CHAPTER 422: CHAPTER 422: THE CLUB MEETING BEGINS

"How did it go? Did you pass?" Bai Yuetong looked at Lu Luo, slightly worried.

Lu Luo carefully considered the steps he had taken, then glanced at the milk tea in his hand and shook his head slightly.

"If he’s an obsessive-compulsive and meticulous person, I’m afraid I would have been exposed by now."

"Then what should we do? He’s the Director of the Inspection Department!"

"What to do? He’s probably worrying about it right now too."

If this had been before, Zhang Changming would have definitely arrested Lu Luo outright.

But now, he truly was anxious.

Lu Luo’s existence served to protect and care for Bai Yuetong.

And Lu Luo’s strength and potential were somewhat outrageous!

Damn, he’s got Seventh Tier strength at 22 years old? What did this kid eat to grow up? Zhang Changming was somewhat depressed.

"Sir, here’s your milk tea."

"Oh, thank you."

Zhang Changming took the milk tea from the staff member and started drinking it immediately.

It’s too sweet.

This was the first reaction of Zhang Changming, who had never had milk tea before.

Does Bai Yuetong really like drinking milk tea that much? I wonder how her mother is doing.

So, am I going to capture Lu Luo next?

Zhang Changming recalled his fight with Lu Luo.

Although he was already a Seventh Tier expert, and not just an entry-level one, the fight with Lu Luo seemed to have been entirely controlled by Lu Luo.

Throughout the entire process, Lu Luo hadn’t even let him get close.

Whenever he tried to collect some of Lu Luo’s skin flakes or hair, a kind of spiral force, like a whirlwind, would block his actions. It was extremely outrageous.

Would it really be that easy to capture such a guy?

If I’m alone, catching Lu Luo is almost impossible. In a one-on-one fight, I might even lose. If I call my subordinates to join in, I’m afraid many, many of them will die, which is definitely not an option. But if I ask for support from the Imperial Capital headquarters, then Bai Yuetong... No, absolutely not! Bai Yuetong cannot be exposed yet. Although Lu Luo is quite good now, he’s still not quite on par with those monsters from the Imperial Capital.

As Zhang Changming thought this over, he began to consider the situation from Lu Luo and Bai Yuetong’s perspective.

For an upright and brave Director of the Inspection Department, this situation was too much to bear.

Sigh, I’ll deal with it tomorrow!

Zhang Changming sighed lightly and dragged his slightly exhausted body back to the Inspection Department.

Upon his return, a member of the Inspection Department handed him the operation report.

"Director, here’s the inspection report. Did you catch the person?"

"What do you think?"

"Uh, even with you taking personal action, Director, you didn’t catch him? Then the opponent’s strength..."

"Is not weaker than mine."

"Do we need to request support from headquarters?"

Zhang Changming didn’t speak, just looked at his subordinate with an expression that seemed to say: Are you underestimating me?

The subordinate was quite perceptive and immediately lowered his head.

"I misspoke. For such matters, the Director surely has his own arrangements."

Only then did Zhang Changming nod. As for arrangements, what bloody arrangements do I have?

He picked up the investigative report that had been delivered and scanned it briefly.

A heretical god-level fluctuation intensity, huh? A Sequence I’ve never seen before. It feels a bit like those things worshipped by the sects of the Eyes of the Sky. In which regions do the Eyes of the Sky usually operate?

"Central and Eastern regions. In any case, our GuiXi region has never seen a trace of the Eyes of the Sky."

"I see. Tell the men to get some rest. They’ve worked hard tonight."

"Yes, Director."

Zhang Changming looked at the report again.

Came from the central or eastern part? That doesn’t feel quite right. Although Lu Luo’s accent is very much like that of the Imperial Capital, he doesn’t seem to understand the Imperial Capital very well. He doesn’t know many basic things. If this is an act, it seems somewhat unnecessary. This guy, where on earth did he come from?

Zhang Changming closed the report, sighing heavily.

Not capturing Lu Luo is a stain on my career. And this stain has the potential to grow, making the future difficult!

「...」

Lu Luo and Bai Yuetong waited at the hotel entrance for a while but didn’t see Zhang Changming, which made Bai Yuetong sigh in relief.

"He didn’t come. Looks like you guessed wrong. He probably didn’t realize there was a problem with you."

Lu Luo took another look at the milk tea in his hand and shook his head.

"Let me take you somewhere."

It was late at night by then, but the 24-hour Mixue Ice Cream shop was still open.

Lu Luo knocked on the counter, and the on-duty clerk immediately responded, "Welcome! What would you like to order, sir?"

"I want to see the surveillance footage."

"That... is not allowed."

Lu Luo placed 1,000 yuan on the counter.

"I want to see the surveillance footage."

The clerk glanced at the 1,000 yuan, his expression slightly startled.

"Sir, you’re putting me in a difficult position."

Lu Luo added two more stacks of bills, bringing the total to 3,000 yuan.

"Is it still difficult?"

"Ah, no, not difficult at all."

The clerk quickly pulled up the surveillance footage for them. Since the time could be determined, Lu Luo soon spotted Zhang Changming on the screen.

The surveillance here was very clear, and it included audio.

Although it had been noisy at the time, they could still see and hear clearly.

Zhang Changming had indeed come here, and he had indeed asked to see this particular surveillance footage.

Lu Luo looked at Bai Yuetong beside him.

"See? I told you he had been here. And he has confirmed that I was the person from last night."

"Then why... didn’t he come back?"

"Maybe because he wasn’t confident about dealing with me. Of course, it could also be because of you."

"Me?!"

"Both, I suppose."

Lu Luo’s guess was very accurate. Indeed, these were the two reasons Zhang Changming hadn’t come looking for Lu Luo.

Bai Yuetong mused, What exactly is my connection to this man? Does he know my mother?

"Probably," Lu Luo said. "We’ll find out the specifics when we meet him next time. I’ll have a proper talk with him then."

This probing allowed Lu Luo to get a rough idea of Zhang Changming’s strength and the Inspection Department’s capabilities.

The danger level of the Inspection Department is two tiers higher than I anticipated. And frankly, in terms of combat power, the Imperial Seventh Tiers are inferior to those in the Wasteland Alliance. Perhaps it’s because Zhang Changming hasn’t used his Sequence yet. He does show Sequence fluctuations, but they’re weak. There’s really no comparison with the Wasteland Alliance, especially the Seventh Tiers from the Church. The Seventh Tiers I’ve encountered before were each more outrageous than the last. A Seventh Tier like Zhang Changming would probably be at the bottom in the Wasteland Alliance. What makes him difficult to handle is his strong pursuit ability and the various official Imperial tools and equipment he possesses. In terms of sheer strength, Zhang Changming is still a bit lacking.

"Are you still going out tonight?" Dumb Hair blinked.

"Of course not!"

「...」

Several days passed peacefully, and Lu Luo enjoyed some rare leisure.

After fighting for half a lifetime, I really should enjoy myself. These past few days, with both my wives here, I’ve quite enjoyed the feeling of a warm home, wife, and kids... well, no kids yet, but I’m definitely preparing for them. Maybe after things settle down in the Imperial territories, say, after this Society Congress?

As the Society Congress drew near, most of the societies from the GuiXi District had arrived in Coal Capital.

Hotels were fully booked, and conflicts surged.

The number of fights and brawls was six to seven times higher than usual.

The Inspection Department and the security office were feeling overwhelmed.

The one thing Zhang Changming was grateful for was that Lu Luo hadn’t caused any trouble during this period. A Seventh Tier combatant... I really can’t handle that right now.

On December 15th, the Society Congress was held as scheduled.

Bai Yuetong and the others began purchasing equipment in Coal Capital, familiarizing themselves with Imperial facilities, supply channels, and technological directions to facilitate the future development of Circle Company.

Gu Fangyi served as their bodyguard.

Qi Xinzhu, along with members of the Cain Secret Cultivator Society, attended the Society Congress through the official channels for large societies.

Only Lu Luo was left by himself.

Or rather, he had chosen to be alone.

「...」

The Society Congress took place at the Coal Capital Apocalypse Sports Stadium.

However, that was where the established societies convened. The challenger group’s competition was arranged in Coal Capital’s underground plaza.

Though called a plaza, it was actually a converted section of Coal Capital’s abandoned sewer system, a place specifically provided for the entertainment of the poor.

No tickets were required, and the authorities had temporarily requisitioned it as the competition site for the challenger group.

Although only two of the top 30 contestants could emerge from the challenger group, the crowd here was just as large as the one at the Apocalypse Sports Stadium, because the poor always outnumber the rich.

Indeed, the number of participants here far exceeded the number of spectators.

Looking at the long line behind him, Lu Luo sighed in exasperation.

It was finally his turn. Queuing for nearly four hours just to register? This is ridiculous.

The person processing his registration was an old man, but not the kind-hearted type.

Beneath his white hair was a face covered in scars.

His left eye, whether blind or not, was covered by a black eyepatch.

Lu Luo’s Observer senses were sharp; he could feel a heavy killing aura emanating from this old man.

He’s taken lives before, and more than just one or two. Though not exceptionally strong, a person like this is definitely a tough customer.

"Name?"

"Lu Luo."

"Age?"

"Twenty-two."

"Society affiliation? Or are you unaffiliated?"

"Affiliated. Wings of Blazing Sky."

"Alright, show your ID card and go over there for the health check."

The staff member’s attitude was terrible. Lu Luo didn’t quite understand why he needed to go through security and health checks just to participate in the challenger group’s competition.

It feels like being processed like livestock.

"Uh, may I ask why a health check is necessary?"

"You wildlings are so much trouble, always operating outside proper channels. Who knows if you’re criminals, virus carriers, or something else? There are so many people at the venue; what if one of you causes a problem? Our checks here are for the safety of the entire Coal Capital. Got a problem with that?"

Although the man’s attitude was poor, he had, after a fashion, explained the reason to Lu Luo.

And what he said did make sense, so Lu Luo simply nodded.

"Thanks for the explanation. Sorry to trouble you."

Just as Lu Luo was about to leave, the scar-faced old man suddenly said, "Someone like you shouldn’t be here, right?"

"Oh? Why do you say that?" Lu Luo was somewhat curious.

"I can smell the scent of blood on you."

Hearing this, Lu Luo’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"How could that be, at my age? Besides, the scent of blood isn’t necessarily human."

"I never said it was human," the old man retorted, his eyes also narrowing.

"Oh, I see. Anything else?"

"No. Go on in."

"Alright."

Lu Luo wasn’t entirely sure what the old man meant, but it seemed the old man had sensed something about him.

Lu Luo could feel the old man’s gaze fixed on him, never wavering.

As Lu Luo went to the other side for his physical examination, the old man closed his window, went into a back room, and took out a phone.

"This is Coal Capital Shadow 2-113. I’ve found a suspicious individual. Potentially a big problem. Exact strength is unknown, so I’m filing a preliminary report."

"Understood, Shadow 2-113. Please ensure your safety and maintain constant contact. The Imperial government will dispatch personnel to assist you."

"Yes, I understand."

Lu Luo didn’t know that the moment he turned away, information about him had already been sent to the Imperial Capital.

The Imperial Inspection Department wasn’t just its public-facing branch; the old man’s unit was part of the Inspection Department’s Shadow Department.

The Inspection Department knew that during every Society Congress, a large number of criminals attempted to join through the challenger group.

With so many participants in this particular Society Congress, there would undoubtedly be even more criminals.

The Shadow Department of the Inspection Department was stationed here to screen registrants, not just for virus carriers, psychotics, or terrorists, but also to quickly identify potential criminals.

The old man had a keen eye. Just as Lu Luo had sensed his killing intent, the old man had likewise perceived the killing intent emanating from Lu Luo.

Even though Lu Luo concealed it well, a battle-hardened veteran like the old man, who had witnessed half a century of bloodshed, wouldn’t be mistaken.

Lu Luo’s hands have indeed been stained with many lives. I can’t be sure if they were human or monstrous, but for someone so young to have such a heavy air of death about him is inherently suspicious. Whether or not Lu Luo is a criminal, his presence is an unknown variable.

Therefore, the old man’s report was a matter of course.

Now, it was time for careful observation.

「...」

After undergoing a series of checks, a blue seal was stamped on Lu Luo’s right wrist, reading "T-4017".

He figured it meant "Challenger Group, Contestant No. 4017".

But this is outrageous. Are they really numbering us like pigs?

A voice in his head asked, Aren’t you going to get a little angry?

"What’s there to be angry about?" Lu Luo himself was quite calm. With his level of strength, he no longer bothered getting angry over such trivialities. Besides, the seal wasn’t a tattoo; it could be removed.

Due to the large number of participants in this Society Congress, the challenger group matches were changed from 20-person groups to 50-person groups.

Only two out of fifty would advance.

To be honest, this competition format is a bit absurd. It will lead to many capable individuals being ganged up on and eliminated. However, I have no control over the format. All I need to do is qualify.

Lu Luo navigated the packed corridor, following the crowd to his designated competition venue: Group 81.

The contest area didn’t even have barriers; a circle was simply drawn with chalk, and they were told to begin.

"The competition begins!"

No sooner had Lu Luo stepped into the circle than the announcement to start the competition sounded.

Damn, people haven’t even spread out yet! If someone weaker were here, wouldn’t they be vulnerable to a sneak attack?

Just as Lu Luo had this thought, he felt someone kicking at his groin with great force.

A notification appeared in his mind: Your groin has sustained a heavy blow, but your Constitution has rendered you immune to the damage from this attack.

That was a groin kick from a Second Tier Transcendent! These people have no martial decency!

Lu Luo grabbed the attacker’s leg with one hand.

"Friend, that’s going too far."

"You—?"

Before the attacker could finish, a wave of red aura suddenly pressed down on the entire area.

Transcendent individuals all around collapsed in droves. By the time the attacker before Lu Luo realized what had happened, only the two of them remained standing in the 50-person group.

"Huh? We’ve advanced?" the groin-kicker asked, bewildered.

"Yes, we’ve advanced," Lu Luo nodded.

"Sorry about that, I shouldn’t have kicked you just now," the person said, actually sounding apologetic.

"No problem. You’ll be eliminated in the next round anyway."

Uh... What kind of thing is that to say?! the attacker thought.

The old man who had taken notice of Lu Luo earlier was now secretly observing him from the sidelines.

This scene caused the unlit cigarette to fall from his mouth.

This person... there’s definitely something seriously wrong with him!