Soon after, the law enforcement officers contacted by Mingxi arrived.

They took away the ashen-faced fake Lydia and Kyle, under the scornful and shocked gazes of countless guests.

Calvin Morey ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) was greatly shaken and disoriented.

However, because the fake Lydia and Kyle, two important members of the family, were remnants of the Advent Organization, this incident would inevitably affect the entire family.

The entire Morey Family would have to undergo questioning and investigation; even if they proved they had no connection to Advent, they wouldn't be able to clear their names for a certain period.

Moreover, during the investigation, the Morey Family's rivals would surely take advantage of their misfortune.

So Calvin had no time for self-pity; he had a pile of things waiting for him to deal with.

The old man now despised him so much that he wouldn't even look at him.

He was even less willing to help him deal with this mess, so he simply took his overly heartbroken grandson and moved to another residence.

As for Mingxi, in addition to the points and other rewards for completing the investigation mission, she also gained the friendship of the Morey Family.

Huh?

What use is this friendship?

It's extremely useful!

Could a family that the Advent Organization went to such lengths to infiltrate and scheme for inheritance possibly be ordinary?

Although this family doesn't have many members, it is one of the families in the Da Sili Alliance that controls the most private Mystic Ground resources. Although these Mystic Grounds have been solidified for hundreds or even thousands of years, there's no denying their sheer number.

With a total of 16 Mystic Grounds of various sizes and 2 Mystic Realms, the Morey Family has always remained at the forefront of the noble families in Da Sili Country.

This family was only held back by its lack of offspring; otherwise, it wouldn't be its current size.

It was also because of the Morey Family's significant international standing that the Alliance Investigation Team specifically dispatched investigators to look into Hahnde Morey's attack.

Therefore, gaining the friendship of the Morey Family was equivalent to getting tickets to these 18 Mystic Grounds and Mystic Realms.

Mingxi herself might not need them much, but she wasn't alone; her old father and her friends were all growing Beastmasters, so more opportunities to enter Mystic Grounds and Mystic Realms were naturally better.

Because of many similar hidden benefits, Mingxi's enthusiasm for investigative missions reached an unprecedented high, and she also began to participate in the Advent Organization's purge missions.

Mingxi, already world-renowned, became known to high-ranking officials in various countries as she efficiently completed the Beastmaster Alliance's investigation and purge missions one after another.

Because any mission she participated in was not only 100% perfect, capable of dismantling Advent Organization strongholds with overwhelming force, but also greatly reduced casualties for official forces in various countries.

Even more astonishingly, she often only needed to send out Thunder Demon Heaven and Luofei Jiutian—that's right, Little Silver Flower had evolved to Venerable-level—two pet beasts to solve most problems.

This astonishing strength led more and more high-ranking officials from various countries to hope for her support. Many countries, through the Beastmaster Alliance and Dragonflower Country, sent invitations to Mingxi for joint operations or purges.

Low input, high return, and Divine Ming was also extremely easy to get along with, not demanding the grandiosity of a big shot; she was simply the best big shot.

Mingxi's reputation as a 'firefighter' shook the Alliance.

On this day, Mingxi had just led a team to dismantle a private club run by the Advent Organization, which featured beast-fighting.

Her personal terminal rang.

It was an encrypted communication from the Grand Elder.

"Mingxi," Uncle Yan Xu's voice carried a subtle hint of gravity, "There's an urgent situation. Mo Fengyi... has been out of contact for a month."

Mingxi's eyes sharpened.

Mo Fengyi was the former leader of the Jinhui Group who had previously defected to the Advent Organization for the sake of his wife, Tian Xiuyu.

He was also one of the few spies from Dragonflower Country who had successfully infiltrated the organization over the years, and the vast majority of intelligence for this large-scale purge operation came from him.

He had actually lost contact.

And he had been out of contact for a month.

The Grand Elder must have exhausted all options before contacting her.

"Where was Uncle Mo's last signal?" Mingxi asked directly.

"In the Yunhai Starfield, the Star of a Thousand Faces—Zeta Realm."

Uncle Yan Xu brought up the data. "The signal completely cut off at 3:00 AM standard time on March 22nd. According to the last vague information he transmitted, Fengyi's identity may have been exposed, and his situation is extremely dangerous."

"Zeta Realm..."

Mingxi repeated softly. This place name reminded her of something Rosalina had mentioned earlier, information about formless chess.

Rosalina mentioned that a certain component of the formless chess was suspected to have appeared on Zeta Realm Star.

Uncle Yan Xu sighed.

"Mingxi, I know Zeta Realm City is very dangerous, especially since it might involve Advent. Originally, none of us agreed to let you go.

But Fengyi is a meritorious minister of the country, and even more so, a hero. We cannot abandon him.

Jinhui Group's Team 2 and Silverwing Group's Team 1 set off for rescue a month ago, but two days ago, they also lost contact."

Mingxi frowned.

The Jinhui Group is an important department that protects high-ranking national officials, while the Silverwing Group is an external strategic force, equivalent to the special forces in her previous life.

Jinhui Group Teams 1 and 2 were originally tasked with protecting the Grand Elder, but now Team 1 has been dispatched.

And Silverwing Group's Team 1 is the strongest assault team; their leader is also an SSS-level Beast Master, possessing two Venerable-level pet beasts.

Even they had lost contact, like throwing meat buns to dogs.

This Zeta Realm City truly is a den of dragons and a tiger's lair.

"After much deliberation, I decided to inform you of this matter."

Uncle Yan Xu's meaning was very clear.

He hoped she could go to Zeta Realm, but he didn't force her; he must have been very conflicted internally.

Mo Fengyi and the members of the Jinhui Group and Silverwing Group were very important.

But Mingxi's safety was equally important.

He couldn't make up his mind, so he could only leave it to Mingxi to decide for herself.

Mingxi barely hesitated.

"I understand, Uncle Yan.

Send me the detailed coordinates of Uncle Mo and the Jinhui Group's last known location.

I'll go!"

Although Uncle Yan Xu's original intention was still for Mingxi to go.

But hearing that she was actually going, he became worried again.

"...Okay, but you must be careful!"

"Zeta Realm... that's not an ordinary place.

According to the limited intelligence we've obtained, it's very likely the Advent Organization's main base."

Uncle Yan Xu admonished.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Mingxi ended the communication, her gaze fixed on the boundless starry sky outside the window.

Even if not for Uncle Mo, for the sake of formless chess, she had to go to Zeta Realm.

Yunhai Star?

Interstellar travel, then she'd better make good preparations.

Zeta Realm is not a naturally formed planet.

Instead, it is an artificial planet created by Yunhai Star over six hundred years ago, serving as a heavy industry base.

But then, over three hundred years ago, it was abandoned due to a new type of nuclear energy leak.

Due to extensive nuclear explosions and energy pollution, which affected the planet's stability, the planetary surface has no fixed topography. Instead, it is covered with countless geometric modules of varying sizes and shapes.

These modules are constantly undergoing slow movement, reorganization, and deformation, causing the entire planetary surface landscape to change every moment, like a monster with countless faces.

Hence the name, Star of a Thousand Faces.

The cities on the current Zeta Realm, if they can even be called cities.

The buildings here are not made of brick or metal, but a peculiar, non-Newtonian fluid-like substance that, when affected by different frequencies of energy fields, exhibits solid, liquid, or even gaseous properties.

Streets might disappear within an hour, walls flow, and new passages open and close without warning.

There is no constant direction here, no reliable map, and the gravitational field exhibits localized disturbances.

For these and other reasons, Zeta Realm has become a lawless land, a paradise for fugitives, smugglers, intelligence dealers, and various covert organizations.

It makes sense for the Advent Organization to have a stronghold here.

Because it offers excellent concealment and is easy to defend but difficult to attack, for criminals, fugitives, and ambitious individuals, this is definitely an excellent place for them to showcase their talents.

Somewhere on Zeta Realm.

In a hidden room bound by a solidified energy field, Mo Fengyi awoke from a violent fit of coughing.

The burning sensation and metallic taste from the energy inhibitor still lingered in his throat.

He moved his wrists, and the specialized alloy shackles clanked dully. The chains were connected deep within the wall, restricting his range of movement.

But he had no wounds on his body.

Although imprisoned, he had not been subjected to physical torture—at least not yet.

The room was simple, even 'comfortable'.

There was a bed, independent sanitary facilities, and a small observation window.

Outside the window was Zeta Realm's bizarre urban landscape, like a flowing colored oil painting.

This was not a traditional prison, but more like a... carefully arranged birdcage.

The door slid open silently, and a figure walked in.

It was Tian Xiuyu.

She was wearing a Yunhai Star Karman Empire military uniform, perfectly tailored, outlining her slender yet powerful figure.

Her face was still beautiful, even more so than a few years ago, with an added touch of cold charm. However, those eyes that once held gentleness...

Now, only a frozen lake remained, with complex undercurrents surging beneath its surface.

She held a glass of water and walked to Mo Fengyi's bed, looking down at him.

"Awake?"

Her voice was calm, devoid of emotion.

Mo Fengyi looked up at the familiar face before him, yet it was completely unfamiliar.

So this was the real Tian Xiuyu.

After a month, it was difficult for her to still remember him.

Although he had become a prisoner, living a life without seeing the sun for a month.

Mo Fengyi's eyes remained sharp, even carrying a hint of his usual, subtle mockery: "Thanks to you, I'm not dead yet."

Tian Xiuyu brought the glass of water to his lips.

Mo Fengyi didn't resist and drank a few sips from her hand.

The clear water relieved the dryness of his lips and the discomfort in his throat.

"Why didn't you kill me?"

Mo Fengyi asked.

A month had passed since he was exposed and captured.

Interrogation experts from within the Advent Organization had come in several rounds, using mental pressure, forced confessions with drugs, and irregular food and drink. Apart from that, he hadn't suffered other tortures.

It sounded like decent treatment.

At least he could still endure it.

He didn't know if Tian Xiuyu had played a part in this; she probably did.

Tian Xiuyu put down the water glass, her fingertip inadvertently brushing his chapped lips, her movement pausing slightly before she quickly withdrew her hand.

She turned around, looking out at the distorted splendor outside the window.

"Kill you?"

She chuckled, her voice carrying a chill. "That would be too easy for you, Mo Fengyi, or rather... what should I call you? Dragonflower Country's 'Dark Blade'?"

"Whatever you want. A name is just a code name."

Mo Fengyi looked at her tense back.

"Just like 'Tian Xiuyu,' is that your real name? Or just one of countless identities the Advent Organization arranged for you?"

Tian Xiuyu suddenly turned around, a cold light flashing in her eyes: "Shut up! What right do you have to question me?"

Her chest rose and fell slightly, clearly stung by his words.

Years of being together, from the initial deliberate approach and fake romance, to their mutual support after joining the organization.

Although all of this was built on lies, those shared dangers, those seemingly warm daily moments, had long left their mark on her heart.

Her feelings for him, from pure utilization and a mission target at the beginning, gradually became mixed with real emotions that even she herself was unwilling to admit.

And Mo Fengyi, also a betrayer and infiltrator, how could he remain so clear-headed at all times?

He showed no pity for the person he spent day and night with, who cared for him and even helped him at critical moments?

Was his heart truly made of iron?

Tian Xiuyu's heart was filled with resentment and anxiety. When he gave up his position, power, and even nationality for her.

Joining Advent for her.

She thought he truly loved her!

But she never expected that he was actually doing it for Dragonflower Country, to investigate the inner workings of Advent!

He had been feigning civility with her all along!

So-called love was just her own delusion.

"Yes, I have no right."

Mo Fengyi lowered his eyelids, his voice sinking. "From the beginning, it was a play.

You were ordered to approach me, and I played along.

Between us, there was only strategy, only calculation. I have no right to accuse you, and neither do you."

"Only strategy, only calculation? What a 'only strategy and calculation.' So you were using me from beginning to end??"

Tian Xiuyu's voice trembled with suppressed emotion.

"So you don't have even a little bit of..."

She couldn't continue. The feeling of being completely fooled and betrayed gnawed at her heart like a venomous snake.

"Xiuyu," Mo Fengyi looked up, meeting her eyes with a weary counter-question, "From the very beginning, you and I were two meticulously crafted conspiracies—your conspiracy and my conspiracy.

Can you expect me to develop feelings for someone who had ulterior motives for me?

Xiuyu, don't deceive yourself; you've always been very clear-headed."

Meeting his cold, emotionless gaze, Tian Xiuyu's breath hitched.

Yes, she was the one who approached him with a mission first. She was the one who wove a gentle trap with false affection.

She had always known what she was doing.

Indulging in deception, pretending sincerity.

But human hearts are made of flesh and blood.

She could pretend for one year, pretend for three years.

But their blissful marriage had lasted for nine whole years, and she didn't think she could perfectly fake love for nine whole years.

And Mo Fengyi? For these nine years, he had always been meticulous, gentle, and considerate towards her; he had given all his patience to her.

Were all these things fake?