Meanwhile, inside the Greenfield City Government office building.
Even if a martial practitioner accepts the mission, it usually takes half an hour. Unlike the Defense Formation, entering a government-forbidden zone on your own is basically asking for trouble.
A right palm, veins bulging, slammed down onto the table.
Although the livestream has been blocked, the abnormal footage has already attracted hundreds of thousands of curious viewers. If the anchor dies, the consequences will be dire.
If a General-class Specter appears on the livestream, the consequences will be unimaginable!
Specters possess the ability to disrupt minds. If the livestream affects tens of thousands of viewers, no one can bear that responsibility.
Yes, sir!
The government staff hurried to enforce the block.
Click.
The middle-aged man set down his glasses and let out a heavy sigh, revealing a grave expression. This was Mark Jiang, May Lin's husband.
The slightly overweight man in the business suit was named Leon Lu, a rival of Mark Jiang. Last year, they both competed for the director position, but Mark won.
If the truth about Demons and Specters were exposed to the public, society could fall into chaos, and there might even be a crisis of fragmentation within Sinovera.
Universal martial practice...
Mark Jiang sighed in frustration, falling silent.
It's said that universal martial practice involves a certain research project and can't be launched yet. All he could do was hope the truth could be concealed until that day arrives.
After a while...
His face grew anxious. He raised his voice, "Has any martial practitioner accepted the mission?"
Specters that reach the General-class possess mind-altering powers. Their ghostly bodies become semi-corporeal and can withstand even the blazing sunlight.
Winter sunlight has little effect on General-class Specters and can be ignored.
There were few Martial Generals in Greenfield City to begin with, and it was dusk. On top of that, General-class Specters are far more dangerous than General-class Demons, so the mission remained idle, with no one willing to take it.
Moreover.
Even if a martial practitioner accepts the mission, it usually takes half an hour. Unlike the Defense Formation, entering a government-forbidden zone on your own is basically asking for trouble.
"Damn!"
Although the livestream has been blocked, the abnormal footage has already attracted hundreds of thousands of curious viewers. If the anchor dies, the consequences will be dire.
Mark Jiang's expression turned grim.
The wild mountain regions sometimes harbor Demons and Specters; encountering them is not unusual.
At this moment...
A middle-aged man in a dark-blue suit strolled over leisurely. He was slightly short and overweight, glanced sidelong at Mark Jiang, and said unhurriedly, "Director Jiang, this situation is extremely serious. As our department head, we're all counting on you."
Hmph.
Mark Jiang snorted.
The slightly overweight man in the business suit was named Leon Lu, a rival of Mark Jiang. Last year, they both competed for the director position, but Mark won.
Leon Lu took a leisurely sip of tea and said, "In our department, connections are very important. Surely you know some Martial Generals, Director Jiang? That can't be right—I, old Lu, know two or three myself."
Mark Jiang's face turned ashen.
Even when facing Demons and Specters, unity is hard to achieve—especially with fierce competition inside the government. Leon Lu is eager for Mark Jiang to make a serious mistake so he can take his place.
"If you know them, why not call?" Mark Jiang said angrily. "Leon Lu, you're the deputy director of this department. Please show some professionalism."
Leon Lu sipped his tea, saying nothing.
Every Martial General has extraordinary ability and status; building relationships with them is never easy, and such connections are not to be wasted lightly.
After a brief call, Mark Jiang's anxious expression relaxed into relief. He clutched his phone, overwhelmed with gratitude, not even bothering to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
He exhaled, blew on his teacup twice, and chuckled, "If Director Jiang can't handle it, how could I, old Lu, do anything?"
As soon as his words fell, the operations center fell silent.
The government staff present exchanged glances, watching the department director and deputy director, unsure what to do next.
Leon Lu, a veteran, had occupied the deputy director position for a full twenty years.
At just over forty years old, Mark Jiang was relatively young and truly did not know any Martial Generals. That was the real gap between them—undeniable.
"Director Jiang."
Leon Lu smiled lightly and said, "If you don't know any Martial Generals, what do you do in such an emergency? Sorry, I don't know either, so please stop staring at me."
At this moment, Leon Lu had waited long enough.
Everything was ready—he just needed the east wind. As soon as Mark Jiang committed a major dereliction of duty, Leon could smoothly take his place and sit in the director's chair!
As for social chaos?
What does that have to do with him?
For Leon Lu, becoming director was the only thing that mattered.
"Do you realize," Mark Jiang narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "if you keep refusing to act, you'll never be director. When you handle affairs, you'd better have some bottom line."
Leon Lu took a sip of tea. "How I handle things is none of your concern, Director Jiang."
Hmph.
Mark Jiang gritted his teeth and walked to the side.
After hesitating for four or five seconds, he dialed Andrew Han's number... He could only hope that Andrew Han, for May Lin's sake or in return for his own past help with Riverford City, would lend a hand.
Please...
He was truly begging now.
After a brief call, Mark Jiang's anxious expression relaxed into relief. He clutched his phone, overwhelmed with gratitude, not even bothering to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
Thank goodness.
Andrew Han remembered how Mark Jiang once called Riverford City on his behalf and agreed to go immediately.
Sigh.
Mark Jiang couldn't help but shake his head.
Back then, he had helped casually, without expecting anything in return. Now, the reward far exceeded his expectations. Was it really true—quiet sincerity brings distant returns?
The next moment...
The staff monitoring the mission status stood up and waved, "Director Jiang, a martial practitioner has accepted the mission!"
"Of course."
A faint smile appeared on Mark Jiang's face as he glanced at Leon Lu.
Hmph.
Leon Lu let out a low snort and said gloomily, "Director Jiang, don't celebrate too soon. General-class Specters are abnormally dangerous. Even regular Martial Generals facing them head-on risk death."
"At least two Martial Generals are needed."
That's all he said.
He calmly picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"Hey, Zhang," Leon Lu turned to the young staffer monitoring the mission, his tone half-mocking, "Is the practitioner who accepted the mission lower-rank or mid-rank?"
The young staffer hesitated.
Leon Lu pressed, "Come on, what's the big secret? Lower-rank is lower-rank, mid-rank is mid-rank. Be straightforward!"
"Leader."
The young staffer looked confused and checked the screen. "I can't find any details here. I can only see the practitioner's surname, not the full name."
What?!
Leon Lu's eyes widened. A classified practitioner?!
They could only see the surname; it was definitely a formally enlisted martial practitioner. Even Director Mark Jiang didn't have access! He could hardly believe it—Mark Jiang actually knew someone on the system, and could get their help?
Meanwhile...
Most of the government staff present understood what a classified practitioner meant. Their gazes toward Mark Jiang subtly changed.
"Deputy Director Leon Lu, I'll be reporting your conduct to higher authorities at a later date." Mark Jiang sat in his chair, his tone serious. "Everyone else, strictly control the livestream signals to avoid any incidents."
"Yes, Director."
Each staff member responded, their attitude extremely respectful.
Click.
Leon Lu set his teacup down on the table, his face dark as storm clouds, and left without a word.
Crap.
Now he was really in trouble.
...
Inside the Southland University dormitory.
"A streamer?"
"Livestreaming in the mountains? What is she streaming—an adventure?"
"Isn't it dangerous to livestream out there?"
"I think she's pretty brave. I wouldn't dare!"
In the dormitory, several students gathered around a phone, watching the livestream.
"Her name is May Lin, right? She's the one who went up the mountain."
"Yeah, that's her. She was trending on social media last month."
"She's so popular now. If she survives this, she'll be even more famous."
"Survive? Don't jinx it!"
"Relax, there are professionals going up the mountain. She'll be fine."
"I hope so..."
The dormitory fell silent, everyone staring anxiously at the screen.
Meanwhile, in the livestream, May Lin was still hiking up the mountain, oblivious to the approaching danger.
She had no idea that a General-class Specter was lurking nearby, nor that a classified martial practitioner had accepted the mission to rescue her.
The mountain wind howled, and rain began to fall.
May Lin shivered and pulled her jacket tighter.
Suddenly, she heard a strange noise behind her.
She turned around, but saw nothing.