Chapter Fifty-Five: Organized and Premeditated

“Brother Zhao, most of the transport vehicles over at Wangxi Residence have been attacked, with severe casualties, and all materials have been looted.”

“The forces carrying out the attacks chose narrow areas where there are few surveillance cameras to begin with, and even those were destroyed.”

“Some reported that the attackers seemed to be mages, using blizzard-like skills. I asked around, and it seems that only our districts in Peach Blossom Court were attacked. It’s likely someone with a grudge specifically targeted us…”

A subordinate near Zhao Zhilong quickly reported the situation.

“People with grudges? I’ve got plenty of enemies,” Zhao Zhilong muttered, his expression grim. Over forty minutes had passed since the attacks began, and they still hadn’t found a trace of the enemy.

To avoid drawing attention, he usually dispatched most of his convoys after dusk, each vehicle escorted by designated members. Yet someone had dared to launch such a bold, sudden assault.

Zhao Zhilong received a call from Anqing, informing him that officials would be sent to assist. At the same time, he was urged to quickly figure out which faction was behind the attack. After all, they had just issued an announcement today, and now trouble had erupted in Peach Blossom Court. Both Jingbei Industries and the Special Task Force were displeased!

There were even doubts about whether Peach Blossom Court could still maintain control over the area. Some, with a hint of sarcasm, suggested that if Anqing couldn’t handle things, they could step in and patrol directly!

“Notify Ah Hu and all those above level 40 to come over. The force attacking us isn’t simple; it’s clearly trying to stir up trouble. Hold off on transporting any remaining goods, and tell those at Wangxi Residence not to mention today’s transactions to anyone.”

Zhao Zhilong knew Peach Blossom Court couldn’t hold out much longer, but he didn’t want the first blaze to start from his side.

Moreover, his actions today weren’t exactly above board. If a real investigation started, the anti-Anqing faction in Peach Blossom Court would immediately target him, accusing him of pocketing profits.

With his subordinates, Zhao Zhilong quickly inspected the entire route. But aside from a field of shattered remains, they found virtually no useful information.

There were a few logos from Jingbei Industries and Blood Slaughter on the ground. He sent this information to Anqing, only to be scolded and accused of possibly fabricating the evidence himself.

“Damn it, don’t let me catch them!” Zhao Zhilong was furious. Besides checking the route, he dispatched people to stake out other major guilds.

In his view, only the large guilds had the strength to carry out such a massive, multi-directional attack—and possibly frame him in the process.

But just a few minutes later, Zhao Zhilong received more bad news.

“Brother Zhao, bad news! There’s trouble at the main building—someone is attacking the headquarters of Peach Blossom Court’s East District Three!”

With Zhao Zhilong and his men out investigating, the headquarters was left vulnerable and was attacked again by unknown forces!

This time, Zhao Zhilong could only laugh bitterly. If they targeted him personally, he’d be accused of poor management. But attacking the headquarters directly was a blatant provocation to Peach Blossom Court itself—indeed, to the dignity of the entire Jingmen Safe Zone.

The authorities had just ordered no fighting in the city. Guild leaders big and small had been notified; some guilds even strictly prohibited any trouble. Yet someone had dared to take such a huge risk and stir things up.

“Boom!”

Several buildings in Peach Blossom Court’s East District Three were under attack, and the perpetrator was naturally Yi Shen.

Yi Shen hadn’t planned to act here, but with some of Zhao Zhilong’s forces sent out searching, the headquarters was left defenseless.

As his attributes increased, Yi Shen realized these high-level explorers weren’t as formidable as he’d imagined.

The new effect of Mage’s Heart blocked external probing skills. Some explorers, unable to detect Yi Shen’s level or attributes, mistakenly believed him to be a high-tier explorer and didn’t pursue him with full force!

Within the main building alone, Yi Shen obtained several high-grade supplies, especially from the district chief’s office safe. Though made of special materials, he blasted it open easily, retrieving confidential files and some impressive special-effect equipment!

He also tested the waters at the treasury. There, the number of professionals was higher, so Yi Shen merely skimmed the edges, clearing out materials from nearby transport vehicles before they could be moved.

His intelligence attribute had now surpassed ten thousand, with other attributes at seven or eight thousand, achieving another surge in growth!

As time passed, more high-level explorers gathered in the area. Yi Shen knew he couldn’t linger. He fixed his viewpoint, flashed several times in succession, and quickly vanished from the base as if nothing had ever happened.

……

“Where is he?”

“We can’t find him. Everyone’s searching…”

“With so many of you, did you just sit around and let someone wipe out your base? How many attackers? What about reinforcements?”

“It seemed… it seemed to be just one person.”

“What?!”

“You think I’m an idiot? So many areas attacked, and you’re saying it was just one person?”

“It really was just one person. Detection spells couldn’t see his level, so he must be above level fifty, and probably a mage of a special class. He didn’t injure many people—mainly targeted the district chief’s office and the treasury. We lost a lot of materials; no idea how he managed to move them out.”

When Zhao Zhilong returned to the base and saw the devastated district chief’s office, his team was at a loss.

He’d spent a fortune renovating the place over the past two months, only to have it destroyed before he could even enjoy it.

He expected a major force to be attacking Peach Blossom Court, but discovered it was just one person. Today’s events were truly bizarre.

Finally, after persistent questioning, Zhao Zhilong found some clues about Yi Shen.

“We can basically pinpoint him. Although most of our surveillance was destroyed, we still caught some glimpses.”

“A mage dressed all in black, face indistinct, high-level, never seen before in the Jingmen Safe Zone.”

“He didn’t injure many, but we lost at least a million in materials today. The attack was definitely organized and premeditated!”