Star Gate

Chapter 329: A Bolt From The Blue (IV)

“If what you say is true, then it’s not impossible that Huang Yun is a Dominator!” Wu Hongshan frowned. “So is he Cannibal or what?”

Commander Yun possessed a very upright reputation; everyone’s impression of him was that of august dignity. Cannibal, on the other hand, was infamous.

It wasn’t that he actually ate people, but that he was too vicious, too cruel. Each of his targets became a bloody, gory mess. Martial masters that he killed were left without a whole corpse. Thus, the martial world mocked him as a cannibal, that he killed people as brutally as eating them.

“Who knows?” Yuan Shuo said casually. “If Hou Xiaochen and Huang Yun are part of the three commanders, will the third also be someone from Silver Moon? Only Silver Moon martial masters can stand against Silver Moon’s martial world! Outsiders don’t have that kind of skill at all! If there’s a third one alive, who do you think is possibly them among those of the province?”

Wu Hongshan thought carefully for a second and suddenly looked at Yuan Shuo.

The old man started. What’re you looking at me for?

“If I have to pick someone... I’d say you!” Wu Hongshan replied with a raised eyebrow. “How many did you kill in the martial world? Silver Moon’s martial world was thrown into disarray and weakened because of you. What you did was more impressive than any of the three commanders! They couldn’t suppress an entire cultivation level worth of people, but you did it! So I think it’s highly likely that you’re one of them!”

Yuan Shuo blinked, thought for a moment, and nodded. Honestly, he did seem the part! If someone claimed that he was one of the three commanders, the suggestion did hold up upon closer inspection. It was just that he’d always operated in the open.

“If I didn’t know better, I would think I’m one of them too!” Yuan Shuo laughed ruefully. “If I’m one of the three... I’d be Laughter, wouldn’t you say? He laughed whenever he killed someone.”

Wu Hongshan remained silent. Who knows if you are or not? Of course, no one would inquire into the matter anymore. It was highly possible that this guy was Laughter. Cannibal Huang Yun, Laughter Yuan Shuo, Sickly Hou Xiaochen...

Was the likelihood possible?

The woman decided to put it to rest. This was all in the past. It was no big deal even if the three were who they were suspected to be.

......

White Moon City was not quiet this night. The fight in the evening put many people on edge or made them fearful. No one knew of the conversation that took place in the wilderness that bordered Near River.

Lights were ablaze all night at the provincial government, Inspectorate, military, and Night Watcher headquarters. Thorough investigations of evil supernaturals within the city and the Red Moon terrorists were underway.

Being advanced in age, Director General Zhao was nodding off in his chair. Hu Qingfeng stayed at the provincial government all night long, seemingly devoted to the case. He brought two of his Solars to hold down the fort. They were concerned about further attacks on the government building.

In reality, they were more worried of encountering danger at the hotel.

Seeing that the director general remained at his post even in the middle of the night, Hu Qingfeng flashed a smile. “It’s late, Director General Zhao. Why don’t you go back and rest? I can keep an eye on things here!”

The provincial government was coordinating efforts with the other agencies to soothe the citizenry. There were a lot of affairs to attend to—these minor details were sometimes more time consuming than tracking down perpetrators.

The director general yawned mightily and smiled. “It’s alright, my body isn’t what it used to be at my age, but I can still stay up all night. Since the dynasty values me highly, then this old man will naturally bend himself to the task and exert himself to the utmost...”

A massive communicator on the table abruptly rang with a piercing notification. Hu Qingfeng frowned slightly. Crouched over a desk not too far away, Deputy Zhou jerked his head up. The communicator that’d just rang was for emergencies. It was a special communication system that consumed vast resources to operate. The system was for first level provincial officials only and connected directly to Skystar Hall!

The director general opened bright eyes and looked at Hu Qingfeng. The man rose without a word and left with his baffled men. Deputy Zhou also made to leave, but the director general pressed his hand down and indicated for the man to stay.

It wasn’t until Hu Qingfeng put some distance between himself and the office that the director general picked up the call. A short report commenced; the call was quickly over. Deputy Zhou’s eyes widened and he looked at his superior with shock.

“The skies to the north...” Director General Zhao breathed out softly. “Have somewhat fallen in. The north is going to descend into disorder!”

Silver Moon was located in the north. An important figure had just died! Someone incredibly important!

How important?

The three provinces that once rebelled were all northern provinces located not too far from Silver Moon. While the mutiny was quelled, unrest continued. A highly placed figure from the dynasty was deployed long ago with the royal family’s blessing to suppress the rebels and oversee the provinces!

He was a notable personage that commanded three provinces worth of armies and kept the region quiet for many years. He killed so many people that no one dared mutter with discontent. He was venerated as the head of the region even after the rise of the supernatural. This person was a very important pillar of the royal family outside the central region!

The Night Watcher system of the three provinces and other supernatural systems were wholly in his grasp. And tonight... he died!

Director General Zhao raised his head to look outside the window. His deputy was likewise amazed. Although they had their speculations... it was still hard to believe when it actually took place!

The three provinces were about to erupt with chaos! That person had killed too many and suppressed the three provinces for so many years that endless resentment festered. He’d been too strong and wielded so much power that grumblings were useless, even though countless people in the three provinces were discontent.

But now, he was dead!

Director General Zhao rubbed his face with rueful resignation. He walked out of the office to where Hu Qingfeng waited. The supernatural hadn’t eavesdropped on the conversation. That kind of action was easily uncovered when it came to classified affairs. Once he was found out, he would be in grave trouble.

“What is it, Director General?” Hu Qingfeng was surprised to see the old man stumbling in a lost daze. Had he received bad news? Was he about to be fired? That would be wonderful! All the old man did was pawn him off from morning to night and never spoke about true business at hand. It was better if he was gone as soon as possible!

The director general started to speak, then stopped. He continued with difficulty, “Special... Special Agent Hu...”

Hu Qingfeng looked at him. Out with it!

“The General of Northern Pacification... is dead!”

Hu Qingfeng blinked. Who was the General of Northern Pacification? A title like that was usually bestowed by the royal family. The nine ministries rarely handed out positions crafted with these words. Thus, he didn’t respond at first.

Upon seeing his lack of a reaction, Deputy Zhou supplemented, “The... governor general of the three provinces!”

Governor general...

Hu Qingfeng shook when he registered the explanation! Incredulity blossomed in his eyes, he didn’t believe it! How was that possible?! How. was. that. possible?!

It wasn’t sorrow or grief, just pure, unadulterated shock. How was the governor general dead?? That was Governor General Kou, the royal family’s spokesperson in the north! The Inspectorate didn’t care whether he lived or died, just that he was a peak Nova!

How was this possible?! He also had countless powerhouses protecting him! It wasn’t possible!

Hu Qingfeng’s worldview was being overturned. The first thought to surface after the shock was that the three northern provinces would erupt with the death of this one. They bordered Silver Moon, would the unrest spread to Silver Moon?

On the other hand, that wasn’t what he was most afraid of. His concern was if nearby powerhouses would be requisitioned to support those three provinces. Hu Qingfeng’s shaking grew worse. Governor General Kou was dead! Who did it? If I’m sent in his stead, I’ll be in real danger next!

......

No sleep was forthcoming for mundanes on this night, it was also elusive for regular supernaturals. It was impossible to find for all of the senior councils and premier powerhouses. This wave of insomnia spread from Silver Moon, rapidly reaching Skystar City more than a million kilometers away!

A bolt from the blue! How did two dead Solars in Silver Moon compare??

......

The next morning.

Li Hao reported to work bright and early. Hao Lianchuan did not return this morning or even last night. He was probably busy handling the deaths of the Solars. Therefore, Li Hao went to work alone this morning.

There was no sign of supernaturals watching him. Not a single one!

The young man set foot through the doors of the Night Watcher headquarters around 8 am. Night Watchers bustled to and fro; some offered a few words of comfort when they saw Li Hao. The young man had been attacked last night, and while he seemed fine, they still wished to express their care and concern.

Investigating the tracks of Red Moon was their greatest mission at the moment. Everyone was busy. There was no longer anything to be wary of when it came to this supernatural organization. It’d suffered heavy losses after a few engagements and the Night Watcher director had easily slain a Red Moon Nova. Agency morale soared at the moment. When they heard that Red Moon had once again attacked Li Hao, they clamored to fully exterminate the organization. People straightened their uniforms and shined their boots, ready to leap into action.

Li Hao paused before walking through the front doors and glanced at the sixth floor. There was nothing to be seen from there before, but a new sensation emanated from it today. He couldn’t look at it directly, a feeling he’d felt when he previously faced Hou Xiaochen. The young man’s eyes sometimes hurt when he looked at the director.

That sensation had been absent for the last couple of days, so Li Hao had guessed that Hou Xiaochen wasn’t at headquarters. But the feeling returned today, so... that meant Hou Xiaochen was back?