After the identities of the foreign players who infiltrated were exposed, the Special Defense Department could no longer remain indifferent as before. It was clear that they were here for the "Time Tower", whether it was for time evolution or props, they absolutely could not let them exploit this loophole. Thus, very quickly, the Special Defense Department dispatched an elite team to block from outside the mountains, maximizing the blockade of the prop’s effective range.

Of course, space-time class props are not restricted by this range, but the existence of the "Time Tower" itself limits similar props; otherwise, these players wouldn’t resort to such a foolish plan like digging tunnels.

However, since the information had been leaked, all they could do was strengthen protection, not only for Xu Huo himself but also for his residence, relatives, and friends, all receiving varying degrees of protection. At this point, you can’t guarantee that some people won’t take risks and try to exchange many for one.

"These people are idiots, aren’t they?" Minister Ji, known in Jing City’s Special Defense Department for his smooth and gentle temperament, couldn’t help but curse when he saw the documents handed over by his subordinates. He immediately contacted the military liaison and sent over all the obtained information.

The liaison in charge is a responsible person named Du. After quickly reviewing the information, his face also turned grim, "Have the people been captured?"

"Only a small part," Minister Ji replied, "They are highly alert; my people escaped as soon as they arrived."

"But the information should be accurate; currently, at least three countries are planning an assassination against Xu Huo. The information came from one of their intermediaries, with no one caught at either end, and it’s unclear how many people have been sent out."

Minister Ji paused and added, "Xu Huo’s value is no longer just that of a player. His super evolution speed is so fast that, in previous game zones, there were case references. A time-directed super evolver has a great chance of becoming a super player in the future. You know the weight a super player carries; even just the reputation of a super player can secure a zone. How can we let short-sighted people destroy the future of Zone 014?"

In fact, what he wanted to convey was much more than this. From the data controlled by the Special Defense Department, Xu Huo is proceeding with simultaneous space-time and mental secondary evolution. Not to mention Zone 014, how many can be found in the entire game?

Moreover, his progress in each super evolution is rapid, entirely without weaknesses. Such a person is the kind that, even if riding on the Special Defense Department’s head and slapping their faces, they have to find ways to protect him because no other player with strategic significance can be found again in Zone 014.

Moreover, Xu Huo has already become a very normal player. He’ll even benefit Zone 014, like this opportunity for time evolution; he brought along Nie Xuan and his friends. Whoever gains something, it’s good for Zone 014, especially how such opportunities for hands-on teaching are hard to find.

"I understand your point," Old Du nodded, "Xu Huo’s family has already moved into the safety zone, the current most confidential and high-grade safety zone in the country... unless he wants to take his family away, otherwise, in Zone 014, our military will ensure their safety at all costs."

"As for those players lurking in the dark, they were not dealt with before because the situation was unstable. Since they don’t know the severity and attempt to sever the foundation of Zone 014, they cannot be spared."

"The military will immediately arrange secret arrests, suspicious individuals can be killed on sight. Additionally, the identity information and previous action traces of players who escape will be fully disclosed afterward. Anyone can monitor or hunt them; unofficial players can bring their bodies to claim rewards."

"We’ve long wanted to deal with those people," Minister Ji said, "The Special Defense Department will fully cooperate."

Thus, in the following days, the military and the Special Defense Department acted swiftly, capturing and eliminating players they previously monitored or had suspicions about. This included not only those who mixed in from outside but also local players who were bribed. Not a single one within the listed range was spared, and they also specifically investigated information related to Xu Huo, gaining significant yields.

Unexpectedly, some players from abroad had settled in Ting City and Jing City long before, and they usually didn’t do anything other than gather information on Xu Huo—specifically targeting Xu Huo and his family.

Presumably, because Xu Huo had previously caused disruption outside, causing them to harbor resentment, they had been constantly plotting for the right moment to act. But Xu Huo himself seldom returned to Zone 014, and each time he came and went quickly, they never got the opportunity. The reason for their current haste is due to finding out about the "Time Tower."

They can’t confirm whether the "Time Tower" is a super prop, but they surely dislike seeing Xu Huo bringing out more time-directed evolvers. Although time evolution is difficult, having a guide might change that, hence Minister Ji called them fools.

"Fools is going too far," Xu Huo remarked upon hearing the news, "I actually think they may have a time-directed super evolver."

Nie Xuan conveyed this information to headquarters and added, "Our intelligence is lagging."

Xu Huo replied, "If others are determined to keep it secret, it’s normal not to find out, for example, him; if he hadn’t acted in front of outsiders, who would have known he has secondary evolution?"

The struggle for discourse power will never stop; this is one of the roots in the development of human civilization.

Nie Xuan initially planned to return to headquarters but was persuaded by Minister Ji to stay.

"These are minor problems; if you can’t handle a thief breaking into your house, then the military and Special Defense Department might as well have done nothing these two years." Xu Huo also made Nie Xuan stay, as the matters here were more important.

During the day, they rested, and at night they activated the "Time Tower" to train; in fact, neither Xu Huo nor the others had expected instant results. They merely wanted to accumulate a sense of it, lay the groundwork, but unexpectedly, there was a result after just a week.

It was Zhou Ning.

Although she didn’t start time evolution, her characteristics underwent subtle changes, her hair turned into python, and as long as it met the python’s eyes, it caused a two or three-second pause for people.

A two or three-second pause might seem insignificant, but in player battles, it’s enough to kill over ten people.

"I didn’t expect Zhou Ning to be the first to gain something," Gu Yu said with envy, "With this ability, activating characteristics will be like having two extra lives."

Zhou Ning was also very excited, "This was completely unexpected joy; initially, I didn’t dare hold out hope!"

Xu Huo personally tested it; not only was it an illusion effect, but her characteristics evolved into a power similar to time force—he had previously researched that many uses of characteristics are actually subdivisions and segmentation of super evolution. However, for players without super evolution themselves, they can’t use them continuously and must rely on media provided by the game to exert similar powers; this is characteristics.

"Don’t report Zhou Ning’s characteristic change to the Special Defense Department," he told Nie Xuan.

This differs from super evolution and is a unique lifeline content for Zhou Ning.

Nie Xuan of course had no problems; the others also expressed they’d keep quiet about it. Zhou Ning’s advancement also gave them hope; even if they couldn’t successfully undergo secondary evolution, spending a long time here might lead their characteristics or bodies to undergo some other alterations, who knows!