"Just giving you a lesson, and incidentally, dispelling some of those strange ideas you might have."
"Now, put on the robe and come with me."
The middle-aged man casually played with the short blade in his hand as he spoke calmly to Mara. His tone bore no hint of threat, as if he were simply stating a fact, a testament to his confidence in his own strength.
Looking at the five corpses on the ground and his own severed finger, Mara disregarded the pain in his fingertips. After a brief silence, he very shrewdly picked up the robe from the ground and put it on. The robe was large, but given that the average height of the Ancient Demon Tribe exceeded two meters, it fit quite well. The black robe came with a hood. When Mara pulled it up, his four scaly arms were completely concealed within, making him appear like a two-meter-tall Human trying to conceal his identity.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man nodded slightly. Even with his status and the authority granted by the Token from his superior, openly bringing an Ancient Demon into the Yanjing Assembly Site was ill-advised. Hiding Mara in the black robe would save a lot of trouble.
"You walk in front."
His tone remained calm, but coupled with the short blade in his hands, it carried undeniable persuasion.
"Where to?" Mara asked.
"The eastern gate of the Yanjing Assembly Site."
Mara knew the way. For some time now, he had admired the imposing city walls of the Yanjing Assembly Site from afar.
Previously, Mara had pondered how to breach them. But now...
What lay ahead was uncertain.
Slowly, Mara walked through the streets of Tianjin City. His aura as an Ancient Demon made the low-grade demonic creatures in the vicinity keep their distance. Whenever they encountered Human or Sea Clan warriors, the middle-aged assassin concealed behind him would step forward and present a Token from his space ring. Although the Human soldiers who saw the Token were somewhat puzzled by the identity of the figure hidden in the black robe, they clearly understood what the Token represented. Naturally, there was no need for interrogation or to make things difficult.
With the cooperation of the man and the Ancient Demon, their journey to the Eastern City Wall of the Yanjing Assembly Site was completely unhindered. In less than an hourâeven with Mara dragging his feetâthe Eastern City Wall of the Yanjing Assembly Site was already visible in the distance.
"Pick up the pace."
The middle-aged assassin gave Mara a forceful shove, urging him to move faster.
Maraâs expression was dark as he looked towards the distant city wall of the Yanjing Assembly Site. After a long moment, he let out a soft sigh. At this point, they had essentially left the chaotic battle zone and entered an area controlled by the Human Race.
Although, from time to time, some Demon Cannon Fodder would suicidally charge the Yanjing Assembly Siteâs walls, they clearly posed no significant threat.
As far as the eye could see, Cathay Military warriors moved back and forth. In this situation, even if Mara wanted to escape, it was impossible.
Moving stiffly forward as if resigned to his fate, Mara was led on. This time, the middle-aged assassin no longer hid himself. He took out the Token, hung it on his chest, and, grabbing Mara with one hand, strode towards the city gate of the Yanjing Assembly Site.
The process of passing through the Yanjing Assembly Siteâs city gate went quite smoothly. As a member of the Ancient Demon Tribe, Mara, clad in the wide black robe, did bear some resemblance to a human in terms of build. Coupled with the middle-aged assassinâor rather, the Token in his handâacting as a guarantee, the man and the Ancient Demon successfully entered the Yanjing Assembly Site.
Inside the eastern gate of the outer city zone, a military vehicle had long been parked, awaiting the arrival of the middle-aged assassin and Mara.
"Get in the car!"
With a rough shove from the middle-aged assassin, Mara was practically forced into the military vehicle. The assassin then sat beside Mara, his short blade in hand.
The vehicle slowly started, accelerating towards the inner city zone. By now, Mara fully understood his predicament.
"Will I survive this?"
He didnât ask who was looking for him or why. Mara voiced the most critical question concerning his current situation.
The middle-aged assassinâs hand, holding the short blade, paused slightly, and a stiff smile touched his lips.
"Whether you survive or not doesnât depend on me, but on you."
"You know, things of value have a reason to exist. So, I advise you to think carefully right now about what you know, what you can do, and what value you possess. These are what will guarantee your survival."
Mara fell silent for a moment, then nodded slowly.
The information and intelligence an Ancient Demon possessed should indeed be of value to the Yanjing authorities. Of course, this would still depend on the attitude of that one personâwhom Mara was now certain was Lin Haifeng himself.
There wasnât much to see on the streets of Yanjing.
Under the state of war in the Yanjing Assembly Site, strict controls had been imposed on the streets of the outer city zone. Large numbers of non-combatant refugees had been gathered in designated shelters. So, apart from the constant coming and going of vehicles and soldiers, the streets were otherwise empty.
The military vehicle Mara was in, clearly marked by its license plate, sped through the streets and quickly entered the military headquarters building in the inner city zone.
Then came another round of searches, inspections, and preparations for concealment.
A black hood was placed over Maraâs head, blocking all his sight and senses. Then, escorted by two professionistsâat least Peak Level 5âhe was led up a winding, uneven staircase into a room.
The two professionists roughly threw him onto a chair and then crudely bound him.
Mara felt a tough, smooth, rope-like object binding him securely. Then, the hood was violently ripped from his head.
A blinding white light momentarily blurred his vision. Dimly, Mara could make out three figures before him: two standing, one seated.
"Welcome to the Yanjing Assembly Site, member of the Demon Tribe... letâs call you a friend for now."
A resonant voice spoke, and Mara focused his gaze.
Salt-and-pepper hair, a crisp military uniform, sharp eyes, and a familiar face. Ranked second on the Demon Tribeâs Human Race threat assessment list: Humanityâs supreme leader, Lin Haifeng.
Perhaps sensing Maraâs apprehension, Lin Haifeng nodded to the two professionists guarding him.
The two Praetorian Guards tactfully exited the room, leaving the bound Mara behind with Lin Haifeng; the middle-aged assassin hidden in the shadowsâlikely Lin Haifengâs personal bodyguard; and Fang Bai and Fran, standing on either side of Lin Haifeng.