84: Chapter 84 Everyone fears him like a tiger

"You must take good care of him. If he gets even the slightest injury, I will absolutely not forgive you!"

"Big brother, be careful. If you see a magical beast, run away immediately!"

At the front door, Lin Duo and her mother watched Lin Fan leave with Aunt Mi Xue and Yao Dong, offering repeated reminders.

Lin Fan turned back, waving with a smile, promising that he would be careful and telling them not to worry.

"Got it, got it. I'll keep an eye on him."

Aunt Mi Xue waved her hand impatiently, then sat in the back seat with Lin Fan, while Yao Dong took the wheel.

The car immediately drove away from the city outskirts, heading toward the Tide Expedition Team's base.

A few dozen minutes later, the car stopped in front of a three-story building; this was the base of the Tide Expedition Team.

Lin Fan saw four trucks parked outside the building.

After asking Yao Dong, he learned that these trucks were used to transport them to the target location outside Baiyun City.

The three of them got out of the car and walked toward the trucks.

At the same time, the other members of the expedition team also walked out of the building one after another.

"The youngest little guy has arrived. We can set off now."

"Lin Fan, don't be afraid. Once we're outside, you can follow behind me. We'll protect you, just don't run around."

"Don't underestimate him. Didn't we talk about his performance on his first mission? This kid isn't like those weak newcomers; he's even killed a magical beast with his own hands."

The team members greeted each other while discussing things.

Many were wearing protective gear, clearly already prepared and just waiting for Lin Fan's arrival.

Everyone began boarding the trucks, with each truck seating up to six people.

Lin Fan rode in the same one as four others.

Yao Dong drove, and a rugged man sat in the passenger seat.

Lin Fan sat in the back row with Aunt Mi Xue and another team member.

"Are you nervous?"

Aunt Mi Xue turned her head to look at Lin Fan, a playful smile on her lips.

"A little."

Lin Fan answered truthfully.

"Haha, that's normal. Don't worry, there are a lot of people this time, so you won't have to do anything dangerous."

The rugged man laughed.

"Besides our team, are there other teams?"

Lin Fan asked, feigning confusion.

In reality, he had known for a long time, having heard it from Fang Lu when he was playing the role of Mr. Chen.

"Of course. Depending on the strength and number of magical beasts in the target area, we will join forces with other expedition teams to surround and annihilate them."

"This time we are cooperating with two other teams, so you don't have to worry at all. You might not even have to lift a finger."

Yao Dong explained.

"Oh, I see."

Lin Fan nodded.

The convoy had already set off, with the four trucks moving in a single file at a steady speed.

Lin Fan looked at Aunt Mi Xue beside him.

Ever since getting into the car, she had been silent, as if she were asleep.

Aunt Mi Xue seemed to sense his gaze and opened her eyes to look at him:

"What? Have you fallen in love with your aunt? It doesn't matter, though; we aren't blood-related. I'm just your mother's friend."

Aunt Mi Xue smiled in a charming and flirtatious way.

Yao Dong and the other two men were already used to their captain's personality and showed no reaction.

Lin Fan, however, blushed slightly and quickly gathered his thoughts; he had serious business to ask about.

"I want to ask about something."

Lin Fan spoke up.

Aunt Mi Xue raised an eyebrow.

She hadn't expected Lin Fan to adapt to her teasing so quickly and stop acting flustered, so she couldn't help but click her tongue lightly.

"You're becoming less and less cute. Go ahead, what do you want to ask?"

She relaxed her body and leaned back against the seat.

Lin Fan hesitated for a moment, then asked:

"What is the Dark Alliance?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the truck fell into a deathly silence.

Lin Fan clearly felt the atmosphere inside the carriage tighten abruptly.

The truck was still moving, but everyone's gaze fell squarely upon him.

Yao Dong stared at him through the rearview mirror, his eyes wide open and filled with shock.

The rugged man turned around directly, looking at him with a scorching gaze.

Aunt Mi Xue and the other team member beside her also had gazes that became incredibly sharp.

A few seconds of silence made Lin Fan start to wonder if he shouldn't have asked that question.

Finally, after being stared at for a long time, Aunt Mi Xue broke the silence.

"Lin Fan, why are you asking about the Dark Alliance?"

Aunt Mi Xue's tone was sharp, completely different from her previous playfulness or indifference toward alliance personnel; it was filled with suspicion and vigilance.

Lin Fan: "..."

So serious? He became even more curious about what the Dark Alliance actually was.

However, for now, he had to provide a reasonable explanation.

"Uh, I heard some kids at the academy talking about the disappearances. One of them said that their parents were talking in private about how the Dark Alliance did it."

Lin Fan made up a reason.

"I am so clever." He thought to himself, feeling proud.

"Is that so?"

Aunt Mi Xue narrowed her eyes and stared at Lin Fan for a few more seconds.

Seeing his look of confusion and innocence, she sighed softly and relaxed.

"This kid doesn't know anything; what was I thinking just now?"

Aunt Mi Xue reproached herself internally, her expression returning to normal.

The others were the same, clearly realizing that Lin Fan really knew nothing about it.

"Sorry, Lin Fan, I misunderstood you just now. If your mother finds out, she will definitely scold me. You shouldn't mention this to her, okay?"

Aunt Mi Xue flashed a charming smile, trying to charm Lin Fan.

Lin Fan rolled his eyes.

This was already the second time Aunt Mi Xue had asked him to keep something from his mother; what an unreliable adult!

"We are also sorry, Lin Fan. We shouldn't have suspected you."

Yao Dong and the other two quickly apologized as well.

"Alright, but you still haven't answered my question."

Lin Fan reminded them.

"The Dark Alliance..." A look of intense disgust flashed in Aunt Mi Xue's eyes as she spoke slowly, "They are a group of cruel scum, the dregs of the mages, and enemies of the whole world."

"It's an organization that does evil for the sake of doing evil—a bunch of lunatics. Everyone hates them, but no one dares to provoke them easily."

"Lin Fan, no matter what, do not go looking for them."

"People who try to get close to the Dark Alliance never end well. Even those related to their targets will be implicated. This is for your own good."

"As for what your classmate's parents said... If the Dark Alliance is really plotting these disappearances, then Baiyun City is in danger."

Aunt Mi Xue's tone was incredibly heavy.

Aunt Mi Xue's explanation of the Dark Alliance took Lin Fan by surprise.

"So, the Dark Alliance is like a terrorist organization that must never be provoked, and its influence is extremely strong."

"Anyone who dares to investigate them will undoubtedly die if caught, and even those close to them will be implicated."

Lin Fan noted this silently in his heart.

He wanted to ask for more details, but Aunt Mi Xue urged him that if he could avoid this matter, he should.

She hoped that Lin Fan would never have anything to do with the Dark Alliance in his entire life.

Seeing that Aunt Mi Xue did not want to continue this topic, Lin Fan decided to let it go for now and investigate on his own later.

He was fully confident that no one could find out that he was Chen Ping.

Therefore, even if the Dark Alliance was being secretly investigated by his second identity, he was not afraid in the slightest.