Angel City is amazing. They possess abundant resources and also hold the belief in protecting those resources. This is exceptionally precious in the post-apocalyptic world, as very few can achieve such a feat. After all, when people can’t even eat enough to fill their stomachs, who would be in the mood to care about environmental protection? When hunger reaches its extreme, people will even stuff bark and grass roots into their stomachs.
Moreover, Angel City must have accumulated plenty of tactics over the years; otherwise, they wouldn’t have managed to pull one over on the Black Flag squad. That mysterious ‘Mr. Qian’, who has yet to be seen, has indeed made preparations. Despite the intentional concealment of Hope City’s real information by Scorching Sun City, no one knows the truth.
Judging by the current conditions, Mr. Qian hasn’t done anything wrong. In this harsh environment, proactively removing competitors to ensure Angel City’s invincibility is unquestionably necessary.
Mr. Qian’s philosophy is likely to align well with Lu Hu’s. Zhu Yan’s anticipation and fervor for Angel City are evident, making it easy to imagine how much benefit the inclusion of Angel City would bring to his own city. Under these circumstances, He Fang also hopes to fulfill the desires of this intelligent NPC.
Angel City has been wandering around the world constantly, even if it remains prudent, dangers are inevitable. Although they created a mecha for self-defense, in the end, it is just one mecha, whereas he has seven. Why not join him? He could more than adequately protect Angel City.
As an environmentally conscious city, Angel City may possess numerous seeds, but what it lacks most is land. Even though it strives to simulate real land conditions, it remains artificial. Yet, in this post-apocalyptic world where land is readily accessible, he could provide them with vast tracts of land.
He Fang, while avoiding the obvious and likely off-putting reasoning of “for your own good” to persuade others, can instead use conditions to make Angel City willingly surrender.
Angel City has a near-perfect internal system, with hope and aspirations—things He Fang cannot destroy. Instead, he aims to offer Angel City “a lifeline in their darkest hour”.
He Fang approached the leader of Angel City after careful deliberation.
As for “Mr. Qian”, He Fang does not plan to engage with him directly. While Mr. Qian’s actions slightly deviate from the core environmental ideals, his intentions are still centered on protecting Angel City, and He Fang will not hinder him in doing so.
Whether to develop together or remain stagnant, He Fang believes that Mr. Qian, being a businessman, would naturally have more decisiveness than he, an ordinary person.
After all, the Elder is the city’s ruler. How could the true leader of a city easily trust a trade proposal from a city with no apparent strength? Any so-called deal is always predicated on the other party’s ability to conduct trade.
Now, He Fang stood watching the grim expression of the former city leader, whose face was laden with complexity. Evidently, the leader suspected He Fang of harboring ulterior motives, such as wanting to dismantle Angel City from within.
He Fang, maintaining a respectful and non-offensive distance from the former city leader, said, “What I’m saying now may sound absurdly arrogant to you, but hear me out before you make up your mind.”
He Fang had played numerous games—complex ones with diverse themes. While he might lack real-life interpersonal experience, he had learned a great deal from gaming. He trusted his Rainbow Squad and landmark as his ultimate safeguard and embraced the recklessness of being a player. At the same time, He Fang gave himself room to reflect and strategize.
“Angel City might directly attack Hope City. I won’t go back to notify Hope City to evacuate; they’ve already made preparations to deal with territorial infringements. This city war is about to begin,” He Fang pondered his past experiences in various games and continued, “Since Angel City is initiating an attack on Hope City, then we, as Hope City, naturally have the right to retaliate. Your goal is to annihilate Hope City and ‘Land of Hope’, so we will target ‘subjugating Angel City and turning it into a subsidiary city’. You shouldn’t have any objections to that, right?”
The definition of war is very complex, but it always revolves around subjugating the opponent. This is a game, not reality. In games, there is no talk of a ‘draw’; victory and defeat must be decided in the end.
“Victory determines the ruler. Can you accept that, former city leader?” He Fang asked.
The former city leader finally revealed a forced smile. His wrinkled face and hunched back gave the impression of an elderly man in his twilight years. However, his gaze remained sharp.
“Do you honestly think that with a team of old, weak, and sick members, alongside a few mercenaries using outdated weapons, you could stand a chance against Angel City?” Despite the former city leader’s ongoing competition with Mr. Qian in internal affairs, the two would unite against any external threat capable of endangering Angel City. Internal conflicts could be fought internally, but they wouldn’t allow anyone else to attack them.
“We’ll know whether it’s feasible after a battle. What I want to ask is: are you, former city leader, certain you can accept the conditions I’ll propose if defeated?” He Fang said.
The former city leader fell silent. The young man before him seemed naïve and inexperienced, his bright eyes revealing no skill in manipulation or scheming, like someone raised in a peaceful, war-free world. Perhaps, to some extent, he possessed ‘knowledge,’ perhaps…
This young man was not a mercenary. He was likely a noble who had been ostracized from another city and ultimately decided to pick up Hope City like a watermelon to develop his own power.
Inexperienced and reckless—these were the labels the elder gave to the young man.
“Overestimating yourself,” the elder remarked.
“Are you unwilling to answer my question directly?” He Fang asked calmly, without any intention of provocation. “Or is it that, although you are the city lord, your authority does not surpass Mr. Qian’s, and I need to discuss this matter with Mr. Qian instead?”
Although the former city leader knew clearly that the young man had no intention of angering him, every word the young man spoke made him furious.
He was the city lord of Angel City.
He was the true ruler of Angel City.
“Interesting,” the elder snorted coldly. “Then go ahead and try.”
“Does that mean you agree with my statement?” He Fang pressed persistently.
The elder’s smile faded, his deep, dark eyes exuding an air of disdain.
“Yes,” the elder said, showing contempt for the young man before him, who seemed completely unaware of his own shortcomings, as the true city lord of Angel City.
Defeated individuals are at the mercy of others—that is the law of war.
He Fang was satisfied and said, “This conversation has not been recorded, nor does it have witnesses. It is entirely a private discussion between you and me, but you are negotiating with me as the city lord. Don’t forget this—better not let me see you change your mind halfway.”
He Fang suddenly realized that coming here specifically for this talk was far too reckless.
A dialogue between city lords essentially discusses state affairs and critical missions! Such conversations should have a secretary present, along with patrolling soldiers, recorders, witnesses, and perhaps even the national flags of the two cities.
He was careless.
After finishing his speech, He Fang began to worry, fearing the other party might regret agreeing to the terms.
“If we lose, it will prove that we are far inferior to Hope City,” the former city leader slowly said. “Then even if we wanted to go back on the deal, there probably wouldn’t be any chance to do so.”
He Fang let out a breath of relief and turned to leave.
In truth, however, he had no confidence in whether this city war could be won.
He Fang lightly touched the small sculpture of a landmark he carried on his chest. He entered a command and then canceled it, deciding to wait and see.
As a super large mobile city, Angel City is genuinely massive in scale but not in population. In Scorching Sun City, He Fang once felt that every few steps there were people—crowds packed tightly together. The air relied on active circulation from Scorching Sun City’s air purifiers; otherwise, one could suffocate inside. The air was filled with all sorts of odors.
Angel City is different. Here, there are spacious areas everywhere, and it’s rare to see people crammed together. However, with such a large scale, the population is undoubtedly significant.
A conservative estimate…
Several hundred thousand, though likely under a million.
Yet, He Fang’s expression became subtle.
Several hundred thousand…
Young labor force?
He Fang’s expression suddenly went blank.
—
The soldiers of Angel City were advancing rapidly. As soon as Hope City’s spy entered Angel City, their troops began heading toward Hope City.
What would have normally required a three-day journey was compressed to a day and a half without any pause. When they finally reached the borders of Hope City, it was no surprise that the elderly, weak, and sickly inhabitants had failed to detect anything unusual.
The commander of this operation was none other than Mr. Qian’s son, Qian Qu. Their goal was to destroy Hope City and seize the “Land of Hope”.
Angel City, carrying the “sparks”, must remain unique. If other mobile cities find a substitute, Angel City’s current peace would be nothing but a pipe dream.
Even though this is an invasion war, for them, it is a war of survival.
“Those weapons…” At this moment, the scouts monitoring Hope City returned to report, but their expressions were grim, clearly puzzled by what they had observed. “These weapons are very strange. They appear to be products of the old era but seem to have been modified. Because of this modification, we can’t accurately estimate their firepower.”
Qian Qu frowned. “No matter how much old-era weapons are modified, there should be a limit.”
“That depends on whether the mercenaries who entered Hope City have extensive knowledge of weapons,” the scout, cautious about the unfamiliar black weapons, replied. “Additionally, they appear to have anti-air weapons and hover weapons. This level of technology hardly seems achievable for a decaying Hope City.”
Qian Qu pondered deeply. “Are you suggesting they might have support from another city?”
“I don’t know,” the scout replied honestly, “but rashly attacking could lead to problems.”
Unable to decide, Qian Qu directly called Angel City and relayed all the information truthfully. “Father, so far, all we’ve been able to see is Hope City’s border defenses. They have a variety of weapons, and the scouts were blocked and detected, making it impossible to infiltrate Hope City for further reconnaissance.”
Hearing his son’s report, Mr. Qian traced his sturdy, wrinkled fingers over a map. He said calmly, “It doesn’t matter. Just attack directly.”
“Father, perhaps it would be better to conduct further reconnaissance,” Qian Qu said to Mr. Qian.
“It’s fine,” Mr. Qian replied patiently to his son. “Just attack.”
Qian Qu hesitated for a moment, but his father’s command could never be wrong. This simple phrase, “just attack”, was enough to give him immense determination.
After all, he was his father’s son and the future inheritor of his father’s career. He also placed immense trust in the network of connections his father had established. If his father’s network claimed that this attack would go smoothly and without failure, then Qian Qu would unconditionally believe it to be true.
“Everyone, prepare,” Qian Qu commanded. “Attack!”
The city war began with the thunderous boom of the first shell. Despite having entered the age of advanced weapons, the scarcity of resources had forced people to rely more on physical combat capabilities.
Resources in the post-apocalyptic world were far too scarce. Even if advanced weapons existed, the materials to produce them were severely limited. However, this time was different—Angel City had brought weapons capable of completely destroying Hope City.
To them, “Land of Hope” was exceedingly hostile.
Even if it consumed tremendous resources, they would still destroy “Land of Hope”.
At this moment, everyone donned protective suits. Box after box of toxic organisms were quickly unleashed, flying out and advancing rapidly along the trails left by the constant bombardment. These were not bombs, but pheromones designed to guide insects forward!
They observed clearly that the people at the border defense weren’t wearing any protective gear. As soon as the poisonous powder from the insects fell from the sky, the individuals would be poisoned, paralyzed, or even die. Without anyone to operate them, the weapons would become utterly useless and could later be collected and stored in Angel City.
Numerous large-winged birds took flight, broadcasting the entire battlefield scene everywhere. These highly trained birds would serve as sources of information.
The soldiers in protective suits continued firing at that area—this time using real shells. Their goal was to kill all the insects speeding forward so that the poisonous powder would fall from the sky.
At this moment, a scout suddenly spoke up: “Commander, something seems odd.”
“What’s wrong?” Qian Qu asked, puzzled, as everything seemed to be going smoothly.
“Well… I saw a few people standing at the border defense posts, and it looks like they’ve set up… uh… fans?” The scout wondered if he had misseen, and carefully observed several times. “They really are fans? Actual fans?”
Qian Qu found the scout’s words absurd and raised his binoculars to see for himself. When he saw the large fan blades slowly spinning, he found it hilarious. Were these people joking on the battlefield? Using fans? At such a distance, how effective could fans possibly be?
But in the next moment, Qian Qu’s eyes widened.
As the fans began spinning at high speed, massive gusts of wind suddenly swept across the ground. The intense wind was so strong that even Qian Qu could feel it, almost being pushed back several steps by the wind coming from afar!
“How is this possible? They’re just fans?!” The scout was utterly shocked as he observed the insects they had unleashed, completely unable to advance against the wind. The delicate wings of the insects were torn apart, and the fans stirred up the dust on the ground, turning the entire battlefield into a chaotic expanse of yellow sand.
Due to the sandstorm, their visibility was obstructed, and the scouts heading to the front lines could not communicate with Angel City’s soldiers because their signals were jammed. Anxiety gripped them.
In the low visibility caused by the yellow sand, they could see weapons already aimed directly at Angel City from afar.
When a massive explosion erupted nearby, Qian Qu felt his brain buzzing. The sound was terrifying—it wasn’t the typical noise of a bomb but rather the sound of the earth splitting and collapsing. The overwhelming fear that struck almost consumed everyone, making rational thought nearly impossible.
Yet this wasn’t the final shell. Unknown projectiles continued to strike, emerging from the yellow sand with precision, hitting their targets flawlessly.
Even their blindly fired shells proved entirely ineffective. Frustrated, everyone boarded the tanks to advance, reasoning that they at least needed to get closer to the enemy.
But their idea turned out to be completely unworkable. As they drove the tanks into the sandy area, they discovered that the previously even ground had been shattered and softened by countless shell explosions. The weight of the tanks was too much; despite having caterpillar tracks, the sinking wasn’t limited to the wheels—the entire tank began to sink!
Had these traps been pre-arranged? Had the ground been turned into a swamp? Qian Qu could only feel an overwhelming sense of terror rising within him.
However, when they tried to retreat, explosions erupted directly behind them. Qian Qu braced against the impact, the force causing his eardrums to ache as though they might rupture. He immediately turned to look at the spot where the bomb had landed, and what he saw left him stunned—the once solid ground where they had been standing was now seeping water.
Was this a bomb?
Was it really just a bomb?
Yet, the localized explosion was enough to confirm that it was nothing more than a typical bomb.
“How is this possible? How could this be possible?” They hadn’t even had a chance to act before being paralyzed by such power, unable to respond.
At that moment, Qian Qu heard a sound—a shrill whistle, like the piercing noise of a skyrocket. The sound soared heavenward, yet nothing seemed to happen.
Qian Qu was perplexed. Then, suddenly, something fell from the sky—not rain, but iron rods!
With consecutive whistling sounds, countless iron rods pierced the ground, disappearing into the soft soil below. They were nowhere to be found. Qian Qu helplessly watched as their tanks were all punctured. Beside him, the driver of his own tank was impaled by one of the rods, blood gushing out.
In that instant, Qian Qu’s ability to think was almost completely paralyzed. But then he realized something—the iron rods seemed to be drawn by some unseen force, gradually moving forward, as if being attracted by magnets.
Qian Qu was shocked and immediately issued an order to everyone: “Abandon the vehicles! Abandon them all! Get out of the vehicles quickly!”
As he spoke, Qian Qu hurriedly climbed out through a crack in the vehicle and fled quickly toward an open area. Perhaps luck was on his side—after running roughly ten steps, he suddenly felt an intense flash of light behind him, accompanied by a scorching wave of heat so strong it forced him to shut his eyes tightly, unable to move.
Lying on the ground, Qian Qu felt the protective suit on his back burning and his skin stinging with pain. He anxiously turned to look back and saw something inexplicable.
The tank was gone.
It had been within visible range, yet it had vanished into thin air. All that remained, about ten steps away, was a small fragment of the tank on the ground.
Qian Qu, trembling, reached out to pick up the fragment, only to discover that it was so hot it nearly melted his hand. He quickly retracted it, staring at his bleeding fingers.
What…
What was this?
What just happened?
“Run…” Qian Qu felt as if time had slowed to a crawl. Fear suddenly consumed him, spreading through his entire being. “Abandon the attack. Run, quickly, run!”
Even though Qian Qu desperately issued commands through the communicator, no one responded. It was as if everything in the world had disappeared.
What kind of power was this?
It was a strength that completely surpassed their imagination and tolerance—a power too terrifying to comprehend. Truly, no one could survive under such might.
All of this happened within just ten minutes, yet to Qian Qu, it felt as though he had spent ten minutes crawling through hell.
And then, on his escape route, a black figure suddenly appeared.
Black…
No one in Angel City ever wore black clothing.
It was someone from Hope City.
But to have reached here within ten minutes—what kind of speed was this? No… it must have been an ambush set up in advance.
Within the attack range, wasn’t Hope City’s person afraid of being caught in the attack’s collateral damage?
Qian Qu immediately drew his melee weapon. Though his practical combat experience was limited, he had been trained since childhood and was confident in his abilities. He had never thought himself weak in close combat. If it came down to hand-to-hand combat, then he…
However, Qian Qu suddenly realized that his weapon was spinning in midair. Confused, he looked at his arm—it had been severed cleanly at the elbow, the cut smooth, and the pain hadn’t even registered yet.
The black figure in front of him vanished, reappearing at his side. Raising his gaze, Qian Qu saw a pair of cold, pitch-black eyes, like those of a haunting beast.
“Deploy the Archangel,” Qian Qu muttered into his communicator, just moments before his mental breakdown and impending agony.
The massive Archangel mech suddenly descended from the sky. Its appearance was sacred, enormous, and breathtakingly beautiful—the ultimate weapon that Angel City took pride in.
Lying on the ground, Qian Qu cried out in anguish. He saw the man with those pure black eyes lift his head to watch the yellow sand swirling through the sky. No matter how powerful a human could be, when faced with a mech, they were absolutely disadvantaged.
Angel City’s possession of mechs made them the strong ones.
The Archangel was Angel City’s strongest defense, a bastion so impenetrable that it doubled as a weapon. It was their most formidable creation, forged to safeguard their city.
Angel City was far too fragile. They could only struggle to maneuver through endless challenges, but ultimately, they were always someone else’s pawn. They dreamed of the day they could break free from the shackles of the corrupt upper class and quietly develop their crops.
Thus, the Archangel…
It was their hope.
This was the Archangel’s first battle, yet everyone had unwavering confidence in it.
As the Archangel entered the battlefield, Qian Qu noticed that the sound of the battlefield had quieted significantly.
Was it because the Archangel made a move? Had it destroyed those terrifying weapons? Did they now have a chance to win?
However, the black-clad man beside him did not leave. His expression remained calm, a calm indifference.
Suddenly, Qian Qu heard an ethereal sound echoing through the space. That sound was like some ancient beast awakening in this world. Heavy footsteps approached from the distant horizon, each step shaking the ground. At the same time, it seemed as though someone had turned off a giant fan, and the swirling yellow sand gradually began to settle.
Qian Qu struggled to look up, but his eyes suddenly widened, even forgetting the pain.
What was that?
A turtle?
In the shadows of the yellow sand, a gigantic figure emerged—its massive defensive shell resembling a mountain—becoming clearer and clearer.
At this moment, Qian Qu even forgot to breathe.
The Archangel noticed the enormous figure and began to attack it wildly. Yet, the colossal being remained unmoved, continuing its slow advance. The Archangel, equipped with the best weaponry and the most powerful means of attack they could muster, unleashed everything they had against it.
However, the Archangel’s assault seemed akin to mere tickling on the creature’s form, eliciting no reaction at all. It just kept walking, steadily, until Qian Qu finally saw the entirety of its appearance.
It was…
A turtle-shaped mech.
Its entire body was encased in a cold, blue-green armored shell. Each of its four legs was a mechanical dark green, emitting a faint, eerie cyan glow.
Qian Qu was at a loss for words to describe the mech before him. The thought of “the most perfect mech” flashed through his mind. It was so stunning—so breathtakingly beautiful—that it inspired a sense of reverence.
At that moment, the mech halted. It raised its head to gaze at the Archangel, who was flying in the sky and launching relentless attacks against it.
Qian Qu’s heart clenched tightly. He could feel his body trembling while the Archangel continued its unyielding assault. Yet, no trace of damage could be seen on the turtle-like shell.
A foreboding premonition arose within Qian Qu. But he forced himself to calm down. No—this couldn’t be. The Archangel could fly with unmatched speed and agility. How could a slow-moving turtle possibly…
In an instant, he saw a thin line suddenly emerge from the turtle shell, piercing straight through the chest of the Archangel mech. The line’s tip immediately restrained the Archangel’s body, tightening continuously. Despite all the Archangel’s struggles, it couldn’t sever the line and could only watch helplessly as it was dragged back to the turtle mech.
Then.
The turtle mech bit down on the Archangel’s neck.
In just a moment, the Archangel’s head was severed from its body.
The turtle mech lifted its foot and stomped on the Archangel’s body, crushing it effortlessly, like a human stepping on a snail.
Everyone witnessed this scene.
At that moment, all were left speechless.
The air was filled with the sound of the massive turtle tearing apart the Archangel’s supposedly indestructible armor.
—
Mr. Qian sat in the monitoring room, shocked as he watched the gruesome scene unfold. They couldn’t even get close to the enemy and had already been crushed, utterly powerless.
The Archangel, their pride and joy, developed at great cost, couldn’t even last a moment.
“What… is that?” At that moment, Mr. Qian even doubted his own eyes. Had he seen a god?
“Oh my goodness, this looks way too cool!” Suddenly, a young voice came from beside him. Mr. Qian slowly turned his gaze and saw a boy who had somehow appeared next to him.
The boy stared at the screen, and even his eyes reflected a look of astonished brilliance.
Mr. Qian no longer had the energy to question how the boy had gotten there. His mind was entirely consumed by thoughts of the massive, terrifying mech.
“You didn’t even investigate before acting? How dare you!” He Fang tried hard to project an air of ‘strategic foresight’ and ‘calm composure’, but his deep inner shock completely betrayed his true feelings.
That turtle…
It was the blue pillar of the Rainbow Squad—the city guardian stationed in Hope City!
He had thought the blue pillar’s city guardian would be a humanoid mech—a replica of the red pillar’s humanoid mech. But to his utter surprise, it was a turtle mech.
The sheer shock nearly made He Fang stammer.
In the reflection of Mr. Qian’s pupils, the young man’s figure was vivid. The boy exuded a barely concealed pride—a confidence that radiated the full grandeur of wielding formidable power.
Just then, Zhu Yan suddenly appeared beside him and handed him an object. He Fang instinctively lowered his head to look.
“So, that’s why?” Zhu Yan had hacked into Angel City’s system and uncovered some information. He smirked and exhaled lightly, “So this is why you were so brazen in directly attacking our city?”
On the display screen Zhu Yan handed to He Fang, there were numerous video recordings and an overwhelming number of folders. These contained information left behind by high-ranking officials from various mobile cities—some scandalous, some genuine. Angel City, despite its façade as a tourist destination, was actually a hub for transactions between these mobile cities.
“These files were likely intentionally left by high-level officials—or perhaps deliberately left by rivals—to expose and control one another. Angel City has always been used as a weapon. The more it knows, the fewer people dare to move against it. Angel City, which inherently lacks strong capabilities, has survived by acting as a ‘social butterfly’ and maneuvering between these mobile cities,” Zhu Yan explained to He Fang.
He Fang was starting to grasp the complexity of Angel City. His gaze grew complicated as he looked at Mr. Qian, who was quietly seated nearby. This was a man who had risked everything to walk among wolves. His tactics and capabilities were unmistakable.
Through his exchanges with other mobile cities, this man had confirmed that Hope City was populated only by the old, weak, and sick, with no combat strength. Confident in the superior strength of his own forces, he hadn’t hesitated to declare war.
In truth, his decision was not flawed—it was just interrupted by the unexpected emergence of He Fang, the protagonist player of “Ruins Without Restart”.
Now, the elderly Mr. Qian sat silently in his chair, the shock in his pupils still lingering. After living for so long, he was witnessing events that defied his understanding.
“So, he truly has valid reasons to secure his unique position—and can achieve the unimaginable—all because he controls information?” He Fang casually swiped over the files. “Delete them all.”
“We lost—lost without a shred of resistance. This war… it only took a moment. Whatever you want to do now, we cannot fight back.” Mr. Qian finally found his voice, but it was exhausted, so weary that even breathing seemed like a struggle. “But by deleting the information we rely on for survival, cutting off Angel City’s future, you’re putting Angel City in danger. Are you planning to let tens of thousands of Angel City residents die with it?”
However, after saying this, Mr. Qian shook his head. Angel City’s time was up. Even if it were targeted by every mobile city, it would no longer matter.
“Of course not. I just don’t want this stuff to continue existing, that’s all. Other cities’ affairs have nothing to do with me. What I want is Angel City, and nothing more.” He Fang placed the data firmly on the table. Raising his gaze, he added, “What I want is Angel City, not Angel City’s schemes and intrigues.”
“What do you want Angel City for? With weapons as powerful as yours, what’s the use of a small Angel City?” Mr. Qian refocused his gaze on He Fang’s face. From He Fang’s brief words, he seemed to sense something, and he asked, “Who are you?”
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you,” replied He Fang, still as polite as ever. “I am the City Lord of Hope City.”
Mr. Qian’s expression first relaxed, then tightened once more, as though he couldn’t believe that the City Lord of Hope City would take the risk of infiltrating enemy territory: “You’re too young.”
“But I am indeed the City Lord of Hope City,” He Fang said earnestly, pointing to his own nose.
“Is that so?” Mr. Qian’s tone was tinged with reflection. His fingers silently gripped the armrest of the chair, discreetly pressing the alert button hidden in his palm. He looked at the young City Lord before him. “Youthful impulsiveness, lack of consideration—these are the mistakes most common at your age.”
“Why would you say I’ve made mistakes? I think I’ve done pretty well so far.” He Fang tilted his head slightly, seemingly genuinely puzzled and even beginning to reflect on whether he had overlooked anything.
Mr. Qian looked at him, and suddenly both sides fell into silence. Seconds passed, and eventually, Mr. Qian closed his eyes. His heavy, wrinkled eyelids drooped as he let out a dry, scoffing laugh from his throat: “No, you haven’t made mistakes. It’s me who has.”
He Fang: “?”
“When we entered this room, everything except this image was already isolated from you.” Zhu Yan stood beside He Fang, his expression faintly amused as he glanced toward Mr. Qian’s palm. “And even if you do manage to contact the people you’re trying to reach, they won’t be able to save you.”
Mr. Qian kept his eyes shut, his sharpness now subdued, his weariness becoming evident. “I probably should have realized this earlier, but I doubted myself.”
When he had that eerie, intuitive sense that he couldn’t deal with the opponent, he should have halted the operation immediately. But instead, he took the initiative to attack—and suffered a crushing defeat.
“What are you talking about?” He Fang, evidently puzzled, couldn’t follow their conversation.
“Since the City Lord of Hope City is here, if I restrain you, Angel City might still have a chance of survival,” the elderly Mr. Qian unexpectedly explained. Then, he moved his hand to reveal a barely noticeable alert device.
“That’s impossible. I’m weak and easy to kill, but you won’t be able to kill me,” He Fang blinked as he figured out what Mr. Qian meant. Casually seated on a chair that was far from luxurious, He Fang now carried himself like a proud City Lord. “Not only can you not kill me, you’ll also have no choice but to obey my orders.”
The elderly Mr. Qian met the boy’s mischievous smile and realized that the boy was speaking the truth.
Not to mention the terrifyingly powerful combat capabilities, just the individuals currently surrounding the boy were overwhelmingly strong, so much so that they made Mr. Qian feel an almost involuntary urge to kneel. These figures, combined with the guards who had mysteriously fallen silent on the ground and the strange, elusive abilities of this boy—abilities that not even Angel City’s cameras could capture—painted a clear picture.
These people…
They truly could roam freely within Angel City.
Mr. Qian closed his eyes. At this point, he was utterly helpless.
He Fang, on the other hand, smiled. He knew his smile at this moment might seem wicked, but he genuinely felt happy. Suddenly gaining vast resources and a population of hundreds of thousands, managing not to laugh out loud felt like a great display of self-control.
“Dear Mr. Qian of Angel City, I’m delighted that you could witness the strength of Hope City,” He Fang said, unable to suppress a proud smile. “Now, as the victor of this war, I demand a conversation with your City Lord. Please make the arrangements swiftly.”
Mr. Qian’s expression remained unchanged, but he understood what He Fang meant.
Although Angel City was under his control, in the eyes of this young City Lord from Hope City, that control was meaningless. He Fang now only recognized Angel City’s true City Lord.
This boy was using his arrogance to express disdain and mockery.
Completely unaware of this interpretation, He Fang simply blinked innocently and sat quietly, waiting.
![Dissatisfied [e-sports]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4997572.jpg "Dissatisfied [e-sports]")
