"So that means…"
"However, it's certainly not that easy," Chen Muye continued, "Such contracts that can bind directly to the soul and affect the mind are incredibly precious. Even the Ancient God Church doesn't have many of them, and each is only used on those they deem valuable and with potential.
Moreover, the main purpose of the Ancient God Church in developing Devotees is to compensate for the shortage of members. If they choose to plant Devotees as undercover agents within the Night Watchmen after their development, it's somewhat a waste in a sense.
Furthermore, these contracts are not absolute control. In certain situations, the controlled can still hint to others through suggestions, like what Han Shaoyun just mentioned about 'solving the problem from the root,' which falls under this category. So, letting Devotees infiltrate the Night Watchmen still carries certain risks."
Hearing this, Hong Ying finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Qiye also nodded slightly in his heart. Indeed, if analyzed this way, planting Devotees among the Night Watchmen was indeed a loss-making endeavor.
However, if the controlled person held a high position, that would be a different story…
This wasn't Lin Qiye being conspiratorial; he just instinctively considered the worst-case scenario. "A loss-making endeavor" doesn't mean "they won't do it," and "extremely rare" doesn't mean "absolutely none."
It's always good to be extra cautious.
"Anyway, the first battle of the New Year is over. This Devotee, the thirteenth seat, along with the one 'Sea' realm figure dealt with by Yuan Gang, should be all the top forces involved in this assassination attempt. This turmoil should be considered over," Wen Qimo stretched lazily.
"Speaking of which, Qiye, you're supposed to return to camp tomorrow night," Hong Ying sighed, "The next time we see you, it'll be half a year later."
"By then, he'll truly be a Night Watchman," Wu Xiangnan said with a smile.
Lin Qiye chuckled, "Actually… half a year goes by pretty fast."
Time in the Training Camp seemed to crawl, but it also felt like it flew by in the blink of an eye. He still clearly remembered arriving at the camp entrance first, luggage in tow.
"Right," Chen Muye seemed to remember something and stopped in his tracks, "Tomorrow, invite your friends over to my place for dinner."
Lin Qiye was startled.
"Since both of you were targets before, it wasn't convenient to gather. Now that things have settled down, you're the host after all. It's only right to invite them over for a meal."
"However, the office is a stronghold for the Night Watchmen, aside from the people from Squad 136, it's not easy for others to enter…" Wu Xiangnan pondered before speaking.
"Come to my house!" Hong Ying patted her chest, "My place is big enough!"
Lin Qiye hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "I'll ask them…"
***
The next afternoon.
Lin Qiye, accompanied by Baili Pangpang, Cao Yuan, and a reluctant Shen Qingzhu, stood in front of the villa.
Baili Pangpang looked at the villa and then at Lin Qiye, surprised, "Goodness, Qiye, your living conditions aren't bad at all!"
"It's a friend's house; I'm just staying temporarily," Lin Qiye shrugged.
Cao Yuan sniffed the air and swallowed, "I smell meat…"
He had been cooped up in a love hotel with Baili Pangpang and Shen Qingzhu for the past two days, relying on takeout and instant noodles for meals. Plus, the food in the camp over the past half year was just so-so, and he was nearly going crazy.
"Aren't you a monk?"
"No, I just have Buddha in my heart."
"…"
Shen Qingzhu frowned at the villa, "Didn't you say you were inviting friends over for dinner? Why did you invite me too?"
Lin Qiye and the others turned around and looked at him oddly.
Baili Pangpang helplessly facepalmed and stepped forward to pat his shoulder, "There's a limit to being tsundere, right? We invited you because…
We think you've been a great tool these past two days!"
Shen Qingzhu's mouth twitched, and he brushed Baili Pangpang's hand off his shoulder, annoyed:
"Fatso, who are you kidding?"
"???" Baili Pangpang rolled up his sleeves, revealing his white, flabby arms covered in watches,
"Wow! Look at you, Shen Qingzhu, getting cocky just because I settled your wages today, huh?"
Lin Qiye sighed helplessly, "Are you done? If so, let's go in and eat."
Baili Pangpang and Shen Qingzhu glared at each other, huffed simultaneously, and then followed Lin Qiye into the villa.
"Let me introduce, this is Captain Chen Muye…"
"This is Vice-Captain Wu Xiangnan…"
"This is Sister Hong Ying, and this villa is hers…"
"This is Wen Qimo…"
"Si Xiaonan…"
"Leng Xuan…"
Lin Qiye made the introductions, and after each one, Baili Pangpang would take off a watch from his arm and cheerfully hand it over.
"Captain Chen Muye! Truly an extraordinary aura. I searched long and hard, and only this Rolex is barely worthy of your stature, please accept it…"
"Ah, Brother Xiangnan, I didn't bring much with me this time, please make sure to take this Submariner…"
"Wow, Sister Hong Ying, you're so beautiful! Just that your wrist looks a bit empty, this Van Cleef & Arpels suits your elegance perfectly…"
"…"
Watching Baili Pangpang frantically handing out watches, Cao Yuan and Shen Qingzhu, empty-handed, twitched with discomfort, wishing they could vanish into thin air from the awkwardness.
Wen Qimo, holding a Rolex, approached Lin Qiye with a weird expression, "Is he… the fool of a wealthy family?"
Lin Qiye hesitated for a moment, "Yeah!"
"Ah… I see, he seems like a decent person, just a bit… slow."
"…"
With Baili Pangpang, the jester, the atmosphere during dinner was lively, while Cao Yuan transformed into an emotionless eating machine, devouring food non-stop.
As for Shen Qingzhu… he sat there reservedly, smiling and responding politely whenever someone spoke to him, a far cry from his usual arrogance in the camp, resembling a shy big boy instead.
After a hearty meal, Lin Qiye picked up his luggage, bid farewell to the members of Squad 136, and headed with the other three to the previously arranged pickup spot.
There, several familiar black buses had been waiting for a while.
Handing over the standard-issue Starblade he had brought from the camp, Lin Qiye boarded the bus and took a seat at the back.
He gazed out the window into the dark night, the city's silhouette faintly visible in the distance. Atop a distant building, he thought he saw a figure with a sniper rifle, sitting alone, silently watching Lin Qiye depart…
Soon after, the bus slowly started, cloaked in starlight and night, neatly heading towards the Training Camp…
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas