To Provoke Enmity

"Boss, you weren't actually planning to cleave that bastard Chou Taifei in half just now, were you? That slash of yours didn't look like you held back at all!" Xu Haishui asked first.

"It wouldn't have killed him." Fang Tianhe replied concisely while leading the group toward the elevator shaft.

"Wouldn't have killed him?" Xu Haishui asked with a hint of doubt. He recalled the scene and continued, "No way! When you chopped through his razor-sharp claws, you were going all out. If he hadn't dodged just in time at the very last second, you wouldn't have been able to pull your strike back at such close range!"

"I couldn't pull the strike back, but I could withdraw my ability. In his werewolf state, that slash would have just beaten him half to death at most," Fang Tianhe explained.

Everyone with pricked ears wore expressions of sudden realization, while mentally sighing that this was indeed their familiar commander.

"Commander, our conflict with the Wild Wolf Mercenary Corps can only be considered a minor friction, right? Why did you deliberately propose a life-or-death arena match?" Wu Yan asked, as this was the part he understood the least.

If the opponent agreed, that would be fine; Fang Tianhe could just kill him, and all problems would be solved.

But if the opponent refused, the next three months would be nothing short of humiliation for the Wild Wolf Mercenary Corps, which was practically no different from making a mortal enemy.

"You should all be clear that the Axe Gang is essentially a golden-egg-laying goose for the Wild Wolf Mercenary Corps. Whoever touches this goose is equivalent to making a mortal enemy of them."

"Therefore, regardless of whether I proposed the life-or-death arena match or not, a peaceful resolution between us and the Wild Wolf Mercenary Corps was never an option."

"However, if I did nothing, the target for the Wild Wolf Mercenary Corps to vent their rage on would be Lin Xinghai." Having reached this point, Fang Tianhe stopped, but everyone understood what it meant.

Although Lin Xinghai possessed terrifying talent, he had yet to fully grow. If targeted by someone like Chou Taifei using underhanded tactics, it would genuinely be extremely dangerous.

Right now, Fang Tianhe had essentially forced the opponent's anger onto himself.

Coupled with the fact that the other party did not dare to participate in the life-or-death arena match, they would be kept under surveillance for the next three months. In this way, Lin Xinghai effectively had a dual insurance policy.

While feeling a deep sense of emotion, the mercenaries present secretly rejoiced that they had chosen such a mercenary corps and had such a reliable commander leading them forward.

There were exceptions, however. Xu Haishui's expression was currently far from pleasant. "Boss, you should have given me a heads-up beforehand. I just pulled out that video as evidence—is Chou Taifei going to hold a grudge against me now?"

"Most likely! So for the next period of time, you'd better stay put in our stronghold, train, and improve your strength. Stop sneaking around in those alleys whenever you have nothing to do. If you really want to vent your energy, go find yourself a proper partner," Fang Tianhe said.

"Cough, cough, cough!" Xu Haishui was filled with tension during the first half of the sentence, but the latter part left him utterly embarrassed.

*Clang!* The elevator doors opened, and everyone finally reached the lower district.

At that moment, Fang Tianhe's wrist-mounted computer vibrated once more. Opening his message interface, he saw that Lin Xinghai had just sent a voice message and immediately played it.

Gradually, his eyes lit up. He had been worried about whether Michael would handle things impartially this time.

Yet not only had the man not restrained himself, but he had acted just as before—crude and heavy-handed in tampering with evidence, and doing so so clumsily that it was practically self-defeating at the slightest probe.

More importantly, Lin Xinghai had recorded the audio. Under such circumstances, it would be useless for the other party to deny or refuse to acknowledge it afterward.

Since Fang Tianhe had received the message, the others naturally received the voice clip as well.

"Damn it, Boss, with A-Xing's recording, that guy definitely won't be able to run," Xu Haishui was the first to shout excitedly.

"Mm," Fang Tianhe nodded. He then edited a message and sent it to the senior leadership. With that, his steps became noticeably lighter as he walked.

...

Meanwhile, members of the Heaven-Rending Mercenary Corps finally stepped through the doors of the Public Security Bureau.

Of course, this person was not Shen Han, who had arrived earlier, but Roger—who had received the news and descended from another elevator shaft—along with a few members who had been monitoring the Wild Wolf Mercenary Corps alongside him.

Upon entering the Public Security Bureau, the group completely ignored the security officers' attempts to block them and charged straight into the interrogation room.

If mercenaries still behaved themselves in the middle district, they grew far more lawless once they reached the lower district.

The patrol teams in the middle district were composed of regular soldiers, so mercenaries naturally did not dare to act presumptuously.

However, the security personnel in the lower district held a social standing even lower than that of mercenaries. After all, mercenaries ventured outside to fight zombies and secure vital resources for the base, whereas security personnel merely maintained routine public order.

Therefore, to an old-timer like Roger, barging into the Public Security Bureau was nothing. If any issues arose, the Mercenary Guild would step in to back them up.

Even if they truly committed an offense, the worst punishment would be forfeiting some contribution points or voluntarily helping to hunt zombies without pay.

Thus, amidst the shocked and angry gazes of the security team members, Roger led his squad swaggeringly straight into the interrogation room.

He glanced at the unscathed Lin Xinghai and instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

At that exact moment, Lin Xinghai was in the middle of handing his wrist-mounted computer over to Michael.

Consequently, Roger immediately spotted the wrist-mounted computer clutched in Michael's chubby hand.

And he certainly couldn't mistake his own wrist-mounted computer.

"What is he doing with your wrist-mounted computer?" Roger ignored Michael entirely and asked Lin Xinghai directly.

"The wrist-mounted computer contains the evidentiary video I recorded. This security officer said he needs to take it to the technical department to verify its authenticity," Lin Xinghai replied with a relaxed expression, feeling equally relieved upon seeing Roger arrive.

Upon hearing this, Roger immediately grasped the trickery at play and sneered, "Hmph! Since when does verifying a video require taking away the wrist-mounted computer itself? Transferring the video directly would suffice, wouldn't it? Could it be that you intended to take it away to destroy the evidence?"

Michael felt a bitter ache in his heart. How could he not understand how difficult an old mercenary like Roger was to deal with?

Regardless, he refused to let his imposing aura slip. "When did our Public Security Bureau's affairs become something for you mercenaries to meddle in? Furthermore, do you know what a serious offense you've committed by trespassing in the Public Security Bureau?"

Roger, however, refused to take the bait. "Don't try to frame me. I have no qualification to meddle in your official business; I merely pointed out the elementary mistake you made."

"Besides, although the wrist-mounted computer in your hand is evidence, it is also personal property. If it gets damaged, the law requires you to pay full compensation."

"Lastly, our Heaven-Rending Mercenary Corps lodges an objection regarding the handling of this case. We will file a lawsuit through the Mercenary Guild, and ultimately have the military intervene to adjudicate it."