Chapter 565: Wisteria Remnants
“When the fishmen attacked the island, one of the Wisteria Elders intervened, successfully seizing the Iron Lump. Later, during the battle against Ya Ma, he was forced to unleash undead spells, thereby revealing his identity as a necromancer.”
“It was only then that we learned one of the two Wisteria level seven elders was a silver level necromancer.”
“But to be honest, I wasn't particularly surprised.”
“Because before its reorganization, the Wisteria Merchant Alliance did indeed have many secret dealings with these necromancers.”
“From another perspective, any remnant forces within the restructured Wisteria Merchant Alliance must have relied on the necromancer's covert abilities to hide and evade elimination.”
Tu Ji remained expressionless: “According to the report, during the battle against the fishmen's island assault, Hun Tong had demanded the execution of this necromancer, but you intervened to stop it.”
“After the necromancer fled by ship, Hun Tong again proposed pursuing and killing him, but you dissuaded him once more.”
"Shadow Yan Yi, since you deliberately let the necromancer escape, you must have had a follow-up plan. What actions did you take afterward?"
Yan Yi fell silent, glancing toward Tan Mo.
Tan Mo spoke: "Shadow, say whatever you have to say. We are both part of the Empire, the Imperial Secret Spy Agency and Blood Light Punishment Institution are comrades. Matters too sensitive to speak of can still be shared. You need not bear responsibility for them."
Yan Yi immediately grasped the subtext: sensitive matters could be discussed, but forbidden secrets remained off-limits!
Yan Yi replied, “After letting the Wisteria elder escape, I dared not mobilize the Imperial Navy, fearing it would alert the enemy prematurely.”
“So, I arranged for Lady Sea Snake to pursue the kill.”
“Lady Sea Snake is the captain of the Petal Snake Pirates; a crew affiliated with the Fire Beard Pirates.”
“Her true identity, however, is as an imperial secret agent—a mole embedded within the Fire Beard Pirates.”
Tu Ji's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this, revealing a hint of surprise.
But he quickly accepted the revelation.
The Sheng Ming Empire's large-scale offensive against the Wilderness Continent had never concealed its annexationist intentions from the outset.
The vanguard forces had already established a foothold on the Wilderness Continent, but the main army had yet to truly mobilize.
Since the Sheng Ming Continent and the Wilderness Continent did not share a border, the Sheng Ming Empire needed to establish supply lines across the vast ocean.
Against this backdrop, the Imperial Secret Spy Agency had extensively deployed agents. Their missions included gathering intelligence, carrying out assassinations, infiltrating enemy ranks, and conducting subversive operations to maintain stability and security across various regions.
Shadow Yan Yi was one such agent operating within this large-scale operation. Though only of bronze level, he possessed sharp logic, clear organization, and exceptional skill.
Through this interrogation, Tu Ji had clearly sensed Yan Yi's talent.
"If not for his bloodline holding him back, he would be able to reach a higher transcendent level and see a brighter future!'
Whether Lady Sea Snake was originally a member of the Imperial Secret Spy Agency or was recruited halfway, she was still a part of the covert operation.
Tu Ji had also heard of the Fire Beard Pirates' reputation: “The three legend level pirate crews represent the pinnacle of pirate power, and the Fire Beard Pirates is one of them.”
“It boasts the largest scale and the lowest recruitment threshold.”
“It's likely there are other secret agents besides Lady Sea Snake.”
Thoughts raced through Tu Ji's mind as he turned to Yan Yi: "According to your report, Lady Sea Snake's operation failed this time. Elaborate."
Yan Yi hastened to reply: “To be precise, it's not time to admit defeat yet.”
“For the sake of deception, Lady Sea Snake deliberately employed tactics to rally the Stench Pirates, the Applause Pirates, and the Lightning Pirates.”
Near Weeping Pine Island, she ignited the Weeping Pine Naval Battle."
"Following this engagement, the pirate crews retreated one after another. One of the Wisteria elders, aided by Jian Gui and others, fled in disarray. The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps seized the Iron Lump and secured the dwarves' allegiance. Lady Sea Snake continued her pursuit."
“At this point, the necromancers departed these waters, beyond my sphere of influence.”
“Thus, I could no longer obtain intelligence regarding Lady Sea Snake's subsequent actions.”
At this, Yan Yi gazed at Tu Ji with utmost sincerity: “My Lord, this is the truth of the matter.”
"I have not lied, not a single word. I swear by my personal honor, my family's honor, and my loyalty to the Empire!"
“I know I am guilty.”
“I released the necromancer, setting a tiger free.”
Now I can only hope that the other secret agents taking over my mission will follow through successfully, ultimately eliminating all necromancers, so my merits outweigh my faults!
Tu Ji fell silent for a moment.
Yan Yi spoke with apparent sincerity, yet there was a hint of cunning.
He implied subtly: this mission, this matter, is far from over. Even if the Blood Light Punishment Institution sought accountability, the day of reckoning had not yet arrived. Everything depended on the result that followed.
After a long pause, Tu Ji broke the silence: “It's late. Rest now.”
“You two stay put. Sleep here.”
“All other relevant personnel are to be temporarily detained. Restrict their movements for the time being.”
The interrogation was merely the first step. Having reviewed the reports and heard the responses, Tu Ji still needed to gather evidence personally. He wouldn't accept one-sided accounts.
The Ice Sculpture Capital.
Wisteria shop.
"Wisteria elder, these are the Chains of Confinement. Surrender peacefully!"
“That's right. At least this way, you'll still have your life.”
Zi Di stood bound by alchemy chains, immobilized.
She struggled to break free, but the four ends were gripped tightly by ambushing transcendent beings, the chains stretched taut.
Her undead magic power rapidly drained.
"Chains of Confinement? They can even target undead?" Zi Di was astonished yet not despairing.
The next instant, the three ambushing transcendents were instantly slain.
One was cleaved in two at the waist, another had his head severed, and the third had his heart pierced clean through by a claw from behind.
“What the hell?!” The lone surviving transcendent was horrified.
But soon, he too met his end, slaughtered without mercy.
In an instant, all four silver level transcendents had been counter-killed.
The alchemy chain became ownerless, instantly slackening.
Zi Di shook her arms, flinging the chains from her body onto the ground.
“The Chains of Confinement... gold level equipment. Not a bad haul.” Zi Di turned to leave, simultaneously using her mind to command the ice gargoyle to retrieve the Chains of Confinement.
“The messaging unit here never received the ransom note. I was ambushed again.”
“This Wisteria shop was a trap.”
“Then, is the Wisteria Merchant Alliance on Two Eyes Island also a trap?”
“That ransom note was never sent out... something's wrong with Yan Yi!”
As Zi Di pondered this, her vision suddenly shifted.
In an instant, she was forcibly teleported, vanishing from within the Wisteria Merchant Alliance.
The next moment, she materialized in a pure white, sealed chamber.
Stunned by the sudden change, Zi Di's face darkened with gravity as she frantically scanned her surroundings.
A biting cold permeated the air. The walls were constructed entirely of ice bricks, devoid of any windows.
Just as Zi Di prepared to cast a detection spell, spatial fluctuations erupted again, revealing the presence of two gold level individuals.
Zi Di tapped her storage pouch, releasing three ice gargoyles that charged toward the source of the disturbance.
But by then, the teleportation had completed. The gold level fighters materialized on the battlefield, effortlessly blocking the three ice gargoyles.
Zi Di immediately retreated, creating distance between herself and her enemies.
She was merely an iron level necromancer, comparable at best to a silver level magician in mental attributes. Fighting two gold level opponents alone offered no chance of victory.
Therefore, her first choice was to send a distress signal.
She wasn't acting alone; Zong Ge remained outside the shop, prepared for any unexpected developments.
Distress signal transmission failed!
Three ice gargoyles were destroyed in succession, despite being premium puppets enhanced with ice magic.
The two gold level assassins lunged forward.
Zi Di had no choice but to unleash her ghost army.
She had been accumulating this force since leaving Mystifying Monster Island. By now, it was substantial in size. But the core remained the smelt rat souls and tide snake souls from Snake Rat Island.
The two gold level fighters remained silent. One scattered powdered potions, the other unleashed a battle skill.
The potion powder scattered upon the ghosts, causing them to dissolve like snow. The battle skill's light waves grew more intense, scorching every ghost in their path.
Zi Di's heart sank to the depths.
Her opponents were exceptionally well-prepared, possessing methods specifically countering the undead.
Zi Di was utterly powerless to fight back.
She reached into the leather pouch at her waist, pulled out two vials of magic potion, and smashed them open.
The toxic mist released by the potions temporarily forced back the two gold level foes.
Zi Di finally gained a moment to catch her breath.
These were gold level potions, purchased from the Li Jian Clan.
The poisonous mist posed little threat to undead like herself, yet proved highly lethal to other lifeforms.
Moreover, the fog began corroding the surrounding floor and ice walls.
Zi Di attempted to send a distress signal once more, only to fail again.
In her free hand not holding the staff, she clutched a handful of pearl bubbles.
But in this sealed battlefield, even if she used the pearl bubbles, could she truly prevail and escape?
Zi Di felt uncertain.
The Deceptive Disguise spell only worked on living beings, and using the pearl bubbles directly would be even less effective, forcing her to rely solely on the situation unfolding naturally.
Even with these tools, Zi Di doubted she could escape this place.
She didn't even know where she was!
“This time, I fear my fate is sealed.”
“Who would have thought entering the royal capital would lead to my end?”
“The pearl bubbles must be used, but it will likely leave many clues for the enemy.”
"May my disappearance serve as sufficient warning to Zong Ge! I hope he remains safe."
“Lord Commander... I might...”
Just then, with a thunderous boom, the floor suddenly shattered, and a torrent of cold water surged in.
The cold water met the air, instantly forming a layer of frost.
The ice shattered as a spindle-shaped micro-submarine emerged, its hatch opening.
“Get in! I'll get you out!” The hoarse voice sent a chill through Zi Di's heart.
"Elder Yuan Ci?"
Seeing the two gold level figures charging in despite the toxic mist, Zi Di hurriedly climbed into the submarine.
The gold level attackers lunged, striking the sub's hull with a force that left a deep dent.
But the sub's sturdy construction held. Though three layers of its defensive magic shield shattered, the final layer remained intact. It dove back into the breach and escaped successfully.
"Pursue!!" The gold level finally lost his temper, bellowing in fury.