Chapter 489: One more of you wouldn't be too much

Not long after, Qin Lao, who had received the news, rushed back from the base in a panic. After listening to Jiang Cheng give a detailed account of the matter, his expression became extremely solemn.

On the surface, this seems to be just an accident.

But from some aspects, it doesn't look like that; instead, it resembles a premeditated assassination.

"Kid, what do you think?" Qin Lao looked at Jiang Cheng sitting opposite him.

"My thoughts."

Jiang Cheng fell silent for a moment, then said: "Although this operation is dangerous, if it were merely an accident, that would be easy to talk about; what I fear is that someone is meddling."

"If someone is meddling, who do you think it would be?"

"Although I've been at the base for a few months, I've truly offended only one person; if someone wanted to strike at me, it could only be him."

Jiang Cheng said seriously.

"Sun Bo?"

Qin Lao uttered two words.

"Hmm."

Jiang Cheng nodded.

On one hand, Sun Bo has this motive.

On the other hand, he also has this capability.

Qin Lao fell silent.

He had also hinted to Jiang Cheng before that this was possible, but it was merely a possibility; even if Sun Bo held a grudge against Jiang Cheng over past events, there was no need to go this far—not only to kill Jiang Cheng, but to wipe out the entire squad as well?

"From the perspective of Hope City, I should deny this possibility, but from a personal standpoint, I cannot say those words."

Qin Lao let out a long sigh, rose from his chair, and while pacing, said: "Most of the strong ones here stay in the city, but a small portion are stationed outside, watching for any movement, to guard against those people launching an attack on us,

and the Sun Clan has two people assigned to this task; their strengths are respectively a fourth-level Force Master and a fifth-level Spirit Master."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng's eyes lit up slightly.

The person who attacked them is precisely a fifth-level Spirit Master!

"Frankly speaking, if it really was him who acted against you, it would still be very hard to find evidence."

Qin Lao sighed, "They originally stayed outside, unwilling to show identification for coming and going; moreover, since the Sun Clan has two people outside, they can vouch for each other—even if the Big Chief lacks concrete evidence, mere suspicion cannot touch them."

Jiang Cheng nodded.

Yeah, the Sun Clan, as descendants of the Supreme, holds a high status in the city; relying solely on speculation is clearly unreliable.

What's more, what if this incident actually has nothing to do with the Sun Clan?

His suspicion of Sun Bo stems merely from assuming the worst.

"Kid, how about this?"

Qin Lao thought for a moment and offered a suggestion: "Tell the Chief that for a while, you should stop going out on missions; your performance has been seen by both the Big Chief and the Chief, so they would surely agree. Moreover, for something like patrolling the tunnels, having one more or one less person makes no difference, right?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng also had to admit that Qin Lao's suggestion was quite reliable.

Since we can't afford to provoke them, we might as well hide; moreover, during this time in hiding, he can continually improve his strength, and once his strength reaches a certain level, even if the Sun Clan is really scheming behind the scenes, what could they do?

But having said that, will the other members of the Seventh Squad also go into hiding for a while because of this incident?

Upon hearing Jiang Cheng's question, Qin Lao gave a bitter smile.

How could that be.

As the saying goes, a thousand-mile dike collapses from an ant hole; preventing small issues is the best way to deal with danger.

Although everyone in the Seventh Squad escaped death this time, they still have to go out on patrol as usual next week, even if they know danger might recur, and even if the masked man who attacked them last time might still be around, they must go.

Otherwise, who would patrol Sector 15-20? If other squads think the same way, who would patrol those other areas? In the end, we might only realize the danger when catastrophe strikes.

"So I cannot withdraw at this time," Jiang Cheng said firmly.

Qin Lao gave a bitter smile and quickly advised: "Kid, don't be so obstinate; you're not like them. Don't forget that besides being a Rebel Soldier, you also have the identity of an Alchemist. If something happens to you, it would be a loss for Hope City. So if you withdraw, both the Chief and the members of the Seventh Squad would understand."

Jiang Cheng still shook his head.

He clearly knows that some things can be done, some things cannot.

"Kid, your temper is really stubborn," Qin Lao said helplessly. "Have you considered what if that person is really coming after you? This time he couldn't do anything to you, but once he knows your trump card, next time it's uncertain. A sixth‑grade initial treasure is powerful, yet if the opponent produces a sixth‑grade intermediate attack‑type treasure, they could kill you instantly."

"If that's the case, perhaps we could turn the tables."

"?"

Upon hearing Jiang Cheng's words, Qin Lao shuddered: "Kid, you want to use yourself as bait, letting the Chief set an ambush behind, waiting for the opponent to take the hook?"

"Exactly."

Jiang Cheng nodded: "Avoiding the issue only treats the symptoms, not the root cause—especially if this matter is truly the Sun Clan's scheming; if we could catch that guy, everything would be laid bare."

"That's the reasoning."

Qin Lao nodded repeatedly.

If these words came from someone else's mouth, he would likely scoff at them.

"That's the Chief we're talking about—his time is extremely precious; would he spend it on a mere first‑level Grandmaster like you? You should know that going out to patrol the tunnels often takes several hours."

But if that person is Jiang Cheng, then it's different.

Because he has consecutively defeated two Supreme‑level combat geniuses in the Virtual Combat System; to speak plainly, given Jiang Cheng enough time, becoming Supreme is a certainty.

Such talent, if cut down midway, would be a great pity.

In fact, Jiang Cheng indeed relies on this, but not only that; you should know that not long ago he took a seventh‑grade treasure from the Big Chief's hands. If he were in danger, the first one unable to stay seated might not be Chu Feng, but the Big Chief himself.

Although doing this might sound unpleasant when spoken aloud—after all, it's relying on a patron rather than one's own strength—yet having a patron to use is still worthwhile; moreover, as the saying goes, thirty years east, thirty years west—someday he might turn the tables and become the Big Chief's patron.

That is, if Qin Lao could read minds, he would be shocked to know what Jiang Cheng is thinking now—his jaw might drop from astonishment. (End of chapter)