Chapter 801: Chapter 801: A Disaster Without Warning
Because time was tight, Ling Feng didnât linger at Divine Gate for too long. After informing Catherine of some of his future plans, he took off in a rugged Jeep, heading toward one of Dragon Groupâs bases.
The Dragon Groupâs base was located in a small town several hundred kilometers away from the Divine Gate base. At the current speed, it would take another four to five hours to reach.
Ling Feng felt relaxed. Although the mission was somewhat complex, it was nothing out of the ordinary for him. Back at Divine Gate, Ling Feng had completed missions a hundred times more convoluted with absolute precision.
He turned on the carâs stereo, and the explosive rock music blaring through the speakers instantly uplifted his spirits.
After driving for over an hour, Ling Fengâs vehicle stopped next to a small tavern. As he pushed open the tavern door, he keenly noticed over a dozen covert gazes instantly land on him. Each of these individuals harbored immense strength, all at A-grade peak level!
"Itâs baffling how such a small tavern could have so many elites," Ling Feng thought to himself with composure while ordering a few small dishes and a bottle of wine to take away.
At that moment, a sudden roar erupted from one corner of the tavern: "You people are pushing me too far! I will never agree to your terms!"
"Mr. Norwich, I suggest you calm yourself," said a man across from him in an indifferent tone. "Business is business, after all. Besides, if youâre dissatisfied with our offer, youâre free to propose your own terms."
Norwich, an Arab man in his forties, had a flushed red face. He snarled, "Olier, you should know the risks I took to accomplish this task! What I need is for you to protect my family and provide sufficient funds. Otherwise, even if I die, I will never hand over the information!"
"What a headache," Olier shrugged, responding. "You ought to understand that while our Skyfire Mercenary Corps has some sway, itâs simply impossible for us to safeguard your entire family. Moreover, your wife and mother are already in the hands of the enemy. I wonât sacrifice my brothersâ lives to save them in vain. I can only promise the safety of you and your daughter. Beyond that, Iâm powerless."
Norwich gritted his teeth hard, flames seemingly burning in his eyes, while the man across from him remained calm and unaffected by Norwichâs agitation and fury.
After a long silence, Norwichâs expression morphed into one of desolation. "Fine, you win. But I have one condition. Iâll give you the data only after we reach a safe place."
Olier stared into Norwichâs eyes and suddenly broke into a smile. "Alright, Iâll agree to that. Hereâs to a pleasant collaboration!"
He extended his hand, but Norwich shot him a glare instead of shaking it, turning sharply to head upstairs.
"What a simple-minded fellow," Olier chuckled and wiped his hand with a nearby handkerchief. "Prepare for relocation immediately. The opposition is chasing relentlessly. Letâs get out of this godforsaken place by tonight!"
Although their conversation was hushed, it didnât escape Ling Fengâs keen ears.
"Skyfire Mercenary Corps?" Ling Feng pondered with some surprise. Skyfire Mercenary Corps didnât have a reputable name in the Underworld; they were notorious for their willingness to target ordinary civilians.
Most underground forces adhered to a principle of minimizing harm to regular people, but Skyfire Mercenary Corps operated differently. They would even actively exploit regular people, using their strength to achieve their goals. Indeed, the members of Skyfire Mercenary Corps were known to be reckless violators of rules!
Yet, they possessed self-awareness. Despite their arrogance and aggression, they displayed great respect for genuinely powerful figures, a trait that had ensured their survival up to now.
"When will my food be ready?" Ling Feng frowned, breaking his patience after waiting for a while.
"Whatâs the point of eating!" the tavern server sneered. "Since youâre about to die anyway, why waste food?"
As he spoke, a sizeable group had already surrounded Ling Feng.
Ling Feng glanced at the crowd with mockery in his eyes. "So, youâre planning on eliminating witnesses?"
"What bad timing for you to walk in here!" The server tugged at his shirt, revealing his well-defined muscles below. "Since youâve bumped into us, itâs your unlucky day! Prepare to die!"
Ling Fengâs subdued aura made him seem no different from an ordinary person, a fact that partly explained why Skyfire Mercenary Corps targeted him so readily.
Ling Feng sighed. "It seems the tavernâs owner and servers have already been killed by you lot, right?"
"Correct, but sadly, thereâs no prize for guessing!" The burly man smirked coldly. "Finish him!"
Crack. Crack. The group immediately pulled out their firearms and aimed at Ling Fengâs head.
Bam! A gunshot rang out, but the bullet embedded itself in the wall. To their shock, Ling Feng had mysteriously vanished before their eyes.
"What the...?" Fear surged within the group, an ominous sense of dread beginning to take hold of their minds.
"I prefer to keep quiet, but youâve pushed me too far," Ling Fengâs voice quietly sighed next to their ears.
Almost instantaneously, fatigue overwhelmed their bodies, and one by one, they collapsed to the ground.
"Who are you?!" one of the men asked in a trembling voice, his words laced with terror.
Ling Feng couldnât be bothered to answer. He grabbed a few bottles of alcohol from the rack, pushed open the tavern door, climbed into his vehicle, and drove away.
From the moment the group launched their attack on Ling Feng to when he stealthily neutralized every one of them, a mere five seconds had elapsed. As Olier and his companions descended the stairs, they found their subordinates sprawled across the floor.
"What happened here?" Olierâs face darkened.
"Boss, looks like weâve crossed paths with someone formidable," said a silent man next to Olier. "The man we intended to deal with is likely a genuine elite!"
Olier furrowed his brow. "An elite? How strong?"
"If he can evade our Detection, his capabilities are at least on par with ours, possibly at the level of an S-ranked expert from the Demi-God Domain!" the man explained further.
Hiss! A flicker of terror flashed across Olierâs eyes. If they had known the man was from the Demi-God Domain, they would have groveled instead of daring to provoke him!
"Fortunately, it seems he doesnât have hostile intentions," the man added. "Otherwise, we might not have escaped with our lives!"
Just then, someone dashed downstairs in a panic. "Boss, bad news! The little girl has escaped!"