I bet your gun is empty.

Captain Tongshan’s wavering expression prompted the gray-robed man, the pontiff, to proclaim with an oracular shout:

“Now, the only salvation for humanity lies with the gods of Kirielord!”

“Only by receiving the gods’ recognition can you humans continue to live rightfully on this planet.”

Captain Tongshan furrowed his brow—divine right granting royal authority? It all had the unmistakable flavor of medieval Europe.

The gray-robed man spread his arms wide. “Come, Captain Tongshan, represent humanity and swear allegiance to us!”

Suddenly, the door burst open with a harsh clang, and a deadly aura spilled from the crack.

Five grim-faced figures, armed and resolute, stood outside.

It was Minister Yin and his four subordinates!

“Tch, what a nuisance,” the gray-robed man muttered with displeasure at the interruption.

“Cursed aliens, invading the base again and daring to breach this place—open fire!” Minister Yin commanded.

At once, the four subordinates pulled their triggers in unison, bullets spitting from the dark barrels toward the gray-robed man—and Captain Tongshan standing close beside him.

They stood too close, but Minister Yin deliberately ignored that detail and ordered the volley.

“So it was you they were targeting.” Four bullets pierced through the gray-robed man’s body, aimed straight at Tongshan.

Fortunately, the former captain’s reflexes were razor-sharp; the moment Yin gave the order, he dropped flat, evading the barrage.

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!” Four bullets struck the wall; one ricochet grazed Tongshan’s cheek, stinging fiercely.

Had it hit directly, he would have been finished.

“Keep firing! Do not let this alien escape alive!” Minister Yin barked, his eyes locked on the invader, but his peripheral vision fixed suspiciously on Tongshan lying prone.

A sword dance masked an ulterior motive.

“You’re supposed to be security personnel—look at how well you’re protecting!” a sharp voice rang out from behind them.

Qi Ming appeared, sweeping a leg in a wide arc that knocked all five men down, their weapons clattering to the floor.

Then, with a powerful leap like a great roc, he stomped on Minister Yin’s chest as he fell, and swiftly positioned himself before Captain Tongshan, shielding him.

Tongshan gasped, “Team member Qi Ming...”

Qi Ming said calmly, “It’s all right now. I’ll handle this.”

He threw a straight punch at the gray-robed man, the rush of air causing even this usually composed figure to frown in surprise.

But the gray-robed man was a spirit; Qi Ming’s punch struck air.

“I am the messenger of the gods,” he said with disdain.

“Really?” Qi Ming twisted his body, and in a blind spot of the onlookers, he lightly pressed a button on the upper left corner of the AnyKey device.

Then, flowing naturally, he delivered a right hook to the gray-robed man.

“Why persist in futile efforts? Didn’t I say humans cannot harm gods... ah!”

The gray-robed man, once calm, cried out in alarm as Qi Ming’s punch connected. He darted to a corner, face pale with terror, staring at Qi Ming.

In that instant, he felt himself nearly “sucked in,” forcibly “sealed” away.

Qi Ming, reading his reaction, realized that activating AnyKey’s “DNA storage” function made the attack effective.

The Kirielord beings existed as spirits; while immune to physical strikes, they were rootless, easily seized by the AnyKey’s forced capture.

“You...” the Kirielord spirit glared warily before phasing through the wall to escape.

“How did you do that?” the others were astounded.

Especially Minister Yin, who had nearly passed out from Qi Ming’s chest kick moments before.

With the intruder vanished, the security team no longer had a chance to mistakenly shoot Tongshan and reluctantly holstered their weapons.

“Damn it! Who were you shooting at just now?” Tongshan growled at Minister Yin and his men.

He had faced off against the gray-robed man, expecting him to turn hostile after rejection—but never imagined those sworn to protect him would try to kill him.

They had aimed at him all along!

In response, Minister Yin bowed humbly with his four subordinates, apologizing profusely.

He insisted it was his haste to eliminate the invader that caused negligence toward Tongshan’s safety.

In short—an accident.

“Smack!” A crisp slap echoed as Qi Ming silently approached Minister Yin and struck him hard, sending him crashing against the wall.

Though not a killing blow, the strike was fierce—blood oozed from Yin’s mouth and nose; he nearly fainted.

Immediately, Qi Ming added, “Sorry, my hand cramped—didn’t mean to hit you, please don’t take it personally.”

Who could believe that? Clearly intentional.

Yin’s four subordinates immediately drew their guns again, aiming at Qi Ming, the troublemaker.

“What’s going on? You almost shot Tongshan dead, and I get such a reaction for just one slap?” Qi Ming scoffed, unbothered by the gun barrels.

“Besides, is security just bluffing? Who scares people with empty guns?”

Impossible without magazines.

The four instinctively checked—then their faces drained pale. The magazines were gone!

“Stop looking. Here they are.” Qi Ming produced four magazines as if by magic, leaving everyone dumbfounded.

How had he done that?

Ignoring them, Qi Ming helped Minister Yin to his feet and lightly tapped the swollen right cheek he’d struck with a magazine.

“Xiao Tuo once wrote a letter to Dailin, containing these words,” he began.

“Stop sending people to kill me. We’ve already caught five hundred—some with bombs, some with guns... If you still send killers, I’ll send someone to Moscow, but I won’t send a second.”

“I’d like to write a similar letter to your superior, but I’m too lazy to write it myself, so please pass on my message.”

Good heavens, did this man know what he was saying?

Did he realize who Minister Yin’s boss was?

The four men nearby were stunned.

Was this a death threat sent through Minister Yin to Staff Officer He?

Even at this juncture, Minister Yin kept his composure.

He did not respond, bowed again to Captain Tongshan, and left with his subordinates.

“Team member Qi Ming, you saved me again,” Tongshan said amidst the chaos, gratitude heavy in his voice.

He had never expected Qi Ming’s retaliation to be so fierce—truly impressive skill and courage.

Tongshan’s expression was complex. “I never imagined they’d go this far—to kill here.”

One could only imagine that had they succeeded, the radio transmission recording the shots that were ineffective against the Kirielord spirit would have been deleted, and the incident disguised as an “accidental killing.”

“The enemy’s strength is greater than we thought, and their character falls below our baseline,” Qi Ming observed.

Tongshan asked, “Do you think Staff Officer He has already become our enemy?”

Qi Ming replied, “Even if not an enemy, he can no longer be an ally.”

——————————

I’ve set up the reward and monthly ticket thank-you messages for this book. Please try casting a monthly vote!

I earnestly seek monthly votes—and investments!

Readers interested in investing, don’t miss this chance!

I am an established author who has completed works before. Investing now is a sure gain with no loss. I will definitely complete the following: [30 consecutive days of 3,000 words], [release the first VIP chapter], and [complete the work].