Chapter 99: The Governor Requests an Audience

Create a guild.

This thought had actually been lingering in Zhou Huai's mind for a long time.

He needed his own influence, a pair of hands that could reach into the darkness for him and tear open those intertwined secrets.

The Zhou Family, the Tianyu Guild, and that damned Cursed Mage Luo Ming.

He needed to investigate all of these factions.

If he had to rely on his Clone to personally handle everything, he would sooner or later be worked to death.

Furthermore, he could feel that his cursed body was weakening day by day.

Lethargy and fatigue.

These were all ominous portents.

He didn't have much time to waste.

He had to find Luo Ming as soon as possible to lift the curse.

But that guy's Rank was not low, and he had the Tianyu Guild as a big tree to lean on; wanting to touch him was no different from poking a hornet's nest.

If he was even slightly careless, his main body would risk exposure.

Therefore, he could only take things slowly.

Develop his own influence, have his Clones hurry up and level up, and accumulate strength.

This was the only way.

Just as Zhou Huai's thoughts were churning, a cold prompt tone from the System rang out without warning.

[Ding!]

[System Challenge Quest has been issued!]

[Quest Name: Overlord of Donghai City]

[Quest Objective: Create your own guild and make it the guild with the highest overall strength ranking in Donghai City.]

[Quest Reward: Class Orb Draw Chance X1.]

Zhou Huai was stunned for a moment.

Then he smiled.

He had just entertained the thought of establishing a guild,

and the System immediately issued a challenge quest.

This System was getting more and more understanding of his heart.

[System Prompt: SS-Rank Clone 'Night Stalker · Moria' has finished generating!]

Zhou Huai's consciousness instantly returned to his main body.

With a thought in his mind,

a tall and upright figure quietly appeared in the shadows of the bedroom.

His skin was so fair it was nearly transparent, as if he hadn't seen the sun for years.

With a slender figure, even though he only wore a plain cloth garment, it was hard to hide that innate nobility.

He just stood there quietly, his gaze deep and carrying a lingering melancholy.

The light in the entire room seemed to dim slightly because of his appearance.

Zhou Huai nodded with satisfaction.

This was what the Night Stalker in his heart should look like.

He sank his consciousness into Moria.

"Shadow Stealth."

Moria's figure, like a drop of thick ink dripped into clear water, instantly dissolved and silently merged into the shadow at the foot of the bed.

A wondrous feeling surged into Zhou Huai's heart.

He seemed to have become the shadow itself.

Cold and void.

He could clearly perceive the existence of every shadow in the room.

The shadow of the curtains, the shadow of the table legs, and even that deepest patch of darkness in the corner of the wall.

With just a thought, he could instantly leap between these shadows.

A bold thought emerged in Zhou Huai's mind.

He immediately withdrew his consciousness and returned to his main body.

"Uncle Fu."

He spoke, his voice slightly hoarse.

Uncle Fu pushed the door open and entered, a look of concern on his face.

"Young Master, you're awake?"

"Push me outside for a walk."

"In the courtyard."

Hearing this, Uncle Fu's aged face instantly bloomed with a gleam of joy.

"Ah! Good! Good!"

He answered repeatedly, his voice even trembling slightly.

Ever since the Young Master moved here, he hadn't stepped half a step out of the bedroom.

Every day he was either sleeping or dazed.

Uncle Fu saw it in his eyes and felt anxious in his heart, fearing that the Young Master would sink like this.

Now the Young Master was finally willing to go out.

Uncle Fu nimbly pushed the wheelchair into the courtyard.

The afternoon sunlight was somewhat blinding.

Zhou Huai narrowed his eyes, the long-lost warmth spilling over his body making him somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Hiding in the shadows every day to control his Clone, his main body was almost getting moldy.

He smiled self-deprecatingly.

At the same time, he issued an instruction to Moria lurking in the shadows of the bedroom.

The next second.

A black shadow invisible to the naked eye quietly slipped out from under the bedroom door crack.

Hugging the base of the wall like a flowing ink stain, it swiftly swept across the courtyard.

Finally, it silently merged into the shadow cast by Zhou Huai's wheelchair.

Throughout the whole process, Uncle Fu was completely unaware.

The corners of Zhou Huai's mouth hooked into a smile.

His means of self-preservation had gained another layer.

In the open, there was Xiang Yu acting like a bronze wall and iron fortress.

In the dark, there was Moria the shadow assassin.

His sense of security instantly maxed out.

He raised his head and looked at the tightly closed door of the detached courtyard.

It wouldn't take long.

He would be able to walk out of that door in a dignified manner.

Just at this moment,

[Ding!]

[System Prompt: Detected external call for 'Gandalf', whether to take over?]

Zhou Huai raised his brow.

Calculating the time, it should be Li Gang over there coming to honor the reward.

He smiled gently at Uncle Fu.

"Uncle Fu, I'm a bit sleepy. I want to bask in the sun here and take a nap."

Uncle Fu nodded hastily.

"Alright, Young Master. This old servant will guard right by your side."

Zhou Huai closed his eyes.

However, his consciousness crossed space in an instant, descending into a luxury hotel suite in Jiangning City a thousand miles away.

"Dong, dong, dong."

A steady knocking on the door sounded.

Zhou Huai manipulated Gandalf to sit up from the bed, walked over, and opened the door.

Standing outside the door was a staff member wearing a black suit.

Seeing Gandalf, he immediately bowed and saluted, his attitude respectful to the extreme.

"Mr. Gandalf, good morning."

"Please forgive me for the abrupt intrusion."

Gandalf nodded expressionlessly.

"What is it?"

The staff member took out a gold-stamped invitation letter from his bosom and presented it with both hands.

"The Governor invites you!"

Zhou Huai manipulated Gandalf, a trace of ripples rising in his heart.

He thought the person coming would at most be Li Gang.

Unexpectedly, it was an invitation personally issued by the most powerful figure in Dongning Province.

He remembered that during the provincial examinations, that examiner in the Zhongshan suit had once half-jokingly said:

If he could win the top scorer of the National Examination, the Governor would personally present the award to him.

A prophetic word came true.

"Please lead the way."

Gandalf's voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

The staff member bowed, making a "please" gesture, his attitude becoming even more respectful.

The black military special vehicle drove steadily on the streets of Jiangning City.

Outside the car window, the hustle and bustle of the city were isolated.

Inside the car, there was only the low hum of the engine operating.

Zhou Huai's consciousness inside Gandalf's body looked around at this unfamiliar city.

Soon, the vehicle drove away from the bustling urban area and entered a heavily guarded area.

Soaring perimeter walls, barbed wire flashing with electric light, and a soldier standing guard at a watchtower every ten meters.

This was the military command headquarters of Jiangning City.

The vehicle stopped in front of a gray main building.

As soon as the car door opened, a hearty laugh was transmitted over.

"Hahahaha, Gandalf!"

Li Gang strode over to greet him, a brilliant smile hanging on his face, as enthusiastic as if he had changed into a different person.

He forcefully patted Gandalf's shoulder.

"How is it? I didn't lie to you, did I?"

"The Governor wants to meet you in person!"

Gandalf cooperatively nodded.

The smile on Li Gang's face grew thicker. He leaned closer a bit, lowering his voice, his tone filled with uncontainable excitement.

"You have achieved a heavenly great contribution this time!"

"The Governor is overjoyed!"

"Do you know? The old man made a final decision and decided to open the Special-grade Treasure Vault for you as an exception!"

"Special-grade Treasure Vault?"

Gandalf finally spoke, his tone carrying a trace of well-timed perplexity.

Li Gang's eyes lit up, as if he were showing off his own family's treasures.

"Inside there are all the best bottom-of-the-box goods of our Dongning Military Region!"

"Rare items scavenged from various high-risk Secret Realms and ancient ruins!"

He extended one finger, shaking it mysteriously.

"Ordinary people, let alone going in, haven't even heard of it."

"Only those soldiers who have rendered illustrious service for Great Xia Country and obtained first-class merit medals have the opportunity to go in and pick one piece!"

"You brat, you've really struck gold this time!"