Crimson

"Simply because I am stronger than you, I have no need to deceive you."

"This trial tests not only strength but also character. Only those who can earn the recognition of the Black Tortoise are the people I need."

He paused for a moment, his gaze shifting across the three of them.

"As for me... you can think of me as the head of a special department under the Great Wall."

"Specializing in handling internal issues."

Instructor Jing said, taking out an ID card and presenting it in front of Yin Chen. As for the little girl over there, he didn't bother showing it to her; she wouldn't understand it anyway.

There was even less need for Chen Guan to see it. This was his dearest, most loyal subordinate, after all. Why would he ever undermine the most understanding boss in the world?

The Great Wall.

As this name was spoken, Yin Chen's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. He looked closely; indeed, the unique steel seal was authentic.

The affiliated department section read "Special Operations Department."

That was the stabilizing force of Huaxia, the supreme guardian power that stood above all other organizations.

If the other party belonged to the Great Wall, then the absurdity of all this finally had a logical foundation.

Instructor Jing took a step forward, completely retracting his previously casual demeanor.

"I formally invite you to join my direct secret operations squad, codenamed the Crimson Squad."

"You will become a blade thrust into the heart of the academy, investigating in the shadows, and ultimately eliminating the traitors."

His voice echoed across the empty ice field, carrying the weight of an bestowed mission.

"Are you willing?"

Hong Yuan did not hesitate for a second.

Eliminating traitors and protecting honor had always been her life's creed.

She slammed her giant axe onto the ice and answered with absolute certainty.

"I'm in!"

This invitation was a responsibility heavy enough to crush anyone, and it stirred up massive waves in Yin Chen's heart.

The glory of his family, the precarious future of humanity, the innocent lives that might be sacrificed due to the betrayal of the higher-ups...

Countless thoughts clashed in his mind.

After a brief moment of weighing his options, he nodded solemnly, his silver hair tracing an arc in the wind.

"I am willing."

The gazes of the two simultaneously fell upon Chen Guan.

What choice would this man, who had been shrouded in mystery since his appearance, make?

Chen Guan did not answer immediately.

He lowered his eyes, rubbing the warm, antique Black Tortoise token in his palm with his thumb.

At this moment, Chen Guan's thoughts were incredibly clear.

The Crimson Squad.

Since White Tiger said it was under his command, perhaps it was also related to the Guiyuan Group? Chen Guan truly hadn't expected White Tiger to have this layer of identity.

Just as the bullet comments said, this villain didn't seem all that villainous. Who in the audience is suing this official?

Thinking up to this point, under the urgent gazes of Yin Chen and Hong Yuan, and witnessed by countless bullet comment viewers, Chen Guan raised his head.

He gave his answer.

"Alright."

The corners of Instructor Jing's mouth curled up into a smile that suggested the chess pieces were set and everything was under control.

He had managed to get his future subordinates on the government payroll.

Glancing at the token in Chen Guan's hand, Instructor Jing corrected his phrasing in his mind.

Current subordinates, rather.

"Very good."

He clapped his hands, his tone returning to its previous relaxed state, blowing away the heavy sense of mission from just a moment ago.

"Then, the first mission for the Crimson Squad..."

His gaze swept across the faces of the three one by one before finally looking into the distance.

"...is to root out the rats hidden among this year's freshmen who are making deals with the Demon Race."

White Tiger's figure dissipated, leaving no trace behind.

The ice field returned to a dead silence. After those earth-shattering words were spoken, even the wind and snow seemed to be silenced, quietly coming to a halt.

Yin Chen stood in place, frost gathering on his silver hair.

A mole in the upper echelons, colluding with the Demon Race.

These words repeatedly crashed through his mind.

For the first time, cracks appeared in the order within his heart.

Hong Yuan's chest heaved violently, her breath condensing into white mist in the cold air.

The giant axe in her hand rested against the ice surface, the blade still retaining some residual heat, but her convictions were cooling.

Who was the enemy?

The answer to this question had, for the first time, become so blurry.

The gazes of the two ultimately fell upon that person.

Chen Guan.

At this moment, Chen Guan's mind was racing.

This move by White Tiger seemed like a spur-of-the-moment decision, but it was actually an interlocking, flawless screening process.

He, Yin Chen, and Hong Yuan were chosen. The fact that they could be in the same squad was definitely not a coincidence; otherwise, White Tiger wouldn't have suddenly transformed into some Instructor Jing.

Aside from the three of them, were there other chosen students?

As for the Crimson Squad...

It sounded like high-risk, high-reward temp work. He couldn't shake the feeling that White Tiger was setting him up again.

"...Is this true?"

Hong Yuan finally couldn't help but speak, breaking the dead silence.

"Just based on a few words from him, we're supposed to doubt the academy's higher-ups?"

Yin Chen chimed in, "He mentioned the Great Wall. Besides, he is originally an instructor from the Great Wall. This First Sequence training camp is already different from the past. It's not entirely impossible for something like this to happen."

His analysis was calm, but it couldn't hide the confusion in his words.

He looked at Chen Guan: "What do you think?"

Chen Guan finally raised his head, putting away the Black Tortoise token.

His gaze swept over their faces, which were written all over with hesitation.

He didn't answer directly, but rather stated a fact.

"If everything he said is true, then we are now a blade hidden in the dark."

"If it's false, as of right now, the probability isn't high, and it doesn't do us any harm."

"But the problem is, we know absolutely nothing about the mole. Who they are, where they are, what they want to do—we don't know any of it."

These words choked up Yin Chen and Hong Yuan, who were still struggling with their faith.

Chen Guan had skipped all the emotional buildup and cut straight to the core.

This absolute pragmatism made them feel an inexplicable pressure.

Chen Guan ignored their astonishment and continued, "The best method isn't for us to go look for them, because we simply won't find them. Therefore, we can only let the mole expose themselves."

Hong Yuan frowned: "Expose themselves? That person wouldn't just blow their own cover for no reason."

Chen Guan agreed with Hong Yuan's words: "Exactly. So what we need to do right now is absolutely nothing."

Hong Yuan asked in confusion, "If we don't do anything, then what about the instructor's mission?"

Chen Guan threw his hands up. "Forget about it. He didn't give us any clues, so there's nothing we can do right now."

[TL;DR version: Slacking off.]

[Chen Guan: I don't give a damn about you.]

[Not only slacking off himself but also tricking Little Hong into slacking off with him hahaha. White Tiger recruiting Chen Guan is basically recruiting a wage thief. He isn't as easy to fool as a certain redhead.]

[Long Ao, don't look, it's a bad review.]

Seeing that the bullet comments were all condemning his slacking behavior, Chen Guan felt helpless in his heart.

It wasn't that he was passively sabotaging the work; it was just that White Tiger was playing the riddler way too much.

With a boss like this, what time would you even start working?