Star Gate

Chapter 842: Intelligence Reports (II)

Li Hao furrowed his brows.

“The commander has killed an incredible existence.” The director of the Sagittarius Night Watchers set his jaw. “But the ancient civilization is still a participating factor in your affairs. The commander is the heir of the eight families and as such, bears the heritage of ancient civilization! This wouldn’t mean much as all of humanity stems from the ancient civilization in this age. But I would like to know what the commander’s final pursuit is. Do you seek to build a new dynasty of this era or continue to depend on the power of ancient existences in Silver Moon?”

“That’s an interesting question!” Li Hao laughed and didn’t need to think it over. “I will build a new nation wholly of this era, of course! My dealings with the ancient civilization are just that of partnership and mutual benefit. I admire their mentality, but they will not be permitted to exercise further control over this age!

“Much of the chaos rocking our world has to do with them. I will distill the essence and discard the dross. We happily welcome those who are willing to help us and eliminate all those who are here to cause trouble!

“The ancient civilization cannot be lumped together either,” Li Hao said solemnly. “But one thing I am certain of, and it is that this era belongs to us! I can help them if they need help—we can work together in reciprocal relationships. But I will handle matters myself as soon as anything else is involved!”

The man sank into deep thought. “Is the commander building the Skystar Martial Academy to facilitate supernatural access for civilians? Are you creating a venue through which we can cross social classes?”

“Yes.” Li Hao inclined his head. “But that is only the start. There will be changes made to the basic necessities of life later on and the propagation of new technologies. Education will also be reformed. I may not announce anything for the moment, but I’ll commence all of this after I eliminate a certain portion of people!”

“Then factions such as the City of Supernaturals...” raised the man after some more thought.

“I’ll take care of them one by one in a few days!”

“I believe you!” smiled the man. There was no way to not believe Li Hao. While people of this age worked toward finding a backer, Li Hao and his companions had already killed someone’s backer. This was an immense display of determination!

The Sagittarius Night Watcher director breathed out, feeling much more at ease. “I’m not afraid of death, I’m afraid of an undeserved death! A begrudging death! You can ask Director Yao how many of the three great organizations I killed as a Night Watcher! I say this not to demand praise, but to say that I will not go willingly to my death if those more evil than me do not die!

“Since all of them are on the commander’s hit list, then I rest reassured.”

Death was not frightening, what was most terrifying to the director was if the evildoers did not die. He would not rest in peace if that occurred.

“Does the commander have pen and paper?”

Li Hao produced both with a quick grab in the air. The man quickly wrote name after name and notes behind them. “The Wind and Cloud Pavilion came to me because of my identity as a Night Watcher. I could supply large quantities of intelligence to them. Their networks are not well developed in the outside world—they’ve relied solely on me these years.”

As a Night Watcher director of a province situated in the central region, the man was very capable.

“I even developed some agents for them, while some came through their own efforts. I had my people follow them all along, however. This is what I know. I don’t know if there are others, but these ones have been working for the pavilion all this time.

“Additionally, I once visited their headquarters. I don’t know where it is exactly, but it should be between South Peak and Sagittarius. I entered their ruin in a sealed state.” He quickly drew the outline of a city on another piece of paper. “This is what their ruin looks like—it’s a city. There are a lot of people inside. I met at least five hundred, and they were all alive!”

He delineated a manor at the center of the city. “This is where their city lord lives and... it’s possible that the city lord is an ancient human!”

“An ancient human??” Li Hao jerked with shock. How was that possible?! Even the Saints of ancient humanity had decomposed. Was the master of the Wind and Cloud Pavilion stronger than the Saint level?

“I’m not sure, I’ve only met them once, and from a distance at that. I came to that conclusion through some of his mannerisms, behavior, and a few words. Even if he isn’t, there must be an ancient human alive. The commander must be careful of this. I say this because I suspect the pavilion master has been instructed by an ancient human.

“He did not know much about current events. His knowledge of our age seems to come from others. His grasp of ancient occurrences, however, was thorough. That was apparent even without extended conversation...”

Although the man wasn’t certain, Li Hao inclined his head. “Were there plant spirits?”

“Yes!” The man nodded. “There was a massive tree in the rear yard of the manor. I happened to witness an interaction between the two and saw that the tree was very polite toward the pavilion master. It wasn’t the same imperative attitude that we typically see from plant spirits.

“Hence, that’s another reason why I assumed their leader is an ancient human. I spent three days in the city, watching them demonstrate their might. They have many heavyweights and it’s been a few years since I visited. They should be stronger now...

“If the commander wishes to exterminate them, entering their ruins might not be a good choice.” That was the man’s opinion despite Li Hao’s track record of already killing an ancient plant spirit. The Wind and Cloud Pavilion had their own and possibly an ancient human powerhouse.

“Right, there’s another point. They wanted me to keep an eye on Red Moon and for me to investigate the organization. They seemed to be wary of it, so the plant spirit or ancient force behind Red Moon ought to be very strong as well!”

Li Hao nodded again. The man had drawn the entire city and written down a list of names.

“This is all I know,” he concluded. “I’ve drawn the rough location of their ruin. Another key detail is that they send people out of the ruins to purchase necessities once every month, but they do not buy from us...

“My own investigations show that they should be purchasing from somewhere in South Peak or Sagittarius, but my authorization is insufficient to tell me where and I don’t dare raise a fuss looking into it. The commander can start from this angle as they need to supply approximately five hundred people for an entire month. That’s a large transaction that ought to be easily filtered for.

“It’s not just them, but all factions that have a department like this. But whether it’s the three great organizations or City of Supernaturals, their transactions are recorded in open books. Hence, there’s no need to look into them. The Wind and Cloud Pavilion keeps theirs under wraps, but there should still be clues.

“They don’t settle their accounts with star coins, but mysterious power stones. Therefore, there must be a large merchant company servicing them. Ordinary people don’t dare accept transactions conducted in mysterious power stones, so you should be able to narrow down the search field!”

Li Hao’s eyes darted around rapidly in quick thought. As expected of someone who was a Night Watcher director! Anyone who reached his position didn’t do so on the basis of strength alone, but through true ability. If the man had wanted to pursue the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, he might’ve plumbed their depths long ago.

“And another thing is that they have a unique quirk of loving vegetables. They don’t really care about meat, but they have high standards when it comes to vegetables. That will make it easier to identify their partner!

“This organization has existed for more than ten years, so their traces ought to be very apparent.”

Li Hao agreed. It would be easy to locate the other with this information, particularly as it was the dead of winter. There were few vegetable merchants around, it was easy to target which merchant companies had a ready supply. He was beginning to treasure this talent in front of him.

“Director Yao, I’ve followed you for many years.” The man looked at Yao Si. “There is nothing more to say now, but I have a few words for you...”

“Go ahead.”

“You shouldn’t be a leader, Director Yao.” The man smiled. “You aren’t qualified as you’re too indecisive. It’s better for you to be a martial blockhead. You broke a lot of hearts over these years!”

Yao Si’s expression shifted; blood welled up in the man’s mouth. He laughed as his organs crumbled away. “I will end myself, there is no need for the rest of you to take action! I placed myself under the Wind and Cloud Pavilion’s banner only because... I could see no hope! There was no light! If this had been a peaceful era... I think... I could’ve been an upright official.

“What a pity that there is no chance for that... Today... perhaps... there is a wisp of hope. Commander Li, this era... is too dark. The darkness does not come from the nine ministries or the royal family... but the remnants of the ancient civilization that wish to start anew... Setting Silver Moon aside, the commander... should kill all of the plant spirits and beasts in Skystar City!”

Bam!

Li Hao reached out as the man’s body exploded and quickly stitched it back together. The young man was silent, immensely touched by the late director’s words. He’d been thinking of killing the nine ministries and royal family, but someone told him now that his thinking was incorrect. The source was not here. It lay with the ancient plant spirits and beasts, even the ancient humans.

Those were the chief offenders manipulating the nine ministries and royal family. They deserved death.

Li Hao closed his eyes. Yao Si was feeling equally conflicted and remained quiet. His old subordinate had committed suicide, saying that he wasn’t afraid of death, but of a wrongful death. He would only rest in peace if Li Hao killed an even more wicked existence.

Was the man a good person? Nôv(el)B\\jnn

No.

According to his testimony, he’d killed civilians, raided and looted others, killed those of the three great organizations, but also colluded with him. And yet, he also said that it wasn’t that he wanted to do so, but that the times had required him to be so.

Li Hao took a deep breath. “What was his name?”

“Chen Hai.”

“Bury him and announce that he died during a mission!”

Yao Si nodded.

“And then arrest everyone on the list!” Li Hao ordered coolly. “Locate the Wind and Cloud Pavilion according to the information he provided. We’ll seal off their ruin if we can’t get at them and pen them inside!”

It would’ve been a difficult task to track down the Wind and Cloud Pavilion, but the scope of the task was much smaller with Chen Hai’s information. It would be quite easy to find the organization now. However, they remained thorny opponents.

Li Hao furrowed his brows. He might actually have to make a trip to Battle Heaven. He might need more than the little tree. If General Pagoda was willing to offer a replica, that would add an Immortal or even Saint reinforcement to his side.

But... would the general agree to it?

A myriad of thoughts ran through the young man’s head, he decided to just give it a try. Those outside swiftly departed, as did Yao Si to commence his investigation.