It was the third hour after the three murder cases took place in Dongdu.
It had been raining hard all day. In the storm, two Toyota off-road vehicles pulled out of the downtown of Dongdu and headed for the holy mountain in the southwest of Dongdu with a clear goal.
Known as a holy mountain, Fuyo Peak was near the Pacific coast and covered with snow all year round. It was one of the symbols of East Island and now was one of the world’s largest active volcanoes.
This was the sacred mountain in the hearts of the entire East Island nation. Divine Wind Force, the organ of the Special Warfare System of East Island, was located on the holy mountain.
Two off-road vehicles were driving up the mountain road. As the height rose, the storm seemed to abate. In the distance, shrouded in the dense moisture, the snowy Fuyo Peak looked gorgeous and holy. But against the darkness, there was a trace of beauty that bordered on gloom.
The vehicles drove on the road on the mountainside. After a turn, they pulled into an area normally closed to visitors and continued up.
Five hundred meters later, the first checkpoint appeared.
The sentinels, dressed in special, white military uniforms that almost merged with the snow, stepped forward unanimously with guns in their hands.
The windows of the two cars rolled down. Facing the vigilant sentinels with sharp eyes, the man in the driver’s seat showed no identification but only two badges.
One was luxurious, and the other was ancient.
The sentinels, who originally felt as if they were confronted by a formidable enemy, reflexively stood upright and saluted. They waved through without saying a word.
Nine out of ten people could not recognize these two badges if they were presented to ordinary soldiers.
But this was the encampment of the Divine Wind Force.
And it was also the headquarters of both the power center of the Special Warfare System of East Island and the most powerful and picked special forces of East Island.
For everyone here, these two badges were something worth their lives.
The luxurious badge represented the prime minister.
While the ancient badge represented the royal family.
Even if it was a beggar who held these two badges, they would offer their loyalty and even their lives to him, without reservation.
The two off-road vehicles were moving forward side by side.
After pa.s.sing two more checkpoints, a snow city appeared in front of the two off-road vehicles.
This was indeed a city in snow. Although the city wall was extremely short, looking through the rain curtain and acc.u.mulated snow, one would find that the interior was vast. In the middle of the short wall was a gate tower six or seven meters high. The two words “Divine Wind” were as red as blood on the gate tower, looking very eye-catching.
Since it was raining heavily, there were few guards on the city wall. In the middle of the gate under the tower, with a katana on a slant on his back, a figure in tight nocturnal clothing and with a turban over his head stood silently. The black figure was so clear yet vague in the white acc.u.mulated snow that it looked like a statue at the gate, old and silent, at first glance.
The two off-road vehicles that were supposed to come straight into the city suddenly stopped.
The door opened. Two East Islanders, both in their 40s or 50s, alighted from the vehicles at the same time and walked briskly toward the black figure in front of the city gate.
The sound of feet crunching the snow was heard.
In front of the gate, the black figure suddenly opened his eyes.
An indescribable smell of danger rose from him. It was not a kind of terrible sword intent, but insufferable fort.i.tude and gloom.
His eyes were bright, but his emotions were hidden within. As he twinkled, there seemed to be nothing but blood and darkness in his eyes.
The two middle-aged men who were about to walk up to him froze and they stopped unconsciously ten meters away.
“Your Highness Miyamoto, why are you here?”
A middle-aged man croaked in surprise, with undisguised respect in his voice.
Shinichi Miyamoto.
He was the Palace Master of Liuhuo Palace of East Island, the general officer commanding of Divine Wind Force, and also the only Supreme Ninja in the Martial Arts World of East Island!
Having commanded the Divine Wind Force for years, Shinichi Miyamoto unexpectedly appeared outside the city gate tonight in the heavy rain. It was clear that he had not come to greet either of them, even though they were representing the Mikado and the prime minister.
“I’m waiting for someone.”
The look in Shinichi Miyamoto’s eyes gradually softened. His body remained motionless as the heavy rain fell, and he said in a hoa.r.s.e voice, “Songxia, Zuohe, did His Majesty and the prime minister give orders for you to come here late at night?”
In recent years, due to the existence of Night Spirit in East Island, there were not many opportunities for Divine Wind Force to go out to perform tasks directly. Shinichi Miyamoto was not very familiar with the two men standing before him now, because he only vaguely knew their names. Both of them had a little actual role in the imperial palace and the prime minister’s office, but they were among the most important aides to the emperor and the prime minister. They came to Divine Wind in the rain late at night. Absolutely, something very important had happened.
“Yes, Your Highness Miyamoto. Something very important happened tonight in Dongdu. His Majesty and the prime minister believe it is time for Divine Wind Force to serve East Island.”
Songxia Ying lowered his head and his tone became more deferential. As a confidant of the Mikado, he had a plain and ordinary appearance, and he was also equipped with a kind of scholarly spirit that was very consistent with his status as an advisor. He looked like a senior scholar, making people feel very comfortable at first sight. He was less than 50 years old, and among the Mikado’s advisors, he was a true Young Turk. At present, all kinds of information showed that within five years, Songxia Ying was very likely to become the Mikado’s chief of advisors. In the entire East Island, he was arguably a very significant figure.
Shinichi Miyamoto kept his countenance and looked calm. Motionlessly, he lowered his eyelids and became silent again.
As a Supreme Ninja of the Invincible Realm, he looked like a dead thing when he remained still, as if he had restrained all his vitality.
“Your Highness Miyamoto, a few hours ago, there were murders in Chiyoda, Chūō and Shinjuku. We have learned with certainty that three Thunder-shocking Realm experts, including Miyamoto Shinei, have currently been killed in their own territories. More than ten Fire-flaming Realm experts have died, and countless elites have been killed or wounded.”
“There are three murderers. At present, we can confirm that the person who killed Gongze Xiong in Chiyoda was w.a.n.g Shengxiao, the heir of the w.a.n.g family of Beihai. Chances are that the person who appeared in Chūō was Gu Hanshan, the heir of the Kunlun City of Zhongzhou State. We don’t know for sure who the murderer was in Shinjuku. We’ve found some videos in Shinjuku, and we can only confirm that it was a young man whose ident.i.ty was unknown to us.”
Zuohe Hengxin was from the advisory group of the prime minister and his tone was cold. Unlike the friendly-looking Songxia Ying, Zuohe Hengxin’s face was dark and his aura was cold. Although the advisors of the prime minister did not hold specific official positions, most of the time, they would handle some administrative duties for the prime minister. After staying with the prime minister for a long time, Zuohe Hengxin naturally had an extraordinary aura. But at this time, when he stood in front of Shinichi Miyamoto, the Supreme Ninja, he deliberately restrained all his domineering and elegant demeanour.
“The w.a.n.g family of Beihai? Zhongzhou State?”
Shinichi Miyamoto’s closed eyes suddenly opened and he unconsciously took a step forward.
The snow under Shinichi Miyamoto’s feet was pitted by the rain, but the place where he had stood was smooth, leaving not even a footprint.
He stood on the snow yet leaving no trace at all!
Songxia Ying and Zuohe Hengxin bowed at the same time.
“If that’s the case, it’s going to be quite troublesome.”
Shinichi Miyamoto said slowly, taking a deep breath. The aura that he had gathered to the utmost was released slowly, as if endless darkness had descended upon the holy mountain. The darkness engulfed the acc.u.mulated snow and the heavy rain, and the whole world seemed to be pitch-black.
Shinichi Miyamoto looked grave.
Songxia Ying and Zuohe Hengxin had the same facial expression as he did.
If things were really as what they thought they were, then this matter was more than troublesome.
Great changes were about to take place in Zhongzhou State.
The fact that the Governor of Samsara challenged the G.o.d of War of Zhongzhou State had captured the world’s attention.
At present, a large number of masters and elites from East Island all lurked in Zhongzhou State. The special warfare forces and masters of East Island were in a deadly state of emptiness.
Did Zhongzhou State still have the strength to seek East Island at this time?
w.a.n.g Shengxiao and Gu Hanshan were young Heavenly Sons who were famous throughout the Dark World. Was it possible that the third person who appeared in Shinjuku this evening was a young talent hid by Zhongzhou State?
Was what happened tonight a small-scale solo action or a prelude to a ma.s.s invasion?
If it was just a prelude, it could only show that when numerous masters from East Island sneaked into Zhongzhou State, a large number of elites from Zhongzhou State entered East Island as well.
Once this a.s.sumption was true…
Shinichi Miyamoto’s face suddenly darkened.
Everybody thought that great changes were going to take place in Zhongzhou State. Under such circ.u.mstances, Zhongzhou State still dared to send forces to East Island, which could only show that there was no chance of great changes in Zhongzhou State.
The Master of Samsara Palace would fight the G.o.d of War of Zhongzhou State, but they would not fight each other to the death.
What if… Samsara and Zhongzhou State cooperated to seek East Island?
What should the two Invincible Realm experts and a large number of masters who had already entered Zhongzhou State do?
It was raining cats and dogs.
Shinichi Miyamoto felt cold all over.
“Investigate!”
The Supreme Ninja of East Island was silent for five minutes and then said coldly, “Check the movements of the 12 Super Masters of Samsara and all the records of exit and entry of East Island in the past month. Since the young Heavenly Sons from the w.a.n.g family of Beihai and Kunlun City have entered East Island, there must be many elites with them from Zhongzhou State that we haven’t discovered. We have to find out everything. The Divine Wind Force will spring into action right now. Songxia, Zuohe, what orders did His Majesty and the prime minister issue?”
Songxia Ying paused for a while and then said slowly, “His Majesty and the prime minister mean that w.a.n.g Shengxiao and Gu Hanshan must be under control. Furthermore, the young murderer in Shinjuku should also be controlled. The three are likely to be the core figures of the next generation of the Zhongzhou Special Warfare System. If the worst comes to the worst… They will be valuable hostages.”
Shinichi Miyamoto nodded his head without expression. “The Divine Wind Force is equal to the task. In addition, I would like to inform His Majesty the Mikado and the prime minister that I advise the Kusanagi Force to be awakened immediately, just in case!”
The facial expressions of the two top advisors in the imperial palace and the prime minister’s residence changed dramatically, but they didn’t dare to say much. They turned hastily, got into the off-road vehicles and left quickly.
Both of them felt that the act of waking the Kusanagi Force up was absurd. But obviously, Shinichi Miyamoto had a much stronger sense of crisis than they did. This was a valuable piece of advice that they must inform their masters immediately.
Watching the two off-road vehicles leave, Shinichi Miyamoto restrained his urge to come back immediately to issue orders and waited quietly where he was.
The storm roared in mid-air. In the distance, the rain seemed to tilt slightly and it then became still.
Shinichi Miyamoto’s eyes were fixed and he was impa.s.sive.
The rain all over the sky seemed to get smaller and smaller, and finally, it completely disappeared in a certain second.
The rain was still heavy in front of the city, but a domain suddenly appeared around Shinichi Miyamoto, and all the rain disappeared completely.
“Miyamoto, long time no see.”
A soft, evil voice sounded. It echoed between the snow and the storm and was dimly discerned.
Shinichi Miyamoto pressed down his inner restlessness and said placidly, “You’re the No.1 killer on the killer list. Don’t you dare to appear in front of me after coming to the Divine Wind Force?”
“Oh, goad doesn’t work for me. This is the station of the Divine Wind Force and you’ve stretched your domain, so I can only keep a low profile. Although I’m a little impolite, I believe that you must be able to understand me, right, Miyamoto?”
The soft, evil voice continued to sound and it echoed softly throughout the heaven and earth.
Its owner codenamed Evil—the top killer in the Dark World and also the only Invincible Realm killer.
No one knew why he appeared in East Island, including Shinichi Miyamoto.
But obviously, the Supreme Ninja of East Island didn’t have the patience to say much. He said with some impatience, “Evil, be straightforward. I don’t have time to talk to you here.”
“Hehe…”
In the void under the storm, Evil’s soft voice echoed in Shinichi Miyamoto’s ear. “It’s just a trifle. I want to invite you to Zhongzhou State and help me kill one person. What do you think, Miyamoto?”
Shinichi Miyamoto was surprised and said with a sneer, “Why should I help you? It’s an inexplicable request.”
“What if I say the person I’m going to kill is in the interests of East Island?”
Evil’s voice seemed to be m.u.f.fled a little. “Once this person dies, Samsara Palace, the w.a.n.g family of Beihai, Kunlun City, and Sigh City will turn hostile completely. Maybe that’s what you want to see, right?”
Shinichi Miyamoto’s face was expressionless, but his eyes narrowed tightly. “I don’t know there’s such a person in Zhongzhou State.”
“I didn’t know that before. According to my employer, he’s merely a young nonent.i.ty who has only emerged recently.”
Evil smiled and said calmly.
Shinichi Miyamoto’s patience was wearing thin and his eyes were growing cold.
There was no friendship between Evil and him. It was strange that Evil should come here to find him. Moreover, he came here for a young nonent.i.ty who had emerged recently but was related to the balance of forces in Zhongzhou State. Could this be f*cking more absurd?
And even if there was such a person, why did Evil find him?
There was no logic at all.
“Are you done?”
Shinichi Miyamoto said slowly, frowning.
“Do not think what I’m saying is ridiculous. You should think it over. The person I’m going to kill this time may be a nonent.i.ty, but the people behind him are significant. If I act alone, I’m not sure I can get away. Miyamoto, I found you not only because I want to invite you to join us to go to Zhongzhou State, but also because I want to cooperate with Tianhai Wuji and Liusheng Cangquan through you. In addition, there’s one more Invincible Realm expert who might bring a murderous weapon to cooperate with us. We’re going to kill a young man with five Invincible Realm experts and a murderous weapon, so do you still think it’s a joke?”
Evil continued in a calm tone, “The reason why I found you is because of your ninjutsu. But what I value more is the opportunity that two Invincible Realm experts of East Island are in Zhongzhou State at this time. If the cooperation is successful, it will definitely be a win-win or even multi-win situation. If it fails, we are doomed. I can use everything I have to make sure that everything I say is true. I’d like to see whether your country dares to gamble once for the fate of the nation.”
“Of course we dare.”
Shinichi Miyamoto said with a cold smile. “But why should I think you would bet on such a dangerous plan?”
Evil sighed gently and said leisurely, “The remuneration of ten billion dollars would drive anyone crazy, wouldn’t it? After this, maybe I can retire for good.”
Ten billion dollars!
Shinichi Miyamoto was greatly shocked.
If what Evil said was true, it would be enough to prove that the person he was going to kill this time was significant.
And the force which was able to offer 10 billion dollars to kill a person was by no means ordinary!
A young nonent.i.ty who was related to the overall situation of Zhongzhou State?
Shinichi Miyamoto took a deep breath and calmly asked, “Who is this person?”
“A new, young Heavenly Son in Zhongzhou State, Li Tianlan.”
Evil was silent for a moment. Then he chuckled and added, “He possesses the Wind and Thunder Veins and is of infinite potential. This is the last a.s.sa.s.sination in my life. It would be perfect if his blood and life were to be a full stop of my career.”
“A new, young Heavenly Son?”
“Li Tianlan?”
“The Wind and Thunder Veins?”
The corners of Shinichi Miyamoto’s eyes twitched slightly. At this moment, he suddenly thought of the information that Songxia Ying and Zuohe Hengxin had just brought him.
w.a.n.g Shengxiao appeared in Chiyoda.
Gu Hanshan showed up in Chūō.
While the one who emerged in Shinjuku…
His eyes narrowed slightly as he muttered, “Could this really be a coincidence?”
…