**Chapter 1: Returning to the Old Place (4)**
==============================
Lin Nan was sporting a high-definition camera and a voice receiver, so when a bunch of guys led by Bel strutted around like relics of a feudal dynasty, barking at Bureau Director Lin to kneel, the folks in the command vehicle couldn’t help but burst into giggles.
“Well, someone’s feeling mighty important around here!”
“Do they really think they can just waltz onto our turf and act like kings?”
“Interesting, if it weren’t for the horns on their foreheads, I’d really think we were watching a play about braids!”
Nobody in the Special Operations Bureau doubted Bureau Director Lin’s strength.
Come on, two years ago, if she hadn’t single-handedly charged into the sky, defeating an incredibly powerful enemy, Ocean City wouldn’t have had a chance to flourish after dodging that crisis.
So, while they were a bit worried about Lin Nan’s decision to negotiate with the enemy camp alone, they had full confidence that she could get out unscathed. After all, that’s the kind of swagger you get from having extraordinary power!
“Sorry, Your Majesty, but we don’t roll like that here!”
Lin Nan stood her ground against the intimidating guardian, Soros, not a bit rattled.
Soros felt his dignity slipping away. As the only warrior by the Emperor’s side, if he didn’t do something now, he’d be handing the Emperor a royal faux pas on a silver platter.
He immediately drew his weapon, ready to teach this clueless lower-life form a lesson.
But at that moment, Bel raised a hand.
“Soros, no need to stoop down to the level of these locals. Just teach them how to respect the royal authority later.”
He locked eyes with Lin Nan. “Tell your leader I’m taking this land, no negotiations.”
Lin Nan replied coolly, “That’s blatant aggression, I’m afraid we can’t agree to that.”
“Hahaha…”
Bel chuckled a few times. “Whether you agree or not doesn’t change my plans. Don’t think just because you’ve summoned some big birds that you can stand up to us. Even alone, I could wipe you out instantly. Feel free to test that theory.”
Lin Nan fell silent.
Indeed, the power this guy possessed was no joke. Just standing before her gave off a sense of deep oppression.
Compared to the boss from two years ago, Fu Yetian, this fella was no slouch either.
Plus, with nearly ten thousand townsfolk under their control, once the army started attacking, the small town’s residents would be the first victims.
Such a massive loss of life and the subsequent public outcry would be too much for the modern world to bear.
The negotiations seemed to hit a stalemate.
Thinking back to the time she was possessed by the outsider, everything seemed so light and easy back then. Even the enemy boss had fallen under her sword.
But once the outsider left her body, she couldn’t shake off a bit of melancholy.
Deep down, she knew that the position and glory of the Special Operations Bureau today were really all thanks to that outsider. Sometimes she felt guilty for enjoying the accolades that rightly belonged to someone else.
If she were still that outsider, how would she react to such provocations from the enemy?
She would never show weakness!
Once you show fear in front of the enemy, they’ll take a mile if you give an inch, leaving you with no way to retreat.
“It seems we will not reach a consensus.”
Bel said, “Tell your Emperor to enjoy his last days on the throne, for it shall soon be mine.”
“Farewell!”
Lin Nan turned to leave.
Bel squinted as he watched her exit the dining hall.
Soros grumbled, “Should I go test her limits?”
Bel shook his head. “No need. It’s strange—though this is our first meeting, I feel a strangely familiar aura from her.”
…
Back at the command center, Lin Nan was drenched in cold sweat.
At that moment, she felt a pang of regret for her recklessness.
She didn’t expect that self-proclaimed Emperor, that guy from another world, would be even stronger than Fu Yetian.
And now, without the outsider’s help, she had to lead the Special Operations Bureau to resolve this incident perfectly on her own.
In the worst-case scenario, with the entire town’s residents sacrificed, they still had to keep these invaders here.
“Notify all external teams to conduct a probing attack tonight.”
“Yes, Director.”
Over the past two years, the Special Operations Bureau had stepped into the spotlight, recruiting more and more people with special abilities to strengthen their ranks.
Compared to before, the Bureau’s strength had seen a significant upgrade.
That’s why Lin Nan felt confident leading them to confront the invading enemies from another realm.
After all, these guys were wielding all sorts of magical abilities that could easily cause trouble.
And real combat was always the best way to sharpen fighting skills; even if there were casualties, it would still be within an acceptable range.
After all, the Special Operations Bureau was up against enemies not only from within but also continued to face impacts from other worlds. The appearance of these mages once again proved that the coordinates of Blue Star had been leaked.
Otherwise, why would these otherworldly visitors repeatedly invade Blue Star?
They even had reason to suspect that the gateway from the other world was somewhere near Ocean City, which meant every major threat always kicked off there.
The walls surrounding the small town were being constructed methodically under the soldiers’ watchful eyes, even though the soldiers were very sure that this makeshift dirt wall wouldn’t survive a single brigade of tanks.
As the clock struck midnight and everything fell quiet,
Under Lin Nan’s command, a group of over twenty stealthily positioned themselves outside the small town.
As thick clouds obscured the night sky, dimming the light, the group immediately sprang into action to infiltrate the town.
Their target was, of course, the enemy leader—capture the king and you capture the game; once the Emperor was in their hands, the initiative would be firmly in the Bureau’s grip.
But Lin Nan and her crew were unaware that the moment they crossed the wall,
Bel had already known their every move.
The mages had set magical traps around the wall, and as soon as anyone crossed, they would instantly get a signal.
“Finally!”
“It’s time to show them who’s boss!”
The crowd exclaimed.
Bel sat within a luxurious villa temporarily serving as his palace, twiddling his fingers and nodding,
“Alright then, let’s wipe out all the invading enemies!”
These mages were all proud nobles; how could they allow the locals to ride roughshod over them? Once the Emperor issued the order, they scattered like they had just received a shot of adrenaline.
