Chen Zheng listened quietly, then mulled over the name "Shekui Squad."

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully triggering a choice mission.]

[Option One: Assassinate all the high-ranking members of Lanluozi and receive the following reward: complete control over Lanluozi.]

[Option Two: Mount a defense at home and repel the Shekui Squad to receive the following reward: Mercenary SSS Honor Medal.]

[Warm Reminder: This medal symbolizes the highest glory of a mercenary.]

Chen Zheng didn't rush to make a choice but fell deep into thought. Moreover, if my family were to be harmed as a result, it would be an irrevocable loss. As for complete control over Lanluozi, although important, it's not essential. Given Yan Shuiyu's growth trajectory, she will soon surpass them.

Thus, Chen Zheng made his decision. "I choose one!"

Even without the system, he had planned to launch a proactive strike. He did not want to passively defend his home turf.

"Get ready. Take me to the Shekui base," Chen Zheng said casually.

Stryke thought he had misheard and stared dumbfounded at Chen Zheng.

"Master Chen… don't… don't go!" Zhuge Xiyu bit her lip, her heart filled with worry.

Chen Zheng didn't respond to Zhuge Xiyu's plea, knowing that if he chose to avoid the confrontation, the problem would only become more complicated. He stood up, his tone nonchalant. "Let's go."

Stryke immediately snapped back to his senses, understanding that Chen Zheng was not joking. Due to the influence of the puppet card, Stryke could not defy Chen Zheng's will. However, he still had his own concerns. He said through clenched teeth, "Are you going alone? Shekui has thirty members, and ten of them are Kings of Soldiers!"

Chen Zheng paused, thinking deeply for a moment before saying, "Your words have reminded me of something. Let's get moving." As he walked, he pulled out his phone to make a call.

Zhuge Xiyu watched Chen Zheng's receding figure, her eyes filled with a sense of loss. Her heart was full of worry, but she knew she had no right to persuade him. This was all because of her past arrogance and rudeness. Zhuge Xiyu felt deep regret, but there was no medicine in the world for regret.

"May you be safe," she sighed softly in the end, her whisper like the low lament of a nightingale.

Chen Zheng's departure didn't cause any ripples. Stryke had already booked the tickets, and the two of them embarked on an unknown journey.

「...」

In Magic Capital, Li Cangyun, Liu Daoyi, and Liu Feng appeared at the airport simultaneously.

"Uncle! Why aren't you taking me with you?" Li Chen, their driver, demanded with discontent.

"You're only at the peak of Dark Energy. What qualifies you to accompany Grandmaster Chen on an adventure?" Li Cangyun said disdainfully, glancing sideways at Li Chen.

"Hmph! Uncle, don't forget, you were also just at the peak of Dark Energy when you were young. My strength has already surpassed yours now!" Li Chen shot back, rolling his eyes.

Li Cangyun looked at him blandly and said nothing, but his eyes conveyed the message clearly: That was the past. Your uncle is a Grandmaster now.

"Hmph!" Li Chen mentally gave his uncle the middle finger and angrily drove away.

"Let's set off!" Li Cangyun's voice echoed in the airport as Liu Daoyi and Liu Feng followed closely, embarking on this unknown journey.

"Brother Li, what were Grandmaster Chen's instructions?" Liu Daoyi asked as they walked, completely unaware of the situation.

"Grandmaster Chen called. He invited us to join him on Shekui Island to clear out some riff-raff. Supposedly there are some Kings of Soldiers there," Li Cangyun shared candidly.

"Kings of Soldiers? Shekui Island!" Liu Daoyi mulled over these words. Suddenly, he looked at Liu Feng with a serious expression. "You must give it your all. Having just entered the Grandmaster Stage, you need the baptism of battle."

"Understood!" Liu Feng immediately responded, his heart filled with anticipation.

Li Cangyun looked at them indifferently, but he couldn't help scoffing inwardly. Clearing out riff-raff? Can you two even compare to me? How could mere Bagua compare to Xinyi Quan? If they knew Li Cangyun's true thoughts, they would probably turn on him immediately.

Before long, the three of them boarded the plane.

Sunlight sprinkled on the airport runway as Chen Zheng and Stryke walked out of the terminal. Li Cangyun and the other two were there to meet them. They exchanged smiles, then got into a taxi together and headed off.

「Meanwhile, on the other side of the city.」

In a specially constructed villa on Shekui Island, a Shekui Squad member reported Stryke's whereabouts to the captain, Ron Do. Upon hearing this news, a cunning light flickered in Ron Do's eyes.

"Heh, fate's arrangements are always so clever. We just happen to have some free time. Why not complete our employer's mission first?" one of the squad members laughed teasingly.

Ron Do nodded slightly, his tone casual. "Keep a close watch on their every move and be ready to act at any moment."

"Yes, sir." The squad members quickly departed.

Soon, Chen Zheng and Stryke's movements were under close surveillance. Stryke sensed something was amiss, yet Chen Zheng remained impassive and didn't mention it.

Just then, Li Cangyun and the other two appeared before them.

"Grandmaster Chen!" The three approached respectfully to pay their respects, completely ignoring Stryke.

Stryke didn't mind; his intuition told him that these three were no ordinary men.

"Truly extraordinary, to have reached the Grandmaster Stage. It seems the medicinal effects have fully integrated into your body!" Chen Zheng looked at Liu Feng and exclaimed.

"Grandmaster Chen, your perception is truly astonishing!" Liu Feng replied, lowering his head respectfully.

"Let's set off." Chen Zheng nodded with a smile.

The group headed for the docks.

When Ron Do heard the report, he was puzzled. "What? They're headed to the docks? Are they going to Shekui Island?"

"Yes. They made no attempt to hide their tracks and went straight to the docks. Stryke found a cruise ship, and it's heading toward our base," the squad member said, equally baffled.

These people are so fearless. Don't they know what this place is? This is Shekui Island! The mercenary world's nightmarish base!

"Mobilize the satellite! Capture their image immediately!" Ron Do ordered, then added, "And get the employers. Let them watch how Stryke meets his end!" A vicious smile spread across his face.

"Yes, sir!" the squad member replied and departed.

Before long, the figures of Chen Zheng and the others materialized on the villa's display screen. Led by Shekui Squad members, John and the other high-ranking executives stepped into the mysterious villa.

"Chairman John, please take a seat," Ron Do said, rising to his feet with a respectful tone. These mercenaries lived on the generous patronage of their employers.

John's attitude was humble and polite; after all, these mercenaries lived on the edge of life and death. During their few days on Shekui Island, they had received an unprecedented level of security. "Captain Ron Do, you're too courteous. Did you summon us for a particular reason?" John inquired.

"Please, enjoy the show," Ron Do said, pointing at the display screen.

The onlookers gasped. "Is that Stryke?"

"Wait… that's… Chen Zheng, the controller of Yan Shuiyu!" The exclamations echoed through the room.

"Oh? So he's the legendary Chen Zheng? The other mission you've all been discussing these past few days is connected to him, isn't it?" Listening to their astonishment, Ron Do stroked his chin as a storm began to brew in his mind. Clearly, this is a rare opportunity to get rich. None of these people are short on cash.

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