Backer

"Qi?"

Muto, hidden within Captain Wang’s shadow, was filled with shock when he spotted Qi Xieyuan in the sky.

Qi Xieyuan felt somehow different today!

The Tenth Legion’s inspection leader, Flood Messenger, also fixed a sharp gaze on Deva Path Pain in the sky.

"Who are you, skulking around like that? Are you the wanted criminal?"

He had only come here under the pretext of pursuing a wanted criminal and had never truly believed that these weak laborers would dare shelter one.

But as he looked at the figure concealing himself in the sky, vigilance still appeared on his face. He immediately slapped a serious accusation on the other party.

"The wanted criminal you mean should be him."

Deva Path Pain, controlled by Xu Yue, wore an expressionless face as he casually flung out a Black Rod.

It instantly pierced through the shadow behind Captain Wang, drawing out a scream.

"Qi Xieyuan! You betrayed me!"

Pinned directly into the shadow by the Black Rod, Muto felt intense numbness spread through a large area around where the bizarre weapon had pierced him.

Then, more than half of his body uncontrollably emerged from the shadow.

Yet the portion pinned by the Black Rod remained connected to the shadow, making it seem as though he possessed only half a body, grown from within the shadow itself.

Some of his abilities had been sealed!

No matter how he struggled, he could not break free.

Muto’s eyes were bloodshot. Sure enough, Qi Xieyuan still did not trust him and believed he had gotten hold of some incredible benefit!

But he really had not!

And what could Qi Xieyuan possibly gain by selling him out to these Frenchmen?

If you want to screw me over, I won’t let you off easy either!

"You think this will let you draw a line between us? In the Mission Space, the three of us always acted together! We’re accomplices! We share the same guilt!"

Muto screamed hysterically.

From Xu Yue’s Deva Path Pain appearing, to exposing Muto, to Muto’s hysterical outburst—

The string of sudden developments made Flood Messenger feel as if he were riding a roller coaster.

He had only casually come up with an excuse, so how had he actually found the wanted criminal?

"As long as you help me kill him, I’ll sign an agreement with your legion! As long as you guarantee my life, I’ll hand over everything I gained in the last Mission Space!"

Muto appeared completely crazed, shrieking hysterically.

Yet he had forcibly found a way out of this desperate situation.

His eyes, fixed on "Qi Xieyuan" in the sky, were filled with cold malice.

Even if he survived by signing a contract, his fate would not be much better. But at least it would be better than Qi Xieyuan’s!

This is the price of betraying me!

Such a massive promise and price—even the agreement window had already popped up before him—made Flood Messenger, the Tenth Legion’s leader for this mission, unable to help feeling tempted.

Although his legion had not entered the previous mission, the rewards must have been beyond imagination if a higher-ranked major legion had been willing to go to such lengths!

As long as they joined forces with Muto and dealt with the person before them, it seemed they could only profit.

They were indeed somewhat underprepared, but did they not have this wanted-criminal big shot here? They only needed to provide support!

And if they dragged things out, the legion’s reinforcements could arrive.

It was just that the person above did not seem to be listed on the wanted poster. Acting directly in the real world would come at too great a cost. How should they weigh this…

"There’s no need to hesitate. I’m a member of the Penguin Merchant Guild myself. This place is now our branch."

As they hesitated, Xu Yue had already completed his verification procedures. The prior martial arbitration ruling had directly turned the Laborer Group into the Penguin Merchant Guild’s France branch!

Within his own branch, Xu Yue, as the guild leader with the highest authority, could easily control entry.

And with that, this conference room likewise became Xu Yue’s "branch headquarters." A forceful counterattack against an invading hostile legion within a legion headquarters was also within the Mission Space’s authorized scope.

After all, their method of entry earlier had not been particularly friendly, in order to establish their presence and intimidate others…

"So what if you’re a member of this guild? Do you really intend to attack? Think carefully. This is great France! It isn’t somewhere you can run wild! Surrender obediently, and you may yet preserve your life. Otherwise…"

While urgently contacting his legion, Flood Messenger tried to intimidate and stall his opponent with words. Secretly, he was also preparing to rescue the wanted criminal first.

He had some confidence in his warning. This was France, and he was a member of a top-ten legion. No matter who the other party was, they had to show them some respect…

But Xu Yue, having obtained attack authorization, clearly had no intention of giving them time to wait.

He raised his hand, formed it into a palm, and pressed it toward the leader who had entered, along with the group of legion Reincarnators.

Too much talking…

The next moment, an irresistible and terrifying force enveloped every Tenth Legion Reincarnator who had broken through the door, including their Elite Reincarnator leader.

Feeling that insurmountable power—

Flood Messenger’s face was distorted into a grotesque expression under the immense pressure, and his heart was filled with utter disbelief.

The other party had unleashed a killing move without the slightest hesitation or concern?

But that was as far as his thoughts went.

Before he could consider anything further—

Splat!

The next moment, along with the Reincarnators who had entered with him, he was instantly crushed into bloody pulp as Xu Yue’s Deva Path Pain clenched his hand. Their remains scattered across the floor!

Shinra Tensei!

Xu Yue’s Deva Path Pain turned his palm into a fist and crushed every Reincarnator who had entered, yet his face remained cold and utterly expressionless.

It was as if he had merely crushed a few insects.

The sudden change left the entire hall deathly silent.

Captain Jia, in particular, kept rubbing his eyes as though he suspected he was seeing things.

Where was his backer?

His enormous backer had vanished in the blink of an eye!!

That was impossible!

That was unscientific!

That was an Elite Reincarnator!

An Elite Reincarnator from a top-ten legion!

Not some random nobody…

Muto, who was still struggling against the Black Rod, even stopped struggling.

His eyes widened round.

This guy had hidden himself so deeply?

So he was actually this strong?

With Muto’s own abilities, killing an Elite Reincarnator along with a few ordinary Reincarnators would not have been much of a problem.

But resolving everything with such a casual strike was still far too outrageous.

Elite Reincarnators were classified by legions as backbone members and powerful combatants because, to a certain extent, they already possessed the ability to interfere with big shots. If enough of them coordinated, they could completely restrain one—and might even join forces to kill someone above their level!

Yet now, such an Elite Reincarnator had not even caused a ripple before him…

Those who had steadfastly followed Old Xue and not left the group, meanwhile, felt as if a pie had fallen from the sky and struck them.

Their side, which had been at the greatest disadvantage, had inexplicably become the strongest side.

So this was the reinforcement sent by the Penguin Merchant Guild? He was terrifyingly strong.

"Qi… Qi, I think there may be some misunderstanding between us."

Pinned in place, Muto forced an ugly smile onto his face, looking as though he were about to cry.

But Xu Yue turned a deaf ear to his words.

What was there to say to material for one of the Six Paths of Pain?

He had reached Kage-level, more or less. He was good enough as material…

"Qi? Wait, what are you planning to do? Don’t look at me like that. I’m scared. Don’t come over. Wait…"

The Laborer Group had already completed its initial screening, and Muto’s value had been exhausted.

Now, they would wait for the French Credit legion’s response and see whether they could conduct the second stage of screening…

Third update! One more to go! Today, I’m going to be a four-update beast!