155: Chapter 155 Hunter Headquarters

A flaming meteor streaked across the sky as Lu Chen and his three companions slowly descended on the outskirts of a massive urban complex within the Sakura Country, a place where futuristic technology bizarrely blended with classical garden architecture.

Lu Chen deactivated his Dragon form, and the four landed steadily.

Looking around, towering alloy skyscrapers stood side-by-side with ancient, thousand-year-old pagodas where cherry blossoms drifted down. The streets were packed with people, and Class-Transferers of all skin colors, wearing gear from various nations, hurried past. The air was thick with a busy and powerful international atmosphere.

This was the location of the Hunter Organization headquarters—a true "United Nations" for Class-Transferers.

"So this is the Hunter Headquarters? It truly is magnificent, and it seems... more inclusive than Wuyao City." Yu Linglong's beautiful eyes shifted as she surveyed this peculiar metropolis.

"Inclusivity also means the hidden forces here are complex and tangled. We need to proceed with caution," Lu Sen reminded them with seasoned experience.

Lu Chen nodded, then took out his communicator and contacted Ophelia.

The call was connected almost instantly, and Ophelia's exquisite, slightly Eurasian face appeared on the light screen.

When she saw Lu Chen, her ice-blue eyes instantly lit up with surprise, like a blooming blue rose.

"9527？！ It really is you! You... you came to the headquarters?" Her voice was filled with irrepressible joy, and she even subconsciously stood up from her ornate reception chair.

This scene caused the young man sitting opposite her—who was dressed in an elegant Western knight's ceremonial uniform, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and an arrogant demeanor—to instantly furrow his brows.

He had never seen Ophelia show such a genuine, radiant smile to anyone.

"Yeah, just arrived. Is it convenient?" Lu Chen's tone was calm.

"Convenient! Of course it's convenient! Which entrance are you at? I'm coming over right now!"

Ophelia didn't even bother with etiquette, hurriedly saying "Excuse me" to the prince before walking out quickly like a cheerful lark, leaving behind the prince, whose face had instantly darkened.

"I've never seen Ophelia so happy... Who is it? Who could make the princess I admire lose her composure like this?"

Fred was a prince from the Western Kingdom of Xilan and an elite member of the Hunter Headquarters' "Boundary Patrollers" department. At this moment, jealousy and anger were intertwined in his heart.

He snorted coldly and followed her with a few elite lackeys. He wanted to see which blind fool dared to try and steal his thunder!

At the third entrance on the outskirts of the headquarters, Ophelia arrived in a high-speed hovercar. The door slid open, and she practically jogged up to Lu Chen, her face beaming with a warm smile: "9527! Welcome to the Hunter Headquarters!"

Her gaze swept over Lu Sen, Chen Rou, and Yu Linglong beside Lu Chen. She nodded politely, though when she saw Yu Linglong, whose temperament and beauty were in no way inferior to her own, a trace of imperceptible surprise and scrutiny flashed in her eyes.

Yu Linglong also sized up this fiery, exotic beauty who clearly held a high status, her confusion deepening: "A Boundary Patroller from the Hunter Headquarters? When did Brother Chen get to know such a proud daughter of heaven?"

After a few pleasantries, Lu Chen asked: "Ophelia, has the Wasteland Guardian returned yet?"

Ophelia shook her head, her expression turning slightly serious: "Not yet. The Wasteland Guardian and Guild Leader Tianxiao are both Tier 9 peak-level World Lord BOSS existences. Once they clash, it's hard to determine a victor in a short time, but..."

She changed the subject and looked at Lu Chen meaningfully: "The news that Wuyao City was attacked by the West Sea Overlord has already spread. Guild Leader Tianxiao will likely choose to cease hostilities and return to reinforce it. As for the Wasteland Guardian... it's hard to say if he might also take the opportunity to go to Wuyao City to 'watch the show'."

Lu Chen was slightly stunned upon hearing this; this was a variable he hadn't anticipated.

However, he immediately felt relieved. He never expected the West Sea Overlord alone to be able to topple the deep-rooted Five Elders Association—that was simply unrealistic unless it could call in another Tier 9 World Lord BOSS of the same level!

"No matter." Lu Chen's tone was indifferent.

Seeing that he didn't seem disappointed, Ophelia smiled and offered an invitation: "Are you looking to join our Hunter Headquarters? With your strength and potential, you could absolutely enter the 'Boundary Patrollers' core team directly! The benefits and resources are top-tier, and I can be your referral!"

Her eyes were full of anticipation; if she could become teammates with such a Prodigy, it would undoubtedly be a huge boost.

Lu Chen, however, shook his head: "You misunderstood. I'm not here to join."

"Ah?" Ophelia was taken aback.

"I'm here to discuss a partnership with the Hunter Headquarters," Lu Chen said with a light chuckle.

"A... partnership?" Ophelia was completely bewildered.

Discussing a partnership with the behemoth that was the Hunter Headquarters?

Just then, a voice filled with sarcasm and arrogance rang out abruptly: "Hmph! Such brazen words! A green kid like you thinks you're qualified to discuss a partnership with our Hunter Headquarters? That's the funniest joke I've heard all year!"

Everyone turned to see Prince Fred walking over with four fierce-looking lackeys.

He lifted his chin slightly, looking Lu Chen up and down with a gaze that scrutinized him like trash.

"Fred, what are you doing here? This has nothing to do with you!" Ophelia's pretty face darkened, and she said with displeasure.

Fred walked straight up to Lu Chen with an arrogant posture: "Kid, which corner of the world did you crawl out from? How dare you spout nonsense here and pester Ophelia?"

Lu Chen couldn't even be bothered to lift his eyelids, asking indifferently: "Who are you?"

"Hmph! Listen well!" Fred puffed out his chest, looking full of superiority: "I am the first heir to the Kingdom of Xilan, Prince Fred! I am also an official member of the Hunter Headquarters' 'Boundary Patrollers' and a Tier 7 Holy Knight! Now, do you know who you're talking to?"

He announced his name, expecting to see awe or panic on the other party's face. He sneered in his heart: Ophelia only belongs to a proud son of heaven like me. A wild kid like you, who knows where you came from, thinks you're worthy of competing with me?

However, Lu Chen's reaction was just a bland "Oh," as if he had heard the name of some "random passerby." He then directly ignored him and continued speaking to Ophelia: "Please, take me to meet your higher-ups who can make decisions."

This complete disregard was harder for the arrogant prince to bear than any mockery!

"Bastard! How dare you ignore me?!" Fred was instantly enraged, feeling a deep humiliation, especially in front of Ophelia.

The power of Holy Light surged within his body, and he reached out to grab Lu Chen's shoulder, attempting to teach him a lesson: "Get on your knees and apologize to me!"

"Fred, don't!" Ophelia cried out in alarm.

She knew Lu Chen's strength was terrifying!

But her warning came too late.

The moment Fred's palm was about to touch Lu Chen's shoulder—

Lu Chen's gaze turned icy cold!

Everyone felt a blur before their eyes; no one had seen Lu Chen's move at all!

Only a dull "thud" was heard!

Lu Chen's figure moved like a phantom, sidestepping and closing in. With a seemingly casual yet lightning-fast side kick, he struck Prince Fred precisely on his left kidney area!

"Ugh—!" The arrogance on Fred's face instantly froze, replaced by extreme pain and disbelief. His whole body, as if hit by a speeding truck, arched and flew backward for over ten meters. He slammed heavily onto the ground, rolling several times before stopping, his eyes rolling back as he passed out cold.

That ornate knight's ceremonial uniform was covered in dust, making him look utterly pathetic.

Silence! A deathly silence!

The four lackeys hadn't even reacted yet before their Prince had been knocked out in an instant!

Lu Chen slowly retracted his leg, his tone indifferent, as if he had just swatted away a fly: "Noisy!"

Ophelia covered her small mouth, her ice-blue eyes wide open. Although she guessed that Fred would suffer, she hadn't expected Lu Chen to be so clean and efficient, taking out a Tier 7 Holy Knight with a single kick!

This strength... it was just too terrifying!

A brighter gleam appeared in Yu Linglong's eyes, and a faint, imperceptible smile curled the corners of her mouth.

Lu Sen and Chen Rou exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of helplessness and pride—their son's temper was certainly spirited!

Lu Chen didn't even look at the unconscious prince, and spoke once more to the still-shocked Ophelia with a light smile: "Let's go! Take me to meet your higher-ups!"