264: When did he become so responsible?

Zhong Huai pushed open the alloy gate leading out of the park, and a gust of cool night air blew in.

Outside the gate, over a dozen menacing black armored vehicles were parked silently, their red and blue warning lights rotating in the night without making a sound.

Further away, dozens of fully armed Fangs members had already set up a blockade, tightly surrounding two figures in the center.

It was an absolute silence.

No shouting, no warnings—only a steely silence.

Every member stood like a statue, yet the weapons in their hands emitted a dangerous aura that could tear everything apart at any moment.

Lin Yu's footsteps paused for a moment.

These people... were different from any armed forces he had seen before.

They weren't ordinary police, nor even regular soldiers.

The murderous intent they exuded was so condensed it was almost tangible, something that could only be honed by repeatedly rolling through life-and-death situations.

Being surrounded by such a group, even a battle maniac like Zhao Tianyang would probably have to think twice.

And Zhong Huai, whom he had thought was just a grassroots officer, was standing straight by his side, as if this unit that could make any Professionals tremble was merely his private army.

This guy's status isn't low at all.

Lin Yu understood clearly, and as he looked back at the scene, there was a bit more interest in his eyes, as if watching a play.

In the center of the encirclement, Yan Xing and the dark figure's bodies were already tensed like fully drawn bows.

One of Yan Xing's hands was resting seemingly casually on his waist, but his fingertips were actually touching an inconspicuous emblem—it was an emergency teleportation beacon for the Abyss Domain.

Beside him, the dark figure's entire silhouette was slightly distorting, as if he could turn into a real pool of shadow and merge into the ground at any moment.

The pressure was too great.

On one hand, these people were quite powerful; on the other hand, the items they held were probably more important than their lives.

Just at this tense moment, an old and anxious figure walked quickly from the other side.

"Oh my! Captain Zhong! What's going on here?"

Old Shi had a look of deep distress, as if he had just received the news and rushed over as a well-meaning person to put out the fire.

He first waved his hands repeatedly toward Zhong Huai, putting on a persuasive look of "don't be impulsive."

Then, his gaze "happened" to sweep over Lin Yu, who was beside Zhong Huai.

Old Shi froze for a moment, an appropriately timed look of shock and confusion appearing on his face.

"Pre... President Lin? Why are you... why are you with Captain Zhong?"

The performance was practically perfect.

If Li Mo hadn't tipped him off in advance, Lin Yu would have almost believed it.

Old Shi was already overjoyed in his heart.

Everything was in place!

The Fangs, the Abyss Domain people, and Lin Yu, the biggest variable!

They were all pulled together by a single thread he held!

He had originally been worried about how to make Lin Yu enter the game naturally, but he hadn't expected Zhong Huai to invite him directly!

Heaven is helping me!

For tonight's grand play, he could finally step back from the front stage to behind the scenes and steadily be a spectator stirring up the storm!

Old Shi was secretly pleased, but on the surface, he looked worried as he walked quickly to the two of them.

"Captain Zhong, President Lin, what exactly is going on? Is there some misunderstanding?"

Zhong Huai ignored him completely.

He didn't even make an extra movement, walking directly past Old Shi as if this big figure who called the shots in the Alliance's decision-making layer was just a puff of air not worth noticing.

Old Shi, left standing there, had his "worried" face freeze instantly.

His hand, which he had reached out to mediate, hung awkwardly in mid-air; he didn't know whether to withdraw it or keep it there.

The surrounding Fangs members all looked straight ahead, as if they hadn't seen anything, but that invisible atmosphere of collective disregard was more stinging than any direct insult.

The wrinkles on Old Shi's face tightened.

Good one, Zhong Huai! Good one, Fangs!

Anger surged in his heart, but on the surface, he had to maintain that look of someone considering the big picture, slowly and very unnaturally withdrawing his hand.

This was intentional on Zhong Huai's part, expressing a bit of dissatisfaction for being left hanging just now.

After walking past Old Shi, he went straight to an officer wearing a different armband; that person was clearly the commander of the patrol team responsible for the initial interception.

"What's the situation?" Zhong Huai asked directly.

The officer, seeing the general's star on Zhong Huai's shoulder, immediately straightened up and reported loudly: "Reporting, sir! Fifteen minutes ago, the Customs Intelligence Department sent an emergency notification, detecting an undeclared over-spec energy source moving through Transport Route 3! We are the first responders and immediately intercepted the target upon arrival!"

Customs Intelligence Department?

Zhong Huai's knuckles lightly tapped his tactical belt.

When did those intelligence guys become so well-informed? And they just happened to be able to kick the ball precisely to his Fangs squad that was passing by?

A coincidence?

Coincidence my ass.

This was clearly someone calculating the time and location, handing over a knife.

"Damn it," Zhong Huai cursed under his breath. It wasn't loud, but the officer beside him heard it clearly.

"Captain... Captain Zhong, this..." The officer looked worried and nervous. "The other party is from the Abyss Domain, their identity is sensitive, and the energy level of the items they're carrying is too high. We... we don't dare to handle it without authorization. What should we do?"

What to do?

Following the rules would be a massive headache.

Zhong Huai turned sideways and announced in an unquestionable tone to the officer and all non-Fangs personnel present.

"The situation is exceptional."

"This matter has a special record at Military Headquarters and is part of a high-level military operation."

His words were clear and steady, carrying a natural persuasiveness.

"Now, my Fangs Fourth Squad will take full control of the scene."

"All relevant records and communication logs are classified as SSS-level secrets and are to be sealed on-site."

"Your mission is complete. You've done well. Now, take your men and evacuate the scene immediately."

Zhong Huai's words only meant one thing.

The water here is too deep; you guys can't handle it.

There are people above on this; don't worry about it.

The officer was stunned at first, but then he seemed to drop a massive burden, and his whole body relaxed.

A record at Military Headquarters? A high-level military operation?

So they were on the same side!

He immediately showed great respect and snapped to attention.

"Yes, sir! Mission guaranteed to be completed!"

With that, he didn't hesitate at all, turning around and gesturing to his subordinates. The group quickly and orderly evacuated the scene, as if afraid that staying a second longer would get them dragged into something incredible.

In the blink of an eye, only Zhong Huai and his own people remained outside the tense blockade.

As well as Old Shi, whose face had completely collapsed.

And those two Visitors from the Abyss Domain who had remained highly alert from beginning to end, but were now full of confusion.

Beside Zhong Huai, a Fangs member who hadn't spoken until now was completely dumbfounded.

His name was Li Mingyang, Zhong Huai's second-in-command, who had followed him for five years.

He knew better than anyone that any bullshit about a "Military Headquarters record" or "high-level military operation" was all made up by the Captain on the spot!

But the Captain... he didn't even blink, using a fabricated reason to trick all the Customs and patrol team people into leaving.

Then, he announced he was taking full control.

What did this mean?

It meant that from now on, everything that happened here would be completely suppressed by him in the name of the Fangs!

No reporting, no recording, no public disclosure.

Just act as if... nothing ever happened.

Li Xiang's head was buzzing.

These were high-level Professionals from the Abyss Domain! This was a strategic-grade storage ring! This was a major event enough to trigger diplomatic storms and military conflicts!

The Captain... he was going to shoulder this massive matter alone?

Why?

Since when did he become such a responsible person?!