After hearing the suited man’s reply, the clown-masked man finally gave a slight nod.

“Hmm. I hope so. Pity the Dragon Realm’s restrictions on firearms and explosives are so strict… Never mind. Wiping out the Southgate Garrison Commander and the mayor’s prized assets is already enough.”

His voice dropped to a cold whisper. “I refuse to believe Southgate Garrison is truly an impregnable fortress!”

Gazing out the window at the Dragon Realm—still orderly even amid catastrophe—a trace of icy malice flickered in his eyes.

The celestial calamity had reshaped Blue Star’s landscape.

Prettyland, once Blue Star’s undisputed hegemon, was overtaken by the Dragon Realm within a decade.

He hated admitting it, but facts were facts.

The pioneers’ choices had forged today’s world.

Unlike the Dragon Realm’s selfless Demonhunter pioneers, many nations’ pioneers chose refined selfishness.

No surprise—outside the Dragon Realm, “freedom” and “personal gain above all” reigned.

Even within the Dragon Realm, pioneers once debated: serve the people or serve oneself?

History proved their choice: serve the nation.

And the leadership honored that trust, crafting countless laws benefiting both Demonhunters and civilians.

Harmony flourished in the Dragon Realm… while the outside world drowned in chaos.

Take Prettyland.

Now calling itself the Pretty Empire, its government seized by powerful Demonhunters.

Demonhunters revered as gods.

Ordinary citizens treated worse than slaves.

Yet only a few could awaken as Demonhunters.

The empire secretly split: one faction, the people’s military; the other, Demonhunters styling themselves divine.

Their hatred ran deeper than toward man-eating demons.

Citizens often watched demons invade rival territories—refusing aid, even sabotaging from shadows.

Only the unshakable truth “humans and demons are mortal enemies” held them back. Otherwise? Many would gladly swear brotherhood with demons for profit.

The clown-masked man knew this well. He wasn’t even sure which Prettyland faction he served.

Sent to the Dragon Realm as child spies over twenty years ago, the trio had waited decades for this moment.

Prettyland contacted them covertly, supplied black-tech, and orchestrated today’s massive energy tide at Southgate Garrison.

The plan? Crush the garrison with internal and external crises.

But Southgate reacted faster than imaginable—even top-tier efficiency by Dragon Realm standards.

Still, the deranged trio had Plan B: target Qu Yi’s team.

Qu Yi’s Patrol Squad assignment in Sector 069 wasn’t hidden—she was meant to be a role model.

If the main plan succeeded, they wouldn’t risk it. Now? They had no choice.

Assassinate Qu Xuelin’s granddaughter and her squad to destabilize the entire garrison.

Why schemes, not blades? Simple: none of the trio had awakened as Demonhunters.

Prettyland’s gear couldn’t erase that hard truth. Direct assassination was impossible.

Truth was, their very ordinariness made them easy recruits.

Today’s mid-to-low-tier Demonhunters didn’t dream of “free nations” abroad—they yearned for the Dragon Realm’s order.

Those so-called free lands? Lawless jungles.

Surviving there required at least Entry-Rank High-tier status—Soldier Rank wasn’t enough; General Rank was the bare minimum.

Awakening as a Demonhunter was already one in a hundred. Reaching Entry-Rank? Under thirty percent.

Many foreign spies in the Dragon Realm who awakened chose to abandon shadows and become official Demonhunters.

State-backed resources, stability—why risk being devoured abroad until not even bones remained?

The trio never grasped this depth. They only fantasized: complete the mission, claim Prettyland leadership’s promises—wealth, beauty, power—all beckoning.

Blissfully ignorant. Had they endured the brutal jungle abroad, they’d never believe Prettyland’s lies.

Unaware, Qu Yi’s team had no idea the energy tide was sabotage… or that sewer rats now hunted them.

In Sector 069, the lovely girl squad clashed with second-tier Flame Rats spilled from a Micro Sky Rift!

Thirteen rats? Crushed in moments.

Easier than slaying three third-tier demons!

Naturally—Qu Yi’s team stood at levels 38 and 39, nearing fourth-tier elite Demonhunter strength.

A near two-tier gap plus lavish mana-powered weapons made annihilation effortless.

Flame Rats’ pack instinct? Irrelevant against overwhelming power.

The street lay strewn with demon corpses.

As the fight ended, two official trucks rolled in.

Thirty personnel swiftly disembarked, cleared the battlefield, and hauled the remains back to Patrol Headquarters.