Chapter 52: Secret Passage

Inside the café:

Ke Lu studied the photograph and the accompanying information about Chen Yu's mother.

"She's a breath of fresh air in their family, trying to report their plans and stop Chen Yu and Vice President Chen."

"Her teaching record at the school is also outstanding."

"In that case, we might as well rescue her while we're at it."

Ke Lu tapped her fingers rhythmically on the table, creating a percussive beat.

"We can't alert the police. Vice President Chen holds a high position in the Provincial Bureau and undoubtedly has informants everywhere. It would be too easy to tip them off."

"Given his position, he almost certainly has his own network of contacts. If we involve the authorities, it's likely our actions will be exposed."

"Those guards the Divine Radiance Knight Order assigned to protect me earlier might finally come in handy."

The guards assigned to protect Ke Lu were undoubtedly of high Power Level and substantial in number, making them perfectly suited for this task.

As Ke Lu pointed at the photograph and made her statement, Hysilens' expression showed disapproval for the first time.

"This is too risky, Imperator," Hysilens said, her brow furrowing slightly, clearly disagreeing with Ke Lu's plan. "You've seen my intelligence reports; you should understand that our opponents are not to be underestimated."

Ke Lu sank back into the plush seat, her expression unwavering.

"I know—the Underground Black Market. They have everything there."

Ke Lu added a few sugar cubes to Hysilens's coffee, which she had ordered in advance.

"Then you should know your worries are completely unnecessary."

Ke Lu took a sip of her coffee, the sharp, invigorating bitterness spreading across her tongue.

"Hysilens, even if we disregard the guards protecting me around the clock, don't forget I can summon you anytime, anywhere."

As she spoke, Ke Lu activated the Imperator's Summons, reminding Hysilens of the skill's existence.

"Not to mention, you've already surpassed Master Tier and become a Grandmaster Tier powerhouse. There's nothing to fear."

Hysilens's Power Level couldn't exceed Ke Lu's by more than three major tiers.

Therefore, when Ke Lu broke through to the Experienced Tier, Hysilens had already reached the Grandmaster Tier.

This astonishingly rapid progress astounded even her organization, the Divine Radiance Knight Order, leading to proposals to elevate Hysilens' position within the order.

In this world, every four tiers marked a major breakthrough.

For example, advancing from Master to Grandmaster, or from Emperor to Transcendence.

These milestones represented a kind of spiritual sublimation.

Only Grandmaster Tier powerhouses could begin to glimpse the mysteries of the Law and harness the power of heaven and earth.

Of course, exceptions existed, such as Ke Lu, a prodigy who began grasping the Law even at the Apprentice Tier.

This explained why the highest-level Martial Artists most ordinary people encountered were at the Master Tier. Reaching the Grandmaster Tier marked a near-total transformation, with nearly all who attained such heights holding positions of great power.

Now that Hysilens had reached this level, Ke Lu's safety was practically guaranteed.

"Hysilens, you possess the greatest mobility and the strongest Power Level here. Vice President Chen's ties to the Underground Black Market mean the area will undoubtedly be swarming with formidable opponents. Moreover, Vice President Chen himself is already at the Master Tier. Sending other guards would risk immediate detection."

Ke Lu fixed his gaze on Hysilens, scrutinizing every flicker of expression on her face.

"Only you can handle this mission."

"As for rescuing Chen Yu's mother, exposure isn't a concern. If we're discovered, we'll fight our way out. The other guards under my command are more than capable."

The air seemed to thicken, suffocating the room with an oppressive atmosphere.

"Hysilens, this is an order," Ke Lu said earnestly. "Trust me."

Finally, after Ke Lu's forceful words, Hysilens relented. "Yes, but be careful."

Ke Lu smiled and clinked glasses lightly with her.

"According to the informant's report, Chen Yu's mother is being held at..." Ke Lu swiped across the map on her phone, finally stopping on a towering building. "Here."

The map showed a blue area labeled in large characters: "Liao City East Stadium"—right where they were standing!

A hint of admiration crossed Ke Lu's face. Hysilens' report had meticulously detailed the stadium's history.

"Historically, this site served as a frontline during the wars between the Human and Demon Races. Countless battles ravaged this land, leaving it scarred."

"Yet the people who lived here never gave up fighting. Driven by their instinct for survival, they sought every possible way out."

"The three grand stadiums we stand in today were once military fortresses. And the intricate network of tunnels beneath our feet were lifelines dug by our ancestors in their desperate struggle for survival."

Ke Lu carefully examined historical photographs collected by intelligence agents. The crisscrossing tunnel network, like buried veins, recorded the struggles and wisdom of a bygone era.

"Unfortunately, these tunnels have fallen into disuse and disrepair. This neglect has allowed opportunists like Vice President Chen to seize control, like cuckoos nesting in another bird's nest."

"Hidden here, simply finding them would be like climbing Mount Everest. And even if we located them, they could easily relocate."

"To deliver a fatal blow, we can't give them a moment to breathe," Hysilens advised.

"We can split our forces into five teams: guarding entrances and exits, rescuing hostages, engaging in combat, intercepting reinforcements, and providing mobile support."

"This way, we can adapt to any situation the enemy throws at us."

Ke Lu listened intently to Hysilens's proposal, nodding with satisfaction.

"That's certainly feasible, but..." A glint of cunning flashed in Ke Lu's eyes. "I want to keep our actions discreet and avoid making too much noise."

Naturally, Ke Lu wasn't planning to act out of pure altruism. She expected compensation for her efforts.

"This secret passage could prove quite useful in the future," she mused, intrigued by the relic of the war era.

If their actions drew too much attention, official authorities would inevitably intervene, seizing control of the passage and cutting Ke Lu out entirely. They might even seal it off, destroy it, or take other measures that would leave her no room to maneuver.

"In that case," Hysilens pondered briefly before devising a plan, "I'll use my singing to make everyone subconsciously ignore the noise."

"Simply making people overlook the sounds—without resorting to hypnosis—is a simple matter of psychological suggestion. It's subtle and won't raise any suspicion."

"A sudden burst of singing would still seem strange," Ke Lu countered, glancing at the large screen in the shopping mall outside the window. "Let's use it to help cover our actions."

"Then, let's begin the operation."