The city hall of Kyoto buzzed with activity; news of the rat infestation had spread, summoning officials at all levels from their warm beds. Mayor Chen Tong was currently berating the leadership of the Municipal Health Bureau’s Epidemic Prevention Station. Ever since the rat problem surfaced at the construction site last time, he had ordered all departments to strictly enforce Kyoto’s sanitation and epidemic control, yet things had only worsened.

The secretary entered the meeting room to remind Chen Tong, "Mayor, the television station is filming from an adjacent building and has captured the scene at the very center of the mixed throng of rats and snakes—it turns out this riot was instigated by someone!"

The 42-inch plasma display in the meeting room immediately switched to the news channel. The long-range camera transmitted the image clearly back to the control room under the streetlights, and the signal was relayed through the extensive television network to thousands of homes. The clearest and most dazzling sight was a radiant young girl in the center of the rat horde, while the most terrifying and eye-catching figure was a stout man wildly waving a kitchen knife, shouting incomprehensible things.

Chen Tong asked the secretary, "Is the Police Chief here yet? Is Captain Hai from the Beijing Armed Police Corps here? Also, immediately notify the State Television Station: News blackout. No live broadcasts allowed. Hurry!"

The secretary made a call, saying, "They are downstairs now and will be up shortly."

Sure enough, moments later, the two men entered the meeting room together. Chen Tong declared, "This is an emergency, why aren't you organizing forces to stop them immediately? Their direction of advance is toward the central leadership offices! If you delay another second, I will immediately report to the Central Authority to have your heads removed!"

The Police Chief and the Armed Police Captain had initially assumed it was merely a minor rodent issue and hadn't taken the call seriously. Now, seeing the situation on the television screen, they realized the gravity of the situation. The few minutes they had wasted would be enough to land them in solitary confinement eating coarse grain for the rest of their lives.

However, they were no ordinary men. Orders were swiftly disseminated; a sniper engagement was about to erupt.

*** Zhu Da said to Xiao Yudidi, "It’s just two more intersections until Kyoto Grand Plaza. The National Security Bureau is in the northwest corner of the plaza. Once we rescue Commander Zhao, we go straight to the Center and demand answers from those people about why they are arresting innocents without distinction!"

Zhu Da always acted outside the usual procedures, but Xiao Yudidi also lacked experience. She nodded in agreement with Zhu Da’s proposal, "Fine. If they turn out to be bad people, we’ll have Brother take everyone back to the base, and we will create our own underground kingdom."

Although Zhu Da had no idea what the 'base' was—he was sure it had nothing to do with lighting a lamp—he cheered excitedly. Just then, several scout giant rats reported to Peach that a large number of armed personnel were ahead and would meet the vanguard in half a minute.

Xiao Yudidi didn't understand what the giant rats were saying, but she could sense Peach's brainwave signals. Understanding the situation, she immediately commanded, "Charge through! Rescue Brother at any cost!"

At the first crossroads, over a dozen fire trucks were lined up, their hydrant valves fully opened. As soon as the vanguard of rat soldiers appeared, the high-pressure water cannons immediately opened fire. The powerful streams scattered ordinary rats everywhere, and although their numbers were vast, their advance was halted.

The men on the fire trucks were celebrating when the ground suddenly shook violently. Thick asphalt roads cracked open as giant snakes burrowed out from below. After emerging, several colossal snakes immediately surrounded one fire truck. In less than half a minute, all dozen fire trucks were flipped onto their sides, and the high-pressure water cannons were destroyed.

The armed police concealed behind the fire trucks, having received the order to fire, unleashed a rapid barrage from their assault rifles toward the giant snakes. However, something astonishing happened: these giant snakes were completely unfazed by the bullets. Several snakes charged forward through the gunfire, and with a few sweeps of their tails, the world instantly fell silent.

In the Kyoto City Hall meeting room, Mayor Chen Tong was stunned speechless upon hearing the news of the interception failure. Creatures immune to bullets! He immediately called the Central Authority to report the matter. The incident had escalated beyond his control; moreover, having already opened fire, the Center must have noticed. His mayoral career, however, was now hanging by a thread.

The Central Security Bureau's initial reaction upon receiving the notice was to dispatch elite snipers to hunt down the five individuals at the center of the rat swarm. However, ten minutes later, they received an urgent field report: all ten top-tier snipers had been injured by suddenly appearing iron spikes, rendering every one of them incapable of combat!

At this moment, Zhu Da revered Xia Huren as a deity. "Tiger, I never knew you had such a trick up your sleeve. Commander Zhao, oh Commander Zhao, we grew up together wearing nothing but diapers—how did you find such a band of oddballs? The Village Chief can fly, Brother Ersha is poisonous, and Tiger is a top-tier sniper; they can only kill others, not us! Little Sister Xiao Yudidi is even more formidable; she claims she can summon ten thousand machine soldiers. I wonder what that scene will be like."

The Central Security Bureau, unable to stop the army's advance any further, quickly escalated the matter to the Premier. Premier Qiao was also greatly alarmed upon hearing the report: bullets couldn't penetrate, the snipers were neutralized, heavy weapons couldn't be used in the city district, the time was too critical for the garrison troops to arrive—and even if they did arrive, what good would it do? This demanded immediate reporting to the Military Commission; the Central Authority might need to evacuate their current offices and relocate to the wartime temporary command center!

*** Chairman Li Zhenyu of the Central Military Commission of the Great Dragon Country was reviewing documents when Premier Qiao of the State Council rushed in to report, "Old Li, something major has happened!"

Chairman Li set down his fountain pen and looked at Premier Qiao. Premier Qiao quickly summarized the situation. Chairman Li calmly placed his pen back into the holder and asked, "What is the opponent's objective? Have we contacted them?"

Premier Qiao shook his head. "No, but with such a large-scale mobilization, it certainly bodes no good. Chairman, you should order an immediate evacuation."

Chairman Li remarked, "Old Qiao, Old Qiao, how am I supposed to deal with you? Get a clear picture first before making such pronouncements."

*** The troop reached Kyoto Grand Plaza, where over a dozen armored vehicles quickly formed a cordon around them. Someone holding a loudspeaker shouted, "People ahead, listen up! Immediately lay down your weapons and submit to inspection..."

Thwack. The loudspeaker went silent, shot through by an iron spike from Xia Huren.

Shortly after, a new loudspeaker was set up on an armored vehicle, and the voice speaking was much more polite. "Friends ahead, please pay attention. I am the Chief of the Kyoto City Police Department. We don't know what has brought you out tonight. Is there some misunderstanding between us? You may state your demands; if I cannot resolve them, I can report to the Central Authority. Please, do not act rashly and commit a heinous crime."

Xiao Yudidi didn't understand these niceties and let Zhu Da handle the negotiations. Zhu Da, perched atop a giant snake, yelled at the approaching figures, "You listen too! Get the head of the National Security Bureau out here to talk to me! Don't try any tricks, and let me tell you, we fear nothing!"

Director Huang Dong of the National Security Bureau was having a terrible day. In the morning, three masters from the Special Ability Group returned spitting blood after being defeated. Just now, General Tan Zhong’s grandson had his lower body ruined in a secret National Security Bureau prison. Now, he was being ordered to negotiate with the 'rebels.' After a few seconds of consideration, Director Huang brought along two psychics, the Electric Man and the Poison Man, deciding to rely on these two masters to subdue the opposition if an opportunity arose.

The police loudspeaker sounded again: "Director Huang of the National Security Bureau has arrived. Please allow him and his two assistants to cross over and negotiate with you."

Zhu Da shouted, "Enough nonsense, hurry up and come over! We have urgent business!"

Director Huang, his heart pounding, navigated through the thick encirclement of rats to stand before the five individuals. Without a word, Zhu Da rushed forward and began to curse, "Damn it, old man, where is Zhao Qian? I’ll give you five minutes to bring the man over safely and soundly, or the army will immediately flatten the National Security Bureau!"

Director Huang had once followed General Tan Zhong on campaigns East and West. As General Tan Zhong’s influence grew, Huang’s own standing in the Great Dragon Country had become increasingly prominent. This was the first time anyone had dared to speak to him this way.

"Hmph, insolent brat who doesn't know when to die! Zhao Qian is a traitor who deserves execution; he is a dog thief, how dare you speak of releasing him..."

Slap! Li Tieniu flashed forward and delivered a resounding slap to Director Huang's face! "Little Zhao is a good man! What evidence do you have that he is a traitor!"

This slap was an utter humiliation for Director Huang; even General Tan Zhong wouldn't have struck him like this. He signaled the Poison Man, who stepped forward and spat a cloud of bright red toxic mist toward the group.

At that moment, Zhang Ersha chuckled, stepped forward, opened his large mouth, and with a few loud huffs, inhaled the entire toxic fog. "Heh heh, delicious, heh heh, delicious."

The Poison Man cried out in alarm, "You! You can spray poison too?"

Zhang Ersha grinned, opened his mouth, and Puff! A mist even redder than before sprayed toward the Poison Man. The Poison Man inhaled a breath, collapsed to the ground with a thud, foaming at the mouth and unconscious.

Zhu Da laughed heartily, "Brother Ersha, you are amazing!"

At that moment, the Electric Man, following a subtle cue from Director Huang, shot a current from his fingertips toward Zhu Da. Zhu Da cried out and tumbled off the giant snake.

Xiao Yudidi became furious, "What kind of creature are you to challenge my energy!" She raised a slender finger, and an even larger surge of electricity met the Electric Man. The Electric Man was enveloped, his clothes and hair instantly scorched black, his entire body resembling charcoal, and with a thump, he too fell to the ground.

Zhu Da scrambled up from the ground, shaking his numb arm, and kicked Director Huang aside. "Despicable scoundrel! No more negotiating with them! Charge into the National Security Bureau and rescue the man first!"

At that moment, an intelligence rat scout reported to Peach that the person was being held in an abandoned, old military barracks, which had now been converted into a secret underground prison for the National Security Bureau, specializing in confining serious offenders who threatened national security.

Xiao Yudidi waved her hand, "Let's go. No more wasting time with them. Everyone, mount the giant snakes, and let’s increase our marching speed."

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