Chapter 316 - 315 "Enthusiastic Citizen

Jester didn’t stay long and soon left.

Li Jing wanted to enthusiastically escort him downstairs, but Jester politely declined.

That night, Li Jing didn’t go out but rested in the hotel for the night.

He couldn’t rush to find Bei Yi and Evlyn.

After all, he’s currently on White Hawk’s turf, making movements rather inconvenient.

Furthermore, the Desert Fortress incident has not yet been made public, and he has no way of understanding the progress and policy of the White Hawk.

If he wants to understand, he needs to wait for Jester to take action and expose the incident to attract the attention of White Hawk’s citizens.

Only then will he have a chance of learning about some situations through information publicly released on social media due to pressure on the White Hawk official.

Even then, the information might not be true.

Of course, Li Jing has his own strategies.

Just waiting around is certainly not an option.

Who knows when Jester will take action, or when he thinks he needs him, seeking his assistance?

This is a complete unknown.

Moreover, Jester is very clever.

Li Jing cannot rely on him to obtain any valuable information, nor can he expect to directly participate in the arresting of Bei Yi and Evlyn through him, he has to find his own way out.

However, Li Jing feels he can "help" Jester a bit.

They are all friends, helping others is nothing abnormal, is it?

...

Early the next morning.

Li Jing got up early and called for room service to order breakfast.

After eating and drinking, he threw himself on the sofa and took out his laptop from his storage space, along with a USB stick.

He took out a data cable to connect his mobile phone to the computer.

Li Jing pulled out the information previously arranged by Xia Ai for Chen Jing from his mobile phone memory, made some edits and deletions on his laptop, removing some overly sensitive information, and then saved it onto the USB stick.

When finished, he took out an appearance changing talisman and transformed himself into a blond-haired, blue-eyed man, before going downstairs to leave the hotel.

On the street, Li Jing hailed a taxi.

Boarding the taxi.

The front seat was a friendly driver of Eastern lineage.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

Li Jing responded politely, saying

"Please take me to the Langketer District."

The smile froze on the face of the friendly driver when he heard the words "Langketer District".

Seeing this, Li Jing smiled.

"Just drop me off at the street corner. I can go in myself."

Upon hearing this, the driver relaxed a little bit, summoned a nod, and drove off.

His original enthusiasm faded, and he even lost interest in talking with Li Jing.

All things in the world have both a light and a dark side.

Just as Jianghai City has its dark alleys and Old City as gloomy areas, Wesbayl city as White Hawk’s largest traffic hub also has a dark side that is not small in scale.

It indeed is a place where even the air is filled with a spirit of freedom.

Langketer District is the most chaotic area of Wesbayl City, with the highest crime rate in the White Hawk territory for over a hundred years.

Everything strictly forbidden by White Hawk’s law, you can see it in the Langketer District.

Compared to the chaos of the Langketer District, North City Dark Alley and West City Old City are like witch doctors facing a great wizard.

In Longyu.

Those who mix in the gray areas at least have some survival instincts, knowing what must never be done and what can’t be touched.

In Langketer District, there’s an absolute lack of taboo.

Apart from the residents of Langketer District, very few people in Wesbayl City would approach the place.

...

About an hour later.

Li Jing took a taxi to the Langketer District located in the northern part of Wesbayl City.

As previously agreed, the driver parked the car at the street corner.

Li Jing had prepared some White Hawk cash on his last visit.

The Spirit Crystal Bank has been promoted globally, making currency exchange between different countries very convenient.

The Spirit Crystal still is a globally recognized currency, unaffected by borders.

The difference only lies in the exchange rate of different national currencies.

With cash for the fare, Li Jing got out of the car and walked into the street.

Different from the purely gray areas like Dark Alley and Old City, Langketer District appears to be a normal neighborhood on the surface.

A short distance inside the street entrance, everything still seemed quite ordinary.

As one walked further inward, the initially decent civilian-styled men began to change their appearances.

Men.

Each one of them had fierce expressions and unkind faces, with "friendliness" all written over them.

Women.

Either they were adorned in gaudy makeup and dressed like punk girls, or they were scantily clad with various nose rings, lip rings and belly button rings...

At a glance, it was hard to find a normal person.

This place made Li Jing feel at ease.

Mainly because all the roadside monitors he saw on his way deep into Langketer District were either smashed just hanging there, or their lines were cut off, none of them were functioning normally.

He didn’t have to worry at all about leaving behind any evidence from his actions.

After venturing a distance into the Langketer District, Li Jing stopped near a roadside bar to look, then went into a nearby phone booth.

The phone booth, this "ancient" facility, is very rare in Longyu.

But in the White Hawk territory, they are everywhere.

Settling into the phone booth, Li Jing took out his cellphone and searched the internet for the contact information of the notable BMM media in White Hawk. He dialed the number on a public telephone.

Why choose BMM, there’s no need to elaborate on that.

As it’s known to all.

BMM journalists are notoriously nasty, brazen in creating public opinion both domestically and internationally.

They can paint things black that is white and have been known to fabricate some information.

BMM is often criticized as a peddler of fake news; however, it’s clear their formula is a success.

Mainly because they don’t solely create their headlines, they also frequently expose substantive material.

The substantive material targeted at external bodies is not worth discussing.

They manipulate the darker side very skillfully.

However, their internal exposés certainly contain a lot of veritable information.

What Li Jing values most.

Is BMM’s tenacity in criticizing its higher-ups whenever they get the chance.

Having such a fearless media house that dares to confront the White Hawk officials publicly as his mouthpiece is the most fitting solution for the situation he is facing at the moment.

The call connected in no time, and a pleasant female voice spoke in Universal Language.

"Hello, this is BMM TV News Network. How can we help you?"

"I have some information to blow the whistle on, could you arrange for a special correspondent for me?"

Li Jing suppressed his voice somewhat, expressing himself in a strange intonation.

Whistleblowing, BMM’s forte indeed.

Receiving calls from the "caring public", is just another day at the office for them.

Upon hearing Li Jing’s words, the woman’s tone grew more enthusiastic.

"Could you briefly tell us what kind of whistleblower information do you wish to provide?"

While saying this, she added.

"Our special correspondents do not just go out at anyone’s beckon. Also, according to your call location, you’re dialing from a public telephone in the Langketer District of Wesbayl City. We cannot rashly send out a correspondent to that sort of place, I hope you can understand."

"Ah, I understand."

Li Jing chuckled.

Just as he was about to continue speaking, the sound of two "bangs" came from outside the phone booth.

Huh?

Li Jing turned his head instinctively.

He found two heavily tattooed, shirtless men outside the phone booth.

Meeting Li Jing’s gaze, they both smirked and beckoned for him to come out, then each one of them took out an energy handgun.

Li Jing was momentarily taken aback by the sight.

Li Jing aware of the chaos in Langketer District.

That’s why he had come here.

But he hadn’t imagined that he would encounter these kinds of characters just for making a phone call.

Have these two never tasted death or what?

Brandishing energy handguns that could not even kill a Third Realm, do they think they are invincible?

But on second thought, Li Jing found this understandably amusing.

Only 30% of the population globally have the chance to reach the Second Realm or higher, the vast majority are ordinary people.

In Longyu, one must possess at least the cultivation level of the Third Realm to intimidate others.

If not, they might meet their doom anytime, anywhere.

In White Hawk, the evil threshold is much lower.

After all, Longyu has a population of over two billion, whereas, White Hawk has less than four hundred million.

The huge difference in population and the proportion of individuals who have the chance to ascend to the Second Realm or higher, no matter how you look at it, drastically decreases the probability of encountering high-level cultivators in White Hawk.

This provides some opportunities to those who have no chance at high-ranking ranks.

Wordlessly glancing at the duo outside the phone booth, Li Jing waved his hand and took out a gun barrel.

If people think they can act high and mighty just by parading around with two "cricket" energy handguns, their cultivation level cannot possibly be too high.

Li Jing consciously settled on the idea that as a Seventh Realm, he shouldn’t bully people excessively.

Countering magic with magic, wouldn’t that be the most appropriate way?

Outside the phone booth.

The two individuals outside the booth were stunned at first when they saw Li Jing suddenly take out a gun barrel, their faces paled almost instantly.

Li Jing had just dismissed the two of them outside, and the woman’s doubtful voice came from the phone.

"Sir?"

"Yeah, I’m here."

Li Jing responded, then continued on.

"The information I have is explosive. It concerns the recent closure of Kregar City. I have credible insider information regarding that matter. This sort of thing cannot be discussed in detail over the phone, you should understand, right?"

"This..."

The woman hesitated.

The closure of Kregar City a few days ago is known to all the White Hawk People.

In fact, to this day, people are still clamoring to know the truth.

Everyone is curious about what exactly transpired that made the White Hawk officials resort to such a foolish decision.

There are a variety of guesses on the internet.

The matter has received widespread attention from BMM and other major news outlets.

However, no one has yet revealed the inside story...

If Li Jing indeed is privy to the insider information, BMM would undoubtedly be interested.

The problem is that Kregar City and Wesbayl City are extremely far apart; there is no obvious connection between them, so why would information about that place surface in Wesbayl City?

In normal situations, meeting to confirm this wouldn’t hurt.

The key issue lies in the fact that Li Jing’s call came from Langketer District; they have to consider the safety of their reporters.

All White Hawk People are aware of the chaos in Langketer District.

Of course, Li Jing had anticipated BMM’s concerns.

If he could, he wouldn’t want to transact business in a place like the Langketer District.

But in other places, it would be difficult for him to do "good things" anonymously, potentially leaving traces in surveillance or other aspects.

Seeing the silence on the other end of the phone, Li Jing whispered.

"I suppose I could reveal some information first. There’s been a problem at a lab deep in the Kregar Desert, all scientists and security personnel have been wiped out, not a single survivor left."

Hearing these words, the woman on the phone let out a clearly heavy sigh.

Noticing her sigh, Li Jing immediately understood.

Regarding the desert lab, the outside world of the White Hawk is not completely ignorant, it’s just that due to lack of confirmation the news was temporarily suppressed.

Being aware of this, Li Jing cut straight to the point.

"With that being said, whether to arrange for a special correspondent is up to you. The rumor mill is running full steam ahead, and this call is likely to be monitored due to its keywords. I need to consider my personal safety. I’ll wait fifteen minutes. If no one from BMM arrives in fifteen minutes, I’ll find another outlet."

Having said that, he hung up the phone, left the phone booth, and activated the Silent Shadow to stand in front of a nearby bar.

When he said the call could be monitored, it wasn’t just scaremongering.

In this respect, the Sky Shield Bureau excels.

Globally, they are the only agency capable of constant call monitoring through keywords.

Moreover, what they can listen to is not just domestic, but also the channels secretly installed overseas.

Someone would definitely come round.

Perhaps even before the special correspondent of BMM...

The desert fortress is extremely sensitive after all, they must be paying attention.

Not to mention that this involves a significant plan of Jesert, there’s no room for negligence.

Jester is more than just a guardian god of the White Hawk, he’s also the former director of the Sky Shield Bureau.

Despite his retirement from the Sky Shield Bureau, his influence on it would certainly not be gone.

Sure enough.

Li Jing had just stood there for a while when two streaks of light whizzed across the sky and "coincidentally" landed near the phone booth where he’d been making a call.

Subsequently, two men wearing suits and glasses revealed themselves.

Undoubtedly, they were agents from the Sky Shield Bureau.

The only ones with the right to fly in the White Hawk urban area, are the law enforcement departments, including the Sky Shield Bureau.

The two from the Sky Shield Bureau stood still after landing, scanning their sharp eyes left and right.

They exchanged a glance and both walked towards the bar.

Under the influence of the Silent Shadow, they ignored Li Jing, who was standing openly at the entrance of the bar, and entered one after the other.

Faced with this situation, Li Jing leaned against the edge of the door and glanced sideways, not paying any more mind.

The Sky Shield Bureau’s operational efficiency was much higher than his estimation.

However, it made no difference to him.

He waited a while at the entrance of the bar and then a pink Beetle zoomed in and came to a skilful stop with a squeal in front of the telephone booth.

Then, the car door opened, a round and smooth long leg in black stockings stretched out first, and a tall, stunningly dressed, voluptuously figured woman stepped out of the car.

A pink Beetle, distinctively not a vehicle that would appear in the Langketer District.

A sizzlingly dressed sexy woman wouldn’t visit the Langketer District just like that without a looming necessity.

Obviously, this was the special correspondent from BMM.

Upon seeing this female journalist get out of the car, Li Jing moved quietly forward to her side, slipped into the car before she could close the door and sat down in the passenger seat.

Outside the car, the female journalist first glanced at the phone booth nearby, and then her eyes naturally fell on the entrance of the bar.

Li Jing had not told her where he would wait.

However, as a journalist, she had a keen intuition that Li Jing, who had claimed to be about to release a story, was most likely in the bar.

About to get in, she saw two men affiliated with the Sky Shield Bureau, who had arrived just moments before, spotting out.

Seeing the two, this female journalist’s face changed.

They were from the Sky Shield Bureau, and as a member of the White Hawk media, she could tell at a glance.

As a White Hawk media person working under the surveillance of the Sky Shield Bureau, it’s especially challenging, she had early been drilled with all the tactics.

She received the news from the station and immediately rushed over.

Nevertheless, the people from the Sky Shield Bureau arrived before her.

What does that mean?

It indicates that the exposé is true!

The female journalist narrowed her eyes.

As she scrutinized the two from the Sky Shield Bureau, they were also examining her.

Both parties were well aware.

The female journalist could tell at a glance that the two were affiliated with the Sky Shield Bureau, and they could easily identify that the former was the infamous special correspondent from BMM.

One versus two, the three faced off with neither party making a move.

The two from the Sky Shield Bureau stayed at the entrance of the bar, showing no intention of making contact with the female journalist.

Assuming that she had not met the whistleblower Li Jing, it was not that they didn’t want to deal with the reporter directly, they just dared not.

BMM was infamous for biting anyone.

Never mind the Sky Shield Bureau, even the designated domain leaders of the White Hawk Official would get savaged if they made the slightest misstep.

This was not something to be taken lightly.

Otherwise, the Sky Shield Bureau would be headline news in half an hour...

If you say that this female journalist has already made contact with Li Jing and got a scoop, then so be it.

She hadn’t gotten anything yet, it’s not worth stirring up trouble.

The female journalist didn’t attempt to go into the bar and sat back in her Beetle without a word, driving away.

The Sky Shield Bureau didn’t dare to act hastily on her, she also didn’t want to clash with them for no reason.

It was clear that they were guarding the entrance to the bar, she had no reason to act presumptuously.

The whistleblower would definitely not show up in this wave.

If she tried to barge her way into the bar and find the whistleblower, she would for sure be blocked by the two Sky Shield Bureau operatives.

If not careful, she may even be declared "suicidal"...

She wasn’t ready to give up yet.

This matter will be left at that for now.

Not meeting the whistleblower was indeed a setback, but this journey was not entirely fruitless.

Driving away from the Langketer District, the female reporter glanced at the rearview mirror while drafting an article in her mind, then a frown formed over her face.

Two members of the Sky Shield Bureau were blatantly following her, flying through the air.

With a snort of disdain, she slowed down her car in an attitude of "If you want to follow, just follow."

Of course, this was not a situation Li Jing wanted to see.

But for the time being, he was powerless.

He could only wait until the two members of the Sky Shield Bureau completed their "escort" duties and left voluntarily.

His Spirit God whisper could easily take them both down by then.

The problem was, attacking Sky Shield Bureau personnel was like launching an attack on Longyu’s patrols; the entire law enforcement system would be thrown into chaos, and things would get complicated.

Just as he prepared to lay low, Li Jing caught sight of the two men who had previously tried to rob him with their "Little Crickets" lingering in a narrow alley with three companions.

This fleeting sight was enough to make Li Jing’s eyes brighten, and he wordlessly attempted to give each of them a hint.

Spirit God whisper has an attack function.

If used, it would naturally break his Silent Shadow.

But he could extract the "whisper" for separate use, if necessary.

Limit Breakthrough Skills merged three skills of the same type, that’s right.

But the skills he had learned did not disappear after he had fused them.

They simply no longer showed up in his status bar; since he had the tri-unity Limit Breakthrough Skill to use, he saw no need to extract individual skills.

How hard could it be for Li Jing, with his Seventh Realm cultivation level, to give a hint to two gangsters and their companions who relied on "Little Crickets"?

Quite simply, all five fell for it.

Just at the right moment, the female reporter drove past the narrow alley, and the two members of the Sky Shield Bureau appeared at the entrance of the alley.

The five men in the alley immediately pulled out their guns.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang!"

A series of rapid gunshots left the two members of the Sky Shield Bureau completely unprepared.

The "Little Crickets" were not very powerful and posed no threat to them.

But when caught completely off guard, they did have some potency.

And the five men didn’t just fire a single round each, they emptied their clips...

With their full attention on the female reporter who was manoeuvring her two beetles at a slow pace, the two Sky Shield Bureau members were blasted off-course by the energy pistols and fell to the ground awkwardly.

At that moment, their faces turned black.

This...

What’s going on?

The gangsters of the Langketer District, have they gone mad?

The female reporter, driving her car and hearing the gunshots, was also startled when she saw the two members of the Sky Shield Bureau fall to the ground through her rearview mirror.

How desperate must someone be to dare to attack Sky Shield Bureau personnel in broad daylight?

Just as the two members of the Sky Shield Bureau were startled and angered, and the female reporter was shocked, the five gangsters expertly loaded their second clips.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

The second round of rapid fire began.

Hearing the gunfire again, the female reporter quickly floored the accelerator.

Even though she didn’t know what was going on, she needed to get away as quickly as possible.

She herself had Four Realm Cultivation and was not afraid of the "Little Crickets", nor was she worried about the two members of the Sky Shield Bureau following on her tail.

The two runners, at best, were of the Fourth Realm, just like her.

She herself was not scared, but her beetle was!

This car wasn’t cheap!

If it got shot up, she wouldn’t even know who to ask for compensation.

A couple of hooligans could not afford it.

While speeding up to move away, the female reporter showed the professional side of a journalist.

She was seen holding the steering wheel with one hand and using her phone with her other hand to snap photos of the two members of the Sky Shield Bureau being shot at.

This trip out was not in vain!

She had two headline pieces of material right away!

After snapping a few photos and putting some distance between them, the female reporter, still not satisfied, checked the photos and casually placed the phone on the passenger seat.

And naturally, her hand found Li Jing’s leg...

???

Surprised by suddenly touching a thigh, question marks popped up above the female reporter’s head before she turned.

Meeting her gaze, Li Jing greeted her calmly and removed her hand, which was about to bump into his little brother.

"Hello."

"..."

The female reporter.

She had encountered a ghost in broad daylight.

Seeing the female reporter gazing at him with wide-open eyes, he wasn’t even watching the road anymore. Li Jing gently coughed.

"I am the whistleblower. Pay attention to the road, and we can talk somewhere safe."

Hearing these words, the female reporter was startled, quickly came to her senses and continued to drive, nodding her head.

As a media worker, her nerves were rather strong.

Seeing that she wasn’t panicking after discovering him, Li Jing activated the Silent Shadow again.

The cognitive interference of Silent Shadow was inherently easy to break.

He could not use any attack methods, nor could he cause a significant disturbance.

Li Jing had not expected the female reporter to place her phone on the passenger seat, and was accidentally found out, losing the interference effect of Silent Shadow immediately.

But that was ok.

He had originally planned to disable it temporarily and inform the female reporter.

Having done so, he needed to activate Silent Shadow again.

The five gangsters wouldn’t distract the two members of the Sky Shield Bureau for long, they would likely come after him to check.