177: Chapter 177 It's just catching a thunder beast, a piece of cake!

Su Ming returned to the top-floor suite of Heaven on Earth.

Power had been restored across the city, and the luxurious crystal chandelier in the room shone brightly enough to blind anyone.

He went straight to the bathroom to take a shower.

Then, Su Ming immediately logged into the military intranet. The top priority was buying clothes.

Ordinary fabrics simply couldn't withstand his usage.

He placed an order overnight for two sets of Tier 6 general-purpose combat suits.

He didn't care about the cut, the design, or the comfort; there was only one requirement.

Absolutely durable and tear-resistant.

With tens of thousands of military merit points spent, Su Ming didn't even blink.

After handling the clothing issue, he ordered a table full of expensive Source Beast meat for a feast, watching the rainy scenery outside the window as he ate.

"That kid, Ye Xiao, probably won't be able to sleep tonight." Su Ming swallowed a piece of steak and mumbled vaguely.

Regarding Ye Xiao taking the fall, Su Ming didn't feel the slightest bit guilty. What are brothers for? Aren't they meant to be scapegoats at critical moments like this?

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng was cold on the outside but warm on the inside; he just followed protocol.

Ye Xiao was, after all, a Young Master of the Ye family in the Magic City, and his talent was undeniable.

Once the military verified that he had nothing to do with the power outage, he would be out within three days.

If he went to the City Defense Army to demand his release right now, Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng would immediately pin the account of last night's power outage on him.

Let the bullets fly for a while.

Just then, there was a knock on the suite door.

Su Ming opened the door.

Standing outside was a middle-aged man wearing a dark-patterned Tang suit.

His temples were slightly grey, he was twirling two shiny walnuts in his hand, and his face wore a smile that one couldn't find fault with.

He was Zhou Kui, the president of the Jiangcheng Gold Sand Association and the true mastermind behind Heaven on Earth.

"Student Su, I am truly sorry for disturbing you so late."

Zhou Kui took the opportunity to pull a beautifully packaged box of cigarettes from his pocket, extracted one, and held it out.

"I am the owner of this club, Zhou Kui."

Su Ming waved his hand.

Zhou Kui didn't feel awkward; he naturally put the cigarette away and continued, "I heard a report from my subordinates about tonight's events. That friend of yours, Student Su, was taken away by Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng himself. The military moved too fast, and my people couldn't find a chance to come up and inform you. Young Master Ye... didn't have any mental preparation."

"Oh?" Su Ming raised an eyebrow. "Boss Zhou, you are very well-informed."

"When you run a business, your ears have to be sharp." Zhou Kui turned sideways, guiding Su Ming toward the lounge.

"The commotion of the entire city of Jiangcheng losing power tonight was truly terrifying."

Zhou Kui paused. "I actually thought a thunder-type Source Beast had snuck into the city to absorb electricity."

Su Ming became interested and asked, "Boss Zhou, have you seen a Source Beast?"

"Yes. I have a trading company, and I just returned to Jiangcheng tonight. I went to the Western Frontier for business these past two days. Coincidentally, while passing by Source Abyss No. 7, I encountered a violent Source Beast."

Su Ming was delighted.

Isn't this just a coincidence!

Someone has to take the blame, and I think a Source Beast is just perfect!

This pillow was delivered at exactly the right time.

If I catch this thing and throw it in front of Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng, the account for the power outage will be settled.

"Boss Zhou is right!" Su Ming said with conviction.

"Although my brother has some peculiar habits, he is definitely a Law-abiding citizen. This power outage must have been caused by a Source Beast!"

"By the way, Boss Zhou, what tier is that Source Beast? Was it still near Source Abyss No. 7 when you left?"

"Judging by its size and Source Energy fluctuations, at least Tier 6."

"It should still be there. We didn't dare to stay long when we left; we were protected by Hunter escorts the whole way."

Tier 6.

Su Ming silently did the math.

How many mass points would a Tier 6 Source Beast be worth if swallowed...

It turns out this is a two-in-one scapegoat and mobile ATM, delivered right to his door.

Seeing that Su Ming had no intention of chatting further, Zhou Kui stood up to leave.

"As for Young Master Ye, he will be released soon after the military clarifies the truth. To express my apologies, tonight's expenses for this Imperial Suite will be waived."

"Oh my, Boss Zhou, you are too kind!" Su Ming immediately put on an extremely enthusiastic smile. "That's so embarrassing."

Zhou Kui nodded and smiled.

"Then please extend my stay for another week!" Su Ming said righteously. "I'm the type of person who is particular about my bed; I've gotten used to this one and don't want to change it."

The corners of Zhou Kui's mouth twitched a few times.

The Imperial Suite cost at least 100,000 per day; extending it for a week was like cutting into his flesh.

"Fine." Zhou Kui gritted his teeth and squeezed out the word. "As long as Student Su is happy staying here."

His back looked a bit hurried as he left.

After closing the door, Su Ming picked up his terminal and found Instructor Ying Wuhen's contact information.

"Instructor Ying Wuhen, are you asleep?"

Immediate reply: "No."

"Has there been a Tier 6 Source Beast appearing near Source Abyss No. 7 in the Western Frontier recently?"

Two minutes later.

"Yes, a Thunder-Horned Rhinoceros."

"Thank you, Instructor Ying Wuhen."

There was no further message from the other side.

The intelligence matched.

Su Ming put down the terminal.

He collapsed onto the large bed.

Sleepiness immediately engulfed him.

The next day.

Su Ming was woken up by a phone call.

"Brother Su, are you awake?" Lang Qingyun's hearty laughter came through.

"Instructor Lang Qingyun!"

"Your admission gift has arrived. Where are you? I'll have someone send it over."

Su Ming gave the address.

Twenty minutes later, he put on the new Tier 6 combat suit that arrived this morning and went downstairs.

In the lobby, an instructor in an Eastern Lingyun Academy uniform was already waiting there.

He was holding a silver-blue space bracelet.

"Student Su, you are young and promising, a truly talented individual!"

The instructor couldn't help but exclaim as he looked at the pitch-black combat suit exuding a terrifying aura.

"You flatter me, Instructor."

Su Ming took the bracelet, sent the instructor off, found an open space, and activated it.

Boom!

A streamlined heavy aircraft appeared out of thin air.

It featured an interlocking deep light blue and silver-white paint job.

The Wings of the Firmament emblem was printed on both sides of the wings.

Faint blue Source Energy array patterns shimmered at the engine nozzles.

It came with a standard short-range space jump engine.

Lang Qingyun had really gone all out this time.

Su Ming didn't even look at the manual and tossed it aside.

He couldn't help it; people from the Dragon Kingdom didn't have that habit.

Su Ming walked into the cockpit along the boarding ladder.

The holographic projection screen lit up.

The AI's voice followed, its tone calm: "Commander, initialization complete. Please name the craft."

"Just call it Little Thunder."

"Naming successful. Where would you like to go, Commander?"

"Let's go to the City Defense Army headquarters first."

Jiangcheng City Defense Army Headquarters.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng, with dark circles under his eyes, was sitting at his desk dealing with the mess left by last night's power outage.

A low sonic boom came from outside the window.

The glass in the building trembled.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng jumped up and slammed the window open.

A top-tier fighter jet was hovering in the courtyard.

What the hell happened again?

He felt like he was having a nervous breakdown.

The cabin door opened, and Su Ming, wearing his pitch-black Tier 6 combat suit, strolled down.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng's blood pressure rose a few notches.

Whenever this kid Su Ming showed up, it was never for anything good.

Su Ming pushed open the door to Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng's office.

"Brother Chu, morning!"

"Su Ming." Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng said with a cold face, getting straight to the point. "Did you steal that 500,000-volt extra-high voltage last night?"

"I don't know! I didn't see it! It wasn't me!" Su Ming shook his head like a rattle.

"What about that A-grade gravitational anomaly pulse in the ruins north of the city? The entire Jiangcheng city only has you carrying gravity Law fluctuations; if it wasn't you, who was it?"

"Brother Chu, this is pure slander and frame-up!"

Su Ming spread his hands with a look of grievance. "Even when a person farts, it carries some gravitational fluctuations. Does that have to be reported to the military in advance? Don't just throw labels around without evidence; that's called defamation!"

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng's temples throbbed; he had absolutely no temper left for him.

He waved his hand irritably.

"Then why are you here?"

"Take me to see Ye Xiao."

City Defense Army basement, first floor, temporary detention room.

The iron door opened.

Ye Xiao was huddled in the corner on a hard bed, wearing blue striped shorts, with a bathrobe draped over his upper body.

His eyes were lifeless as he stared at the wall, muttering like he was possessed:

"I'm not a pervert, I was just listening to the thunder to comprehend the Dao..."

Seeing Su Ming enter, his eyes lit up, immediately followed by being overwhelmed with grievance.

Su Ming stepped forward quickly, pointing at him through the iron bars with a look of grief and indignation:

"Look at you! You're so young and you're not learning anything good! Why did you go to a place like that? Do you have any consideration for the people of Jiangcheng?!"

Ye Xiao's voice was hoarse: "...I went to listen to the thunder and comprehend the Dao."

"Does listening to the thunder and comprehending the Dao require dressing like that?!"

Su Ming turned to Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng with a heavy tone:

"Brother Chu, although he committed a mistake that all men in the world would make, don't execute Ye Xiao yet! Give him a chance to turn over a new leaf!"

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng shuddered, looking at Su Ming as if he were looking at a madman:

"It's just a standard procedure to release him; it hasn't reached the point of execution."

"Uh... I know who the real culprit who absorbed the electricity last night is! I'll go catch them to atone for his crimes, and we can wipe the slate clean regarding Ye Xiao!"

Ye Xiao in the cell was stunned.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng was also stunned: "Who is the culprit?"

Su Ming slowly pushed up the non-existent glasses frame on the bridge of his nose, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"There is only one truth!"

"You guys wait properly; I will definitely bring that Source Beast that is plaguing Jiangcheng to justice!"

"Is it really a Source Beast?"

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng looked at Su Ming suspiciously.

He didn't know what kind of trick he was playing again.

Ye Xiao's eyes turned red.

His Dao Heart was almost shattered, and finally, he didn't have to be the scapegoat anymore.

Su Ming looked at his face, put away the joke, walked to the railing, and softened his tone.

"Little Ye, don't blame yourself too much. To err is human."

"???"

Ye Xiao looked up at him blankly.

"Besides, what you did isn't a mistake at all, just an embarrassing moment."

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng: "..."

Ye Xiao's expression was complex, jumping back and forth between gratitude and wanting to throw a punch.

"Taking a step back... you are still a child, just not fully developed yet. This isn't embarrassing."

The detention room was silent for three seconds.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng turned around, covered his face with one hand, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Ye Xiao's bitter face completely collapsed.

He gritted his teeth and said:

"Surname Su, you are really good at consoling people!"

"I beg you, don't console me next time. I feel even worse now than when I was just brought in!"

Su Ming tapped the railing and turned to walk out.

"Stay here and reflect honestly. Brother is going to catch you a Source Beast to have as a side dish for your drink, and clear your name at the same time."

"Who wants to eat a Source Beast as a side dish!! Get out of here right now!!"

Su Ming jumped onto the Thunder fighter jet.

"Little Thunder, target Source Abyss No. 7 in the Western Frontier."

The light blue fighter jet turned into a streak of light, tearing through the clouds, and roared away.