49: Targeting me? This warning seems tailor-made for me!

The transport plane docked smoothly with the aerial platform.

“Click—”

The hatch slowly opened.

Shi Lei stepped out of the transport plane, took a deep breath, his face filled with intoxication.

“Goodness… the spiritual energy concentration here is at least five times that of Jiangcheng!”

Mo Chen also looked at his terminal; data streams were already refreshing on the screen.

“Not just the concentration, the purity is also extremely high, with almost no impurities. Long-term cultivation here can increase efficiency by at least ten percent.”

Liu Yan didn't speak, but her tense body said it all.

This was the heart of the Dragon Shield Bureau.

It was the stage where all super-talents in Huaxia gathered.

However.

Lin Yuan’s focus was completely different from theirs.

His Electromagnetic Induction had already activated the moment he stepped out of the cabin door.

This floating fortress beneath his feet was like a super-complex made up of countless substations, power plants, high-energy reactors… pieced together!

How was this a headquarters?

This was clearly paradise!

He looked at the energy channels connecting different high towers, green light flickering in his eyes.

If only he could drill a hole in that pipe and take a sip… “Cough cough!”

Su Wanqing’s cough interrupted Lin Yuan’s daydream.

She gave Lin Yuan a cold glance.

“Put away your dirty thoughts.”

Lin Yuan awkwardly rubbed his nose.

Just then, a young staff member in a headquarters uniform jogged over.

“Welcome everyone! Elites from the Jiangcheng Branch Bureau, you’ve had a tough journey!”

“I am one of the receptionists for this competition, my name is Sun Qian. I will now lead everyone to the contestant village to check in.”

This young man named Sun Qian looked to be in his early twenties, but a C-rank Intermediate badge was pinned to his chest.

In a local branch bureau, this was already an expert capable of holding his own.

But at the headquarters, he seemed to be just a runner.

Everyone’s hearts tightened, gaining a more intuitive understanding of the headquarters’ strength.

“Thank you for your trouble.”

Su Wanqing, as the captain, nodded politely.

“No trouble at all! Serving the people!”

Sun Qian smiled even more brightly, leading the way and introducing things volubly.

“Is this everyone’s first time at the headquarters? The area we’re standing on is ‘Tian Shu Port,’ a transportation hub connecting various branch bureaus and the outside world.”

“See those tall towers? Each one represents a core department, such as the Scientific Research Department, Intelligence Department, Strategic Command Center, and so on.”

“The energy for our Dragon Shield Bureau headquarters is provided by three ‘Candle Dragon Heart’ A-rank reactors, theoretically capable of supporting the entire fortress for sub-light speed travel…”

Shi Lei and Mo Chen listened with great interest, their faces filled with shock.

Lin Yuan’s eyes, however, grew brighter and brighter.

A-rank reactors?

That stuff… it should taste… pretty good, right?

“Comrade Sun Qian.”

Lin Yuan suddenly spoke, a curious expression on his face.

“Excuse me, is the electricity bill at our headquarters… expensive?”

“Huh?”

Sun Qian, who was passionately introducing things, was stunned by this sudden question.

Electricity bill?

What kind of question was that?

He stammered for a full three seconds before managing to force a smile.

“This… Comrade Lin Yuan, you’re quite a joker. The headquarters’ energy is self-sufficient, so there’s no electricity bill issue.”

“Oh, oh, I see.”

Lin Yuan nodded thoughtfully.

No charge?

Then it’s a buffet, isn’t it?!

Sun Qian looked at Lin Yuan’s sparkling eyes, and for some reason, felt a chill down his spine.

He quickly changed the subject, pointing at a red sign on the nearby wall and emphasizing his tone.

“Right, there’s something I must stress beforehand!”

“This is one of our headquarters’ highest security regulations!”

Everyone looked in the direction he pointed.

It was a lightning symbol with a large red cross over it.

Below it was a line of text.

【WARNING: The headquarters’ energy network is an A-rank strategic facility. Any unauthorized access, theft, or damage is strictly prohibited! Violators will be prosecuted for endangering national security!】

Sun Qian’s expression was unprecedentedly serious.

“You are all battle-hardened elites with various abilities. But please remember, the headquarters’ energy system must, absolutely must not be touched!”

“Even the 220V civilian electricity in the sockets is connected to the entire monitoring network.”

“Any abnormal energy fluctuations will be locked down within 0.01 seconds.”

“Historically, there have been geniuses who tried to challenge this rule…”

He paused, lowering his voice.

“Their ultimate fate was to be locked in the ‘Lightless Cage’ for at least a year of ideological re-education.”

After speaking, he specifically glanced at Lin Yuan.

Liu Yan, Shi Lei, and Mo Chen also subconsciously looked at Lin Yuan.

Their gazes were as if they were looking at a ticking time bomb about to go off.

Lin Yuan: “…”

Damn it!

Targeting me?

This is blatant targeting!

Am I, Lin Yuan, the kind of person who would steal and sneak around?

That’s “extra meal”! That’s “cultivation”!

Lin Yuan ranted wildly in his heart, but forced out an incredibly sincere smile on his face.

“Comrade Sun Qian, don’t worry!”

“I will set an example and resolutely uphold the headquarters’ rules and regulations!”

Sun Qian looked at his solemn promise, gave two dry laughs, and said no more.

He just quickened his pace a bit.

Walking through a long corridor, they arrived at a living area.

The architectural style here was much softer, with even artificial greenery and flowing water.

Along the way, they encountered several other teams also coming to compete.

The members of those teams all had restrained auras and sharp eyes.

When they saw the Jiangcheng Branch Bureau group, most just gave them a casual glance.

But that glance carried a sense of scrutiny and arrogance rooted in their bones.

“That’s the ‘Magic City’ Branch Bureau team; their captain is the C-rank Peak ‘Immovable King of Wisdom’.”

“Over there is ‘Demon City’s’ team, they practice Gu arts and curses, very eerie.”

“And also Bingzhu City’s, a bunch of battle maniacs…”

Sun Qian introduced them in a low voice.

Lin Yuan’s Electromagnetic Induction captured that almost everyone they passed was a C-rank Intermediate or stronger.

There were even a few whose energy fluctuations were so strong that they subtly felt like a qualitative change.

C-rank Peak!

And more than one!

This was the hidden dragon ranking arena.

Heroes gathered, monsters assembled.

Lin Yuan didn’t feel any pressure, though.

His attention was quickly drawn to something else.

He noticed that ever since they entered this aerial fortress, Su Wanqing had become unusually silent.

Even more silent than usual.

Although her icy face showed no expression.

Her internal energy was fluctuating at an extremely unstable frequency.

Was she nervous?

Or rather, was she uneasy?

“Hey, Beauty Su.”

Lin Yuan leaned closer to her, lowering his voice.

“What’s wrong with you? Not feeling well?”

“I’m fine.”

Su Wanqing’s voice was three parts colder than usual.

She looked straight ahead, quickening her pace slightly, seemingly wanting to distance herself from Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan rubbed his nose, feeling a bit bewildered.

Did this woman take the wrong medicine?

Soon, they stopped in front of an apartment building.

“This is Contestant Village Number Three. The Jiangcheng Branch Bureau’s room is on the seventh floor, 701.”

Sun Qian handed several electronic room cards to Su Wanqing.

“Detailed competition schedule and rules will be sent to everyone’s terminals. Please check for them.”

“My task ends here. I wish everyone good results!”

With that, he scurried away and disappeared.

Everyone entered the room.

It was a five-room, one-living room suite, simply decorated but fully equipped with various facilities.

The first thing Lin Yuan did upon entering was rush to the wall and stare at the solitary five-hole power outlet.

His eyes were filled with disappointment.

“Alright, everyone, come over for a quick meeting.”

Su Wanqing distributed the room cards, her tone serious.

Everyone sat around the living room sofa.

Liu Yan, Mo Chen, and Shi Lei all sat up straight, awaiting their captain’s instructions.

They knew that the real challenge was just beginning now.

Su Wanqing took a deep breath, just about to speak.

“Thump! Thump! Thump!”

A knock on the door suddenly sounded.