Stronger with More Jobs

Chapter 709 - 297: The Federation!? Not Worth Shit

"Dead?!"

Everyone gasped in unison.

This was a bombshell.

Who did it?

Why didn’t the people inside report to the Federation?

Was it an internal decision to sever ties with the Federation, or was there an external cause?

Fang Qingyu’s eyes narrowed, memorizing this crucial piece of information.

Their purpose for coming here.

Is to gather intelligence and suppress the rebellion.

The target of suppression, naturally, is the enemy of the Bauhinia Association.

However, before the suppression, they needed to gather intelligence first, to figure out exactly what’s going on, before helping.

Otherwise, if it’s something on the Bauhinia Association’s side...

If there’s an internal issue, Fang Qingyu and the others would be walking right into a trap.

"Continue talking."

Fang Qingyu looked at the others.

But the next one to speak scratched their head, a bit embarrassed.

Like Chu Kuanglan and his group.

The money they made last night, aside from Fang Qingyu, was the most.

But there were no significant intelligence gains.

It was Wei Banmeng who spoke up: "I do have a piece of information, gossip I heard from the head of my family’s branch in the City of Injustice."

"The authenticity is yet to be verified, but it seems it might be related to the current chaos."

She paused, giving a precautionary statement in advance, "My company primarily deals in ordinary goods trade here, not involved in the Extraordinary field, so our understanding of the city’s Transcendent class is quite limited, just listen without taking it too seriously."

Everyone’s eyes immediately focused on her.

"I heard," Wei Banmeng’s voice remained cool, "that a while ago, the one ranked sixth on the City of Injustice’s Top Ten Martial Saints list had fallen."

"The sixth of the Top Ten Martial Saints?!"

Everyone was shocked again.

The Top Ten Martial Saints and Top Ten Apostles list released by the City Lord’s Mansion in the City of Injustice is the most authoritative symbol of the strength and status of Transcendents within the city; those who make the list are none other than the pinnacle figures of the Peak of the Third Tier.

The fall of the Martial Saint ranked sixth is absolutely a sensational event in the entire city.

"Yes." Wei Banmeng nodded, "It is said that this sixth-ranked Martial Saint, during his life, most relied on an extremely powerful Divine Creation Level Divine Armament. It was this armament’s might that allowed him to reach the high position of sixth amongst the Top Ten Martial Saints with what was otherwise not the most formidable strength. Now that he’s dead, the Divine Creation Level armament has become ownerless."

She looked around at everyone and continued, "The news spreading, of course, aroused envy in many, all wanting to claim this treasure for themselves."

"But the problem is, this sixth-ranked Martial Saint was, reportedly, a long-time lover of the female Apostle ranked tenth on the Top Ten Apostles list."

"This tenth-ranked Apostle, as soon as the sixth Martial Saint died, took over that Divine Creation Level armament and issued a harsh warning: anyone who dares to set eyes on this armament will be in a fight to the death with her!"

Fang Qingyu was taken aback hearing this and then suspiciously asked, "That tenth-ranked Apostle, wouldn’t she be the president of the Bauhinia Association?"

Wei Banmeng shook her head, quite certain: "No. I specifically confirmed this with the branch staff."

"The president of the Bauhinia Association is ranked third on the Apostle List."

The trail seemed to have gone cold again.

The living room fell silent once more.

So far, only two pieces of information have been gathered.

The first is that many people have died in the city, indicating something intense is happening somewhere.

The second is that the Bauhinia Association’s current situation is quite bizarre.

As for this piece of gossip.

For now, it doesn’t seem to have any connection.

Once Wei Banmeng finished speaking, everyone’s gaze turned to Fang Qingyu.

Now only Fang Qingyu hasn’t spoken yet.

Fang Qingyu, meeting everyone’s gaze, nodded: "On my end, I’ve found out who is targeting the Bauhinia Association, which is also our primary focus for investigation next."

...

Crescent Moon Bar, Zone A counter.

The thundering music became muffled behind the heavy soundproof doors, making the bar area relatively quieter.

Under the warm yellow spotlight, Fang Qingyu skillfully shook the shaker, the clinking of ice creating a crisp rhythm.

The young female guest, dressed in a deep V sequin dress, was lazily lying on the bar counter.

Her fingers unconsciously traced the condensation on the glass.

She ordered another drink, her eyes already somewhat glazed.

"Life, huh..."

She suddenly let out a snort, tinged with heavy intoxication and a sense of nihilism as though seeing through worldly matters, "One must indulge while they can, otherwise, ha, who knows when one might just die inexplicably..."

Fang Qingyu slid a freshly made Long Island Iced Tea in front of her.

Wiping the bar with flowing movements, he raised his head at her words, showing the perfect amount of confusion: "Why do you say that? I feel like in the City of Injustice, as long as we ordinary people keep to ourselves, it’s relatively safe, right? At least it’s more stable than outside?"

The woman took a large sip from her glass, the cold liquid seemingly snapped her awake for a moment, she nodded, her tone carrying a peculiar certainty: "Of course, it is safe. Currently, there’s probably no safer turtle shell than this Mirage."

She swirled her glass, the amber liquid reflecting the light, "But, handsome, have you ever considered..."

She leaned slightly forward, closer to Fang Qingyu, her breath, laced with alcohol, softly puffed as she lowered her voice, carrying a hint of ridicule: "This city, how many times would it need to open each year? How much in resources, people, and all sorts of messy things would it need to bring in to keep it running like a normal city? If... I’m saying if, the world out there collapses, how long can this city floating on the Ice Sea hold out?"

Fang Qingyu’s hand wiping the glass paused slightly, then he revealed a warm and optimistic smile: "No, it won’t. Outside, there’s the Federation guarding, the Great Wall Defense Line, so many powerful Transcendents, how could the world collapse?"

"The Federation? Ha!"

The woman reacted as if she heard the biggest joke, snorting with laughter, a thick disdain curling her lips as the drunk look in her eyes was partially dispelled by the strong mockery, "The Federation? What good are they?!"

Fang Qingyu’s heart moved, his face perfectly displaying curiosity: "Sis, what do you mean by that? The Federation should be pretty powerful, right?"

The woman, looking at Fang Qingyu’s innocent face, felt the tide of alcohol surge again, completely loosening the dam of her reason.

She glanced around, making sure no one else was near before leaning even closer, her voice low like a whisper, tinged with a hint of intimacy:

"What good are they? Absolutely useless! You know about that Bauhinia Association in our city, right?"

Fang Qingyu pretended to be deep in thought, a few seconds later nodding uncertainly: "Hmm, I think I’ve heard of it, isn’t it the place set by the Federation here?"

"Right!" The woman’s tone was filled with contempt, "I heard recently the Federation sent over what they claimed was their strongest Apostle to oversee it! Tsk tsk, how impressive that sounds!"

"And what happened? Guess what? Not long after arriving, I heard they got severely injured and now don’t dare to show up, completely vanished. Now the Bauhinia Association is curled up like a turtle, too scared to stick their neck out."

Fang Qingyu showed a look of disbelief at these words.

"No way? Who could have done that to them."

The woman at these words... finally showed a hesitant expression.

But after a while, she still lay back on the table, her eyes glazed, softly voicing,

"Who else, the Celestial Punishment Association it is,"

"You said the Federation sent their strongest Apostle over, got easily subdued too, how good could things be outside?"