157: Chapter 157 The Bait Plan

The alarms outside the villa finally blared belatedly through the night sky, and bright searchlight beams crisscrossed through the darkness, illuminating the area that had just witnessed a brutal slaughter as if it were day.

Lei Zhan, clad in dark green combat mecha and carrying his signature heavy Thunder Blade, led a squad of fully armed Law Enforcement Team warriors as they crashed through the courtyard wall and rushed in.

When he saw the mess of ninja corpses scattered across the ground and Onikiri tied up like a dead dog in a corner, even this iron-blooded instructor, accustomed to mountains of corpses and seas of blood, couldn't help but be stunned.

The message he had originally received was that Lin Fan's side had been attacked, and he had rushed over in a frantic hurry to save him, even preparing for the worst-case scenario of collecting Lin Fan's body. However, the scene before him completely overturned his perception.

How was this an attack site? This was clearly a one-sided slaughterhouse.

"You guys did all this?"

Lei Zhan's gaze swept over Lin Fan and the group of students standing behind him, who, though exhausted, were in high spirits, his eyes filled with suspicion and uncertainty.

He could feel the terrifying fluctuations of Laws lingering in the air that hadn't fully dissipated yet. Those were traces left only by the clashes of Grandmaster Level Experts, and there had been more than one.

"Reporting, Instructor!"

Lin Fan immediately put on a victim's aggrieved expression and gave a standard military salute, though his posture still looked somewhat casual and lazy.

"Those terrorists from Sakura Country snuck in under the cover of night, attempting to carry out an inhumane 'pruning' of us, the flowers of our motherland."

"Fortunately, I usually focus on team building and developed a team buff formation called 'United Hearts.' Everyone worked together with one mind, and we barely managed to save our little lives."

"If you had come a step later, we really would have sacrificed our lives for the country."

As Lin Fan spoke, he inconspicuously handed a pre-falsified statement to Lei Zhan.

That statement detailed the identities and assassination plans of Onikiri and the others, but it specifically omitted key information regarding the 'Abyssal Beacon' and 'Vice Minister Wei,' pointing all fingers solely at Sakura Country.

Lei Zhan took the statement and scanned it, his brow furrowed as he gave Lin Fan a deep look.

As a veteran who had fought on the battlefield for years, he could naturally hear the exaggerations in Lin Fan's words. What kind of team buff formation could allow a group of Martial Masters to counter-kill a Peak Grandmaster? This was practically rubbing his intelligence into the dirt.

But he didn't expose him.

Everyone has their own secrets. As long as Lin Fan's heart was with the human race, it was actually a good thing if his methods were a bit strange.

"Good job,"

Lei Zhan said in a heavy voice, waving his hand to signal the warriors behind him to take Onikiri and the others away.

"The nature of this matter is very severe. The military will investigate it to the end and give you an explanation."

"For the next two days, stay in the villa and don't go anywhere. I will increase the security level here."

However, to Lei Zhan's surprise, Lin Fan shook his head.

"Instructor, I want to apply to enter the Dragon Blood Pool ahead of schedule."

Lin Fan's expression became exceptionally serious, and his eyes even revealed a just-right hint of panic and unease.

"After tonight's scare, I feel that my strength is still too weak. I must improve as soon as possible to have the power to protect myself."

"Moreover, I'm afraid that delay will bring more trouble. In case there's a second wave of assassinations..."

"Only by entering that absolutely closed and safe forbidden land of the Dragon Blood Pool can I break through with peace of mind."

Lei Zhan frowned, instinctively wanting to refuse because opening the Dragon Blood Pool required a complex approval process, and with the current situation unclear, running around was not a wise move.

But looking at Lin Fan's eyes, which seemed sincere but actually hid deep meaning, he suddenly understood something.

This kid was retreating to advance.

In fact, he was beating them at their own game.

The two looked at each other for a few seconds, as if an invisible understanding was flowing in the air.

"Have you thought it through?"

Lei Zhan's voice was very low, audible only to the two of them.

"Wealth is found in danger, after all."

Lin Fan grinned, revealing a row of snowy white teeth.

"Besides, if some dirty things aren't lured out and cleaned up, I won't be able to sleep soundly."

Lei Zhan was silent for a moment, and finally nodded.

"Fine, I will arrange it."

"But remember, the Dragon Blood Pool area is the territory of the General Logistics Department; my hand can't reach in there."

"Once you enter, your life and death are your own responsibility."

"Don't worry, Instructor. I've got a tough life; even the King of Hell wouldn't dare take me."

After seeing off Lei Zhan and the Law Enforcement Team, the villa's gates were closed again.

Lin Fan, who had looked 'terrified' just moments ago, instantly regained his composure. He turned to look at the worried Qin Feng and the others, and snapped his fingers.

"Everyone, enter Grade 1 combat readiness immediately."

"Qin Feng, put away that bitter face. People who don't know better would think I'm going to the execution ground."

As Lin Fan spoke, he opened his system panel, his fingers sliding rapidly across the mall interface.

"Brother Fan, are you really going? This is obviously a trap!"

Qin Feng was so anxious he was stomping his feet. Everyone had heard Onikiri's words clearly just now; that Dragon Blood Pool was currently nothing more than a sacrificial grand array. Going in was just seeking death.

"It's precisely because it's a trap that I have to go."

Lin Fan didn't even look up as he directly spent a full five hundred thousand points to exchange for a set of god-level array materials called [Myriad Phenomena Forest · Modified].

This was a top-tier array set that could reverse-cover and tamper with original array rules. It was also his greatest trump card for daring to go to the meeting alone tonight.

"If I don't go, how will that old fox Vice Minister Wei show his tail?"

"If I don't go, how will that so-called Abyssal Dragon God stick his head out for me to chop?"

As Lin Fan spoke, he distributed the array materials, which emanated terrifying spiritual power fluctuations, to everyone.

"Listen, the code name for this operation is 'All-Out Villains.'"

"I will act as the bait and enter the Dragon Blood Pool alone to attract all their attention."

"Your task is to take these array flags and lie in wait around the perimeter of the underground karst cave where the Dragon Blood Pool is located."

"Remember, keep your movements light. Don't alert anyone."

"When I give the signal, you will all activate the array flags simultaneously and seal off the entire underground cave for me!"

"I want them to have no way to heaven and no door to the earth."

A crazed light flickered in Lin Fan's eyes. It was the excitement of a gambler before going all-in, and also the calmness of a hunter before pulling in the net.

"But Brother Fan, what if..."

Zhao Ji was still a bit uneasy. After all, they might be facing a legendary abyssal existence this time.

"There are no what-ifs."

Lin Fan interrupted him, pulling out that dark red Dragon Blood Pool token from his pocket and tossing it lightly in his hand.

"In business, risk and reward are always proportional."

"They want to use me as a sacrifice to start their feast."

"Then I'll flip their table and turn them all into blind boxes."

"No matter how you calculate it, I'm the one making a profit on this deal."

...

Ten minutes later, Lin Fan dialed Vice Minister Wei's phone number.

From the other end of the phone came Vice Minister Wei's voice, filled with hypocritical concern, as if he were truly an elder caring for a junior.

"Oh, Little Fan, I heard something happened on your end? Are you alright?"

"I was just about to send people over to increase protection."

Lin Fan took a deep breath, his tone full of panic and a craving for power.

"Minister Wei, I'm fine, but I'm very scared..."

"I feel it's not safe here. I want to go to the Dragon Blood Pool now! Only there can I feel safe!"

"Please help me, I want to break through immediately!"

There was a second of silence on the other end, followed by Vice Minister Wei's irrepressible voice of joy.

"Good! Good boy! It's a good thing to have ambition!"

"Since you are so urgent, I will make an exception this once and personally open the Dragon Blood Pool for you."

"Come over now. I'll be waiting for you at the forbidden land in the back mountain of the Tianjiao Camp."