Yun Bing and Chu Feng left after confirming that Zhang Lie was fine. After they did so, Zhang Lie had everyone work on assimilating their newly obtained peak gene fragments into their body.

The suite turned silent, but outside the suite, the entirety of Odinstadt was in an uproar about the public assassination attempt that had occurred. News of the attempt was spreading all around the world, and it naturally caught the attention of the media and of those competitors aiming to become Earth's champion—for example, the favorite to win the tournament before Zhang Lie's arrival, Charles Murphy.

Within the penthouse suite in the best hotel of Odinstadt, Charles Murphy was glancing at news articles about the assassination attempt, a European leader seated before him.

"General Hill, there's nothing interesting to be found here—these monkeys are simply making a fuss to advertise their supposed champion! Once we're on stage, I'll let them know just what truly strong hunters look like."

Hearing Murphy's words, Hill frowned. "I just knew someone as arrogant as you would give me such a response. You need to understand just who he is—the Dragonwolf Zhang Lie, the hunter who first developed and revealed the existence of limit fragments!

"Although we've managed to make a potion that'll allow you to temporarily break through the constraints of the first realm, don't forget that he's the pioneer of all this. If I'm not mistaken, what he's revealed to date is only the tip of the iceberg. In other words, it's quite possible that he's ahead of us even in terms of our research direction. 

"You've seen his dojo's opening ceremony, haven't you? Can't you sense just how strong he is at full power? He managed to fend off a whole group of second- and third-realm hunters today, almost all by himself! You have an amazing gift that allows you to handle even multiple peak-grade soulshards at once, and you might be able to replicate the same feat, but you would surely have suffered quite a few injuries.

"If nothing else, remember this: if you end up facing him in the Void Cup, you need to make him drop his guard, and then strike back with full force. There's no other way for you to win. Dr. Federenko has commanded that we have to win the Void Cup this year, and I'm here to direct you as per his recommendation. You deserve to be proud given your skills and accomplishments, but that doesn't mean you can get complacent," General Hill urged.

He was tired of lecturing Murphy, and Murphy was even more tired of being lectured at.

"Alright, enough! I understand—tell Federenko that northern Europe's sure to win the Void Cup!"

"Good, I'm counting on you!" General Hill left Murphy's suite immediately, unwilling to stay even a moment longer.

Such a scene happened in the rooms of promising champions all over Odinstadt; everyone wanted to win, after all. Even before the competition began, Zhang Lie's dominating presence was already increasing the stress that all the competitors were feeling.

Of course, those who were most incensed by Zhang Lie weren't these competitors, but rather a few clans thousands of miles away. In the Long manor at Lingnan, the elder Clan Head Long stared at the soldier in front of him with fear and astonishment. He knew the soldier before him, Zhou An, the current commander-in-chief of the military troops stationed at Lingnan.

He was decisive and ruthless, and his appearance at the Long manor made the old clan head suspect that something was amiss.

"May I ask for what reason you've come to visit, Commander Zhou?" the elder clan head asked, his tone intentionally relaxed.

Zhou An's silence, however, only increased tensions further. Only when a red light flashed by Zhou An's wrist did he respond, "Do you really not know, Elder Clan Head Long?"

The old clan head paused in contemplation, but ultimately shook his head. The Long clan hadn't made any big moves recently, and none of their hunters in the military had reported anything amiss. What could have gone wrong?

"In that case, let me be explicit. The red light you saw just now was an alert that the military's are now in place to seize all the Long clan's assets—yes, all its assets, all over China—including this manor. One command from me, and the Long clan will vanish overnight. Does this perhaps jog your memory, Elder Clan Head?"

Zhou An's words struck the Long clan head and his assistant, standing behind, dumb. "What?"

"I believe I've made myself clear. If you doubt my words, feel free to open the windows and look behind you."

The elder clan head staggered up to the window, where he saw the reflection of sunlight on metal on just about every visible surface.

"Clan Head, there's something wrong. Something's very wrong!" the first elder shouted from outside the conference room, shocking the clan head so much that he almost fell to the ground. He hastily instructed his assistant to ensure that no one barged into the conference room.

If the military truly wanted to get rid of the Long clan, there would be no need to provide any warning, and Zhou An wouldn't be here in front of him. The fact that Zhou An had appeared meant that there was something he wanted from the Long clan, something that would guarantee the Long clan's survival.

"Commander Zhou, the Long clan has been an honorable clan, one that has supported the country through weal and woe. For what reason—"

"Indeed? The Long clan has long had a reputation for being bossy and domineering to the citizens of Lingnan. Recently, it's even grown so bold as to dare scheme against honored members of the military! Long Lin, do you recognize your crimes?!" Zhou An called out, finally revealing the reason for his appearance.

Long Lin recognized the implications at once, of course, but he had no clue why the military would do so much just for Zhang Lie. Was he really the illegitimate son of some military commander?

Before he could say anything more in his defense, however, he heard, "Do it— no matter the cost, even if you have to drag the entire city down with you!" The recording was his final command to the assassins in Odinstadt.

"Elder Clan Head Long, aren't you the one whose voice is recorded here? Explain yourself!" Zhou An shouted.

Long Lin gritted his teeth. "Indeed, I was the speaker of that recording—but so what? Zhang Lie killed both my sons. Am I not entitled to seek revenge on their behalf? Will the military exhibit such favoritism to a first-realm hunter? Commander Zhou, the Long clan can trace back its roots for millennia. You might be able to extinguish us all today, but we won't go out without a bang!"

Zhou An scoffed. "First, the reason Zhang Lie killed your sons was because they tried to kill his team. Is this how far the Long clan has regressed after millennia? Furthermore, let me be even clearer: if I were to destroy the Long clan today, no one fifty kilometers away would hear of the news. Do you think the military isn't aware of your clan's research into high-energy nuclear physics?"

Long Lin was flabbergasted by the knowledge Zhou An revealed. It was evident that Zhou An was well aware of the Long clan's capabilities, and even the secret weapon he was planning on using if things turned dire.

"Listen up. From today onwards, Zhang Lie will be designated a top-priority target for military protection. If you dare target him again—"

"Top-priority target? What? On what grounds?!" Long Lin stared at Zhou An in shock.

"On what grounds? Because he's the one who discovered the existence of limit fragments, because he's the one whom the military is putting in charge of its soldiers' training regimen for their foundational breakthrough!" Zhou An responded.

Indeed, he was very impressed by Zhang Lie, who had devised the 'rite of shame' that all recruits now succumbed to in order to experience their foundational breakthrough. As expected, it produced significant results, but he had also become the nightmare of many a new recruit.

Zhou An continued, "This is the Long clan's last chance. If you try something like this again, you'll be destroyed before you know it—and as a reminder, don't try to get around this restriction. Are we clear?"

Long Lin's head drooped; he was well aware that the Long clan's supposed revenge would now become little more than a joke.