Indeed, in the command headquarters' meeting room, Wang Lan saw the stern-faced King Cain and Prince Kester.

"My dear friends from Jade Country, I am very sorry. The former General Stephen of the National Security Council is the spy we've been searching for for so long, hidden within the high ranks of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow."

Next, Cain displayed the clearly edited video of Stephen's interrogation from the previous night. In the video, Stephen, desperate for the Kingdom of Ice and Snow to cling to survival, collaborated with Paradise Bird until he was in too deep and forced to become complicit in their dirty deeds. Everything, including the missile attack on the volunteer corps, the terrorist attack in the Number Two Different Dimensional Space, and Paradise Bird's theft of two nuclear bombs from the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, could be seamlessly linked together.

Paradise Bird needed the Kingdom of Ice and Snow to maintain the status quo, so naturally, they didn't want Jade Country's assistance. Relying on the massive Space Stones from the Number Five Different Dimensional Space to make a huge profit, Paradise Bird also naturally needed to sabotage Jade Country's aid plans.

With the misunderstandings cleared, the Kingdom of Ice and Snow sincerely apologized and offered some compensation for the losses; the matter could then be settled privately.

But Wang Lan's brow inadvertently furrowed. Why hasn't the mission completion prompt appeared in my mind? he wondered. Is it because we haven't recovered the nuclear bombs? Or because we haven't found the Paradise Bird terrorists?

Possibly. After all, finding a high-level spy from the Kingdom of Ice and Snow isn't a great merit for me. Only finding the mastermind and recovering the nuclear bombs will truly settle this.

「The next day.」

Another large batch of mercenaries arrived from around the world. Among this group, a significant portion had yellow skin and black hair. Curious students from the Star Martial Academy approached them to talk and unexpectedly discovered that these people had all come from Jade Country.

"What are you guys thinking? Don't you know the Kingdom of Ice and Snow is dangerous? It's stable back home, and you're not exactly struggling to survive, so why come here and take risks?"

"Exactly! Do you have any idea what the casualty rate was for the last batch of mercenaries? Fifty percent! Three thousand went in, and only sixteen to seventeen hundred came out."

"Ah? That brutal?" Instantly, a group of fellow Jade Countrymen exclaimed in surprise, gathering around.

"I just heard that the Kingdom of Ice and Snow is strongly supported by Jade Country. So I thought, if Jade Country is backing it, isn't that like free money? Warriors from other countries earn eighty thousand a day, but we mercenaries from Jade Country earn one hundred twenty thousand a day."

"Right! If the Kingdom of Ice and Snow is like a little brother to Jade Country, what do we have to fear? What vicious Exotic Beasts could possibly be a match for us from Jade Country? By the way, you guys arrived before us, so tell us, what level are the Exotic Beasts in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow?"

"Their level... isn't very high. Basically, it's a proportion of about sixty percent at the Star Shine Stage and thirty percent at the Star Cloud Stage."

"A four-to-six ratio?" Immediately, the hundreds of Jade Country mercenaries before them gasped collectively.

In any Different Dimensional Space, lower-level Exotic Beasts definitely constitute the majority. The worst kind of Different Dimensional Space has Starlight Stage beasts as its baseline. A Different Dimensional Space where the baseline Exotic Beasts are at the Star Shine Stage is considered relatively difficult to handle.

Of course, it was normal for the Exotic Beasts of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow to be difficult. If they weren't, how could they have nearly brought a nation like the Kingdom of Ice and Snow to ruin? But just how difficult they were depended on the proportion of baseline Exotic Beasts.

A one-to-nine ratio was easy mode, with ninety percent being Star Shine Stage, which was manageable for a Star Cloud Stage squad. But a four-to-six ratio? Only a Galaxy Stage squad could hope to contend with that.

Those who would travel thousands of miles to the Kingdom of Ice and Snow for one hundred twenty thousand a day were definitely not overwhelmingly powerful. Most were a single Star Cloud Stage warrior leading several Star Shine Stage warriors; larger teams might consist of four or five Star Cloud Stage members leading a group of Star Shine Stage warriors.

"Lad, you're not pulling our leg, are you? A real four-to-six ratio? With that kind of ratio, you're saying there's a fifty percent casualty rate? I can't believe eighty thousand a day could attract Galaxy Stage experts. At this intensity, no matter how many people come, it wouldn't be enough, right?"

"Yeah, you're not just tricking us because our mercenary fees are high, are you?"

Hearing this, a few seniors immediately sensed an opportunity to show off.

"What does your high pay have to do with us? We're not the ones being hired."

"You guys are...?"

"Us?" One of the seniors tilted his head slightly, gazing into the distance. "We were sent by the school to aid the Kingdom of Ice and Snow. We are senior students from Modu City's Star Martial Academy."

"Shit! Big shots from the Big Four?"

"Big boss, have a cigarette! Big boss, you gotta cover us when we go in there..."

"We're compatriots! Our chances of getting back alive depend on you, boss..."

Suddenly, a chorus of flattering voices made the seniors feel utterly elated.

"Wang Lan, Director Long would like to see you," a girl approached Wang Lan and whispered in his ear. Wang Lan nodded and turned to head outside.

One hundred twenty thousand a day? Wang Lan couldn't help but ponder. Logically, Stephen's batch of Space Stones wasn't successfully traded, and the Kingdom of Ice and Snow didn't acquire a large sum of funds. So where did they get the money to recruit mercenaries at such a high price?

Just yesterday, Princess Aier mentioned that the treasury was empty and asked Longya and the others to overcome the difficulties. After discussion, Longya and his team were already planning to close the smaller Different Dimensional Spaces. Fortunately, only two Different Dimensional Spaces remained, and their combined difficulty didn't compare to the Number Two Different Dimensional Space. Yesterday, Longya and Jin Wenbing were discussing estimated casualties for infiltrating these spaces with small units.

Arriving at the central command, Longya and Jin Wenbing were waiting by a vehicle outside the headquarters. They beckoned Wang Lan over as he approached.

"Director Long, are we heading out?"

"King Cain just called. He said the terrorists have proposed a trade."

"Oh? What kind of trade?"

"King Cain didn't say. We'll find out when we get to the royal court."

As they spoke, Yu Ruoyun also arrived. The four of them got into the off-road vehicle, which started with a roar and left the camp, heading towards the royal court.

King Cain's attendants had been waiting at the entrance of the royal court for some time. Seeing Wang Lan and his group arrive, they quickly welcomed them and led them into His Majesty's study. Inside, Princess Aier and Prince Kester were already seated on either side.

"You're here!" King Cain quickly stood up to greet them. "This morning, someone claiming to be from Paradise Bird contacted us. You must help the Kingdom of Ice and Snow."

As he spoke, he turned on the television screen on the back wall of the study. A non-mainstream youth with wildly colored hair appeared on the screen.

"Our people have already planted two nuclear bombs in the Averill Concentration Zone. Based on population density estimates, I guarantee each bomb will kill at least one hundred thousand people. If the timing is perfect, we guarantee we can kill at least half a million. Don't ask where I am, and don't expect more information from me. Since our leader dared to send me to deliver this message, it means I definitely don't have access to critical intelligence."

"What do you want?"

"The Time-Space Gemstone! Exchange the two nuclear bombs for it. You have only two days to consider. Exceed forty-eight hours, and you'll hear two explosions and see two magnificent mushroom clouds."

The video went out. Three pairs of eyes looked eagerly at Longya and his companions.

Exchange nuclear bombs for the Time-Space Gemstone? What a ridiculous idea, Jin Wenbing was the first to sneer.

"The Time-Space Gemstone is key to opening the gates of the Demon World. Once they get it and open those gates, war will ignite. By then, the dead won't be counted in the hundreds of thousands, but an astronomical figure in the hundreds of millions," Longya said coldly, meeting the pleading gazes of the three royals.

The Time-Space Gemstone is non-negotiable; that's our bottom line.

"Can we probe his memory?" Wang Lan suddenly asked.

"No. His head is inscribed with a Skill Form. As soon as any spiritual power tries to enter, his head will explode instantly. And if he dies, it's considered a breach of the deal, and they will detonate the nuclear bombs immediately."

"There's no way around it. The Time-Space Gemstone definitely can't be handed over to Paradise Bird. The deal is impossible," Jin Wenbing said indifferently.

At these words, the faces of King Cain and Prince Kester turned deathly pale.

"General Jin, Captain Longya... there is no spatial energy left in the Time-Space Gemstone..." Princess Aier said quickly.

"How do you know they won't be able to recharge it once they get their hands on the Time-Space Gemstone?"

"This..." Princess Aier's face fell.

"But, those are the lives of hundreds of thousands from the Kingdom of Ice and Snow!" King Cain stood up tremblingly, his eyes filled with desperate helplessness.

"Should we be blamed? You were the ones who violated the nuclear non-proliferation treaty by purchasing nuclear bombs. You were the ones who leaked information about that transaction. I cannot make the entire world pay for your mistake with their lives."

"This... this... is there really no way?" Cain's eyes gradually filled with despair.

"This matter is non-negotiable. The Time-Space Gemstone must not be lost."

"Wait!" Wang Lan suddenly said, "Director Long, Captain Jin, may I have a word with you in private?"

The two looked at Wang Lan in confusion and nodded silently. The three of them left the study and went to a corner.

"Wang Lan, I know you and Princess Aier are close, but you're a mature man and should understand the priorities here. Even if the Time-Space Gemstone currently has no energy, it absolutely must not fall into Paradise Bird's hands."

"Director Long, I understand." As he said this, Star Power suddenly surged around Wang Lan, and he activated his Phoenix Form. Seeing Wang Lan like this, Director Long and Captain Jin's confusion had just begun to rise when, before they could react, Wang Lan suddenly flashed to their side.

WHOOSH—

The two only felt their vision blur, as if the scene had switched instantaneously like in a fully immersive projection. When their vision stabilized, they found themselves unexpectedly in a room.

"Wang Lan, what are you doing? Where is this place?" Longya demanded, somewhat angry.

No, this isn't an illusion! Is this real?! Longya suddenly exclaimed.

"This is my dormitory," Wang Lan said calmly, still maintaining his Phoenix Form. "The last time I absorbed the energy of the Time-Space Gemstone, I never mentioned what I gained from it. This is it: the Phoenix Form, the Space Phoenix Form. In this form, I possess the ability of Instant Space Movement. As long as I set coordinates in a location beforehand, I can ignore distance and perform ultra-long-distance instantaneous movement. If the Time-Space Gemstone were in my hands, in case of any sudden developments, I could instantly transport myself to a predetermined coordinate. This is teleportation within the spatial domain; as long as it's within the same space, distance and time mean nothing to me."

GASP—

Longya took a sharp breath. This ability... it's frighteningly powerful, he thought.

"I think I can take the Time-Space Gemstone and try," Wang Lan continued. "If the conditions are right, I can snatch back the two nuclear bombs. After all, hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake."

Longya and Jin Wenbing exchanged glances. They weren't inherently heartless, but the sheer importance of the Time-Space Gemstone had forced their hearts to become like steel.

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