321: There is one more person

Another duel?

This Zhao Tianyang really is a battle maniac.

"Director Li." Wen Yan's voice turned a bit colder. "You should know that in the official business of 'Fangs', there is no such word as 'no'."

"I understand! I completely understand!" Director Li's voice sounded anxious. "But this really isn't something we can decide. This duel is something Student Zhao has been looking forward to for a long time, and the opponent is... also quite extraordinary."

Wen Yan's interest was piqued instead.

Who could be the opponent that would make "Asura" so serious, even to the point of turning down an inquiry from "Fangs"?

"Who is the opponent?" he asked casually.

Director Li seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if confirming whether this information could be disclosed.

Finally, he said it.

"The challengers are two people."

"Lin Yu and Lin Yao."

"If you have business, we can schedule a time after tomorrow, ah..."

"Although that duel won't be open to the public, according to Zhao Tianyang's contract, observations can be made within the Firmament. If you're interested, I can reserve a spot for you."

...Boom!

Wen Yan's mind felt as if it had been hit directly by a bomb.

Lin Yao?

Is it that Mythical-grade profession, his other subject of investigation, Lin Yao?

And that... Lin Yu?

Lin Yao's brother?

These two are going to challenge Zhao Tianyang?

No.

That's not right.

Two Mythic Rank Professionals.

Tomorrow.

In the same place.

Having a fight!

Countless fragmented pieces of information collided wildly in his mind, then pieced themselves together in a way he completely couldn't understand.

He had even mentally prepared himself to deal with various factions and engage in a battle of wits with those old monsters.

And the result?

The result was that his mission targets, the two biggest suspects, had made an appointment for a time and place themselves, preparing to fight first?

And he could even observe their skills on-site?

What the hell kind of operation is this?!

Isn't this investigation difficulty a bit too simple?

So simple that he found it absurd!

So simple that he felt it was a complete scam!

A thought, like lightning, suddenly sliced through his chaotic thoughts.

Zhong Huai.

That man who leaned lazily against the armored vehicle with a face saying "none of my business".

His line about "I'll show you a clear path".

And Commander-in-Chief Qin Zhan's overly calm posture.

They... did they already know?!

Wen Yan's body trembled violently.

He felt like a fool, a fool played like a fiddle by the higher-ups while thinking he was shouldering a heavy responsibility.

This wasn't some kind of test.

This was clearly a freebie!

The Commander-in-Chief and Senior Zhong Huai had spoon-fed him the answers, just to see if he could swallow them himself!

"Officer Wen? Officer Wen? Are you still listening?"

Director Li's anxious calls through the communicator pulled Wen Yan's thoughts back.

Wen Yan closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, all the shock, absurdity, and confusion had turned into a helpless sense of being caught between laughter and tears.

He picked up the communicator and said in an unusually calm tone that even he found unfamiliar.

"I see."

"I will personally be there to observe tomorrow's duel."

"Reserve the best spot for 'Fangs'."

After speaking, he hung up the communication directly.

The entire Data Center fell into dead silence once more.

Wen Yan leaned against the cold back of the chair and let out a long, long breath.

In that breath, there was the relief of a burden lifted, but also the frustration of being played for a fool.

He looked at the two side-by-side files on the screen and the notice that had just popped up below regarding tomorrow's duel at the "Organization".

His mission.

It had changed from "finding the triggerer of the Divine Revelation Mission among tens of millions and representing the country against global pressure" to... going to the scene to watch a high school brawl.

Wen Yan raised his hand and covered his face.

He felt that this job had suddenly become a bit surreal.

After a long time.

He lowered his hand, stood up from the chair, and picked up his coat draped over the back.

The work was finished.

All that remained was to go to the scene tomorrow and confirm whether that world-destroying thunder came from the hands of "Asura" or someone else.

Although he felt the answer was already pretty much settled.

He turned and walked out of the Data Center.

Just as he was about to walk out the door, he suddenly stopped and picked up the internal communicator, tuning it to a channel he originally thought he wouldn't contact again for a short time.

The communication connected.

Zhong Huai's characteristic lazy tone with a hint of being punch-worthy came through.

"Yo, isn't this our great hero, Comrade Wen Yan?"

"What, found the person? Quite efficient."

Wen Yan was silent for a moment.

He spoke, word by word.

"Senior Zhong Huai."

"Those two Mythics..."

"They're having a fight tomorrow."

One second.

Two seconds.

Ten seconds.

Finally, some movement came through the communicator.

Not a voice.

But a faint sound of fabric rubbing.

As if the person who had been leaning against the vehicle finally changed their posture.

Or... stood up straight.

"Heh."

A very light, ambiguous monosyllable came from the receiver.

Immediately following was Zhong Huai's still lazy but strangely toned voice.

"Not bad, Wen Yan."

"Good efficiency."

Wen Yan didn't respond. He couldn't gauge the other's meaning.

"This is good then." Zhong Huai's voice carried a hint of inexplicable... regret?

"Two Mythic Ranks confronting each other, the energy fluctuations definitely won't be hidden. Who triggered 'Divine Revelation' will be clear as day after tomorrow."

"Your mission is considered completed ahead of schedule."

"Good job."

"If I knew it was this simple, I would have taken the credit myself, sigh."

The last sentence was almost squeezed out from between his teeth.

Wen Yan's body relaxed inexplicably for a moment.

So, Zhong Huai could feel regret too.

"Senior, it's not just the two of them."

Wen Yan felt it was necessary to finish his words.

"There is one more person."

"Lin Yu."

...The communicator fell into absolute silence once again.

This silence was completely different from before.

If the previous silence was the calm before the storm, then this dead silence was a vacuum where even the wind was frozen.

The man who had been leaning lazily against the armored vehicle froze completely for the first time.

Lin Yu?

Which Lin Yu?

Which other Lin Yu could it be!

The 'examinee' who had given him such a headache these past few days, making him rack his brains about how to set the questions!

Lin Yu, Lin Yu, why is he everywhere.

Oh... that's right!

Lin Yu's younger sister is that Mythical-grade profession!

Then it's fine.

Zhong Huai suddenly remembered this fact he had already forgotten.