An officer hurried to Zhang Donglai, stood at attention, and saluted.

“Reporting, General!”

“Excluding the candidates eliminated early, all remaining candidates on the island have been accounted for!”

“Not a single person is missing!”

Zhang Donglai’s tense body visibly relaxed.

He let out a long breath, the huge stone in his chest finally settling.

Turning around, he looked at Gandalf, his eyes filled with unconcealed gratitude.

“Student Gandalf.”

He stepped forward, his voice solemn.

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Zhang Donglai, and I am the chief person in charge of this National Examination.”

“You truly gave me a huge surprise.”

He extended his hand and heavily patted Gandalf’s shoulder.

“You not only defeated a deranged villain.”

“You also saved the hopes of dozens of families!”

“This merit, I will report it to the highest levels of the military without omitting a single word.”

“Wait for the good news.”

Zhang Donglai withdrew his hand, his expression becoming a few shades more serious.

“Additionally, I must warn you.”

“The Dawnbreaker Guild always acts unscrupulously and holds grudges.”

“You disrupted their plans, and they have likely set their sights on you.”

“For the time being, try to keep a low profile and don’t be too ostentatious.”

He paused, then continued.

“I will immediately notify the governor of your Dongning Province.”

“Have him dispatch people to escort you to the Imperial Capital as soon as possible.”

“Only in the Imperial Capital can your safety be maximally guaranteed.”

Zhou Huai, controlling Gandalf, calmly nodded.

“Thank you for the warning, General.”

This composure and calmness made Zhang Donglai appreciate him even more.

At this moment, Ye Xi, Yuan Kai, and Shen Fuhai also cautiously ran over from a distance.

They gathered beside Gandalf, looking at the powerful general before them, not daring to breathe loudly.

Zhang Donglai smiled gently at them, then waved his hand.

“Alright, you all go back first.”

“The Teleportation Array has been reactivated.”

After saluting the general, the few walked towards the silver teleportation gate under the guidance of the staff.

Watching Gandalf’s figure disappear into the light.

The gentleness on Zhang Donglai’s face instantly faded, replaced by a cold, murderous aura.

He looked at his adjutant, his voice as sharp as a knife.

“That student named Lu Qi, find out his background!”

“Although he was just Zuo Daolin’s Puppet.”

“That ghost mask would never have appeared in his hands for no reason.”

“If I find out he has even the slightest connection with the Dawnbreaker Guild.”

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

“I don’t care who is backing him, I will absolutely not spare him!”

...Jiangning City, Examination Center.

The Teleportation Array shimmered with light.

The figures of Gandalf, Ye Xi, Yuan Kai, and Shen Fuhai emerged from it.

In the waiting room, Li Gang was pacing back and forth anxiously, like an ant on a hot pan.

He had already received news of the incident on Triple Island.

He tried to contact headquarters multiple times, but they were swamped and the calls wouldn’t go through.

This left him burning with anxiety, yet helpless.

Now seeing the four return safely, half of the burden on his mind was finally lifted.

“You’re finally back!”

Li Gang rushed forward, scrutinizing the few individuals.

“Are you alright? What exactly happened on the island?”

He scanned the group, his brow furrowing.

“Huh? Where’s Lu Qi?”

“Why are only four of you back?”

Shen Fuhai glanced at Gandalf, and seeing that he had no intention of speaking, he steeled himself and stepped forward.

“Chief Examiner Li...”

“Lu Qi... seems to have been taken away for investigation by the military.”

He haltingly recounted the information he had heard from Gandalf.

Li Gang’s face darkened little by little as he listened to the narration.

By the end, his face was so black it looked like ink could drip from it.

“What did you say?”

“The mastermind behind this disturbance... was Lu Qi?!”

Li Gang’s voice was trembling.

He felt a dizzy spell, almost losing his footing.

Lu Qi?

Wasn't that a descendant of the Zhou Family from Donghai City?

How could he do such a foolish thing?

How dare he?!

Li Gang’s back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

Such a huge mess occurred during the National Examination, and the source was a candidate from their Dongning Province.

His position as the chief person in charge of Dongning Province was probably over.

Not just him.

Once it was confirmed that the candidate was colluding with the Dawnbreaker Guild, even the governor of Dongning Province would likely be implicated.

He dared not think further.

Forcing down the tumultuous waves in his heart, he squeezed out a smile at Gandalf and the others that was uglier than crying.

“You all... you all go back and get some good rest first.”

“You’ve worked hard this time.”

He waved his hand, as if all his strength had been used up.

Watching the few leave, Li Gang picked up his phone.

He had to report this matter to the governor immediately!

...That night.

Several pitch-black military SUVs, like silent steel beasts, quietly drove into Donghai City.

That night, the entire Zhou Family, from the patriarch down to collateral relatives, everyone connected to Lu Qi, was taken away overnight for questioning.

Donghai City’s high society was shaken.

Meanwhile, Zhou Huai, also a member of the Zhou Family, just happened to avoid it.

Suburban villa.

The bedroom was quiet.

Zhou Huai lay on the bed, his breathing steady, already deep in sleep.

After a day of fierce fighting, he was physically and mentally exhausted.

Now, the National Examination’s top scholar position was secured, and the System’s challenge mission was also nearing completion.

He was in a great mood and slept exceptionally soundly... The night was as dark as ink.

The corridor was long, the light stark white, elongating people’s shadows into distorted shapes.

Leather shoes clicked on the floor, echoing hollowly, one after another.

Liu Yuru’s heartbeat also followed this rhythm, beating faster and faster.

She clenched her hands, her fingernails digging deep into her palms.

Zhou Feng beside her had a grim expression, showing no emotion.

Two men in crisp military uniforms led the way in silence.

Finally, they stopped before a heavy metal door.

One of the officers pushed the door open and stepped aside.

“Please come in.”

The office was dimly lit, and the air was filled with a cold chill.

Opposite the large, dark one-way glass was another interrogation room, bright as day.

Liu Yuru’s gaze penetrated the glass and instantly froze.

On the interrogation chair, a figure was struggling and screaming madly.

It was Lu Qi.

His wrists and ankles were bound by sturdy shackles, and his skin was already raw and bloody.

Yet, he ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) seemed to feel no pain, still twisting his body in vain, emitting a beast-like wail.

“Wuwuwu, let me go! I want to go home!”

“I want my mom!”

An officer walked into the interrogation room, approaching him expressionlessly.

“Slap!”

The crisp sound of a slap was particularly harsh in the silent space.

Lu Qi’s screams abruptly ceased.

He was struck, his head turned away, and he stopped struggling, his shoulders beginning to heave violently.

Suppressed, fragmented sobs could be heard.

Like a severely wounded little beast.

“Qi’er!”

Liu Yuru felt all the blood in her body rush to her head instantly, her vision blurring.

She rushed to the glass, pounding the cold surface with her hands.

“What’s wrong with my son?!”

“How can you treat him like this?! This is abuse of power!”

“Let him go! Let my son go now!”

A cold voice echoed from the shadows of the office.

“Why are we treating him like this?”

Li Gang slowly stood up from his chair, walked into the light, his face showing unconcealed anger and sarcasm.

“Ms. Liu, that’s a very good question you’ve asked.”

He stared at Liu Yuru, his gaze as sharp as a knife.

“How dare we, the military, trust your Zhou Family and Lu Qi so much.”

“To let him represent our Dongning Province in the National Examination!”

“But what was the result? Your Zhou Family actually dared to collude with the Dawnbreaker Guild, almost causing a monstrous disaster!”

“What?”