MMORPG: War God, You are Invincible Again
Chapter 409 - 164: Entry

Chapter 409: Chapter 164: Entry

"I’m back." Lu Hong had left the Imperial Palace and returned directly to his temporary residence in Jinrui City.

Pushing open the door, Anna and Lando sat on either side, both with one leg propped over the other, heads bowed drinking their tea, their expressions and movements nearly perfectly synchronized.

What was all this about? Lu Hong had a bad feeling. Although it had been noisy these past couple of days, at least the two women didn’t sit together. He had been dealing with them separately. Now, with both women putting on an act together, how was he going to resolve the situation?

Hearing Lu Hong’s return, neither of the women reacted. They just kept drinking their tea, seemingly unconcerned about whether it had cooled.

"What are you two doing? Are you going to interrogate me?" Lu Hong decided to seize the initiative.

"So what if we are?" Lando turned her head away and squinted at Lu Hong, the smile on her lips unnervingly eerie, "You really are a beast, taking advantage of others’ weakness. My poor little sister Anna was just ruined by you."

"Uh...," what did she mean by ’ruined’? What on earth had the two women been discussing? Lu Hong touched his nose feeling incredibly awkward. Anna had actually spilled such a thing.

"Well, I’ve come back to tell you both that I am leaving. Stay at home and be good. I will come back when I am done," said Lu Hong without further ado. He wanted to indulge in romance, but lives were at stake, and it couldn’t be delayed.

"Leaving again? Where are you going?" Anna quickly stood up; she had waited so long to see Lu Hong, and just after two short days, he planned to leave again, "I won’t let you go." Saying so, Anna rushed over and hugged him.

Lu Hong sighed. He understood that being a woman alone in a strange place without any family and not having him by her side, she must feel incredibly lonely.

Stroking Anna’s hair, Lu Hong spoke softly, "I’m sorry. I swear, once this is over, I will stay with you properly."

"Why don’t you take me with you?" Anna looked up, her eyes reddening.

Lando was much calmer about the departure, "Where are you headed?"

"There’s been trouble at the Third Transition. The civilians sheltered there are disappearing in large numbers. Konstantin has asked me to investigate and find the culprit behind it."

"Civilians disappearing?" Lando frowned, "There are Third Transition powerhouses stationed in Third Transition. Although not numerous, they are not fools. Whoever is snatching people right under their noses is definitely no easy adversary. Let me accompany you."

"No need," Lu Hong shook his head, "Your injury hasn’t healed yet. The elemental magic power in the trident is extremely destructive. If not completely eradicated quickly, it will cause long-term harm."

"Then I will go with you," Lando was injured, but Anna wasn’t. There should be no problem with her joining.

"You?" Lu Hong gave a wry smile, "That won’t work either."

"Why not? I’m at least a Third Transition powerhouse," Anna protested defiantly, "Are you underestimating me?"

"That’s not what I mean," Lu Hong hurriedly explained.

"She’s right," Lando interrupted, "To Konstantin, you hold a very high status. The fact that he’s asking you to solve this means it’s definitely a very difficult matter. Although you are a Third Transition, you are still not at the level where you can solve the problem, and you would only encumber him."

Lando’s words were far more effective than Lu Hong’s, and Anna seemed to understand and didn’t argue further.

Seeing the women’s anxious expressions, Lu Hong didn’t feel sad but rather pleased. The feeling of someone caring was truly wonderful.

"Don’t worry. Once I resolve the issue, I will come right back and be with you," Lu Hong said, stepping out the door while Questasa was quick to follow.

"Are you tailing me?"

"Wouldn’t dare. I was just concerned about delaying your important matters, so I waited at the door," Questasa replied with a smile, "I wonder if Baron needs to deal with anything else?"

"No more. Take me to Third Transition."

Questasa nodded, "Please follow me, Baron."

The two once again arrived at the headquarters of the black guards.

The teleportation gate to Third Transition was set up by Questasa in a secluded side hall.

"Baron, here is the Commander’s Seal given to you by the Great Emperor. When necessary, you can use it to mobilize the Third Transition garrison. Anyone who disobeys can be tried for treason without you fearing any repercussions," Questasa said lightly, but the lethal intent in his words was unmistakable.

As a high-ranking member of the black guards, his words to Lu Hong undoubtedly carried deep implications.

"Have you black guards discovered something?" Lu Hong asked in a heavy tone.

Questasa shook his head, "As the main base for the Empire’s civilian settlements behind the scenes, the Black Guards haven’t been too concerned, with only just over a hundred people ensuring normal information communication. But three months ago, all communication from these Black Guards to headquarters was cut off. I don’t know what happened in the mandarin duck flowers, but there must be a problem within the garrison, or else the Black Guards wouldn’t be wiped out in a short time, with no messages getting out."

"I understand." Lu Hong nodded and then asked, "Do you still plan to send the Black Guards to secretly investigate?"

Each of the Black Guards possessed nearly exceptional surveillance capabilities. Their help would be invaluable.

"That is what I wanted to say. Currently, there are only three channels to enter the mandarin duck flowers. There is a portal on the Undying Throne, another portal at the Black Guard headquarters, and the last one is under the control of the Military Department. But the garrison is aware of these three portals. If there is a problem within the garrison, then anyone coming into the mandarin duck flowers will be under strict surveillance. So, you must find a way to divert their attention. Only then can I secretly send Black Guard to investigate." As he spoke, Questasa took out a small jade slip, "If you determine the portal to be safe, crush it. I will send a large number of Black Guards to enter and fully cooperate with you."

"Understood." Lu Hong nodded, then stood up, preparing to step through the portal.

Suddenly, he had a strange feeling and turned to look at a tightly shut side door of the side hall, "Strange ..."

"Baron? What’s wrong?" Questasa asked, puzzled.

"Is there something behind that door? I have a familiar sensation."

"Behind the door?" Questasa looked at the side door, then laughed, "That leads to a concealed portal to the Undying Throne. However, the key to open the door is divided into two. I have half here, and the other half is in His Majesty’s hands. Unless it is absolutely necessary, that door cannot be opened."

"Right." Lu Hong glanced at Questasa, then stepped through the portal toward the mandarin duck flowers.

And in the next second, the doors of the side hall slowly opened, revealing a stunningly beautiful woman behind them.

Questasa hurriedly knelt to greet her, "This humble official pays respects to Princess Weiwei!"

"Rise," the Princess said, her eyes full of sorrow, which she quickly concealed and joked, "Questasa, your excuse was too amateurish."

"I had no other choice, there was no time to react." Questasa smiled wryly. He hadn’t expected Lu Hong’s perception to be so sensitive. To think that the materials used in Black Guard constructions were supposed to strongly restrict magical sensing.

"Princess Weiwei, I believe the Baron might have guessed your presence, should you find a ..." Questasa didn’t finish his sentence, for a subject had no right to inquire about royal private affairs.

"No need, he still resents me," Princess Weiwei shook her head slightly, "Quickly investigate the situation in the mandarin duck flowers."

Stepping through the portal to the long-absent mandarin duck flowers, he returned ...

As Lu Hong took in his surroundings, the familiar sense of returning to an old place was completely gone.

East Look Mountain!

His own gravesite?!

"Who are you?!" A loud reprimand came from behind at that moment.

Turning around, he saw a small group of soldiers approaching quickly; they must be the garrison of the mandarin duck flowers.

"Black Guard?" The squad captain sized him up from head to toe. He didn’t seem the type.

Lu Hong took out the Commander’s Seal given to him by Konstantin and tossed it to the other’s chest, "I am the person Konstantin, the Great Emperor, has dispatched to investigate the civilian disappearances."

The sight of the Military Department’s Tiger Talisman startled the squad leader, almost dropping the Commander’s Seal on the ground.

"My lord, please, your ..." Shivering, he returned the Commander’s Seal to Lu Hong and hurriedly instructed his men, "Go notify Lu Kuan immediately."

After that, he turned to Lu Hong with an apologetic smile, "It’s just that recently there have been too many civilian disappearances, Lord Lu Kuan had us intensify the guard. I apologize for any offense just now, please forgive us."

"It doesn’t matter." Lu Hong waved his hand, indicating it was nothing of concern. He then scanned the area and noticed rows of houses built outside the scorched earth of East Look Mountain—temporary dwellings for the civilians.

"Why would you put the settlement here?" Lu Hong wondered. The land around East Look Mountain had been bombarded by magic and had long since lost its vitality. Nothing would grow here; it clearly wasn’t a wise decision.

"Reporting to the lord, they came on their own, and we couldn’t stop them."

"Are they mad?"

"No," the squad leader said with a wry smile, "They think the Baron will protect them. Yet it still didn’t prevent the unexplained disappearances."

Lu Hong was speechless; he wasn’t even dead, so what kind of spirit in the sky could protect them? But now that he himself had arrived, he had to give these innocent civilians an explanation.