Chapter 439 - 230: This Doesn’t Seem... Like a Kidnapping? (Part 2)
"Didn’t you hear the Legion Commander’s orders? Invite these old men back to Dongwu City as quickly as possible." Matt Wei’s dragon-like vertical pupils glanced at him: "Also, I’m just the Vice Corps Commander!"
"Understood, Legion Commander, but this is the capital city, right? Isn’t there some impact that’s not too good?" The warrior, feeling the gazes around him, asked with some concern.
"Shut up, follow orders, and stop talking so much, or you’ll be transferred to the cooking squad." Matt Wei admonished in a low voice, then said loudly, "Pick up the pace."
Saying that, he began to wield magic power and used a communication device to notify the other seventeen squads: "Pick up the pace, hurry up and complete this damned task, and go find the Legion Commander for battle merits."
Step, step, step...
A sound of neat footsteps arose, and not far away, the Law Enforcement Team approached them. Clearly, a hundred Silver Lower Tier, plus a Level 50 leader, releasing magic power was still somewhat conspicuous.
However, when the Law Enforcement Team saw the Dongwu City banner raised by a soldier, their pace slowed down. This guy was not easy to mess with; it’s said that their Law Enforcement Captain, Oganna, had also suffered at his hands in Dongwu City.
Matt Wei unobstructedly arrived at a farmhouse. This scholar’s house was not small, with many fruits and vegetables that only appeared on noble dining tables.
Clearly, this 121-year-old scholar had no intention of idling, continuing his research on plants with considerable results.
The urgent footsteps outside seemed to have startled those inside.
"Who?" A young boy cautiously peeked out half his head, looking at the armored soldiers before him, his eyes full of wariness.
"Excuse me, is this Mr. Fang Chong’s residence?" Matt Wei asked very politely.
The surrounding soldiers also neatly lined up outside the yard, showing no murderous intent.
This stance slightly relaxed the boy’s vigilance, and he looked back, asking, "Are you looking for my great-grandfather?"
Matt Wei waved his hand: "By the order of Baiyi, the City Lord of Dongwu City, we invite you to Dongwu City for a discussion, take them away!"
Bang!
A soldier kicked open the door and rushed inside, shouting, "Lord Baiyi of Dongwu City invites Mr. Fang Chong for a discussion."
Having shouted, they didn’t wait for a response. They wrecked the house, carrying a bed and rushing out.
"What are you... um~"
The boy, about to cry out in fright, was silenced by a soldier who rushed up to him, covered his mouth, bound him with ropes, and carried him off.
"Retreat! Retreat at maximum speed, remember to use the Alchemy Transmission Array; the old gentlemen can’t handle the Magic Teleportation Array!" Matt Wei pulled out a communicator, instructing with a smile on his face.
Meanwhile, a hundred soldiers had surrounded that bed.
Carrying the frail old man atop, they began to run swiftly yet stably.
"Legion Commander, isn’t the order from above to invite?" asked the initially dissenting soldier hesitatingly.
"Shut up, didn’t you hear me say invite?"
"But...."
"Too much talk, fined one hundred gold coins for the brothers to drink, and if you speak again, pack yourself off to the cooking squad!"
"Uh... so harsh?"
"Hm?"
"Yes, Legion Commander!"
"How many times have I told you? Vice Corps Commander!"
"Yes, Legion Commander!"
As Matt Wei reached the Teleportation Array, two other squads were in similar situations. Some were binding entire families, others carrying an old man.
The three leaders exchanged glances, seeing admiration in each other’s eyes.
They rushed towards the Alchemy Transmission Array and began multiple teleportations. They had to stably transport these old men and women to Dongwu City, otherwise, they’d have trouble explaining.
Boom, boom, boom....
After these people left, a team of Law Enforcers quickly approached. The leading elf eyed the teammates near the Teleportation Tower sharply: "Where are they?"
Teammate: ...
He helplessly pointed at the Alchemy Transmission Array: "Gone."
"What did they do?"
"Kidnapped old men... Those are people from Dongwu City, and without orders, we can’t exactly stop them, right?"
Law Enforcement Captain: ....
She turned to her teammate, asking, "Any orders from above?"
The teammate was about to speak when the communicator lit up, and he handed the device to the captain: "Here it is."
[Stop them!]
Team Captain: ....
"Report truthfully, everyone disperse...."
A similar situation unfolded in other cities. Initially, they hadn’t paid much attention to the reports from their subordinates, but when the information on the old men appeared on the desks of higher-ups, they could only say: It’s broken!
They issued orders to stop it, but it was of little use. The command received by the Tianqi Army was only to invite these old men and women back, but through the eyes of this merely battle-experienced corps, the order was reduced to: Bring back the old people alive.
The rest was irrelevant; every city, it was practically a 5-minute travel, 10 seconds to bind people, and 5 minutes to retreat.
In ten minutes, the report was only just reaching them.
Zero: [10 City Lords, Parliament, Capital Law Enforcement Team have sent a communication request.]
Interface: [You have created Source of Life ×34, Experience Value +340000, Extra Experience Points +340000.]
Baiyi: [Reject, and reply, it’s been discussed, these people are moving voluntarily; any coercion is mere rumor.]
Zero: [Monitoring Video ×15.]
Baiyi: [Reply: I vouch by the honor of an Alchemy Master of All Series, that these videos are composites, PS technology is disgraceful! And refuse to communicate with them.]
Zero: [Replied, and rejected all their information.]
Baiyi, watching the final potion taking shape, let out a long sigh of relief and smiled.
Putting everything in order, Baiyi opened the laboratory door; outside, Moon Side and Barto were already waiting, near the Tree of Life, over a hundred people, thirteen beds, five wheelchairs, and two stools stood.
Possibly, fearing trouble from these people by the Apocalypse Soldiers, the young ones were all bound and gagged.
Yet the old men and women seemed calm, having grown old, escape was no longer an option, and they recognized the name. Who doesn’t know Baiyi of Dongwu City now?
Resistance was futile; fear and struggle were meaningless.
Among these people, some had not started families, but for those who had, over a century of development meant that even without any Transcendents, the family numbers wouldn’t be small.
Baiyi paused, somewhat helplessly looking at the Dragon Descendant, Sifu, standing guard nearby: "They’re all here, why are they still bound?"
Sifu and Matt Wei unleashed their power, ready to free these people.
But were interrupted by Baiyi: "Let’s keep it this way for now."
The two paused, but still respectfully answered, "Yes, City Lord."
Baiyi looked at the old men kindly, saying, "Hello everyone, my name is Baiyi, perhaps you’ve heard of me. I’ve invited you here for a matter I’d like to discuss."
"City Lord Baiyi’s methods of invitation are quite unique." An aged voice sounded; an elderly woman lying on a bed calmly spoke: "Whatever City Lord Baiyi’s purpose, it likely doesn’t concern these young ones, release them, please."
Baiyi smiled at the old woman, who was known for her biological research. It was said that the kind of milk Baiyi liked to drink was her creation, a hybrid between Magical Beasts and animals, a genius idea.
He gently shook his head: "You’re mistaken; as Nine-star Scholars, you represent the pinnacle of common human academia within the Federation. With the advent of Arcane Magic, you could shine brightly, yet you’re confined due to lifespan limitations."
"I’ve acquired some Elf Race legacies, and I now have a potion called Source of Life, which can extend your lifespan by five years."
Baiyi spoke as his spiritual power surged, placing twenty bottles of Source of Life within reach of the old men.
"I’m moved by your contributions to the Federation, so I won’t force you. I’m giving you a choice now."
"Drink the potion to enter the Extraordinary Domain and remain in Dongwu City to establish a grand Arcane institution, or I send you back to your original places intact, to quietly await death."
When he finished speaking, a vibrant glimmer erupted in the cloudy eyes of these old men and women.
And the hundred-plus at the back momentarily stopped their struggles, their eyes filled with surprise, joy, and disbelief.
This seems... not to be a kidnapping?
