An Unwelcome Mission

Sigh~

How annoying. I just want to lie low and watch Xiao Jiu grow up, but trouble keeps finding me every single day.

The events of the past few months felt as if an invisible hand was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

All the evidence seemed to point in one direction—the shattered otherworld!

And the most direct link to it.

“Have there been any strange dungeons appearing lately?”

“Dungeons?” Fire Finch’s fingers slid quickly across her phone screen, using her guild leader privileges to search.

Soon, her finger hovered in midair, hesitating.

Aya Tone leaned in curiously.

“An A-rank dungeon appeared at the border, stolen by H-country adventurers?”

With a quick glance, he understood the gist of the matter.

The incident began in Huidan City, which borders H-country territory. An A-rank resource dungeon had been cleared by H-country adventurers who had crossed illegally.

Not only had they stripped all the ore resources, but they had also destroyed the dungeon core.

Local diplomats lodged a complaint, demanding the culprits be handed over.

But H-country officials brushed it off, claiming that the illegal entrants were no longer their citizens and had been placed on a wanted list.

“Oh ho, shameless as ever. But don’t they realize who they’re messing with?” Aya Tone couldn’t help but smirk, thinking about whose territory they had trespassed on.

Knowing his brother, he usually didn’t interfere when people from other countries cleared dungeons, as long as they followed the rules.

But this time, they had entered Z-country’s land without permission and caused billions in financial losses.

Heh. Hope they’re okay.

****

Magic City, Azure Dragon Guild underground training ground.

A stone pillar rose from the center, tied to which was a bloodless “corpse” missing one hand and one foot.

If not for the faint rise and fall of her chest, she might have been mistaken for dead.

Ao Yu’s body flickered with serpent-like lightning, its forked tongue occasionally lashing out as if claiming territory.

There was no pity in his eyes. He grabbed her hair, ignoring her twisted, broken neck, and pressed her head hard against a glaring screen.

“See this? This is the country you served. Your loyalty is nothing but a disposable joke to them.”

“For these worms, these vampires, you threw away your life. Even Gao Yao ended up in prison because of you. Was it worth it?”

As he finished, Ao Yu subtly gestured behind his back.

The Black Robe hidden in the shadows understood and released a colorless, odorless agent that could silently corrupt the mind.

Such drugs were useless against those with strong will.

But!

Since they had handed him the knife, it would be a waste not to use it.

When the woman’s lifeless eyes fell on H-country’s wanted notice, a flicker stirred.

Hmph!

Ao Yu sneered inwardly, but lowered his voice and spoke gently, “Tell me everything you know. Redeem yourself, and I can give you back your past.”

“…” Without his hand supporting her, the woman’s head drooped weakly.

Through her disheveled hair, traces of blood were visible.

Ao Yu didn’t push further. He stood with his hands behind his back, waiting patiently.

He was waiting for her mental defenses to crumble, and for the drug to take effect.

The woman on the pillar wavered twice. The first was the moment she saw the wanted notice.

The second.

Was when she heard the name Gao Yao.

Her fall was only a matter of time.

Soon, the agent took effect, and her eyes grew dazed.

“They said that if I served the country, they’d give me and my family the best treatment…”

Her dazed eyes began to struggle. Her pale face turned fierce, as if possessed by a demon, as two opposing thoughts clashed in her mind.

Seeing her subconscious still resisting, Ao Yu sneered, “They abandoned you. They used you from the very beginning.”

Ao Yu opened another file. It contained records of the woman’s family in H-country after she lost contact.

Her home was burglarized; her mother was stabbed in the chaos and hospitalized in the ICU. Then the house was forcibly repossessed. Her father ended up on the streets, struggling to get three meals a day.

Three days ago.

Her father was beaten to death while begging.

The killer was the heir of a conglomerate, who faced no consequences whatsoever.

“They all died because of you. Gao Yao is also because of you. He could have had a bright future, a happy life with you.”

“Everything is because of your stupidity.”

Her father’s death, combined with Ao Yu’s whispers, became the last straw that broke her will.

“I want them to pay!” Hatred surged in her eyes, and bloody tears spilled from them.

Ao Yu nodded in satisfaction. “That’s right. Now, tell me everything you know. I’ll avenge you.”

He needed her information to infiltrate H-country. A convenient use of waste.

Half an hour later.

Ao Yu walked out of the training ground and said to the Black Robe, “Keep a close watch on H-country’s movements. We’ll make them pay dearly for what they’ve done.”

“As for her.” Without turning back, he left behind a voice cold and devoid of life.

“Dispose of her cleanly.”

He hated traitors more than enemies.

“Yes!”

****

“Bro, are you joking?” Aya Tone repeatedly checked the name on the screen. It was indeed Ao Yu.

“You want me to go abroad and blow them up? This could escalate to an international incident!”

Even though Aya Tone often dozed off in politics class, he understood the principle of never firing the first shot.

“I didn’t tell you to kill anyone. What are you so worked up about?”

“But you told me to destroy their S-rank dungeon!!!” Aya Tone shouted in despair.

He knew the value of an S-rank dungeon all too well.

That was their only one. If he went and destroyed it, the enmity would be greater than killing a president.

Oh, right, in H-country, the conglomerates were the real power. The president wasn’t as valuable as a dungeon.

Ao Yu: “Guess why I called you?”

Aya Tone: “…”

That hurt, bro.

“I’ll lend you the Azure Dragon Armor to play with.”

“!”

“I’ve got a newly developed micro-armor here. I’ll reserve one for Xiao Jiu. It’s been tested and can withstand a full-force blow from an average S-rank…”

“I’m in!”

Then, realizing he had been too eager, Aya Tone cleared his throat.

“Actually, it’s not about those things. I just hate those bastards! Anyone who dares to trespass on our territory must be destroyed!”

Ao Yu saw through him but didn’t say anything. “Alright, settle Xiao Jiu and come over. Your identity and information are all set.”

From the start, he never expected Aya Tone to refuse.