Hou Changfeng put down his teacup, which clinked dully against the tabletop.

The smile on his face faded, and the air in the office seemed to grow heavier.

“Li Gang.”

“What do you think about Lu Qi and the Zhou Family’s matter?”

Li Gang’s heart skipped a beat, and he stood even straighter.

He carefully chose his words, speaking cautiously.

“Governor, this subordinate believes there are many suspicious points in this matter.”

“The relationship between the Zhou Family and the Imperial City Liu Family seems more complex than we imagined.”

Hou Changfeng snorted, his corpulent body leaning back against the chair, which groaned under the strain.

“The Liu Family?”

“Their reach is getting longer and longer.”

“I haven’t even settled scores with them yet, and they’ve already sent people to pressure me.”

A cold glint, difficult to detect, flashed in his narrowed eyes.

“What great prestige.”

Li Gang sensed the Governor’s displeasure in his words, and his heart immediately settled.

He took a step forward, lowering his voice.

“Sir, there must be some shady dealings hidden between the Zhou Family and the Liu Family.”

“And this shady business is, more likely than not, centered on the Zhou Family.”

“You see, should we... continue to investigate?”

Hou Changfeng picked up his teacup, slowly blowing on the hot liquid, not looking at him.

He merely stared at the tea leaves floating in the cup, speaking with a chuckle.

“Investigate?”

“Investigate what?”

“Why don’t I know about any investigation?”

He lifted his eyelids, glancing at Li Gang, his smile holding an inscrutable meaning.

“Aren’t you on vacation recently?”

“As the Governor, I know nothing about what you’ve been doing in private.”

Li Gang understood instantly.

A smile immediately bloomed on his face, and he bowed.

“Yes, yes!”

“This subordinate understands!”

“I’ve been too tired from work recently; I should indeed take a good vacation and travel around.”

...

The black special car drove away from the main building of the military zone.

Assistant Xiao Liu sat in the driver’s seat, focused and silent.

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, leaned back in the rear seat, watching the rapidly receding scenery outside the window.

The vehicle did not drive out of the military zone but headed deeper, towards a secluded area.

On both sides of the road, tall buildings gradually became sparse, replaced by an open expanse of flat ground.

At the end of the flat ground, a massive building constructed entirely of black metal lay like a silent beast prostrate on the ground.

Zhou Huai’s eyebrows twitched.

This place was somewhat beyond his expectations.

There wasn't the imagined strict security with guards every three steps and sentries every five.

The entire building was empty around it; not even a single patrolling soldier could be seen.

But as the vehicle approached, Zhou Huai could clearly feel a heart-pounding energy fluctuation permeating the air.

He looked at the outer wall of the building.

On the wall, countless intricate runes were densely carved.

These runes intertwined to form a giant, invisible net, emitting a faint glow that enveloped the entire building.

Assistant Xiao Liu parked the car in front of the huge metal gate, got out, and presented a document.

There were only two soldiers in the guardhouse beside the gate.

They took the document, checked it carefully, and then saluted Xiao Liu.

“Buzz—”

The heavy gate slowly rose, revealing a deep, downward sloping ramp.

The two got back into the car and slowly drove into the underground along the ramp.

The scene before them suddenly opened up.

The huge underground space was as bright as day.

Rows of neat shelves were piled with countless magic crystals. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

These magic crystals varied in size and color, emitting a soft glow that illuminated the entire space, making it seem dreamlike.

On the other side of the space, dozens of monstrously shaped giant cannons were parked.

The cannon bodies gleamed with a cold metallic luster, and their muzzles were pitch black, as if they could swallow all light.

These were magic-powered cannons.

War machines powered by magic crystals, capable of leveling an entire mountain.

Zhou Huai’s consciousness, within Gandalf, felt the rich energy in the air, and his heart also stirred.

Dongning Province’s magic crystal reserves were indeed well-deserved of their reputation.

Magic crystals are rare strategic Materials, not only the energy source for magic-powered cannons but also the core for maintaining the operation of large-scale defensive Formations.

Their source is extremely unstable; they can only be mined in certain ancient Secret Realms.

Secret Realms are different from dungeons; once opened, they do not reset.

They are vast in area, complex in environment, and the exotic beasts within them are more powerful, and of course, the resources are also richer.

The reason Dongning Province could become one of the Great Xia Country’s few major magic crystal holders was precisely because two ancient Secret Realms, still not fully explored, had appeared within its borders.

Xiao Liu seemed to notice Gandalf’s surprise, and a hint of pride appeared on his face.

“Mr. Gandalf, what is stored here is only a part of our military zone’s reserves.”

He did not linger long on this floor; soon, another gate slowly opened ahead.

The vehicle drove in, entering the second underground level.

The space on this level was much smaller and much quieter.

Rows of spotless glass display cases replaced the rough shelves.

Inside the display cases, pieces of equipment were quietly displayed, emitting either subtle or ostentatious light.

The equipment here was at least Epic Rank.

Xiao Liu parked the car, got out, and made a “please” gesture towards Gandalf.

“Mr. Gandalf, this floor is the Equipment Zone.”

“The Governor has specially approved that you can look around here.”

He pointed to a display case not far away.

“There are many staves over there; their attribute entries are all very good, and there might be one suitable for you.”

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, got out of the car.

He actually didn’t have much need for equipment.

With Ouyezi, whatever equipment he wanted, he could simply forge it.

However, since he was here, there was no harm in looking.

He walked to the staff display case, his gaze casually sweeping over it.

Suddenly, his sight stopped on one of the staves.

It was a staff that was entirely dark red, with a burning crystal embedded at its tip.

【Staff of Fiery Aria】

【Quality: Epic】

【Rank: LV25】

【Attributes: ...】

【Effect: All Fire-type skill cooldowns -10%】

Zhou Huai’s mouth twitched.

He was all too familiar with this staff.

Wasn’t this the one Ouyezi had just forged a few days ago and sold for over 500,000 at the auction?

He hadn’t expected it to be acquired by the military so quickly and placed in this military zone’s treasury.

He suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

Perhaps after some time, all the equipment in this treasury would have to be replaced with what Ouyezi forged.

He shook his head, no longer looking at the equipment, and walked to the next area.

In the display cases here, various strangely shaped Materials were placed.

The hearts of giant beasts, the inverse scales of Dragons, ice crystals emitting cold Qi...

These were all rare Materials that could only drop from Calamity Rank BOSSes.

For high-Rank Forgemasters and Formation Masters, they were coveted treasures.

Zhou Huai didn’t need them yet, so he only glanced at them casually.

Further ahead was the Scroll Zone.

Each ancient scroll was sealed within a special energy shield.

These were all Second Advancement Scrolls.

After a professional reaches Rank 30, they have an opportunity for a Second Advancement.

Using a Second Advancement Scroll that matches their profession’s grade can trigger a transfer mission.

Completing the mission allows for a successful Second Advancement.

There are two outcomes for a Second Advancement.

First, professional sublimation; for example, a B-Rank professional has a chance to advance to A-Rank.

Second, the profession remains unchanged, but all attributes receive a massive boost.

This is a professional’s second chance to change their destiny.

But high rewards also mean high risks.

The failure rate for Second Advancement missions is extremely high, with a success rate of less than 20 percent.

Once failed, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) one will be backlashed by the scroll’s power and instantly annihilated.

Therefore, although Second Advancement Scrolls are rare and precious, very few people truly dare to attempt them.

Zhou Huai glanced at them; most of these scrolls were C-Rank and D-Rank, useless to him.

He was about to leave when his gaze was drawn to a display case in the corner.

It was a very small display case, placed alone in the corner, seemingly not given much importance.

Inside the display case were three small, transparent glass bottles.

The bottles contained clear, transparent liquid.

The liquid itself had no color, but it emitted rings of soft, Holy Light white halo.

Zhou Huai stopped, controlling Gandalf, and pointed to that display case.

“What is that?”

Xiao Liu looked in the direction he pointed, stunned ing for a moment, seemingly recalling.

“Oh, that...”

He thought for a moment before explaining.

“That is sacred light spiritual water.”

“It was discovered in an ancient Light-type ruin.”

“Its effect... it is said to be able to remove most negative statuses.”

“Such as curses, severe poisons, and so on.”

Zhou Huai lightly hummed in acknowledgment.

He wondered if this thing would have any effect on the curse on him.