Chapter 857: Chapter 855: Ignition (29) Chapter 857: Chapter 855: Ignition (29) “The air in this fire is poisonous!”
Back at the Unseen Hillock, within the exquisitely decorated carriage, Fu Qian uttered a heartfelt exclamation.
This mission had failed in a rather peculiar way.
Throughout the journey, with each step tightening the noose, whether it was the natives or the Hunting Squad, he had maximized information extraction to the fullest.
However, the seemingly most valuable piece of information had paradoxically led to the mission’s failure upon attempting its use.
In retrospect, it was fortunate that he hadn’t directly snatched a fire talisman earlier; otherwise, he may have had to restart much sooner.
Every step had indeed been fraught with danger, befitting an item of such caliber.
For a moment, Fu Qian silently admired it in awe.
Although losing san and restarting are setbacks, he never felt that the arduous pursuit ending in failure was valueless.
Stay true to your heart, you need to enjoy the mission to complete it.
And incorrect information is still information.
So the question arises, what conclusions can be drawn from the previous incorrect information?
First and foremost, the mission had not yet failed before his contact with the flame.
This meant that the possibility of mission completion still existed at that time.
Even as he reluctantly blended into the environment of the Unseen Hillock, with the difficulty of killing the Saint gradually increasing.
And while it’s still uncertain why contact with the flames directly led to failure,
Starting from the outcome alone, his best choice seemed to be the lightning-fast strategy of the Hunting Squad.
Strike quickly and head straight for the target while the contamination level was at its lowest to execute the kill.
If necessary, one might even consider activating a Pseudo-Divine Being to lessen the impact.
While contemplating, Fu Qian timed his movements and shifted slightly to the side.
His face was still unmasked, but, unlike the first time, his movement was in the opposite direction.
Boom!
The next moment, a loud crash resounded as a heavy billboard plummeted from above, turning the glamorous carriage into an open-concept once again.
Hahaha…
Mad, hearty laughter erupted overhead, as Brother Clown made a flamboyant entrance.
As Fu Qian tossed aside the billboard that had landed on him, Clown had made a leap of faith and, with soup splashing everywhere, landed squarely in front of him.
With Fu Qian’s coordination, this time Clown hit the target straight away, so he didn’t drop a second billboard.
Of course, the scene that greeted him the next moment caused his excitement to hiccup.
“Ballard?”
Staring at Fu Qian amid the scattered fragments, Clown’s voice oozed with skepticism and undisguised disgust.
The reason for his reaction was simple–Fu Qian wasn’t wearing a mask but had chosen to transform into black Mirror Armor.
“I didn’t ruin your grand entrance, did I?”
Beneath the Face Helmet, Fu Qian’s voice emerged in a low chuckle, throwing a question back at Clown.
“You’re not Ballard.”
The Clown’s disdain for Order Keepers was evident, and his familiarity with Ballard allowed him to make an instant judgment.
Because Fu Qian hadn’t even attempted to mimic the voice.
“So, I’m not Ballard–does this piece of news please you or not?”
Fu Qian neither confirmed nor denied, asking again instead.
“You’re not Ballard, but you were deliberately waiting for me?”
The intelligent Clown immediately sensed the hint of a conspiracy.
“Waiting for me to disrupt order, even intentionally getting hit by debris, then capturing me afterward? Since when has this city gained another justice-seeking Messenger?”
“I must admit, though, that you’re much more adaptable than Ballard!”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Fu Qian sounded completely indifferent to the accusation of baiting and enforcing.
“I agree; that guy is indeed a bit dull–”
“You’re the same.”
Unfortunately, Clown didn’t seem to appreciate it, coldly interrupting Fu Qian’s commentary.
“Even more dull, in fact. Do you know why?”
“I know, you despise any sensation that feels orchestrated.”
Fu Qian nodded in agreement, repeating the iconic line.
“Humanity needs Chaos; without it, life’s just too boring.”
“Don’t worry; you’ll get your wish soon enough.”
Before the words had fully settled, a black armored arm gripped Clown’s head.
“As you said, I’m much more flexible in my methods than Ballard.”
As he spoke, Fu Qian’s fingers came together.
Amidst the spattering juices, Fu Qian remained spotless, casually tossing aside Clown’s corpse.
One could see that the black viscous fluid, glimpsed previously, still struggled to repair the bruised skull.
Unfortunately, a series of Air Bullets followed, rendering the attempt futile.
No way around it; he was pressed for time.
It certainly wouldn’t do to just walk away, not with a Hunting Squad lurking in the shadows.
And after all that transpired, the audience must have surely had their fill.
Standing upright, Fu Qian sized up the two figures approaching from front and back.
Still there were the baby-faced Demigod Aike and Xiumeng’s Puppet Demigod.
And on the former’s face, the demeanor of having everything in control remained unaltered.
This was understandable, as his exchange with Clown must have been an open secret to them.
And the content had explicitly confirmed that he was an indigenous Demigod.
That was enough; the aspect of whether he was brutally capable held no significance for the Hunters.
“Outsider?”
Of course, for Fu Qian, this distinction was significant, as he now knew the full extent of their intrigues.
Therefore, without any fuss, he dived straight into the heart of the matter.
The Demigod-level deductive prowess undoubtedly gave Demigod Aike a profound shock.
Her smile faded, and she halted, scrutinizing Fu Qian in detail.
“On you…”
However, Fu Qian’s examination appeared even more meticulous than hers.
“Indeed, hahaha…”
The next moment, Fu Qian erupted in laughter.
“Should have been this way all along, surely not my misconception!”
“What do you mean?”
Originally brimming with confidence in their hunt, they were now faced with their quarry’s sudden madness, and as the content grew increasingly bizarre, Aike couldn’t listen any longer.
“This irksome place should be turned to ashes, much like this carriage.”
Ignoring her, Fu Qian continued to express his sentiments, even inheriting Clown’s legacy.
“Smooth, stable, never-ending, representing the dullest aspects of this place…”
“What should I call you?”
Demigod Aike obviously disliked being put in a passive role; after being repeatedly thwarted, she chose to demand coldly, her tone threatening.
“You came for the flames, like those on your body?”
Regrettably, Fu Qian’s next question made her pupils dilate instantly.
“Come with me; I know where there are more, far more than the quantities you’ve been hunting.”
Before she could respond, Fu Qian shook his head again.
“Alright, where is it? Can both of us come?”
With a stiff expression, Aike managed a strained smile, pointing at the Puppet Demigod.
“All can come, all four of you.”
Fu Qian’s voice betrayed no emotion, his fingertips lightly tapping on the Face Helmet as petals of a mirror blossomed outward.
“You can just call me Andiel.”