Full-Time Public Enemy

Bear couldn't help but shudder.

CLICK. A metallic sound rang out as Wei Jiangqi slowly turned the lever, opening the large gate. The interior was empty, save for a round metal column standing towards the back, near the center.

Atop the one-and-a-half-meter-tall metal column rested a jet-black crown!

A crown? Bear frowned inwardly. What era is this? What value could such an object possibly have beyond being an artifact, warranting such tight security?

He didn't notice that Wei Jiangqi, gazing at the crown, had an indescribably complex expression in his eyes. It was a mixture of hatred, enmity, fear, gratitude… and even a touch of nostalgia.

While Bear carefully observed the crown, he noticed that its pitch-black surface wasn't smooth but was covered with extremely fine, densely packed "patterns."

Yet, they didn't quite seem to be patterns, as the markings looked very deep.

Upon closer inspection, he realized the crown seemed to be "fading" or "bleeding color." Countless fine, almost imperceptible black lines "flowed" down from it, streaking across the metal column and continuing to "flow" onto the ground.

One of the followers couldn't help but ask, "Your Excellency, is this what we've been searching for? Such a bizarre crown?"

Wei Jiangqi chuckled. "This isn't a crown; it merely bears some resemblance."

Then, taking a deep breath, he added, "This is a brain."

"A brain?" Everyone present was puzzled and looked at the object again. But Bear suddenly understood: Could those intricate patterns on its surface be the convolutions of a brain?

"How could such a... dead brain be of any use to us?"

Wei Jiangqi turned and glared at the follower. "Who said it's dead?"

"Not dead?" The crowd was incredulous. They scrutinized the object even more intently. Some, wanting a closer look, unconsciously started to step into the vault before Wei Jiangqi forcefully pulled them back.

"No one is to enter except me."

A chill went through the followers. "Yes, we understand."

Wei Jiangqi shook his head. "You don't understand. I'm not worried about you coveting this object... I'm worried about this object coveting *you*!"

"You have no idea how terrifying it is!"

Just as Wei Jiangqi finished speaking, layers of pale blue energy ripples suddenly stirred within the vault. Then, in an instant, a figure materialized out of thin air beside the "black crown"!

The followers and Bear were first shocked, then furious. "You're courting death!" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Wei Jiangqi looked at the young man. His powerful memory instantly recalled the "sleeping" face from a certain prison, and he realized, "Chen Gu?"

Chen Gu stood beside the "black crown," clutching an object that caused electricity to arc and flicker across his body.

He warily eyed the "brain" beside him and offered Wei Jiangqi a slight smile. "Wei Jiangqi, your reputation precedes you.

Today, we two Prophets finally achieve our historic meeting. Everyone present is a fortunate witness, though I'm afraid you'll all have to share this singular honor from within a special prison of the Bureau of Mystic Security."

There are some clowns in this world so exasperatingly cringeworthy that neither friend nor foe wants to admit knowing them…

A historic meeting? Singular honor? We're the Bureau of Mystic Security's special ops team! Have some damn dignity, will you? Even if you're trying to provoke them and distract them with words, can't we pick a more intimidating topic? Members of the special ops team made gagging sounds over the communication channel.

Meanwhile, the members of True Knowledge Sin erupted in fury. "Who do you think you are?!" one roared. "Daring to compare yourself to His Excellency the Prophet? A charlatan like you, guilty of such grave blasphemy, should be burned to ashes by eternal flames for the Purification of this world!"

Wei Jiangqi, however, looked at Chen Gu with a hint of admiration, still somewhat incredulous. "You actually managed to find me."

My arrangements were flawless, he thought. It should have been impossible for anyone to find me before I executed my final plan.

Chen Gu thought for a moment, then said earnestly, "You've done very well indeed. It's quite probable that no one but me could have found you."

Over the Bureau of Mystic Security's communication channel, Marcus couldn't take it anymore. "Chen Gu, you're laying it on a bit thick, kid."

That sounded like a top student telling the runner-up, "You've already done exceptionally well, surpassing many others; you just can't surpass me."

Great Actor Chen, reminded by Marcus, belatedly realized he might have just twisted the knife a little too much...

But I was just stating the truth, he thought. Only he knew that if he weren't a multi-specialist, and if "Brain Domain Hacker" and "Quantum Wizard" weren't among his specializations, he would never have been able to find Wei Jiangqi.