Gao Wu: After transforming into a soft girl, I became a calamity?

Li Tian's expression remained unchanged, but several thoughts flashed through his mind.

He's been busy with missions these past few days, either supervising at outposts or socializing in the neighboring Base City 143. He hasn't returned to the city.

Based on the price he listed earlier, someone should have already taken over and started taking action.

Could it be that they didn't find an opportunity to make a move? Or perhaps Jiang Mian's strength far exceeded expectations, allowing him to kill the assassin?

If she had stayed in the city defenses, it might have been the former, but if it was the latter...

To be on the safe side, Li Tian had set the minimum requirement for the bounties he had previously posted to be Tier 2.

He didn't believe that Jiang Mian, a newbie who had only been awakened for a few days, could defeat a "professional" who was at least at the second level.

"This Jiang Mian... there's something wrong with him."

Li Tian turned around, no longer glancing at Jiang Mian, and directed the workers to rest in his usual tone, as if his earlier glance had been just an unintentional glance.

Jiang Mian narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at Li Tian in the crowd below.

Thanks to the enhanced perception of her by [Gale], she is now quite sensitive to both auras and emotions.

In that brief moment of eye contact, she clearly sensed a fleeting malice.

Why?

Jiang Mian thought for a moment. She didn't recognize the person, but since he was leading a group from the Construction Bureau, he was clearly a mid-to-high-level official, and with his third-tier strength...

She remembered the message at school. Li Hao was so arrogant because his father was a high-ranking official in the Construction Bureau and was himself a powerful Awakened.

"Li Hao's father?"

Only this identity can explain his malice just now, and also explain the matter of the diseased patient earlier.

This unexpected encounter actually put Jiang Mian at ease.

Once you know what your opponent looks like and how strong they are, things will be much easier.

I'm currently defending the city, under the watchful eyes of everyone, so there's nothing the other side can do.

If she really finds an opportunity to make the other party take action, and the other party is not a fourth-tier opponent, she can handle it.

Of course, to be on the safe side, it's best to accumulate progress in the advancement first, as improving strength is the most crucial thing.

After settling his men in, Li Tian turned his gaze to the gap in the wall. Li Huan was standing there with his arms crossed, looking out listlessly, while Gu An was chattering incessantly beside him.

"Squad Five, huh...?"

He understood.

He had dealt with this squad several times; their strength was among the top in the East City Wall Defense Zone, and Qin Wu was known for his upright character.

After his nephew Li Huan joined the team, he made rapid progress and is expected to break through to the third level at just over 20 years old.

I never expected that I would become teammates with Jiang Mian.

Li Tian understood Li Huan's personality; he was ruthless in fights, but he had his own set of principles. To put it bluntly, he was inflexible.

However, perhaps he could probe the team members' attitudes towards Jiang Mian from Li Huan.

"Ah Huan".

Upon hearing this, Li Huan turned around and saw Li Tian walking towards him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Second Uncle? You... just returned from a mission?"

"Hmm. Just passing by, taking a break."

Li Tian nodded, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the gap in the wall and the workers carrying materials nearby.

"Just finished fighting? Looks like it was quite a commotion."

"Yes, a group of runners attacked the outpost, but it has been dealt with."

"Good that it's resolved. How have you guys been lately? I noticed a new face, that girl with glasses on the rooftop earlier, is she also on your team?"

He pointed in the direction of Jiang Mian.

Upon hearing this, Li Huan frowned, sensing that something was amiss.

Although the police downplayed Li Hao's incident, classifying it as an accident, given how much his second uncle cared about Li Hao, it's impossible that he hadn't investigated it privately.

Given Jiang Mian's distinctive appearance, it was impossible for Li Tian not to recognize her.

Why did he pretend not to know him?

Several thoughts flashed through Li Huan's mind in an instant.

Uncle Er looked quite normal at the moment, a stark contrast to his gloomy demeanor when he first learned of Li Hao's death.

Could it be that…?

A sense of unease rose in his heart.

Jiang Mian has great talent and extremely high sequence ability. His future is promising. He must not die in a meaningless internal strife. Moreover, the person who wants to make a move is his own second uncle. He should stop him.

"Um... she's a new intern, her name is Jiang Mian."

Li Huan turned slightly to the side, looking calmly at Li Tian:

"Second Uncle should have heard of her name."

Li Tian's calm expression faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained it.

"Heh, it's her. A high-ranking one... I wonder how she's doing in your team?"

Li Huan sensed the probing intent in his words, pondered for a moment, and replied:

"Her control over her abilities is exceptional; you could say her talent surpasses that of most people I've ever met."

"Second Uncle, you should know better than I how fast advanced individuals can grow. The authorities will do everything they can to nurture and protect such people."

The meaning behind the words couldn't be clearer: Jiang Mian's potential has already begun to emerge, and he cannot be touched.

"Yeah?"

Li Tian responded indifferently, his tone unreadable. He didn't continue the conversation, instead patting Li Huan on the shoulder and saying:

"I'm leaving now. Take care of yourself."

Li Huan believed he had already hinted quite clearly; his second uncle wasn't stupid and should be able to weigh the pros and cons.

However... watching Li Tian's departing figure, Li Huan still felt a faint unease.

……

Li Tian leaned against his car, lit a cigarette, and white smoke rose from his fingertips, blurring his vision.

He looked up in the direction of Jiang Mian, but she was no longer there.

Li Tian was indeed filled with hatred. Although his son was disappointing, at least he had awakened.

He always thought about when he would finish his work and help Li Hao for a while, so he could keep him by his side, give him pointers, and gradually make corrections.

However, he simply vanished like dust, while an orphaned girl, seemingly insignificant, awakened a high-level sequence and soared to great heights.

Li Tian originally thought that even if Jiang Mian awakened a high-level sequence, there were plenty of ways to make an orphan girl with no background "accidentally" disappear before she grew up.

But she joined the city defense, even if only as an apprentice.

Especially now that the authorities are paying a lot of attention to the training program, anyone who wants to touch her will have to think twice about their own importance.

……

Squad Five did not stay long. After they finished their business, a new squad came to set up camp. However, by the time they returned, it was already completely dark.

In the car, Jiang Mian looked at Li Huan with a rather strange expression.

Clearly, she heard every single word of the conversation.

What a small world! She only killed Li Hao, and then a series of people related to her appeared.

However, judging from Li Huan's response, he is on my side... well, he's a good person.

She didn't expose them; maintaining the status quo was fine. If they still wanted to harm her, she would take them down if given the chance.

However, all of this is predicated on concealing one's identity and strength. If that doesn't work, then one will have to resort to some special tactics...

The atmosphere inside the carriage was somewhat somber. Su Wanning was still driving, while Gu An, who was in charge of "clearing the way," was in the passenger seat.

Jiang Mian glanced at Qin Wu and Li Huan, who were resting with their eyes closed, and asked a question that had been lingering in her heart for a long time.

"Um... Captain Qin."

"Hmm? You go ahead."

Qin Wu opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Jiang Mian.

"Your ability... isn't it [Knight]? Why is Sister Su still driving on the return trip?"