Lin Wan's face looked very unwell, even Lu Zheng didn't have the urge to act when taking out those powder merchants. It was only after Lu Zheng killed the last influential powder merchant and erected a monument that his eyes lingered slightly.

The stone monument had a message written in traditional Chinese characters: Those who traffic powder into Hua Country, those who kill police officers, kill!

Lu Zheng imbued the last word, "kill," with a hint of sword intent, so everyone who saw this stone monument felt their eyes sting. Those with guilty consciences might even have their Divine Soul directly slashed.

"Is this considered exposing yourself?" Lin Wan finally cracked a smile.

Lu Zheng shrugged, "That depends on whether they can find us."

Lin Wan forced a smile, "I think if you publicly expose the tormented souls of those powder merchants, it will certainly scare off a batch of them."

"No, no, no." Lu Zheng laughed and shook his head, "Scaring them off wouldn't be fun. It's better like this, one batch after another. Then we clear them out from time to time, just like cleaning garbage for humanity."

Lin Wan couldn't help but smile slightly, then linked her arm with Lu Zheng's, "Let's go home."

"Alright!"

...

Lu Zheng took Lin Wan home, cooked a big meal to comfort his wife, and there was nothing much else to worry about.

However, the situation in Mianbei caused a huge uproar.

After all, last year, a batch of powder merchants and private armed groups were cleared out, and after nearly a year, the forces and interests at the junction of Mianbei and two other countries had just been sorted out. But now, another batch of people was suddenly eliminated.

Just that this time, the process was different from last time. Last time there were witnesses claiming it was done by people dressed like special forces. This time, there were no witnesses at all, and the deceased seemed to have suffered extreme torture before dying.

Furthermore, unlike last time, the perpetrator didn't leave any clues, but this time, a monument was erected in front of a powder merchant's villa, the merchant had been actively bringing powder products inland, and was most aggressively threatening to kill police officers.

And naturally, this powder merchant's entire family died neatly.

Photos of the monument were placed on the desks of intelligence organizations in various countries. The traditional Chinese text was translated into various languages and delivered to relevant decision-makers.

Chinese! Traditional characters! The targeted goal was powder merchants trafficking to Hua Country!

There was no public news, as these people were heinous powder merchants with private armed forces at their command, not quite terrorists, but still entities local governments were deeply sick of.

Yet privately, various countries sent inquiries to Hua Country.

Of course, their replies were uniform: Hua Country has been implementing simplified characters, and this incident is unrelated to us.

Consequently, a group of elite forces from all sides secretly infiltrated Mianbei, seeking clues about the "Ghost," with special attention to the stone monument.

But because all forces were focused on this monument, no one could directly take it away, and instead, it was handed over to Mian Country's officials and sent to an evidence room where everyone could observe and examine it.

...

A domestic conference room.

"Have all the relevant departments queried?"

"Queried, it's neither Southwest Hunter nor secret departments from other places making a move. This event is truly unrelated to us."

"As the 'Ghost' left traditional characters, could it be a foreign Chinese person? Southeast Asia has many Chinese who retired from various countries' special forces; they are also well-adapted to jungle warfare."

"What about the stone monument, any clues?"

"None, but..."

"But what?"

"The text seems to have been written with fingers, and the dye is the blood of those powder merchants."

"Hmm?"

People picked up the photos they were holding, with one person speaking speechlessly, "Is it a novel plot recreating? Didn't expect the 'Ghost' to read Jin Yong as well?"

"All Chinese read Jin Yong; that doesn't count as a clue."

"No, it counts. The possibility of the 'Ghost' being a Chinese person has increased slightly."

"Heh, whether it's human, that's still uncertain."

"How do you say?"

The speaker shook his head, shifted the topic, and continued to ask, "It's said several people have been having frequent nightmares after seeing the monument?"

"Some powder merchants and local armed forces arrived at the scene first. Reportedly, just seeing the monument caused several to be scared stiff directly, and others have a weakened Spirit, with persistent nightmares."

"Really that magical?"

"Our people went to Mian Country and saw the monument with their own eyes. Um, reportedly, when looking at the word 'kill,' there was a sting in their eyes."

"No follow-up reaction?"

"None. After analyzing everyone established a database, this situation should be related to psychology. The more determined someone's will, the smaller the reaction."

"Agent will training?"

"Similar, yet achieving such an effect with just a monument and a few words is still a very magical thing. We still don't understand the underlying principle."

"Is it really that magical?" Someone looking left and right at the photo in their hand.

"The photo doesn't have such effect."

"Was the monument analyzed?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Analyzed, including our country, Lighthouse Country, Yin Country, Gaul, and Country A all sent people. Each nation brought their own instruments, but no information was shared."

"Do we have any results?"

"Nothing, various radiation, wave, particle analyzers were used, no results whatsoever."

"What about other countries?"

"We guess the same, as our analysis instruments are no worse than theirs."

"Is there an analytical conclusion?"

"Yes!"

The reporter nodded and, with a wry smile, said, "In scientific terms, the reason the monument is in traditional characters is because traditional characters have more strokes, making them look more like paintings.

This monument appears to be text, but is essentially an abstract painting. The designer of its composition and color deeply understands human psychology, creating something akin to a terror image, a painted monument capable of psychologically traumatizing viewers with unstable minds.

It's said Lighthouse Country and Gaul have already summoned several abstract painters to analyze this monument."

"Doesn't this sound ridiculous? Effective on-site, ineffective on photo, how can this relate to color and composition? I refuse to believe they haven't tried transferring the painting out to see the effect."

"They tried, didn't work." The reporter nodded, "So our judgment isn't."

"Then what is it?"

"Don't know..." The reporter shook his head, smiled bitterly, "Too few clues, no conclusion."

"Alright, you can all go out now."

Once personnel with insufficient confidentiality level had left, those remaining exchanged glances.

"It's likely?"

"It should be, given the entirely clueless event, these are the few things."

"I think they might be the same group responsible for the Shu Province plane incident."

"More technological? Last time they disguised as special forces?"

"Yes."

"But the problem is, could the last and this time not be the same group?"

"Hm, it's possible; just record as speculation."

"..."

"The documents in the Ancient Culture Research and Analysis Archival Room are increasing in number..."