46: Salty Fish Law Firm

The central district of Magic City.

Outside a small storefront sandwiched between a martial arts hall and an entertainment venue.

Lin Yan looked up at the large characters on the doorplate, his mouth twitching slightly.

Salted Fish Law Firm.

Was it really this much of an eyesore?

The small door opened.

A simple and tidy interior layout came into view.

"Let's go."

Duan Tiancheng led him inside with practiced familiarity.

"They went through the back door."

"Take a seat anywhere."

Lin Yan found a random spot and sat down.

"Shop Principles:"

"1. If nothing's wrong, don't come looking for trouble."

"2. If something's wrong, don't come looking for us; we're busy."

He looked at the opposite wall, falling into a brief silence.

Very good, very 'salted fish'.

If this kind of disguise technique were used on his past life's Earth, it would be recognized by a villain within days.

Duan Tiancheng poured a glass of water and handed it to Lin Yan, whose complexion was gradually returning to a healthy red.

"Kid."

"You've achieved a great merit this time."

"A Dark Cultist Extreme Seat."

"This is the first one to be captured alive in many years."

Lin Yan smiled, took the water, and had a sip.

Duan Tiancheng thought for a moment and patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't overthink things."

"From what I know of the Speaker, they won't try to pry into your secrets."

Lin Yan was slightly stunned, then nodded slowly.

As expected, none of them were people who could be easily fooled.

But conversely...

This was also his first time testing the waters with the upper echelons of the Dragon Kingdom.

Time passed.

Before he knew it...

The physical trauma Lin Yan had suffered from the activation of his protection mechanism had completely recovered.

"Ding-dong."

Duan Tiancheng glanced at a message on his wristband.

"Let's go."

He closed the shop door directly.

Then he led Lin Yan toward the direction marked 'Business Consultation'.

"Beep..."

An electronic voice sounded.

"Duan Tiancheng, identification successful."

Before Lin Yan, who was still observing the wall in front of him, could react—

Boom—!

A sudden sense of weightlessness appeared.

By the time he regained his senses...

He was already inside a giant underground base filled with a sense of high technology.

"This way."

Duan Tiancheng glanced at him and smiled.

Under Lin Yan's curious gaze...

They passed through several doors made of special materials and arrived at a spacious training field.

There...

Shi Lanzhi, Mo Fan, and the others Lin Yan had met were already waiting for them.

"It's been a while since I've been here."

"Everything is still the same old way."

Duan Tiancheng scanned the surroundings.

"How about you give us some money to fix it up?"

Mo Fan chuckled.

Duan Tiancheng rolled his eyes at him.

"In your dreams."

Lin Yan watched the harmonious group, standing quietly in place.

Shi Lanzhi glanced at him.

"Alright."

"We were in the middle of a mission just now, so there wasn't time to say much."

"Welcome our new member."

"Lin Yan."

"Now, introduce yourselves."

Clap, clap, clap!

Applause rang out.

"Hahaha."

"The strongest freshman!"

"I've heard much about you!"

A burly man winked.

"Sikong Gang."

A handsome and delicate-looking young man smiled.

"Liu Bai."

Two young men with cold expressions spoke simultaneously.

"Li Ping, Shi Jun."

Mo Fan shrugged.

"I don't need an introduction, do I?"

Shi Lanzhi turned around.

"Shi Lanzhi."

Lin Yan looked at everyone with a smile.

"Hello, everyone."

So everything matched up.

Heavenly Extreme, Shi Lanzhi; Ninth Rank, Liu Bai; Eighth Rank, Sikong Gang and Mo Fan; Seventh Rank, Li Ping and Shi Jun.

"Are there only six of us?"

His eyes were curious.

Mo Fan smiled.

"Originally there were seven, and now there are seven again."

Sikong Gang's voice was quite loud.

"We don't need too many people."

Shi Lanzhi nodded.

"Whether it's the five national branches or the headquarters, Black Ice members..."

"...are not many in number."

"What we need are absolute elites."

He pointed his finger at Liu Bai and Sikong Gang.

"Twenty years ago, they were 8-star threat targets for the Dark Cultists."

Then he pointed to Mo Fan.

"Over ten years ago, a 7-star threat target."

Finally, he pointed to Li Ping and Shi Jun.

"Ten years ago, 6-star threat targets."

"In other words..."

"Most of the people in Black Ice were once primary assassination targets for the Dark Cultists."

"All of them are Prodigies."

"Of course, that includes myself."

Threat index?

Lin Yan's gaze became thoughtful.

He remembered that Brady had said he was ten stars.

"Furthermore..."

"With this thing..."

"The Security Bureau and the military anywhere in the country must cooperate with our operations unconditionally."

"We don't need external or miscellaneous personnel."

Swish—!

Lin Yan reached out and caught the identification card Shi Lanzhi tossed over.

Two crossed sharp blades.

After opening it...

There was a portrait of himself.

Below it were two simple characters.

Black Ice.

Along with the steel seal that symbolized the highest authority of the Dragon Kingdom.

Lin Yan tightened his grip on the ID in his hand.

Seeing his reaction...

Mo Fan and the others looked at each other and all smiled.

Back then, they weren't much better.

"Ordinary people won't recognize this thing."

"So we usually communicate directly through encrypted channels."

Shi Lanzhi pointed at Lin Yan's communication wristband.

"You can do it now."

Lin Yan immediately tapped on the wristband and instantly saw an option that wasn't there before.

Black Ice.

He tapped on it.

Options like command arrangements, information inquiries, and report submissions came into view.

He casually tapped on Information Inquiry—Magic City.

Suddenly.

Lin Yan's pupils constricted.

A massive list of names.

Schools, families, Beast-hunting teams, Martial Artist Association, martial arts halls... and so on.

Tapping into any one of them revealed detailed and accurate personnel information.

This is freaking awesome!!

What's the difference between this and the Embroidered Uniform Guard of ancient Earth?

In the information age, it's even more invincible!

Shi Lanzhi's expression was solemn.

"But remember."

"Do not use your power casually or excessively."

Lin Yan nodded solemnly.

"Understood."

Shi Lanzhi nodded.

"Any other questions?"

Ever since he received the message from his brother just now, he had been completely at ease.

In his heart...

...for a good prospect like Lin Yan, he naturally didn't want to give up on him.

Lin Yan thought for a moment.

"My cultivation is still too low."

"Some missions..."

Shi Lanzhi raised his hand.

"You don't need to consider that for the time being."

"Your primary task now is to work hard on improving yourself."

"As for any potential threats, don't worry about them either."

"Anything else?"

"If not."

"Then let Mo Fan take you to get your uniform."

He pointed at the black combat suit he was wearing.

"Although you might not have the chance to participate in missions right now."

"This is also an important symbol of our identity."

Lin Yan thought to himself.

It seems...

The higher-ups of the Dragon Kingdom are indeed just as Old Duan said.

They really are quite good.

In that case.

He looked up.

"If anyone has an uncertain target, I can help."

"My eyes can identify them directly."

As his words fell...

The training field suddenly fell silent.

Everyone's eyes narrowed slightly.

Shi Lanzhi's expression was serious.

"Are you sure?"