F-class thief? Sorry, I can steal anything.

Chapter 106 Night Eyes' Plans and Doubts

The top floor of the Jiangcheng Security Bureau.

The cold air is filtered and circulated by a complex life support system.

A man dressed in black combat gear stood straight in the center of the room.

"Lynx".

The leader of the Ninth Group of the Special Operations Division of the Dragon Kingdom.

A ruthless figure who would give most criminal organizations a headache in the underworld.

But at this moment, he stood like a greenhorn, his eyes lowered, not even daring to look directly at the person sitting in the command chair in front of him.

"explain."

Ye Tong didn't turn around. His voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable penetrating power.

The lynx's body tensed almost imperceptibly, and it quickly reported to its leader:

"Reporting to Commander Nighteye. Just as we were shaping Chen Yifan into a 'hero' according to plan and throwing out the concept of 'key fragments' as bait, several completely different streams of public opinion emerged in the dark web world almost simultaneously."

He raised his hand, and a virtual screen appeared in front of him.

The list above contains the messages that Mu Wanqing spread according to Chen Yifan's instructions.

"The first point is that the origin is unknown. It is claimed that the [Key Fragment - Shadow] is not a physical entity, but a special mark bound to the soul, which dissipated with the death of the Shadow Demon."

"This message has spread the fastest and has already caused some speculators to switch to a wait-and-see approach."

"The second one, following closely behind, leaked out as a rumor."

"It is claimed that although Chen Yifan did not obtain the key, as the 'killer,' he inherited a portion of Shadow Fiend's 'legacy.'"

"The content is very vague and leaves much to the imagination. At least seventeen A-level mercenary groups and intelligence organizations have begun investigating the authenticity of this 'legacy'."

"The third option is to offer a reward from a third party."

"A reward of 50 million cash is offered for the discovery of the true whereabouts of the [Key Fragment - Shadow]."

"The publisher's information has been erased by top-notch technology, and the source of funds is clean. Our people have initially determined that the funder... is very likely Chen Yifan himself."

As Lynx spoke, a hint of undisguised surprise crept into his voice.

This kid named Chen Yifan is a born troublemaker.

They had just set up the chessboard when he overturned the table, started his own game, and played it with great skill.

"The last one."

Lynx took a deep breath and opened the last intelligence analysis.

"This post, which uses 'in-depth analysis' as a gimmick, was pinned to the top of several top dark web forums."

The post meticulously examined the suspicious points surrounding Shadow Fiend's "escape," ultimately pointing to a possibility...

"The key was never on Shadow Fiend from the beginning; it was intercepted by us... the authorities."

"Bang!"

Lynx couldn't hold back and slammed his fist on the virtual screen in front of him, causing the data stream to become disordered.

"That kid's gone mad! He's stirred things up so badly that there's no way Bai Xiang, that inherently suspicious monster, will show himself! Our plan..."

"plan?"

Night Eyes finally moved.

He slowly turned his command chair, revealing half of his face from the shadows.

He didn't look at the lynx.

They didn't even look at the information about Chen Yifan.

His gaze remained fixed on the main screen.

What was frozen there was not some earth-shattering scene, but an office.

Jiangcheng City Security Bureau, third floor, Wang Jianguo's office.

In one corner of the screen, several technicians are analyzing a blurry surveillance video frame by frame.

The attempt is to recreate the dying thought that [Raven] conveyed in its final moments before being killed by Wang Jianguo.

"Lynx,"

Ye Tong's voice was calm and even.

"What do you think our plan is?"

The lynx was taken aback:

"Using Chen Yifan as bait, we can catch a hundred different kinds of fish."

"hehe……"

"Using a newly promoted F-rank thief, who hasn't even completed the first job advancement, to lure a legendary assassin who's at level 90, has committed countless crimes, and even seriously injured three adults?"

Ye Tong's lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile.

"Do you think Bai Xiang is a fool, or am I the fool?"

Cold sweat beaded on the lynx's forehead.

He then realized that he seemed to have never truly understood the core of the plan.

"I……"

"Chen Yifan's moves were quite interesting."

"This person... is quite interesting."

Night Eyes tapped lightly on the armrest with her fingertips, producing a rhythmic, soft sound.

"He thought he was breaking the deadlock, stirring up the waters, trying to turn himself from a pawn into a player."

"But what he didn't know was that from the moment he appeared at the scene of Shadow Fiend's death and killed Shadow Fiend's clone, his greatest role was not 'bait'."

Night Eyes paused, her deep gaze shifting from the office monitor to Lynx.

"He was a stone thrown into a calm lake..."

"Stone?"

"The purpose of the stone is not to fish."

"It's about creating ripples, letting us see how many fish, or even big fish themselves, are lurking beneath this seemingly calm surface."

Night Eyes' tone was completely flat, yet it sent a chill down Lynx's spine.

"Hasn't the [Impermanence Pavilion] already entered?"

"And those seventeen A-rank mercenary groups, those intelligence brokers lurking in the shadows..."

"They're like sharks that have smelled blood; they'll stir up more and more trouble in these waters."

"While everyone's attention is drawn to the ripples created by Chen Yifan's stone—the 'legacy' and the 'key'—who will notice that our real 'fishhook' has already silently sunk to the bottom of the water?"

The lynx's brain was racing; he seemed to have grasped something, but it was all blurry.

"Sir, you mean... our real target, or rather, Bai Xiang's real weakness, isn't that key?"

"Of course not."

A cold glint flashed in Ye Tong's eyes.

"The Hundred-Faced Assassin and the Shadow Fiend are not only of the same kind, but also competitors. They are both pursuing the legacy of the first 'King of Assassins,' and both keys are indispensable."

"But how could a lineage of this level be discovered so easily?"

"The Shadow Demon's main body has been imprisoned, and its only clone was accidentally killed by Chen Yifan. Bai Xiang may feel regret or anger, but he will never easily step into the trap we have prepared for him for an uncertain clue."

Ye Tong reached out and swiped lightly on the home screen.

Screen switch.

It transformed into the face of [Raven], contorted with pain, and the last two words that echoed in his mind.

[...heretical...path...]

"This is the real bait."

Ye Tong's voice was very low, carrying a hint of surprise that was barely perceptible.

"A power system that is not bound by the rules of the [World Engine] and should have self-destructed in madness and distortion."

"But a 'heretical' practitioner who retains a clear mind."

"Wang Jianguo..."

The lynx finally understood; he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

"Did Bai Xiang send someone to Wang Jianguo's office because he sensed something was wrong with Wang Jianguo? Did he want to confirm the existence of the 'heretical sect'?"

"Absolutely correct."

Ye Tong nodded approvingly.

"For someone like Bai Xiang, an 'outsider' who can break through the barriers of rules is far more attractive than any damn key or inheritance."

"Then we..."

"So, the more mischievous Chen Yifan is, the better."

Ye Tong leaned back in her chair, her figure disappearing into the darkness once more.

"He's like the most dedicated actor on stage, attracting all the audience's attention, so that it's easier for us... to close the net."

He paused for a moment, then added.

"Furthermore, according to the highest directives, our Rooster Division's mission is to track all 'abnormalities' like Chen Yifan and conduct stress tests."

talking.

His gaze fell on the documents beside him.

The above clearly shows the information Chen Yifan revealed a long time ago when he was exchanging goblin dungeon data with the [Prophet], revealing that the Shadow Fiend's core ability had failed.

"His sealing abilities are very valuable."

"The organization will ensure he doesn't die during the test."

"Have your men keep a close eye on things. We can take care of the other small fry, but don't let our stone... break."

"yes!"

Night Eyes' voice returned to its icy tone.

"Order: Upgrade all plans for Jiangcheng to the highest level."

"Activate the 'Nightingale' team and keep a close eye on Li Jianhong!"

"Quickly urge the tech department; what I need must be finished before the awards ceremony!"

"otherwise…"

Night Eyes' gaze swept over the target on the screen.

Li Jianhong.

It can also be described as a hundred aspects.

He then fell silent and turned his gaze back to the ordinary office.

Wang Jianguo, you've really kept it well hidden.

If the teacher hadn't specifically told us before we left...

Who would have thought.

The once-renowned "Smoke Dragon," after being almost crippled, has somehow acquired such unbelievable power.

Lynx accepted the order, turned and quickly left, and the room returned to deathly silence.

Ye Tong, however, did not relax.

His long, slender fingers stopped tapping on the armrest, the knuckles of his index finger unconsciously rubbing against the cold metal surface.

One detail kept swirling in his mind, refusing to leave.

time.

That's right.

The timing is wrong.

The crow appeared in Wang Jianguo's office at that time.

This was before they officially brought "Hero Chen Yifan" to the forefront and revealed the [Key Fragment].

The hundred phases... have moved ahead of schedule.

Why?

According to his plan, Bai Xiang should only become aware of Wang Jianguo's heretical lineage during the commendation ceremony.

As a backup plan, it is used to deal with unexpected situations.

But... what could have disturbed this venomous snake that had been lying dormant for so many years?

How could he have so accurately identified Wang Jianguo?

What is it that he doesn't know?

Ye Tong's gaze fell on the screen.

The video showed Chen Yifan coming to find Wang Jianguo around 2 p.m. on the day of the incident.

When he saw a piece of crystal on the table, completely black and seemingly able to absorb all light.

Night Eyes' pupils suddenly contracted.

He immediately took a screenshot and sent the image.

He quickly dialed an encrypted number.

"Teacher, look at this! Isn't this a fragment of the sacred relic stolen from the 'Black Palace' of the Eagle Kingdom back then?!"