If Parriman already had the ability to manipulate people’s minds, then what was the point of his sermons, campaigning, and propaganda offensive?” Vande was a little uneasy. “What I mean is, a mind controller doesn’t need to stand in the spotlight at all. Wouldn’t it be better for him to just hide somewhere and have a puppet stand in front of him to attract attention?”

"Perhaps Parriman is that puppet."

"I don't believe we're all stupid enough to have been going on for so long without realizing who's behind Parriman."

Ji Huaisu pondered for a moment: "So that means these political actions are beneficial to him? Being the speaker, legally passing bills, labeling us as terrorists—these things enhance his brainwashing abilities. The higher his prestige, the stronger his mind control..."

Van der was getting agitated: "If a person's brainwashing ability is directly proportional to their power of speech, can that ability still be called 'brainwashing'? I feel like it's completely..."

"The passage is now open!"

At this moment, Hill gave a warning, and Ji Huaisu rushed into the interior of the giant lily. She was fully prepared, and even though the Dark King was waiting at the entrance, she was confident that she could withstand the first wave of attacks.

However, she saw nothing. The main road of Mansa Star Castle was deserted; there wasn't a single person, let alone any pursuers. The only sounds on the empty road were leaves swirling in the wind and the noisy announcements from the public water screen.

Then, she felt the "pressure".

Pressure is everywhere.

The ice cart collapsed the moment it entered, the invisible pressure crushing the solid ice into the ground, turning it into water droplets that seeped into the cracks of the paving stones. Vande screamed in agony, feeling as if it were about to be crushed, its eyeballs about to be squeezed out by the pressure. Ji Huaisu hurriedly shielded the two of them with a light shield, but even she found it difficult to move.

This wasn't the kind of pressure that could be described with mountains or ocean tides. This pressure felt like countless people standing on their backs, blocking their way. It was as if hundreds of thousands, tens of millions, or even billions of forces were converging on the shoulders of these mere three people; even the strongest would be overwhelmed by the sheer sheer power.

Ji Huaisu barely managed to lift her head; she finally realized the true nature of this pressure. Every window was open, and the citizens of Mansa Starburg were watching them from their homes. Through the public water curtain, through divine surveillance, through the open windows lining the streets, the gazes of countless citizens converged, forming this immense, mountain-like pressure!

"Citizens, look! Our powerful surveillance system has finally located the third terrorist!" The female anchor's excited voice echoed. "Just as the intelligence indicated, they have lost their vehicle and are struggling to move due to their severe injuries. Now is the best opportunity to contribute to the city-state!"

"Thirty million green branches and the Speaker's commendation are just around the corner!"

The oppressive atmosphere grew scorching, for the gazes of the people were filled with even greater greed. So every household opened its doors wide, and nobles possessing powerful relics, along with the soldiers who had been waiting, charged out together, their shouts shattering the silence as they surged into a dark, surging crowd.

Ji Huaisu sneered. She stood still and threw cards into her arm armor: "Fire Sword" and "Wind," which symbolized freedom.

[Fire Sword] [Chaotic Wind] [Fusion Descent]

"The Sacred Judgment of the Precepts: Burning the Army and Creating Chaos!"

A scorching fire tornado descended instantly, splitting into four streams that swept outwards from the city, leaving behind scorched cross-shaped marks. The crowd scattered in disarray, and the pursuers fled in disarray. This was a war technique used to launch wide-range attacks on the battlefield, further enhanced by Ji Huaisu. Had it not been for the protective power of the Tree of Love, this single strike would have leveled the center of Mansa Star Fortress to the ground!

The live stream captured the exact moment the fire tornado rose, and the female streamer, pale as a ghost, exclaimed, "This is...this is..."

"This is an illusion used by the enemy!" The male anchor, Kozaburo, quickly tried to salvage the situation. "There are some problems with our divine power monitoring. Please wait a moment, viewers."

The live stream abruptly switched to an advertisement promoting the independence bill, and Ji Huaisu sneered upon seeing this. The pressure on them immediately lessened, as fear and suspicion now filled the eyes of the crowd.

Vande, still shaken: "Wow! You've already bet on 3 and you can still play the freestyle mode?"

“It’s the sealing technique of the Knight System. Since I got this thing, I always carry a bunch of punishment cards with me. Being suppressed in my main body doesn’t have much of an impact for a short time.” Ji Huaisu showed off a stack of cards. “But I can’t use the Dragon of Calamity for now! Hill, go to the live stream yourself. I don’t have time to protect you anymore.”

"Understood, please be careful, you two!"

Hill wasn't too nervous; after working tirelessly for her boss for so long, she was used to immense pressure and unexpected events. She activated the invisibility device in the dust-free area and left silently, while Ji Huaisu stretched out her arms forcefully.

"How do you see it? That pressure."

“It is probably the ability to materialize the public’s ‘belief’,” Vande said. “The significance of information warfare lies here: if a large number of citizens believe that we are battered and bruised and powerless to resist… then that ability will probably turn belief into reality.”

"Then we need to hurry."

Ji Huaisu could sense that the invisible pressure was expanding, gradually spreading from the boundaries of Mansa Star Fortress to other pulse sequences. The enemy's main force must be with Akong; he had to disrupt this ability before the pressure interfered with them.

Familiar outlines appeared at the edge of his vision, and rows of black iron soldiers silently surged forward. After a brief probing, Guo Yutu's Black Death Army had officially moved out. Ji Huaisu took a deep breath and suddenly punched to the side.

Her fist struck the invisible dagger, slicing through her gauntlet and leaving a deep, bloody gash on the back of her hand. The purifying fire ignited in time, but some force hindered the wound's healing.

From the direction the knife came from, a black-haired woman wielding a crossbow appeared. She wore a smart black combat uniform and a single-eye patch; her voluptuous figure was comparable to Ji Huaisu's.

Lylena Barry tossed her long hair and said smugly, "I advise you to surrender now. If my opponent isn't the Serpent of Sacrifice, I won't lose!"

Ji Huaisu unleashed a wind blade, which Lylena dodged with the lightness of a piece of paper. She then threw a dagger to shatter the lightning arrow, and the fierce battle between the two officially began.

(End of this chapter)