Chapter 437: Chapter 280: The Way of Brainwashing, Now Grandly Serialized (Part 2)

If not for a traitor within the Poisonous Sore Gang leaking the news, they probably would have been completely in the dark until the gang was at their doorstep.

"Mayor, don’t worry. The Hand of the Empire has already been dispatched. In less than ten minutes, this gang will be running away with their tails between their legs," said the head of the security department, seated to the right of the conference table, with a confident chuckle.

’That’s the Hand of the Empire, the most elite armed force of the North Carolina Republic. Suppressing a bunch of gangsters should be a piece of cake for them.’

"Mr. Brady, what are your thoughts?" Mayor Sidelong asked, looking at the grim-faced man in the suit and black gloves.

"My thoughts? Hmph, we kill them all, of course!"

The elite Special Agent from the Counter-Terrorism Department pointed at the large projection screen and said coldly, "Look at the damage they’ve caused, the casualties they’ve inflicted! This is an intolerable terrorist attack that gravely threatens the safety of North Carolina’s residents. These thugs must all be exterminated!"

With that, he stood up and walked toward the safe house exit without a backward glance, swiping a card to leave.

Sidelong felt a little more at ease. Brady was an extremist who hated the underclass, advocating for a great purge against them. He was also a Tier Three Ascender. With him, plus two squads from the Hand of the Empire, eliminating the Poisonous Sore Gang wouldn’t be a problem.

·

"The Hand of the Empire is here!"

Someone on the battlefield shouted.

Thirteen pure white suits of Power Armor came speeding over. They were of varying heights, a clear sign that each suit was custom-made for its pilot. The steel armor was angular, fitted with numerous tactical attachments, and the vital parts of the human body were protected by additional heavy armor. The overall design had a sci-fi aesthetic, and a conspicuous pegasus emblem was spray-painted over the heart.

The Dashing Pegasus Mark 4, a Power Armor model renowned for its speed. Once the jet engines on its back were activated, even an ordinary person piloting it could reach subsonic speeds—a terrifying feat.

"Activate the Night Curtain!"

Someone from the Poisonous Sore Gang threw out an exquisite metal disc. The next second, a profound darkness surged out from it like a tide, spreading like a mist. It blotted out the starlight and the fires of the battlefield. Soon, even the city lights vanished. The area was completely swallowed by a pitch-black curtain, falling into an eerie silence.

Since they knew the Government Army had the Dashing Pegasus Mark 4, how could the Poisonous Sore Gang not have prepared for it? The single-use Alchemy Tool - Night Curtain was the best choice against this type of Battle Armor.

This Alchemy Tool’s Ability was to create a Dark Barrier covering a 300-meter radius. It also created interference within, making it impossible to leave the Barrier. At the same time, anyone caught inside the Dark Barrier would have their movement speed slowed by 50%, and their range of vision would be severely hampered.

All the members of the Poisonous Sore Gang carried a "Token" that exempted them from the Night Curtain’s effects. But they didn’t let their guard down, because the Dashing Pegasus Mark 4 was bound to have countermeasures.

"Hmph, you foolish dregs. Did you think this could stop us?"

A mocking laugh came from one of the suits of armor. As their thermal sensors activated, their vision returned, clearly showing all the heat sources on the battlefield. Although the burning fires would interfere with the sensors, it was a minor issue.

"Let’s hurry up and kill these dregs. My yoga class has been postponed for two days. If I don’t go soon, I feel like my body will get rusty." A lazy female voice came from Unit Two. The next second, she raised her Energy Gun and pulled the trigger on a distant heat source.

WHOOSH—

A scorching ray of light shot out. A high-temperature reaction immediately flared up in the distance, followed by the roar of an explosion.

RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT...

A dense hail of bullets rained down. The Hand of the Empire’s Special Agents dodged with ease. Even with their speed restricted by the Night Curtain, they could easily evade the bullets.

"Four Ascender reactions detected... There are Ascenders among these dregs? Four of them?"

The male pilot of Unit Three whistled cheerfully, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Well now, it seems you’re all even worse than the dregs."

"Haha, why don’t you go kneel and kowtow to them? After all, you have to kneel whenever you meet an Ascender. Can’t forget traditional etiquette," the female pilot of Unit Two mocked.

The pilots from Unit Four to Unit Thirteen gave no reply, but every one of their expressions darkened.

The class hierarchy within the Hand of the Empire was also severe. Members who were ordinary mortals had to kneel before Ascenders and were at their beck and call in daily life. Because of this, they dreamed of becoming Ascenders themselves, of holding great Extraordinary Power in their own hands and becoming nobles who stood above mortals. But no matter what they tried, the miracle of ascension never graced them.

And now, the very dregs they despised the most had become Ascenders...

’Why?’

’Why should these damned dregs get to become revered Ascenders?’

Flames of jealousy began to burn in their hearts, making them want to tear these dregs to pieces.

·

「Outside the Night Curtain.」

Zhou Chen, Plague Doctor, and the others stood at the edge of the curtain.

"The Night Curtain can block communications. No one inside can contact the outside world, including the Hand of the Empire. However, the Alchemy Matrix built into their armor allows them to communicate with each other," explained the woman with long, chestnut hair named Catherine.

"As long as communications can’t get out, that’s all that matters. I’ll be right back."

Zhou Chen nodded and stepped into the Night Curtain.

"Catherine, with me. The rest of you, stay put and monitor communications. If the Special Agent from the Counter-Terrorism Department shows up, move in to reinforce immediately," Plague Doctor ordered, then followed Zhou Chen into the Night Curtain.

The three of them held "Tokens," making them immune to the Night Curtain’s negative effects. However, their vision was still obstructed, requiring them to wear Night Vision Devices.

The Night Curtain only had a 300-meter range, so it didn’t take long for the three of them to find the thirteen members of the Hand of the Empire.

"Mr. Siegfried, I’ll leave it to you," said Plague Doctor.

"Get the Blood Bottles, Blue Bottles, and Spiritual Supplements ready first," Zhou Chen said, feigning caution. He then took a few steps forward and began to "channel his power."

’I wish for the members of the Hand of the Empire to loyally serve the Poisonous Sore Gang, and for their hatred of the underclass to turn into a desire to save them.’

[Wish Value -200]

After making the wish, Zhou Chen felt he was being a little too evil. This was clearly the kind of brainwashing and control that only a major villain would do—brainwashing the allies of Justice and corrupting them into wicked evildoers.

’Although the Hand of the Empire were obviously not good people, was it a bit... inhumane to just overwrite their personalities?’

Zhou Chen struggled with it for a moment, but he quickly came to a conclusion.

’I’m the great Spirit of the End, so what if I do something a little bad?’

’The Hand of the Empire are no saints either. Every single one of them holds an extremely radical, exterminationist attitude toward the underclass. They’re arrogant, domineering, and kill the innocent wantonly. They’ve probably killed more people than I have.’

’To be honest, though, I’m not a North Carolina native, so I really have no right to judge them, let alone interfere. But from a personal standpoint, I have plenty to say. I simply can’t stand the attitude of these Hand of the Empire people, so I’m just going to do what I want.’

’Besides, the one doing this is Siegfried, not me, Zhou Chen. I’m currently watching a movie with Li Xiye.’

The moment the wish was made, the members of the Hand of the Empire all shuddered. They then froze in place like statues, completely motionless.

Meanwhile, "Siegfried" let out a muffled groan. His aura instantly withered, and blood trickled from his seven orifices. He looked particularly miserable. His legs gave out and he was about to collapse, but Plague Doctor caught him in time.

"Did it work?" Plague Doctor asked anxiously.

Zhou Chen, breathing heavily, struggled to speak. "...It... It worked..."

As if on command, the thirteen members of the Hand of the Empire charged toward the three of them at high speed. Plague Doctor and Catherine grew tense at the sight, but Zhou Chen waved his hand, signaling that everything was fine.

A few seconds later, the thirteen Dashing Pegasus Mark 4 suits of armor stopped in front of the trio, lining up in a neat row. Then, in perfect unison, they assumed a stance, placing their right fists over their hearts and roaring in a thunderous voice:

"We pledge our loyalty to you!"