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Chapter 298: Changing Relationships

Clap, clap, clap...

Little Pigeon, Li Xing, and Lin Jia also joined in clapping.

"The team leader is really impressive!"

"Deserves to be the ace of the Execution Team!"

"Ha, it’s just so-so, I’ll catch up with you sooner or later..." Han Yuhao crossed his arms with a smug look.

Then he got slapped on the back of his head by Jiang Siqi.

"You—"

"What, want to taste the Bone-Eroding Heart-Burning Curse again?" Jiang Siqi threatened with glaring eyes.

The earring guy’s anger immediately subsided a lot. Though he wasn’t afraid of serious injury or difficult to kill, the feeling of pain was real... The experience of being tormented to the brink of death and rolling on the ground during sparring with Jiang Siqi last time was still fresh in his mind.

Honglian listened to the team’s congratulations, watched Xiao Canong’s passionate speech on the screen, along with the cameras flashing below, and felt totally blank in her head.

He already knew she was coming here? And understood her intention of taking leave?

Then did he know about her collaboration with Beitian Academy and the illegal Wanderers?

If he knew, why not apprehend and interrogate her, but instead uphold her as a hero saving the city?

If he didn’t know... why act like he foresaw everything?

Honglian couldn’t figure it out.

What’s the chief team leader really planning?

...

"Honglian and Wang Baihu have become heroes of Jiang City!"

Chen Xuan had just returned to the store in the Celestial Ridge District when he heard Lin Qing shouting loudly at him.

"Huh?" Chen Xuan took out his phone to find the news about the Hongda Daily Chemical Factory had already hit hot searches on various portals.

The Execution Team leader Honglian’s photos had even become background images on some websites.

It’s worth mentioning... even when her features are magnified, no flaws can be seen...

No, now’s not the time to observe this. Chen Xuan frowned, feeling a sense of incongruity. They predicted the Mechanism might receive news in advance, intercept halfway, and detain Honglian and Wang Baihu... or simply dismiss them. Any outcome would accelerate the rift between Honglian and the Mechanism.

But now... not only did the Mechanism not investigate the details behind their leave, they even praised them relentlessly?

After finishing the news of live interviews, Chen Xuan asked, "Any new developments over at Tian Zhenggang’s side?"

After confirming the scent originated from the Hongda Daily Chemical Factory, the police launched a two-pronged action, reinforcing the factory for a shutdown search at night while also investigating the higher-ups of the factory’s parent company, the president of the Gaosheng Group, Jiang Wenbin.

Lin Qing nodded calmly and replied, "They couldn’t control Jiang Wenbin, because he’s already dead."

"Dead... dead?" Chen Xuan was stunned.

Jiang Wenbin was considered a prominent figure in Jiang City, he was even his top boss when working at the big factory before. Unexpected that he’s gone just like that.

Even single-handedly, this would constitute a seismic event on the internet.

"Died in his villa, the death time being around 7 AM this morning... cause of death still unconfirmed, though almost certainly solved..." Lin Qing sneered, "I suspect ability murder."

Chen Xuan felt a mixed range of emotions for a moment. Though many had died before, including historical figures like Gildre, none impacted him as much as Boss Jiang. Perhaps he was the first deceased from his former circle?

From the chemical factory fire to Jiang Wenbin dying in his residence, it’s clear someone doesn’t want them to uncover anything.

"Seems rather odd," pondered Chen Xuan, "Jiang Wenbin, be it in his past statements or his personal stance, doesn’t seem like he’s in cahoots with the Mechanism."

He wanted to recruit a team of Ability Users belonging to Jiang City, even sponsoring TV programs about superpowers for that.

This approach would naturally provoke the Dimensional Limit Mechanism.

Furthermore, during the show recording, it got interrupted by Lu Lixin. If not for Chen Xuan’s presence, that program might’ve ended in a massacre.

Thinking that Lu Lixin is actually a pawn cultivated by Jiang Wenbin made this strange feeling even stronger.

"At least the Mechanism had sufficient reason to eliminate Jiang Wenbin." Lin Qing agreed, "Plus, the Mechanism had been collecting Cyan Dragon blood before, using drugs to awaken abilities is not surprising... If we could find the Dragon Blood’s route to Jiang Wenbin, maybe we could unravel the whole situation."

Though this trip wasn’t in vain.

Chen Xuan eventually solved the threat of illegal Ability Users, Beitian Academy and the police were quite satisfied with this outcome. At least in the short term, various parties believed that Jiang City wouldn’t break out with a malignant event like the Curse epidemic.

The news of Jiang Wenbin’s death was only announced two days later.

This, as predicted by Chen Xuan, ignited the internet again, along with topics like "chemical factory incident" and "superpower safety", dominating major forums. The Dimensional Limit Mechanism got praised as they visibly broke the case, with Honglian almost becoming the representative figure of the Execution Team.

"Say what you might, the marketing here is already at the level of big companies in the future." Lin Qing commented, "If Xiao Canong’s reason for not sanctioning Honglian was to gain fame, he’s quite successful."

Chen Xuan had to acknowledge this point.

Now Honglian has practically become an idol, even opening her blog account and gathering a huge fan base.

Although privately, she complained to Lin Qing that the blog was entirely managed by the Mechanism, none of the posts were actually written by her, and daily photos had to be taken for the logistics team to "prove" she was constantly working to protect Jiang City.

Indeed, the relationship between Honglian and Lin Qing has progressed rapidly.

Previously, they were nominally "enemies", but now they could be considered half-allies. Using that disclosure-free future-tech phone, she spends time chatting with Lin Qing each night.

Though she hasn’t broken with the Mechanism yet, her suspicion and dislike towards the chief team leader have reached new heights. Especially when congratulated by them acting nonchalant, Honglian texted saying "felt like swallowing a fly".

She’d rather Xiao Canong burst in anger, admonished her for faking leave while investigating the chemical factory, so she could shout back, demand an explanation about the ability-awakening medicine. Unlike now, both parties acting masked, while working in the same office, there’s a feeling of being mired in treachery.

She’s also investigating the information leak, just hasn’t found any leads.

The only current assurance is the Dimensional Limit Mechanism still unknowingly on the Wanderer Lin Qing’s matter.

Just being able to connect with Honglian has already made Lin Qing feel quite satisfied with this action. When the demon meeting in March opens, the other side can fully recognize the Mechanism’s nature.

Today she has another matter to attend to.

"I’m ready." Lin Qing descended from the second floor, dressed very business-like today, in a combination of a small suit and a long skirt, her hair turned golden, and leaving a single silver earrings on, "How’s this?"

"Very pretty." Chen Xuan praised, "You almost look like a different person."

She smiled, "The facial contour did receive slight adjustments, seems you observe a lot."

Looking more isn’t illegal.

Chen Xuan coughed twice, "The branches have already been set up, you can go anytime."

Lin Qing walked a couple of steps out, then suddenly paused, "Did you really agree on me handing over the peculiar item scheme to others?"

"Me? Hand over to whom?" A voice suddenly emerged from under the bar counter.

Then a head of dazzling silver hair rose from inside the counter—it was Liuli, from another world’s N21.

"Not talking about you, it’s about N959," Chen Xuan gave her a confused look, "What are you doing hiding there?"

"Looking for mice."

"I’m sorry, there are probably no mice in my store... wait, why are you looking for such things?"

Liuli earnestly explained, "To soothe oneself."

Chen Xuan paused before realizing what she meant—N21’s appearance is a knife, requiring visible knife strikes and blood to maintain stability. The issue was, they had just caused quite a stir at the demon’s Paris base earlier, and now she needs to "recharge"?

"No... my current stability is good, about over eighty percent." Liuli seemed aware of his surprise, "But this is a gradually accumulating process, hence stability doesn’t equate to complete rest, finding mice and hawk for entertainment was part of my daily activities in the Holy Temple Treasure Vault."

"Could killing mice also enhance stability?"

"No... it only delays its decline." Liuli blinked, "Which knife master would resist or harass small creatures daily?"

Sounded quite reasonable.

Although why did it feel like her lips had a hint of rose-red color?