Chapter 516: Power

Chapter 516 Power

When Levi walked out of the Blood Hand Gang, he learned more about the rebel army.

The waiter at the restaurant earlier had not mentioned much information related to the rebels.

It was likely that the ordinary populace had no contact with the rebel forces.

After all, the rebel army was inherently a "fictional" faction.

The citizens of the City of Ice and Snow naturally did not know much.

They only occasionally heard some rumors and hearsay.

Such and such faction was related to the rebel army, such and such person was a rebel...

Because of the mystery and strength of the rebels, being associated with them was often seen as having a powerful backer.

Even if it was a rumor, no faction actively debunked it.

Moreover, some were not rumors at all.

Levi learned from Blood Hand, the leader of the Blood Hand Gang, that the rebels had been using their gang to move grain and supplies within the city.

At least half of the supplies plundered by the Blood Hand Gang had to be handed over to the rebel army.

Where these supplies ultimately went, no one knew.

Blood Hand had once sent a lackey to tail the rebels, but failed to find where they hid the supplies.

Only one critical piece of information was provided.

The lackey tailing the rebels finally discovered that they actually entered the military camp of Fort Red City.

From then on, Blood Hand did not dare to pry even a single bit more into anything related to the rebels.

Although the various gang factions had seemingly become the new masters of the City of Ice and Snow.

However, everyone knew very well that the Ice Jade Palace, which controlled the army, was the true master of this city.

The strongest among the orc gangs, Blood Hand, was merely a Tier 4 professionist.

The strength of the other gangs was similar, some even inferior to the Blood Hand Gang.

Yet, Tier 4 professionists in the army and the Valkyrie unit could not be counted on both hands.

There were even stronger professionists of Tier 5 and Tier 6.

Levi discovered that Guthervie's power had already been hollowed out.

On the surface, she was the acting city lord of the City of Ice and Snow.

In reality, she could no longer manage the matters below.

The one holding the true power was... Moenis.

Levi conjectured.

In that case, he seemed to guess Moenis's purpose.

Moenis was not content to be the master of the City of Ice and Snow in the shadows; she wanted to become the city lord on the surface.

Therefore, Guthervie had to die.

After the Saintess died, she, as the strongest professionist and highest-ranking commander of the City of Ice and Snow.

Naturally, she would become the new city lord of the City of Ice and Snow.

Levi felt it was somewhat ridiculous, not expecting so much plotting to ultimately be a laughable struggle for power.

Moenis had also taken great pains for this.

Allowing the racial conflicts within the City of Ice and Snow to intensify, even actively acting as the driving force behind the scenes to promote the establishment of several gangs.

All of this was to make the citizens of the City of Ice and Snow blame all the chaos, disaster, and suffering on the Saintess's inaction as acting city lord.

Then, the Saintess would die an accidental death, she would take over the position of city lord, and naturally clean up the gang factions in the city.

Returning a harmonious and serene City of Ice and Snow to the citizens.

With this push and pull, she could easily sit securely in the position of city lord.

The pitiful Blood Hand Gang and others had absolutely no idea that they were about to become Moenis's achievements.

They were still enjoying the revelry before the end came.

The more they reveled now, the greater the resentment of the citizens, and the more securely Moenis would sit in her position as city lord.

"Truly a ruthless woman, resorting to any means for power, truly terrifying..."

Levi lamented with quite a bit of emotion.

Later, Levi took a trip to the other gangs, visiting those gang leaders respectively to inquire about relevant information.

It was roughly the same as what the leader of the Blood Hand Gang had said.

Some gang leaders were willing to cooperate and resolve things peacefully upon seeing Levi.

Some gang leaders were unwilling to cooperate, and Levi naturally used some coercive means.

Fortunately, he ultimately obtained the desired information.

Levi walked out of the headquarters of the last gang and looked up at the Ice Jade Palace on the snow mountain.

It was already night, and the Ice Jade Palace at the mountaintop emitted a faint blue glow, like a bright moon hanging in the night sky.

"It's about time to go back."

"Pity, I didn't find any news about Ardi's companions."

Levi walked toward the Ice Jade Palace.

He reckoned that if she did not want to tear off her mask completely just yet, Moenis should have arrived at the Ice Jade Palace by now.

What Moenis needed was a rightful and legitimate position as city lord.

Now, she naturally could not openly defy Guthervie's orders.

"Lord Mage Levi, the Saintess has been waiting for you for a long time. The Saintess told me to tell you to go directly to the main hall of the Ice Jade Palace upon your return."

The guard at the door said to Levi.

Levi nodded, "Mm, I understand."

He walked toward the main hall of the Ice Jade Palace.

Arriving at the main hall, Levi saw that both Moenis and Guthervie were here.

They seemed to have been waiting for a long time.

Seeing Levi walk in, Guthervie said hurriedly, "Levi, if you have any business with Commander Moenis, you can speak now." Moenis turned her head to look at Levi, her eyes calm.

Seeing

Liwei offered a faint smile and spoke with tranquil composure: "It is nothing of great import, really. I merely wished to ask Commander Monis about the rebel army."

"Outside the city walls, I chanced upon the Valkyrie corps engaged in a suppression campaign against the rebels. I lent them a helping hand and captured a few of the insurgents, only to discover, quite by chance, that there were some familiar faces among them."

A flicker of astonishment crossed Monis's features. "Oh? Is Mage Liwei attempting to distance himself from the rebel army?"

Liwei let out a soft laugh. "There is hardly any need for that. After all, when it comes to the depth of one's connections, I doubt anyone's runs deeper than yours."

Monis was just about to speak.

But Liwei cut in: "Of course, I do not mean that sort of relationship, but rather your understanding of the rebels."

Monis remained silent, momentarily unable to fathom Liwei's true intentions.

Returning to the matter at hand, Liwei said: "What rouses my curiosity is that when I encountered that individual a month ago, he was a mere second-rank practitioner. Yet, meeting him today, he has inexplicably become a fourth-rank practitioner."

"I only wish to ask, is everyone in the rebel army so anomalous?"

Upon hearing this, Gusewei was profoundly astonished.

With a trace of uncertainty in her voice, she said: "Liwei, could it be that he concealed his true strength before, and you simply failed to perceive it?"

"No matter how rapidly a person advances their power, it is impossible to break through two ranks consecutively within a single month, let alone rise from the second rank to the fourth."

"Even if it were... no, that is impossible..."

Liwei knew exactly what Gusewei was implying; she was suggesting that such an anomaly might occur if the man had entered the Secret Realm of Time.

However, the only ones who had ever been to the Secret Realm of Time were herself and Liwei.

There was absolutely no third person.

Unless there existed a second Secret Realm of Time in this world.

Gusewei did not believe such a possibility existed.

Liwei chuckled, fixing his gaze upon Gusewei as he spoke: "Misjudging someone's strength is indeed possible, yet I believe the likelihood is microscopic. Even a month ago, hiding one's true strength from my eyes was not something an ordinary person could achieve."

Gusewei startled slightly at his words, then nodded in agreement after a moment's thought. "That is indeed true."

A month ago, Liwei had been nothing more than a fourth-rank Archmage, yet the intensity of his mental power had already reached the sixth rank.

Unless the person in question was an Archmage practitioner above the sixth rank.

Otherwise, it would have been utterly impossible to conceal their strength from Liwei.

Gusewei and Liwei exchanged a glance, and then simultaneously turned their eyes toward Monis.

Liwei spoke: "Commander Monis has dealt with the rebel army for so long, surely you must have some understanding of this matter?"

Monis denied it flatly: "My apologies, I am entirely unaware of this."

"I do not know the members of the rebel army, and thus I have no knowledge of how powerful they once were. As for the anomalous occurrence Mage Liwei speaks of, I shall find a way to investigate it thoroughly."

Seeing Monis feign ignorance, Liwei lost any desire to continue beating around the bush with her.

"Oh? If I recall correctly, a month ago, you were merely at the mid-tier of the sixth rank, were you not?"

"In the span of just one short month, your strength has surged to the peak of the sixth rank. What wondrous encounter did you chance upon?" Liwei inquired with curiosity.

Monis's expression shifted drastically, never expecting that Liwei would be capable of seeing through her concealed strength.

"Mage Liwei, you jest. I possess no such extraordinary capability," Monis stated, her face devoid of emotion.

Gusewei's countenance filled with surprise upon hearing this, astonished that Monis's power had advanced so considerably.

Because of her trust in Monis, she had never once used her spiritual perception to probe the commander's strength.

Prompted by Liwei's words, she subconsciously sensed Monis's power.

She found her still at the mid-tier of the sixth rank, but upon probing deeper, a peculiar anomaly manifested itself.

A formidable power seemed to be concealed within her body.

That power was masked beneath her sixth-rank mid-tier practitioner level.

Ordinary people would find it exceedingly difficult to detect.

Had it not been for Liwei's reminder, she might not have paid it any heed, dismissing it merely as the fluctuating energy of some magical artifact.

Liwei gazed intently at Monis for a brief moment, then spoke with airy nonchalance: "It seems a certain fellow has made contact with you."

"Speak. Where is that person?"

Monis's heart trembled violently. How did he know?

This matter should have been known to her alone.

That person should not have made contact with anyone else.

All this time, her hands had been used to sow the seeds.

Seeing Monis remain silent, Gusewei asked with a grave look in her eyes: "Monis, who is that person? Tell me."

Just as Monis was preparing to open her mouth, a voice resonated through the Ice Jade Palace.

"Monis, hide no longer."

"Let everything come to an end tonight."

Thud, thud, thud! Boom, crash, boom!

Sudden explosions and sounds of attack erupted within the Ice Jade Palace.

Alarm washed over Gusewei as she hurriedly sought to ascertain what was happening.

She discovered that once her spiritual perception extended beyond the main hall of the Ice Jade Palace, it was like sinking into a sea of mire, entirely unable to probe the outside world.

The main hall of the Ice Jade Palace had already been sealed off by the enemy using a magical barrier.

A figure stepped through the grand entrance.

Beholding the visage of the newcomer, a look that said 'exactly as I anticipated' appeared on Liwei's face.