Chapter 631: Friction Within the Team

Chapter 631 – Friction Within the Team

Zhang Yi could feel Peng Li’s gaze, but he didn’t care.

After all, it was always better to be the one giving orders than taking them. At least that way, he’d have some autonomy.

As for the upcoming mission—if they didn’t listen? Then he’d just ditch them.

Honestly, having Hua Hua and Liang Yue with him was already more than enough.

Oh right, almost forgot—he was pretty damn strong himself. What a pain.

Zhu Zheng began announcing the configurations of the remaining two teams.

Everyone listened carefully—after all, being chosen as team leader meant recognition from Jiangnan District Headquarters.

“Team Two, leader Zhuo Feiyu. Members: Yu Zhengyang, Yuan Hao, Liu Yuchun.”

“Team Three, leader Wu Shifang. Members: Mo Zhongning, Li Weihai, Jia Heting.”

Once the groupings were revealed, the atmosphere turned a bit stiff.

The ones named team leaders felt a bit proud, but at the same time anxious—would their team members follow their orders?

And the team members? They were sizing up their teammates’ strength while quietly questioning the authority of their assigned leaders.

They were all used to calling the shots in their own territories. Now being ordered around by someone else? Who’d be happy with that?

But Zhang Yi’s attention was focused elsewhere.

Only twelve names had been announced. But there were thirteen Outer City superhumans present.

His eyes landed on that pretty-boy Yuan Hao, then quickly shifted to the woman sitting next to him—his girlfriend, Xia Lingling.

“No Xia Lingling?”

Zhang Yi frowned. He didn’t think HQ would make such a basic mistake.

Liang Yue was someone he brought in personally, and even she was deemed qualified to join as combat strength.

Even if Xia Lingling wasn’t a faction leader, she should’ve at least been named.

Unless—she was like Hua Hua… actually a kind of battle pet?

Sensing the strange looks directed at her, Xia Lingling crossed her arms and huffed, “What are you all staring at? The two of us are a unit. Got a problem with that?”

Yuan Hao panicked. “Lingling, don’t be mad.”

Then he stood up and bowed repeatedly to everyone, drenched in sweat.

The scene made Peng Li snort with laughter.

Zhu Zheng folded his hands on the table and said seriously, “Team assignments are final. We based the team configurations on your individual abilities, and the leader selections were carefully considered.”

“I hope all of you can cooperate and complete this mission together.”

He glanced at his watch.

Before anyone realized, it was already past 3 PM.

“That’s it for today. Same time tomorrow afternoon, we’ll meet here again.”

“By then, I expect everyone to have thoroughly analyzed the Moon of Corrosion intel and come up with the most effective combat strategies.”

“Because in two days—we march!”

The Moon of Corrosion wasn’t going to sit around and wait for them to come knocking. Every extra second could change the situation on the ground.

And this mission had far-reaching consequences.

Some matters don’t seem heavy until they hit the scales—and then they weigh a thousand pounds.

If Jiangnan District failed to handle this properly, not only would its standing among the Six Major Districts plummet, it might even drag down the global influence of all the districts combined.

This wasn’t just about wiping out some Ronin anymore.

The meeting adjourned. Zhu Zheng stood up and left the conference room.

Lan Xincheng added, “The intel will be transmitted to you shortly!”

Then he adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and followed Zhu Zheng out.

Seeing that Zhang Yi still had people around him, Deng Shentong figured he must have team matters to handle, so he didn’t come over to chat.

Soon, the HQ personnel had all left.

Only the thirteen Outer City superhumans remained, each deep in their own thoughts.

Zhang Yi was the first to stand.

Hands in his pockets, he said casually to Liang Yue, “Let’s go. Time to dig into those files.”

Liang Yue nodded and followed him out.

As they walked past Chen Xiaoxiao and Peng Li, Chen’s elegant eyebrows twitched slightly. She pressed her lips together, planning to say a few words if Zhang Yi came over.

Peng Li still looked defensive and defiant, ready to fire back at the first sign of arrogance from him.

But to their surprise, Zhang Yi didn’t even glance their way. He just walked straight out of the room.

Chen Xiaoxiao and Peng Li were stunned—as if they’d built up all this momentum for a strike, only to swing at thin air.

“He just... left like that?”

Chen Xiaoxiao was baffled.

At a moment this important—on the verge of going to war with those deadly and vicious Neon Ronin—

Zhang Yi was acting like it didn’t matter at all.

Chen Xiaoxiao suddenly felt a bit angry.

What did he think this mission was?

And what did he think his role as team leader meant?

“Hmph!”

She abruptly stood up and said to the equally stunned Peng Li, “Come on. Let’s go find him.”

Then she strode after Zhang Yi, and Peng Li quickly snapped out of it and followed.

Zhang Yi and Liang Yue were walking down the hallway, about to reach the elevator—

When a crisp, clear female voice called from behind:

“Zhang Yi, please wait!”

He didn’t even need to look back to know who it was.

But out of courtesy, he lazily turned his head and gave a glance.

“What’s up?”

His indifferent attitude made Chen Xiaoxiao even more frustrated—but she wasn’t some naïve girl. She wasn’t about to let her irritation show.

She walked up to him, forcing a slight smile.

“We’re on the same team now, and you’re the team leader. I think it’s important we get to know each other better.”

“Plus, working through the Moon of Corrosion intel together will be easier with more people discussing it—don’t you think?”

Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow.

Chen Xiaoxiao’s decisive, no-nonsense attitude reminded him a bit of Xiao Honglian.

Seemed like she was also the bold, headstrong type—not one to back down easily.

Chen Xiaoxiao opened her arms slightly and smiled. “Let me formally introduce myself! I’m Chen Xiaoxiao, and this is Peng Li. We’re both from the same organization in Bàzhōu.”

Then she glanced around cautiously before lowering her voice and saying,

“You know, this isn’t the best place to talk. How about we find somewhere else to sit down and chat—what do you say, Captain?”

The word “Captain” was deliberately softened, drawn out syllable by syllable from her lips.

Zhang Yi thought: You sure sound more like the team leader than I do.

He knew Chen Xiaoxiao and Peng Li were probably unhappy with him being chosen as team leader. But so what?

That was Zhu Zheng’s decision. If they had a problem, they could take it up with him.

Still, even though they were a little headstrong, Zhang Yi didn’t find them annoying.

Since the six of them would be working together, as long as they didn’t cause trouble, getting on decent terms wasn’t a bad idea.

Zhang Yi nodded and gave a thumbs-up.

“Alright then! Let’s hit Cipher Bar—my treat!”

Author's Note