A water-type trainer who specializes in dragon-type water.

Time: 12:17 AM.

Location: Main entrance of the East China Public Security Bureau.

The Public Security Bureau building, illuminated by the cold white streetlights and its own architectural outline late at night, appeared particularly solemn and imposing.

In front of the empty square, only a few ground lights dimly illuminated the granite ground.

The air was filled with the damp chill and silence of midnight, with only the neon lights of Shanghai in the distance painting a blurry halo on the horizon.

"Kaka..."

Suddenly, a heavy alloy gate on the side of the headquarters slid open slowly to both sides, emitting a low mechanical hum that broke the silence.

A team of security guards in black special operations uniforms and wearing police badges, along with the imposing-looking speed dogs in front of them, marched out in a neat and imposing formation.

Their expressions were cold and stern, their sharp eyes scanning every shadowy corner around them, their standard energy weapons ready to be activated.

In the center of this elite squad, held tightly by two exceptionally tall and strong guards on either side, was tonight's "protagonist"—"Liao Tianhao".

At this moment, "Liao Tianhao" was completely devoid of his former arrogance. His face was pale, his hair was slightly disheveled, and his expensive clothes even had some wrinkles and stains deliberately made on them.

His unfocused gaze, tinged with a stubbornness and dejection, perfectly captured the image of a spoiled brat who had fallen from grace, still terrified yet trying to maintain his last shred of dignity.

He was shoved toward a specially made armored prison van parked outside the gate.

The prison van was made of a matte black special alloy with sharp edges and corners. The windows were small bulletproof observation ports. The tires were heavy, the chassis was obviously reinforced, and there was a faint aura of energy circuits flowing around it, which could obviously withstand most conventional attacks and even a certain degree of energy impact.

Just as he was about to be forced onto the vehicle's footboard, "Liao Tianhao" seemed to be suddenly provoked, struggled violently, turned his head, and roared in a deliberately high-pitched yet trembling voice with a hint of bravado:

"You...you know who my father is?! He's Liao Chunfeng! The director of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau! If you treat me like this, when my father comes back, I...I'll make sure you all regret it!"

The guards escorting him seemed "enraged," pressing down harder on his shoulders and saying in a cold voice, "Behave yourself! Get in the car!"

"Don't touch me! I can walk on my own!"

Liao Tianhao angrily swung his shoulders, the large movement making his pale, panicked face even more clearly exposed in the night under the bright lights temporarily set up next to the car.

He dawdled, deliberately slowing down his boarding, while muttering complaints about the rudimentary prison van and the unfair treatment he received.

All these seemingly futile struggles and meaningless shouts, under the cover of darkness, were "seen" without missing a single detail by several pairs of eyes hidden in the shadows above, or clinging to the back of streetlights, almost blending into the darkness.

Those were several ethereal, wispy night watchmen and dream demons, their scarlet or dark purple eyes silently recording the scene below.

And through some kind of hidden ghost-like link, the appearance, expression, and process of being escorted of "Liao Tianhao" are simultaneously transmitted to the distant depths of the spirit world.

This was part of Zhang Leiyuan's plan—to deliberately "leak" information.

To get fish to bite, you must first convince them that the bait is real and that they will have a chance to take it.

Zhang Heng's slightly exaggerated yet fitting performance of Liao Tianhao's character, including having the "prisoner" linger briefly in an open area and expose his face, was all to enhance the "realism."

Finally, after enough time had been delayed, "Liao Tianhao" was "forcibly" pushed into the sealed transport compartment at the back of the prison van.

The hatch slammed shut with a heavy clang, and the internal locks engaged with a crisp mechanical click.

The interior of the escort cabin was not large, with cold metal walls and a dim white ceiling light.

The one impersonating Liao Tianhao was Zhang Heng.

Zhang Heng was placed in the only metal seat fixed to the floor in the center of the cabin. Immediately, a security guard stepped forward and locked his ankles with specially made magnetic shackles, which were more of a prop and could be easily broken off.

Besides Zhang Heng, there were eight security guards in the vehicle responsible for escorting him.

They were fully armed and sat silently on the long benches on both sides of the carriage, guns across their laps, their eyes wary.

However, two of these eight people were out of place with the tense atmosphere around them.

A guard near the cabin door sat in a very relaxed posture, his back even slightly leaning against the side of the carriage, and there seemed to be a faint smile on his lips under his helmet.

He occasionally moved his neck, making a slight "click" sound, as if he didn't care at all about this "high-risk escort" mission, and was more like he was there to watch an interesting performance.

Opposite Zhang Heng, another "guard" appeared unusually dazed.

He sat upright, his hands neatly placed on his knees, his eyes vacant beneath his helmet. He mechanically swayed slightly with the slightest bumps in the vehicle, barely reacting to the sounds around him.

This was none other than Liao Tianhao himself, who had been deeply hypnotized by Secretary-General Kang Mu'ai's dream-inducing tapir and disguised as a security guard!

The hypnotic instructions are simple: follow the group, mimic basic movements, remain silent, and continue until the specific instructions are lifted.

At this moment, Liao Tianhao was in a peculiar state of "conscious observation".

He can see and hear everything around him, knows who the person who looks exactly like him is, and knows where he is and what he is doing.

Her feelings towards Zhang Heng were complex and hard to describe. Was there resentment? Perhaps, but more than that, it was a complex mix of emotions stemming from experiencing collapse and despair.

He is now more like a "prop" fixed in his seat with a clear consciousness, watching helplessly as a life-and-death drama unfolds in his name.

The Spirit Realm, the Floating Stone Forest area.

A semi-transparent screen made of ghostly energy floated in front of the helmeted man, displaying blurry images transmitted in real time by the ghostly informants he had sent out—Liao Tianhao's struggle, being put into the prison van, and the prison van starting up.

"The target has been confirmed to be on the vehicle. The route matches the previously obtained intelligence, and they are moving towards the designated area," the helmeted man reported in a deep voice, tapping a point on the map projection with his finger.

"The harvest point will be set up here. I have already deployed manpower and set traps. When the time comes, we will coordinate from the inside and outside, and strike with all our might to ensure a fatal blow!"

The Seventh Divine Punishment, hovering opposite him, did not respond immediately. Its Chaos Mask was turned toward the energy screen, as if it were carefully sensing something.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke, his voice still steady, but with a hint of barely perceptible hesitation: "Everything seems to be going smoothly... but my intuition tells me something is slightly uneasy."

This unease stems from an almost instinctive premonition of danger honed through countless brushes with death.

He asked, "Besides this son, have you dealt with Liao Chunfeng's immediate family members, including his wife, father, and brother?"

The helmeted man shook his head and said, "There's no chance. They were transferred and protected too well; they should currently be detained in the deepest underground special containment area of ​​the East China Public Security Bureau."

"It's constructed entirely of the highest-grade insulating alloy, with a composite energy barrier inside, making it impossible for conventional ghost infiltration. Unless... you can launch a frontal assault and instantly break through multiple layers of defense, you simply can't get in. You'll have to wait and see when the opportunity arises."

A purple glint flashed in the Seventh Divine Fiend's eyes, and he made a decision in an instant: "In that case, just in case, let's use a two-pronged approach. Lightning Fiend." He turned to his companion.

"You will intercept the prison van as planned, and make sure the target is dead."

"Understood." The Eighth Divine Fiend Lightning Fiend readily agreed.

“And I,” the Seventh Divine Punishment said, his gaze fixed on the location of the Public Security Bureau on the map, his voice turning cold.

"I'll personally pay a visit to the East China Public Security Bureau. And while I'm at it... I'll also assess the capabilities of the newly appointed Director Luo."

The helmeted man's mind raced. Attacking the convoy transporting prisoners, though risky, was a "routine operation" with a high success rate.

A direct assault on the Public Security Bureau? That would be like stirring up a hornet's nest!

That is the new Director Luo's stronghold, and its defenses are certainly not weak. If we get embroiled in a protracted battle, it could trigger a thunderous counterattack from the entire East China Alliance.

But then I thought, letting the people of the Creation Temple test their strength head-on, regardless of success or failure, would not do us any harm.

If successful, all hidden dangers will be eliminated; if unsuccessful, it will also deplete the opponent's strength and reveal their true intentions.

A meaningful smile appeared on his face, his tone even carrying a hint of flattery: "Seventh Divine Strike is indeed extraordinary! I'll trouble you, sir, to go and probe the Public Security Bureau. I will fully cooperate with Lord Lightning Fiend to ensure the operation at the prison van goes smoothly!!"