Chapter 786: Chapter 786
Some said that Zhong Yuan’s power had already been enough to compete with the "Titled."
As for the matter of "granting titles," it was not so important to the captain of the Investigation Corps.
However, these were, after all, just rumors.
In the entire Investigation Corps, the only people who truly knew Zhong Yuan’s real strength were likely only the "Lord of the Legion" and the captain of the first team, who often sparred with him and was universally acknowledged as stronger than him.
"If you truly consider me a friend, then today I am merely a guest."
Zhong Yuan set down his teacup, his golden pupils looking towards Lin Lin.
The space in the study had become somewhat tense.
The two top powerhouses under the Titled Realm, as their gazes met, faintly birthed and frictioned their domains.
The labrador evil dog squatting beside Lin Lin bristled, paws digging into the ground, ready to spring into action, already prepared for combat.
Lin Lin was somewhat helpless.
Zhong Yuan and he had been good friends for many years. When he first entered Gu Castle, General Bai Xi’s troops had conducted several armed drills with the fortress.
During the exercise process, two young talents emerged.
The other was Zhong Yuan.
The two young geniuses thus met and maintained contact for a long time... North Continent was rather strict with its "Deep Sea" permissions for the lower rank soldiers. At that time, Zhong Yuan would write a letter weekly to Gu Castle, and Lin Lin would prepare a reply, though the content of the young men’s letters was not sentimental.
Zhong Yuan would boast of having defeated certain geniuses within the White Lizard General Camp.
Lin Lin, on the other hand, would list his recent battle achievements.
This was not an exchange of letters.
This was more like... a challenge letter competing for supremacy.
Then one day, the two geniuses, separated by thousands of miles, simultaneously exerted their strength, and ultimately Zhong Yuan became the most dazzling young star under Bai Xi, and at the request of the Lord of the Legion, was sent to the Investigation Corps.
And Lin Lin then became the Guardian of Gu Castle Fortress.
And the youngest Quasi-General in North Continent.
The two did not wear insignia, yet their shoulders were both laden with honor.
"I should congratulate you on successfully conquering the ’Duolu River Disaster Realm,’" Lin Lin said solemnly, "This is likely the most boast-worthy major victory in North Continent this year."
It was said to be a Super Large Disaster Realm comparable in scale to Moon City Fortress.
Of course... Duolu River Disaster Realm is only comparable to an undeveloped "Moon City."
The general took action, along with Her Majesty the Empress’s Angel Envoy, and in addition, elite forces from various continents, overcoming numerous difficulties to finally eradicate it.
"You should congratulate General Bai Xi and Lord of the Legion, they were the two who put in the most effort."
Zhong Yuan said indifferently, "My elite team was, at most, just a chess piece in the Duolu River battle, while those two were strategists who masterminded victories from afar."
"Even the most powerful strategist needs sharp chess pieces," Lin Lin said with a smile, "Without the elite team, General and the Lord of the Legion, no matter how powerful, could not conquer territories all by themselves..."
This was a fair statement.
Zhong Yuan’s "elite team" was indeed a significant part of the forces in the Duolu River Disaster Realm.
This truly was an era where "personal military power" determined the size of one’s voice.
The Divine Throne was supremely exalted.
The highest authority surpassed all.
That was because those few on the highest seats indeed had the terrifying power to clear millions of obstacles by themselves.
Yet such magnificent power, across the entire Five Continents, numbered only a few.
They were invincible, standing at the apex.
But they were the only ones.
The daily collapses of order occurring across the Five Continents were becoming more frequent, too numerous to count... Even if every underling of the Divine Throne had Angel Envoys continuously endeavoring for this, it was impossible to cover everything.
The scales of this world were fair, one side held all beings, the other held "gods."
All beings needed "gods."
The same was true... gods also needed all beings.
"Since you are sincerely congratulating, perhaps offer ’Hong Zhong’s’ body as a congratulatory gift," Zhong Yuan said gently, lowering his eyes, "This is an old member of the second team, and I must take him away..."
Lin Lin sighed quietly.
"Otherwise... many people will be disheartened," Zhong Yuan lifted his head, gazing at his old friend.
The Transcendents of the Investigation Corps had given their all,
However, what they were able to gain in return was very little.
The most powerful of those was the resounding promise of the Lord of the Legion—
["If dying in foreign lands, they shall be granted a dignified funeral!"]
The next group of explorers to depart would try their utmost to bring back the bodies of the "heroes." Their souls would drift in the skies over North Continent, watching over the land beneath them, watching those young people they protected grow up freely and independently.
"Their flesh may decay."
"But their spirits live forever."
Lin Lin suddenly began to recite quietly. This was a famous saying of Her Majesty the Empress. At the last fortress border review ceremony, Her Majesty the Empress had mourned the heroes of the Investigation Corps who died in battle for North Continent.
He paused, then said, "If Hong Zhong truly was a hero, then Gu Castle will return him to you, everything you want... but so far, I cannot acknowledge the ’hero’ title given to him in the North Continent forums."
Zhong Yuan raised his eyebrows.
Recently, the incident of the second team’s Deputy Leader Yuan Yuan arriving at Gu Castle Fortress had reached him.
Because of the arrangements of the Lord of the Legion.
The second team had detached nearly half of their elite force to take on a new round of labyrinth missions.