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Chapter 325: Like a Nightmare (Part 1)

"The Chief has ordered an immediate transfer for all of you." Wang Qianduan’s announcement interrupted the execution team’s chat, and Zhang Yingzi, standing next to him, tossed a silver magic cube, which instantly transformed into a cabinet as it touched the ground.

She opened the cabinet door, revealing a deep secret passage inside.

"Huh?" Jiang Siqi exclaimed in surprise, "But the Chief is still in a meeting, isn’t it our task to protect him?"

"His security is being handled by someone else," Wang Qianduan replied with an emotionless face, "You just need to follow orders."

Both he and Zhang Yingzi were trusted aides brought by Xiao Canong upon his arrival, so it wasn’t surprising they relayed the Chief’s commands.

Though everyone found this arrangement somewhat abrupt, they complied.

Honglian was the last one to step into the cabinet.

She couldn’t see the backs of those who went before her, even though they had entered the passage just five seconds earlier. The path was narrow and enclosed, only wide enough for one person at a time, with stone walls and ceiling all around and a musty stench lingering in the air. She could hardly imagine how so much could fit inside that small cube without experiencing it firsthand.

After about two minutes, she finally reached the exit.

She could hear voices approaching.

Honglian quickly stepped out of the passage, then paused in surprise. She had emerged into another enclosed room, still made of coarse rubble that seemed out of place in this futuristic era. Several people stood in the room, but none were her team members. Wang Qianduan stood with his hands behind his back at the exit, as if waiting for her, though she could have sworn he was with Zhang Yingzi in the lounge before she entered the cabinet.

Honglian immediately felt a sense of vigilance.

"Where are the others?"

Wang Qianduan didn’t reply, instead gesturing to the others.

They rushed toward Honglian. She turned around, shocked to find that the passage she came through had disappeared.

Even at this moment, she was unwilling to fight her agency colleagues—because she realized these men all wore the headquarters’ insignia, marking them as members of the headquarters’ logistics team.

The crowd surrounded Honglian, twisted her arms behind her back, and with a click, a pair of iron cuffs clamped onto her wrists.

"What is the meaning of this?" Honglian demanded angrily, "Do you intend to illegally detain a field agent of the organization?"

"What I mean, Ms. Honglian, should be crystal clear to you by now," Wang Qianduan replied coldly, "As for whether I have the authority to do so... What do you think?"

He took a card from his pocket and showed it to her.

Honglian’s pupils constricted instantly.

"You’re a member of the Arbitration Court?"

"According to agency regulations, we suspect that you have colluded with illegal Ability Users and posed a significant threat to the security of the Dimensional Limit Mechanism," Wang Qianduan declared, "The headquarters has relieved you of all duties, and I will handle your interrogation."

Honglian’s heart sank instantly.

This wasn’t a tentative interrogation; they clearly knew about her contact with the Wanderers.

If she was exposed, then what about Wang Baihu?

As if reading her mind, Wang Qianduan stated outright, "Your comrades won’t get away either. Whether it’s Wang Baihu, Jiang Siqi, or Little Pigeon, they will all be interrogated."

Jiang Siqi and Little Pigeon? They knew about Shixin too?

Honglian couldn’t help but protest, "How could they possibly betray the agency! Wang Qianduan, you’re blowing things out of proportion!"

"Are you saying... you’re the only one who would betray the agency?" The other sneered, "I’ll personally investigate whether they have any issues. Of course, if you’re willing to cooperate and disclose everything you know, then they might suffer a little less during the process. Let me make it clear, this interrogation won’t be easy on them."

A metal chair was dragged behind her, and the logistics team roughly forced Honglian to sit on it.

Another person raised a syringe.

At this point, it seemed unlikely she could talk her way out of this situation.

She flicked her finger, and a button slipped from her sleeve.

Shifting Form and Shadow!

In the next second, the button turned into the handcuffs, falling to the ground.

Honglian suddenly sprang up, using her momentum to break free from the four people, lunging fiercely at Wang Qianduan, seemingly planning a frontal attack! Yet, in reality, she had already stealthily thrown a glass sphere upward—it flew straight over Wang Qianduan’s head, landing behind him.

Next followed King’s Castle!

Like a phantom, Honglian appeared directly behind Wang Qianduan, holding a dagger pressed to his throat.

"Nobody move!"

The logistics team immediately froze in place.

"Not bad, an unexpected and unprepared attack, you certainly have some skills fitting for a team leader," Wang Qianduan actually had the leisure to applaud.

Alarm bells rang in Honglian’s mind, but she didn’t dare release him, "Take me to see Wang Baihu!"

"And then? Are you going to escape with him?" Wang Qianduan replied with disdain, "In Jiang City, you’re indeed a tough opponent. The Chief’s evaluation of you is like a cunning rabbit with three burrows; who knows where you’ve hidden a transfer talisman. But ever since you entered this world, everything you carry is under the agency’s surveillance. How on earth do you plan to escape under these conditions?"

He actually moved to collide with the dagger!

The blade pierced his skin, yet it felt like hitting steel, not going any deeper into the blood vessels but instead numbing Honglian’s hand.

Not good!

She released the dagger immediately, attempting to use her body technique to control him, but it was too late. Wang Qianduan took the opportunity to turn and deliver a powerful hook to Honglian’s side, making her internals churn violently!

"Ugh!"

Honglian clutched her stomach, collapsing to her knees, unable to stop the acidic liquid mixed with blood from spewing out.

Could Wang Qianduan really have such strength?

She couldn’t believe she couldn’t even withstand one punch.

It felt as if a heavy shell, rather than a fist, had just hit her!

Honglian gritted her teeth through the excruciating pain, struggling to grab the fallen dagger, but Wang Qianduan stepped on her wrist, picking up the dagger first.

Then she witnessed an unbelievable scene: he crumpled the dagger into a steel coil with one hand!

Grabbing her collar, Wang Qianduan hoisted her up, "See this? This is the power of the organization. The Dimensional Limit Mechanism is on the verge of success, yet at such a critical time, you chose to stray away from our original intentions and negate our sacrifices, how stupid can you be!"

Besides the cold disgust in his tone, there was actually a hint of sadness.

"Cough, cough... You knew that the Chief was dealing with Demons, didn’t you?" Honglian asked, holding her breath.

"That’s just a facade."

"And selling out Elorie! Is that a facade too!?"

"Oh? So you indeed remember her matter... It seems those Wanderers know quite a bit about our secrets." Wang Qianduan nonchalantly commented, "Exchanging an illegal Wanderer for a major agency achievement, I see no issue with that."

Honglian was left speechless.

Illegal Wanderer? Elorie once was a member of the agency’s team!

Though she had heard numerous rumors about the agency’s corruption from Lin Qing, she remained somewhat skeptical.

Yet Wang Qianduan’s words struck her chest like a heavy punch, its impact even heavier than the real punch she received earlier.

If he were just a regular field agent, it could be attributed to individual issues with his thinking. But as an Ability User from the Arbitration Court, a core figure stationed at the headquarters, Wang Qianduan’s assessment, in some way, represented the headquarters’ stance.

"The Dimensional Limit Mechanism... should not be like this..."

She gritted her teeth and said.

Ability Users are a minority... once feared and detested, the agency gathered them up, partly to prevent their powers from being misused, and also to protect the Ability Users themselves.

It should’ve been... a second home for the Ability Users.

Wang Qianduan slammed her onto the ground forcefully, causing her to spit out another mouthful of blood, feeling as if several ribs shattered, while the excruciating pain gnawed at her body like a venomous snake.

"The agency should be like this; without traitors like you, our victory would have arrived sooner." He kicked Honglian towards the chair, "Tie her up, smash her fingers. That way, she won’t be able to use those tricks anymore."

"Yes!" they responded in unison.