# 990
Chapter 991: Prelude to Chaos
"So..."
"From now on, I will completely conceal my aura." Shao Pingge said calmly, "Once my aura is no longer suppressing them, these 'Mysteries' will likely remain dormant for a short while, because they'll be wondering if I'm testing them.
But eventually, some ungovernable 'Mysteries' won't be able to restrain their nature and will leap out from the darkness to test me instead.
And once their actions receive no response from me, they'll grow increasingly brazen..."
"At that point, I should make my move." Chen Han quickly grasped Shao Pingge's meaning. "I should personally slaughter those 'Mysteries' that emerge to establish my authority."
"Exactly, but the problem is that when a brand new King appears, it will inevitably trigger their doubts. At that time, even more 'Mysteries' will emerge to test your bottom line... What you need to do is continuously prove yourself and instill fear in them."
"But won't the 'Mysteries' actions harm civilians?"
"I'll take responsibility for protecting the civilians. Don't worry about that." Shao Pingge's gaze fell upon the city, as if recalling something. "Besides, there are still a group of kids inside Shangjing City... Some weaker 'Mysteries', they can handle.
This will also be a form of training for them."
After hearing Shao Pingge's plan, Chen Han sighed:
"That sounds extremely tricky."
"Otherwise, why would the captain of Shangjing City be a position not just anyone can hold?" Shao Pingge smiled.
A moment later, the smile on Shao Pingge's face gradually faded, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.
"Even though you traveled all the way from Anta County and it's not easy, I still need to remind you." Shao Pingge looked directly into Chen Han's eyes. "This is no joking matter. Once it begins, it cannot be stopped midway. If you fail to suppress all the evils of Shangjing through your own power alone, your attempt to establish authority will be considered a failure.
They will no longer fear you, nor will they adhere to the order you've established. At that point, I'll have no choice but to step in and suppress them to prevent large-scale chaos.
But if that happens, you'll completely forfeit your qualification to become the captain of Shangjing City.
So... Chen Han, are you truly ready?"
Chen Han quietly gazed at the city beneath his feet, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.
"I'm ready."
...
In the sky, an aura that had enveloped Shangjing City for over a decade was dissipating silently.
It was already midnight. The dim streets were deserted. This bustling metropolis had fallen into slumber, only darkness and deathly silence remained in every corner of the city.
No one knew how much time passed.
A dilapidated street lamp flickered on the road, casting a human-shaped shadow in the empty alleyway. The shadow raised its head toward the sky, seemingly quite puzzled.
A moment later, it shook its head and vanished beneath the street lamp.
The lamp flickered once more before returning to normal, as if it had never malfunctioned.
...
Meanwhile, inside a modern clothing store in a shopping mall that had already closed for the night, a pale plastic mannequin lying in the corner suddenly twisted its head诡异ly, its hollow gaze fixed on a certain direction.
The air fell into a brief deathly silence.
Click, click.
The plastic mannequin's joints emitted several sharp sounds. Its limbs twisted grotesquely as it landed on the ground, its black plastic long hair draped over its face, making it look like a massive humanoid crawling insect.
It violently smashed through the display window and scurried out of the pitch-black shop, vanishing in an instant.
...
Shangjing City First Primary School.
The vast teaching building was now shrouded in complete darkness.
In the silent classrooms, on the desks by the windows, there were scattered stationery everywhere and scratch marks from sharp fingernails. Profane curse words drawn in pencil covered every desktop.
Suddenly, a simple pencil began to tremble slightly, then forcefully stood upright on the desk, hovering eerily above a piece of white paper.
After a brief pause, the pencil's tip began to draw automatically on the white paper.
The rustling sound echoed through the silent classroom, as if an invisible hand had gripped the pencil and was forcefully carving something.
At the same time, a hair-raising female voice sounded softly:
"Pen Fairy... Pen Fairy...
You are my past life... I am your present..."
...
"Hm?"
Inside the courtyard, the members of Squad 006 and the Night Watch squad all seemed to sense something and looked up at the sky simultaneously.
The members of Squad 006 glanced at Yuan Gang. After a moment of hesitation, he shook his head at them.
The squad members took a deep breath and decided not to say anything more, silently continuing with their work.
This matter was beyond their involvement.
In the corridor.
"Such a rich 'Mysteries' aura..." An Qingyu pushed up her glasses, her brow furrowed tightly. "How many 'Mysteries' are actually hiding in Shangjing City?"
"It seems they've begun."
Lin Qiye set down the sunflower seeds in his hand, stood up from the corridor bench, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon as he spoke slowly.
"Do we really not need to intervene?" An Qingyu asked.
"Not that we don't need to, but we can't." Lin Qiye shook his head, explaining,
"This is the moment for the new King to establish authority. If it were someone weak, it might be fine, but if someone at our 'Boundless' level were to interfere, it would only have the opposite effect.
After all, there's a world of difference between one person conquering Shangjing alone versus one person conquering Shangjing with others' help. The birth of a new King absolutely cannot have any external assistance. If we rashly intervene, it will only diminish the fear the new King inspires in the 'Mysteries'."
"So that's why you let those recruits bring blades into Shangjing?" An Qingyu's brow rose. "You planned this from the start?"
"I told them to go on vacation, but I never said it had to be a peaceful vacation." Lin Qiye spoke leisurely. "The recruits' strength is weak, so even if they participate in this transition between old and new Kings, they won't attract large-scale attention from the 'Mysteries', and they won't affect the birth of the new King. Meanwhile, the weaker 'Mysteries' wandering through the city can provide them with real combat experience.
It's killing two birds with one stone."
"Aren't you afraid that higher-level 'Mysteries' might attack the recruits? What if there are casualties?"
Hearing this, Lin Qiye's eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at the night sky above, speaking calmly:
"No one can harm my soldiers under my night."
"But we can't directly intervene in this battle, right?" An Qingyu frowned.
"You certainly can't, but I can." Lin Qiye gave An Qingyu a mysterious smile. "I... have my own ways."