Bandits

From the first snowflake to the first hint of new shoots discovered in the outskirts yesterday...

Felina had been "part" of the Lurkers for nearly two months.

Before this, Felina had not received a single mission, making her wonder if Rice's cover had already been blown.

Today, with the assignment of this mission, those worries vanished into thin air...

Moreover, this mission was ruthless!

Who would assign a newcomer to the organization a task of this magnitude right off the bat?

Stealing the enemy nation's latest classified technology—were the Lurkers underestimating the Crimson Soul Principality, or were they overestimating Felina?

It obviously wasn't the latter, and it was highly unlikely to be the former.

The only plausible reason was:

This mission was in Felina's territory; however, Lizer felt this reason was insufficient.

Was the mission unimportant?

Obviously not!

Any country or organization that heard about this eavesdropping technology would undoubtedly attach extreme importance to it.

They would be madly desperate for it because it could satisfy an organization's need to pry into the secrets of others.

When things are abnormal, there must be a sinister underlying cause...

However, based on the fact that the Feiting Federation had already obtained top-secret intelligence.

With Felina's abilities as an intermediate apprentice wizard, completing the mission seemed highly difficult but not entirely impossible.

The difficulty likely lay in:

Felina did not know whether the Crimson Soul Principality had arranged hidden defensive forces at the communication center.

If there were defenders, how many were there?

How strong were they?

If they were too strong, she would definitely have to resort to non-combat methods to carry out the mission.

Furthermore, she could not expose herself.

Before executing the mission, all of this needed to be thoroughly scouted and confirmed.

Fortunately for Felina, this happened to be quite simple...

Because she had the ghost Bobby, who could turn invisible.

However, the above was just the normal logic for completing the mission, based on the premise that Felina was a spy for the Feiting Federation...

But Felina's true identity was not a real Feiting spy; she was actually a new employee of the Crimson Soul Internal Affairs Bureau.

Naturally, these difficulties were no longer difficulties. The real dilemma was instead:

The Feiting Federation had its eyes on Crimson Soul's secrets, so should she hand them over or not?

Hand it over?

This was a highly classified technology that Crimson Soul had painstakingly developed; the loss would be disastrous!

Refuse to hand it over?

Then the counter-espionage plan would be instantly exposed, and Lizer's scheme to use the enemy's resources for his own gain would naturally be ruined!

How exactly could they complete Feiting's mission without harming Crimson Soul's interests?

Of course, Lizer could not be the only one racking his brain over such a problem...

Therefore, the moment he received this mission, Lizer decided to report it to the Flame Fox, Sven, letting Sven decide how to proceed.

These matters required the organization's attention.

Felina and Lizer clearly did not have the capability to shoulder this burden alone.

Lizer immediately rushed to the police station's communication room to borrow the secure police line from Gloria, ensuring the information remained confidential.

As a primary apprentice wizard, Lizer actually already possessed the ability to operate a level-one communication node.

But he still preferred going to the police station to bother Deputy Chief Gloria.

Who wouldn't enjoy being served by a beautiful deputy chief?

Alas, it had only been two months since his agreement with Felina...

In the police station's secure communication room, Gloria glared at Lizer angrily:

"You brat, you're already a primary apprentice wizard!

Go operate the communication node yourself, don't think you can boss me around!"

Well!

He had been seen through!

Lizer helplessly changed the subject: "

Big sister, stop calling yourself an old lady.

You're so young and beautiful, don't make yourself sound old."

Gloria skillfully flicked him on the forehead:

"Save your sweet talk!"

Whenever Gloria was at the police station or around other officers, she always acted so strictly proper...

Seeing her act so boring, Lizer connected to Sven's communication node himself.

Gloria lingered nearby, wanting to gather more information.

Lizer thought about it and didn't ask her to leave; no matter how this mission proceeded, it would inevitably require the help of Gloria, the local authority.

A few minutes later, a gentle and refined male voice sounded:

"This is Sven. Good afternoon, student Lizer!"

Since the other party was so polite, Lizer could only return the courtesy:

"Captain Sven, good afternoon!

There's a new development with Rice; he has relayed the specific mission assigned to Felina by the Lurkers.

This mission involves 'eavesdropping technology.' We have some confusions and also need the organization to clarify the next step of the plan.

Additionally, Gloria is listening in beside me.

We will absolutely need her help for the follow-up of this mission anyway, is that alright?"

"Of course.

Good afternoon, junior schoolmate Gloria!

Student Lizer, please continue."

The same gentle and refined tone gave people a sense of reassurance.

Lizer then detailed the information and mission obtained from Rice.

The eavesdropping technology was clearly known to Sven, who was in the Internal Affairs Bureau; the current closed beta testing was hosted by the bureau, and Gray Mist Mountain Town was within Sven's jurisdiction.

Gloria, on the other hand, was hearing about such a "disgusting" technology for the first time, and her revulsion was plainly written all over her face.

"Oh!? It leaked this quickly?"

Upon learning that the technology and even the experimental site had been detailedly exposed, Sven's response seemed both expected and surprised.

It looked like he had a backup plan!

"The Lurkers of the Feiting Federation have demanded that Felina cooperate with a communications expert in the near future to infiltrate the Gray Mist Mountain Town communication center and steal the technology."

After explaining the details of the Feiting Federation's mission, Lizer continued:

"How will the Internal Affairs Bureau arrange things?

What do you need Felina and me to do?"

"Hmph! The Federation's typical style, insidious as always!

Let's do this: Lizer and Gloria, wait for me for fifteen minutes. I need to discuss this with the Bureau Chief."

Sven's tone remained calm, but a hint of exasperation could vaguely be felt.

However, deciding how to handle this mission was clearly not something he could determine alone, so he immediately thought to consult his superior.

Left alone in the room with Lizer, Gloria was lost in thought about something.

She no longer seemed as natural around Lizer as before, as if she had encountered some heavy thoughts and difficulties.

Lizer didn't know what topic to bring up for a moment, and the two engaged in awkward, sporadic small talk.

While waiting, about fifteen minutes passed.

Sven reconnected to the communication node on their end:

"Lizer, Gloria, are you still there?"

"Here!"

"Here!"

Sven's voice sounded even steadier, evidently because a superior had stepped forward to help shoulder the pressure, or because they had already devised a highly reliable countermeasure.

If it was the latter, things were about to get interesting.

Seeing that both were present, Sven first signaled for Gloria to leave:

"Gloria, according to organizational principles, it is not appropriate for you to continue listening to the following information.

However, as an external member, I hope you will fully cooperate with Felina and Lizer this time.

Whatever they need your help with, consider it a direct order from the Internal Affairs Bureau."

Hearing this, Gloria shot Lizer an indignant glare before storming out of the communication room in a huff.

Next, Sven relayed the latest orders from the Gele City Internal Affairs Bureau:

"Let Feiting complete this mission!

Of course, you must make the process appear difficult. My people will coordinate with you.

"This will help secure a higher position for Rice and Felina within the Stalker organization."

Unbelievable!

The Internal Affairs Bureau's mission was actually to assist Feiting in completing its objectives?

Was the Internal Affairs Bureau not the intelligence agency of the Crimson Soul Duchy?

Has it actually been the Internal Affairs Bureau of the Feiting Federation all along?