After hearing the clown-masked man’s words, the suited man replied with a hint of helplessness in his voice:

“Just detonate the skyscraper.”

The clown-masked man nodded, then asked:

“What about the bait? Ready?”

The tattooed, bald, burly man immediately answered:

“Been ready for ages!”

A second later, he added:

“Feed it to them now?”

“Mm.”

Inside the room, the clown-masked man gave a cold nod.

The battle within the Medium Sky Rift instance proceeded smoothly.

Each wave brought either seven Rank-and-File Fiends, swarms of fifth-rank fiends, or mixed groups of sixth-rank Soldier Rank and fifth-rank fiends—but still well within Lian Zhengzhi’s team’s capacity.

If needed, Department Heads Huang Ying and two others, plus six instructors, would step in.

With two Soldier Rank and seven Aces backing them up, missing a few minor monsters wouldn’t matter.

Qu Yi, nearly recovered, watched from afar, a trace of envy in her eyes.

She wanted to help too.

But these fiends were all at least fifth-rank Aces—far beyond what kids like them could handle.

Even all seven Patrol Squads combined might take down one… but far too slowly.

No way they’d finish it in ten minutes.

Just slowly whittle the health bar.

During demonhunting, only Demonhunters could see the fiends’ health bars hovering above their heads.

Without them, hunters would always deliver a finishing blow to confirm death.

Thanks to the bars, Lian Zhengzhi’s team stopped the moment the bar hit zero.

Now at the fifth wave, Qu Yi and the trainees watched gloomily from the sidelines.

They longed to join—but knew they’d only cause trouble.

Then, Huang Ying’s voice crackled through their earpieces:

“Qu Yi! Take your team to the Henggao Skyscraper—now!

A superhuman criminal gang has seized the entire building and taken everyone hostage!

I can’t leave here. You go.

Stay sharp—if they’re too tough, fall back immediately!

Once we wrap up, I’ll personally deal with those idiots causing chaos during a crisis!”

The students gritted their teeth, voices rising in fury:

“Causing trouble *now*?!”

“Damn them! I’ll make them regret it!”

“Count me in!”

“Me too!”

Normally, they wouldn’t hate superhuman criminals this much.

But City C was in crisis!

Demonhunters were stretched thin—and *they* chose this moment to stir trouble?

Absolutely crossing the line.

No way they’d swallow this without payback.

Qu Yi spoke up:

“Does anyone know where the Henggao Skyscraper is?”

Not her patrol zone—she had no idea.

A green-haired classmate stepped forward:

“That tallest skyscraper over there!”

Others chimed in:

“So *that’s* the Henggao Skyscraper? Never noticed!”

“Me neither—just knew it was the tallest.”

“Stop chatting! Let’s go teach those clueless jerks a lesson!”

None took the criminals seriously—even as a gang.

Typically, superhuman criminals were either freshly awakened or skulking alone like sewer rats.

Weak. Mostly first or second rank—only bullying civilians.

These students? All at least third rank, elites among elites. Many fourth rank.

Past encounters ended with criminals thoroughly subdued.

This time felt no different.

Even Qu Yi wasn’t worried.

With over thirty of them? Even a fifth-rank legend from Dragon Realm’s criminal history wouldn’t stand a chance.

Gang up? High odds of victory.

Huang Ying thought the same—but left them an escape route.

Anyone causing trouble *now* was either foolish or malicious.

If ulterior motives surfaced, retreat first.

Compared to these gifted students—future pillars of City C, maybe even Southgate Garrison—a few criminals meant nothing.

She wanted them to grow through challenges… but never at the cost of their lives.

A drone wobbled overhead, capturing Qu Yi and thirty-two Patrol Squad members rushing into the Henggao Skyscraper.

Inside, the criminal gang had already seized control.

Over a thousand hostages huddled on the artificial beach of Floor 33—a vast indoor entertainment zone—shivering in fear.

Scattered around them stood young figures, faces blazing with rebellious arrogance.

Ages eighteen to twenty-two.

All ordinary people yesterday. Now awakened. Now superhumans.

Some leaders had skyrocketed to third or even fourth rank in days.

Sudden power? That smug look was inevitable.

They waited eagerly for the Patrol Squad.

They’d *hated* them for so long.

“Just because you awakened powers?

Why meddle in *everything*?

We were just ‘borrowing’ cash from strangers, having ‘friendly chats’ with kids, ‘discussing feelings’ with girls on the street—and you arrested us?

Luckily, we ‘got lucky’—met our mysterious boss. Now we’ve got powers *equal* to yours.

Starting today? No one’s locking *us* up again.”