"What's the mission?"
Leylin accepted the document stamped "TOP SECRET" on its cover, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.
"The Federation has ordered our special task force to strike against the Three Serpents Cult and the Mobius Ring across the entire nation! And I am the person in charge of the entire Eastern District!"
Shike's voice was laced with iron-blooded resolve.
"This time, your squad will handle several known Three Serpents Cult strongholds, while I will personally deal with the Mobius Ring!"
It was clear that the enemy's earlier trap had thoroughly enraged Shike, and now he intended to have his revenge with full legitimacy.
"The Three Serpents Cult?!" A flicker of interest crossed Leylin's face, though inwardly he sighed.
He had originally come to the Atlantean Federation to gather intelligence on the Three Serpents Cult, but so many things had happened since then — the appearance of the Fire Source Stone in particular had nearly made him abandon that goal entirely.
Yet just as he had hoped to continue his deep cover, this matter suddenly landed right on his head, leaving him with a feeling somewhere between amusement and exasperation.
"This order was personally signed by the Chancellor himself! Garrison forces everywhere will coordinate with our operations — in other words, once you earn battle merits, you'll be standing before the Chancellor in person. Opportunities like this don't come often!"
Shike's words carried the weight of a pointed reminder.
"Understood!" Leylin snapped to attention and saluted, though privately he was already forming suspicions. It seemed Shike's connections within the Federation were far from ordinary — to have landed the role of operations leader for something this significant, his backing had to be formidable. No wonder Rocke had been so eager to curry favor with him.
"Good! You're dismissed. Send Rocke in!" Shike nodded with clear satisfaction.
"Yes, sir!" Leylin saluted and turned to leave, every movement crisp and precise as a metronome, saturated with the iron-blooded bearing of a soldier — drawing a silent nod of approval from Shike.
"Captain Rocke! The instructor wants to see you!"
Stepping outside, Leylin found Rocke already waiting nearby. Compared to before, his face now carried added layers of composure and resolve. The Fire Feather Technique had also "unnoticedly" broken through from the sixth layer into the seventh, making him a formidable presence within the Earth Rank.
Of course, all of this was merely a facade. Leylin believed the man was at least a Sky Rank powerhouse, though he couldn't fathom why Rocke had infiltrated the task force — or how he had managed to earn Shike's trust.
In this operation, Leylin was handling the Three Serpents Cult while Rocke would follow Shike to manage the Mobius Ring affairs. From this alone, Leylin could tell that Shike placed somewhat greater trust in Rocke.
Within the task force, rumors had long circulated that Ley and Rocke were Shike's right and left hands — rumors that even Shike himself had never publicly denied.
"What a pity... I wonder what expression you'll have when you eventually find out that both of your most trusted subordinates are enemy spies? I imagine it'll be quite entertaining!"
Leylin stroked his chin, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Captain Ley? Is there something else?" Rocke looked at Leylin's expression and, for reasons he couldn't quite explain, felt a sudden chill run down his spine, as if some terrible premonition had seized him.
"Oh! Nothing, really. Just reminded me of our last mission together! Let's go!"
Leylin patted Rocke on the shoulder and walked out with an air of perfect nonchalance.
Rocke trailed half a step behind, his gaze fixed on Leylin's retreating back. Though his manner suggested a respectful send-off, a strange light flickered in his eyes.
"Soon... everything will change..."
A flash of jealousy and hatred passed through Rocke's gaze. Though he and Leylin both held the rank of squad leader, one was a Sky Rank powerhouse while the other was still at the Earth Rank — a gap that had inevitably drawn considerable murmuring.
Despite Rocke's own considerable strength and his good relationship with Shike, he always seemed to fall just short of Leylin in one matter after another.
He might not have shown it on the surface — after all, he was here as an infiltrator, not genuinely intending to build a life in the Atlanta Confederation — but inwardly, a certain restless unease lingered.
Of course, he had hidden this feeling masterfully. Not even the person closest to him had ever noticed.
"Rocke! What are you waiting for?"
Shike's somewhat impatient voice came from inside the room. "Reporting in!" Rocke's heart jolted. He immediately restored his usual expression — honest and straightforward, with just a hint of shrewdness and admiration — and entered the office with a bow.
……
Back at his own residence, Leylin carefully reviewed the contents of the documents. After a long while, he set the folder down and let out a sigh.
The intelligence here was almost excessively thorough — it even detailed the leader's cultivation level and strength with remarkable precision. It was clear that the Atlanta Confederation had planted moles and undercover agents deep within the Three Serpents Cult.