Vol 3. Chapter 75: Undercurrents
Besides,
know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.
Although his own strength was already formidable, if it truly came down to having no choice but to fight in the end,
Luokefei still wanted to understand his opponent better before making a move. Therefore, after entering Dragon Dance Square, the Grand General protecting the empire focused his attention on the Black Rose Family, just like Mengxi.
The result was naturally predictable.
He failed to find the Black Rose Family's Young Lady. Just like Mengxi, Luokefei's attention was quickly drawn to the black-robed figure surrounded by the black-armored knights.
Although the other party was not releasing any power, Luokefei could already vaguely sense the surging, turbulent power contained within his body.
'This guy... is dangerous...'
After staring at him for only a few seconds, Luokefei reached this conclusion in his heart. A solemn look appeared in his ice-blue eyes.
'Who is this person? When did he arrive in the Imperial Capital? Was there ever someone like this before?'
Just then,
a captain of the Imperial Guards dressed in black-and-white armor suddenly rushed directly to Luokefei's side, surrounded by black battle aura.
"Grand General, this subordinate has... has an important matter to report."
The captain's words temporarily drew Luokefei's attention back. He looked at the Sixth-Tier warrior behind him in confusion.
"Hm? What happened?"
"Grand General, there are two matters. First, the Fourth Army Group stationed at the Northern Border was supposed to make its regular contact with us this morning, but even now, we haven't received any news from them."
"Hm? No news? Have you tried contacting them?"
"Yes. We've attempted to establish contact with them, but still received nothing. We don't know whether it's because of the recent Catherine Storm..."
"This... is strange..."
Upon hearing this, the solemnity in Luokefei's eyes grew even stronger, and an ominous premonition surfaced in his mind.
There was such a massive army stationed at the Northern Border, yet they could not contact them?
What kind of joke was that?
Even if the storm was interfering with communications, things should not have reached this extent.
Something was wrong...
'Did something happen over there?'
After a moment of silence, Luokefei calmly spoke:
"Continue trying to contact them. Also, arrange for troops stationed near the Northern Border to go over there and investigate."
"Yes, Grand General."
"Mhm. Right, didn't you say there was another matter? What is it?"
"Reporting to the Grand General, someone suspicious was caught near the eastern city gate while attempting to flee Sky Dome during the lockdown."
"Hm?"
Hearing this, Luokefei frowned.
In order to prevent people with malicious intentions, such as members of the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church, from infiltrating the city, the capital had been under almost completely closed management over the past several days.
However, the defenders' primary task was to prevent people outside the city who had not undergone inspection from secretly slipping inside.
After all, with the coronation ceremony imminent, people throughout the Snow Night Empire were scrambling over one another and thinking of every possible method to enter Sky Dome.
Someone trying to escape from the city?
That really was somewhat unusual...
However,
"If he wanted to escape, then let him. Just lock him up according to the emergency regulations. Why did you specifically come looking for me?"
"Grand General, this person's circumstances are somewhat special. He's His Majesty's honored guest, so we didn't know whether we should imprison him. And His Majesty is currently preparing for the coronation ceremony, so it wouldn't be appropriate for us to disturb His Majesty to ask..."
"An honored guest?"
"Yes. It's that intelligence broker called 'Moxiao'..."
"Hm? Him? Enmmm..."
Luokefei raised a hand and rested it against his chin.
After thinking for a moment, the Grand General slowly spoke:
"In that case, take me to see him. There happens to still be some time before the ceremony officially begins."
"Yes, Grand General."
The captain respectfully replied.
...
...
A short while later, Luokefei, who had temporarily left Dragon Dance Square, arrived at the Imperial Guards' encampment within the Imperial City and saw the honored guest who had attempted to flee Sky Dome.
The moment Luokefei saw Moxiao, his brows immediately knitted tightly together.
Looking at the black-haired man being watched by the Imperial Guards, curled up in a corner of the barracks and trembling uncontrollably, Luokefei sensed that something was wrong.
Although this intelligence broker was usually quite cowardly, he was not normally so terrified that he looked as though his courage had been completely shattered.
At a time like this?
Trying to secretly escape from the city?
And acting so panicked, so guilty?
Could this guy have stolen some classified intelligence and be trying to take advantage of the situation to smuggle it out of the city?
As this suspicion emerged in Luokefei's mind, a cold gleam immediately appeared in his eyes.
Luokefei had always been vigilant and suspicious toward people like Moxiao who lived in the shadows. He immediately transformed into an ice-blue streak of light and flashed directly in front of Moxiao.
Without saying another word, he grabbed Moxiao by the collar and forcibly dragged him up from the ground.
"Mr. Moxiao, just what are you trying to do? Why did you attempt to leave Sky Dome at a time like this, and why were you being so sneaky about it?! Have you forgotten that His Majesty personally invited you to attend the ceremony?!"
Feeling the terrifying pressure accompanying Luokefei's words, Moxiao immediately broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly shook his head.
"No, no, no! Grand General, you've misunderstood! Something happened with my child back home, so I urgently need to go back and take care of them! I absolutely, absolutely wasn't deliberately trying to skip the ceremony!"
"If something happened to your child, you could simply have reported it. Why did you deliberately try to sneak out of the city?"
"That's... because... because I didn't want to disturb His Majesty! His Majesty is... isn't His Majesty very busy right now?"
"Hm?"
Hearing this, Luokefei immediately revealed a suspicious expression.
As Moxiao continued explaining, Luokefei's expression gradually became colder.
At this moment, Luokefei's ice-blue magic power had already enveloped Moxiao's entire body. With his powerful perception, Luokefei could detect even the slightest changes in Moxiao's expressions...
The man before him was filled with fear!
He was so frightened that even the lies he fabricated were riddled with holes.
His desire to leave the city now definitely had nothing to do with his child.
This intelligence broker was hiding something...
"You're lying!"
As he spoke, Luokefei mercilessly grabbed Moxiao by the throat and slammed him firmly against the wall.
"Speak! Did you take advantage of His Majesty's trust to obtain large amounts of our country's classified intelligence, and now you're trying to sell that intelligence to hostile forces?!"
Although the man before him was Xue Tianao's honored guest, when faced with someone who could potentially endanger the country, Luokefei still showed no mercy whatsoever.
Feeling the pressure of Luokefei's fingers around his throat and finding it increasingly difficult to breathe, Moxiao's face gradually turned purple. Driven by his instinct for survival, he desperately shook his head.
"N-No... I... I didn't... I wasn't planning to do anything like that..."
"Then why were you sneaking around and trying to escape Sky Dome?"
However, upon hearing this question, Moxiao began shaking his head even more frantically. His black eyes were filled with terror, as though he had recalled some nightmarish memory.
"Hm?"
Seeing Moxiao struggle so violently, Luokefei increased the force in his fingers. The terrifying ice-blue magic power pierced continuously into Moxiao's body like countless blades of extreme cold, tormenting his body and bringing even more intense pain to the black-haired man.
"If that's not it, then why are you leaving?"
"No... I can't say..."
"You can't say? Looks like you've got quite a stubborn mouth."
After letting out a cold laugh, Luokefei exerted even more force.
The agony of suffocation directly turned Moxiao's face dark purple. His originally fairly handsome face had now become hideously distorted from the swelling and twisted expression...
However, even then, Moxiao still refused to speak,
causing Luokefei to reveal a faint look of surprise.
'This brat? He's actually got some backbone?'
However, after giving him an approving look, Luokefei's eyes became increasingly cold.
"You won't talk? In that case, don't blame me for being impolite toward your family. Your wife and child live in Weituoli Town, don't they?"
"You?!"
The moment he heard the specific name of the place where his wife and child lived, Moxiao's expression changed dramatically. The determination that had filled his eyes just moments ago immediately wavered.
Judging from the coldness in Luokefei's eyes, the other man was serious.
If he refused to speak, this Grand General protecting the empire really would send people after his wife and child...
Noticing the subtle change in Moxiao's eyes, Luokefei smiled faintly and immediately added:
"If you don't want anything to happen to your wife and child, then tell me honestly. Why were you trying to escape?"
...
Faced with Luokefei's coercion, Moxiao, who was nearly being strangled to death, ultimately had no choice but to speak helplessly:
"If I don't run... everyone will die..."
"Hm? What do you mean by that?"
"Blood Butterfly... is inside Sky Dome..."
Luokefei: ???!!
"You... what did you say?! Blood Butterfly?!"