Chapter 398: Corroding the Warlord from Within? The Front‑line Soldier!

Under a sky of endless white snow, a massive ruin lay here.

Anyone who first saw this scene was shocked, at first thinking it was a punishment sent from heaven, and they knelt, begging the heavens for forgiveness, pleading that no disaster befall their families.

Another group, including Lao Du, watched body after body being carried out, their hearts ashen.

At that moment, wails mingled with cries rang across the field, and everyone who heard them couldn't help shedding tears.

Lao Du crouched aside, a rolled cigarette between his lips, silent.

Only cigarette butts littered the ground, and a pair of cloudy, aged pupils grew dim and lifeless at this moment, never to shine again.

"What a sin, what on earth is happening? So many people have died."

"Sigh, say less..."

People rushed forward to help carry the dead out; in this bitter cold, their silhouettes appeared especially frail.

The Warlord sent people to investigate the cause of the collapse; they stared at the factories razed to the ground, faces grim, saying nothing.

On the ground, one pit after another appeared; judging by their size and pattern, they were clearly not man‑made.

They did not think human labor alone could smash a five‑meter‑diameter crater.

"Captain, there's a survivor here!"

At that moment, an armed guard suddenly spotted a person lying in the snow.

The group approached to examine, finding the person's face already turned blue‑purple from the cold; when they lifted the eyelids, the pupils were dilated, on the brink of death.

"Quick, to the hospital!"

That day, a mournful atmosphere lingered over the entire Xicheng District.

The populace dared not speak loudly, fearing to frighten the heavens.

Because the Warlord Leader was furious, he ordered his subordinates to investigate thoroughly, vowing not to let any trace slip, swearing to uncover the True Villain!

At the same time, a bounty was announced—

Those who provide Luoshi receive 50,000.

Catching the True Villain yields a reward of 1,000,000!

Consequently, every entrance and exit of Jinshan City was sealed, and the port became a site of strict inspection.

The Search Army, day and night, went door to door questioning; even prisoners in the jail were hauled out for a second trial!

Su Yang stood by the hospital corridor window, gazing at the street saturated with a lethal aura, expressionless.

"What are you looking at? So absorbed?"

Lin Yang, who had just paid the fee downstairs, came up, saw Su Yang unmoving, and couldn't help watching out of curiosity.

Su Yang snapped back, turned his head and asked, "What did the doctor say?"

"Huang Hua's condition is not optimistic, but his recovery ability is strong; he should awaken within two days."

"Yin Yun's head is injured, with a mild concussion; a few days of rest will be fine," Lin Yang recited.

Su Yang nodded, went into the ward and looked at the two who were in deep sleep.

The hospital they were in had a heater, the interior warm as spring, and the two slept quite peacefully.

Yin Yun's originally pale complexion gradually turned rosy.

Su Yang stared at the captivating face, and his mind couldn't help recalling how she had desperately searched for her own image last night.

Perhaps because the heater was so close, a warm current flowed through his heart.

"Silly girl..." Su Yang helped her pull the blanket up.

At that moment, Lin Yang suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, Jiang Hen Zhi has already been taken away and is now receiving full treatment."

"The Hall Master of Feng also made arrangements; as soon as she wakes, she'll go straight to look for a suitable Mold factory."

"And Feng Yan seems to have been greatly frightened and hasn't recovered yet."

Su Yang nodded in understanding and asked, "What actions are the Warlord taking?"

"Bounties and carpet‑style searches," Lin Yang said.

Su Yang stroked his chin, deep in thought.

Normally, an incident of this magnitude would warrant city‑wide martial law.

They would rather kill the wrong ones than let any slip.

First, give an account to the economically damaged capital; second, pacify the populace quickly to avoid unnecessary unrest.

Stability is the top priority.

But the Warlord's approach is all thunder and little rain.

How could such a method satisfy anyone?

"What about the mining conglomerate?" Su Yang asked.

"Purple Hall Master inquired; he said Luo San and Ma Qixuan hold idle posts, with little daily work, whether they attend or not is irrelevant, so no one has noticed yet," Lin Yang explained.

"That's not right..." Su Yang narrowed his eyes.

"Where is it wrong?" Lin Yang was taken aback.

"The task of protecting Jiang Hen Zhi was assigned by the Warlord; now the two haven't returned. If it were you, wouldn't you find it odd?" Su Yang retorted.

Lin Yang, hearing that, thought there was some merit to it.

But on second thought, it still felt off, "If we go by what you say, Luo San and Ma Qixuan didn't return to report, which side‑shows the mission failed."

"Since that's the case, the Warlord would know that Jiang Hen Zhi himself is dead."

"The person most likely to have killed him, and most eager to do so, is Acting President Huang Hua; shouldn't the first investigation target be the Floating Life Chamber? Why are they indifferent?"

"If we follow the trail, it could very well land on our heads."

"What is the purpose of placing a fake Jiang Hen Zhi there?"

Su Yang remained silent, a flash of brilliance flashing in his eyes.

He had already thought about the question Lin Yang asked.

This seemingly reasonable plan actually conceals a hidden twist.

First, Luo San's appearance is extremely abrupt, a player born in North City District who enjoys perfect timing, geography and people, yet goes to great lengths to deal with South City and West City players.

Furthermore, Jiang Hen Zhi's actions are also very strange.

He is loaded with a fortune, has three hideouts, is shrewd enough, yet he specifically seeks a Warlord's protection.

How does this differ from a lamb walking into a tiger's mouth?

More coincidentally, the Warlord enlisted Luo San and Ma Qixuan to complete this task.

Two newly appointed directors with idle posts, where does the trust come from?

"The first possibility: suppose the Warlord knows that Luo San possesses an innate talent of extraordinary power; he feels uneasy, and cannot openly expose it, so he uses others to eliminate the threat. Now that the person is dead, it suits him, and the investigation is merely for show."

"The second possibility: all this is a lie fabricated by Luo San; the claim that Jiang Hen Zhi sought refuge never existed, and the Warlord naturally knows nothing about any of it."

"As for the third possibility…"

Su Yang crossed his legs and fell into contemplation.

Lin Yang analyzed for a while; he feels both possibilities are unlikely.

First, if the Warlord has witnessed the extraordinary power, with his ambition he would spare no cost to obtain it.

Even if he cannot get it, he would not tolerate such a dangerous element existing nearby.

Using others to eliminate it is even more baseless.

With Gravity in effect, who can get within three zhang of him?

Not even a bullet!

The second possibility seems more reasonable, but Luo San is confident he can catch them all in one net, so why fabricate a bunch of lies?

"What about the third then?" Lin Yang asked impatiently.

Su Yang lightly patted his thigh and said slowly, "The Warlord's inner circle has long been corrupted by players; Luo San is merely a pawn."

"To be more precise, he is just a sacrificial victim."