Chapter 39: The Surge of Dark Abilities and Discord Within the Alliance

Mao Yu gazed at the distant Superpower City, his heart heavy with concern over the conspiracy of the dark forces. In that moment, it felt as though he could see countless shadows lurking in the corners of the city, waiting for their chance to strike. He took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. He knew he could not wait any longer; he had to act immediately to prevent a greater catastrophe. He quickly exited the Superpower Assembly Center, cleared his thoughts, and set off toward the government building.

The atmosphere in the government building was as oppressive as ever, a weight that settled involuntarily in one’s chest. Mao Yu walked in firmly, heading straight for Minister Li’s office.

"Minister Li, regarding the new conspiracy of the dark forces, we must take action immediately!" Mao Yu stated bluntly, his tone urgent and resolute.

Minister Li looked up from a pile of documents, his expression laced with panic and unease. "Mao Yu, are you certain this intelligence is authentic? After all, the 'Shadow Society' has been completely eradicated by us. Could there really be a greater mastermind behind the scenes?"

"Minister Li, I am not spouting nonsense! I heard this intelligence with my own ears. A new leader of the dark forces is brewing a larger conspiracy, and if they succeed, Superpower City will fall into even greater chaos!" Mao Yu’s tone grew firmer, his gaze burning like a torch.

Minister Li, however, appeared increasingly indecisive. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and whispered, "Mao Yu, do you understand? If we act rashly, we might invite even greater trouble. After all, the dark forces are powerful; we cannot afford to offend them lightly."

"It is precisely because of that that we cannot sit idly by and wait for death!" Mao Yu slammed his fist onto the table with a loud bang, startling the surrounding staff, who scattered and fell silent. "Minister Li, time waits for no one! If we do not act now, the future of Superpower City will be doomed to total destruction! Are you really willing to watch innocent citizens suffer under the scourge of the dark forces?"

Minister Li’s face turned even paler. He lowered his head and murmured, "I... I need time to consider."

Mao Yu’s brow furrowed. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger. "Minister Li, time is running out. The dark forces will not give us a moment to breathe. I will go to the Superpower Alliance first to see where Alliance Master Zhang stands. I hope you make the right decision soon."

With that, Mao Yu turned and strode out of the government building, his heart filled with worry for the future and a firm sense of determination. Just as he was about to leave, he paused, gazing forward with steady eyes, and whispered to himself, "No matter what challenges lie ahead, I will overcome them one by one." He stepped forward, heading toward the headquarters of the Superpower Alliance, ready to face the new challenges to come.

***

Mao Yu left the government building, his heart full of fury and a trace of helplessness. He glanced back at the towering structure, sighing to himself: it seemed he could not count on this bunch of bureaucrats.

Feng Yao followed him, her delicate face etched with worry; the safety of her family kept her on edge. "Mao Yu, what do we do now? My family’s business has already been affected, I fear..." Her pitiful appearance softened Mao Yu’s heart. He gently patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. As long as I am here, no one will be able to touch a single hair on your head or your family's." The words were spoken with ironclad certainty, as if imbued with infinite strength, allowing Feng Yao’s panicked heart to settle slightly.

The atmosphere at the Superpower Alliance headquarters was far less tense than Mao Yu had expected. The guards at the entrance were yawning lazily; seeing Mao Yu approach, they merely lifted their heads with indifference, not even offering a greeting. Mao Yu sneered inwardly: as expected, they wouldn't shed tears until they saw the coffin.

Walking into the main hall, a sense of desolation hit him. Several staff members were gathered, whispering about something, but they scattered like birds the moment they saw Mao Yu appear. Mao Yu walked straight toward Alliance Master Zhang’s office, Feng Yao following closely behind, her small hand involuntarily gripping the corner of Mao Yu’s coat as she felt the oppressive atmosphere.

"Alliance Master Zhang, regarding the dark forces..." Before Mao Yu could finish, Alliance Master Zhang interrupted him impatiently.

"Mao Yu, what are you here for again? You used some small tricks to win the last superpower tournament, and now you think you're something special?" Alliance Master Zhang looked at him with disdain, his tone dripping with contempt.

Mao Ling stood beside Mao Yu, holding his hand tightly, as if offering silent support. Feeling the warmth of her palm, a current of heat welled up in Mao Yu’s heart.

"Alliance Master Zhang, this matter is of great importance, and I hope you will take it seriously." Mao Yu tried his best to suppress his anger, keeping his tone as calm as possible.

"Take it seriously? You, a mere junior, think you're qualified to lecture me?" Alliance Master Zhang sneered. "I think you're just looking for an opportunity to expand your own influence, aren't you?"

Mao Yu took a deep breath. Instead of arguing, he pulled a small storage drive from his pocket and placed it on the desk. "Inside this, there is some evidence I have collected..." His voice was low, yet carried an undeniable firmness.

***

Mao Yu placed the small storage drive on the desk, his voice low and steady: "Inside this, there is some evidence I have collected. I hope you will take a serious look at it."

Alliance Master Zhang paused, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes, though he quickly returned to his icy expression. He picked up the drive and inserted it into the card reader on his desk. The screen immediately displayed several video clips, showing scenes of the dark forces in action, including secret meetings and weapons trades.

"This... is all real?" Alliance Master Zhang’s voice trembled slightly; clearly, the evidence had shocked him.

"Of course. Every frame is authentic," Mao Yu replied, a glint of determination in his eyes. "The new leader of the dark forces, 'Shadow,' is plotting a much larger operation. We must unite if we are to deal with this crisis."

Alliance Master Zhang pondered for a moment, then stubbornly shook his head. "Mao Yu, although you have this evidence, I cannot change the Alliance's policy so easily. If there is more concrete proof, I might consider it."

A sense of helplessness surged in Mao Yu, but he did not give up. He put away the drive and scanned the other members in the conference room. A sudden idea struck him, and he utilized the information analysis provided by his system. "Alliance Master Zhang, look—according to this data, the next move of the dark forces is likely targeting the city's energy center."

The members of the Alliance gasped in surprise. A senior member named Elder Zhao stood up. "Mao Yu, are you saying... they are going to attack the energy center?"

Mao Yu nodded. "Yes. The information provided by the system is highly accurate, and we have enough time to prepare. If we can convince more people of this evidence, our strength will be even greater."

Elder Zhao and several other members began to whisper among themselves, their eyes gradually reflecting recognition. Seeing this, Alliance Master Zhang’s face darkened, but he was forced to reconsider Mao Yu’s proposal.

"Mao Yu, go back and prepare for now. We will discuss this further," Alliance Master Zhang said reluctantly, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.

Mao Yu smiled slightly, feeling a bit more confident. "Thank you all for your support. I will have everything ready."

Walking out of the Alliance headquarters, Mao Yu felt the chill of the night wind, though his heart remained heavy with worry. He gazed at the night sky over Superpower City, his eyes gleaming with resolve. "Shadow, you had better pray your plan doesn't succeed."

Mao Yu stayed awake all night, repeatedly thinking about how to break the current stalemate. The screen of the phone in his hand lit up, and a message popped up: "Mao Yu, there is a new mission!"