My Misfortune Crushed Instances-Chapter 157: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

Beside the desert highway, towering cacti swayed weakly in the wind, resembling scarecrows watching as the convoy approached from afar.

Snake Eye leaned against the vent, trying to see where they were now.

"Desert, we should be heading west."

Pence said, "Then it looks like this batch of goods is to be handed over to the Western Alliance. Just not sure what it is. Maybe some important strategic goods, probably originally stolen from the Polar Alliance or Dragon Country."

"It's possible. There's word that the Secret Realm battlefield is about to open, tensions are high."

"So those who attacked us that night, were they from the Polar Alliance or Dragon Country?"

Li Rui listened to their serious discussion, though he knew it was unreliable, he still pondered who those masked attackers were that night.

Logically, this batch of 'goods' isn't some vital strategic resource. Though it's a high-yield illegal trade, it's not worth risking lives to steal.

For now, he could only guess it was the bandits who were already at odds with the Blood Blade Alliance.

...

The vast desert region was littered with rocky terrain, making encounters with people in the wilderness challenging.

Yet another convoy was trailing the Blood Blade Alliance, distant but slowly closing in.

This convoy consisted entirely of mountain vehicles with large tires and high displacement engines, modified beyond recognition, equipped with gun racks, bulletproof panels, and painted with extravagant flames, skulls, and crosses.

If ordinary people saw this convoy, they'd likely raise their hands in surrender, praying these folks only wanted money, not lives.

Because they were the infamous gang, the Screeching Pillagers.

This organization had no fixed base, not even fixed personnel, often attracting deranged lunatics, like the Demon Witch Zago before he got lucky.

These people were notoriously audacious, daring to seize anyone's property, consistently oppressed by various organizations, yet always managing to flee before the core members suffered casualties.

This time, they were eyeing the Blood Blade Alliance's cargo.

"Max, where did the intel come from? Are you sure?"

The person in the front passenger seat, whose face was covered in tattoos, was applying lipstick while asking, his name was Phil, nicknamed Mad Face, a level 35 Advanced.

"I don't know where the intel came from! Don't ask me! That guy selling intelligence in the black market said so! I just know they have big cargo, and the news popped up abruptly in the past few days, seems like it was accidentally leaked! Damn! Stop asking!"

The driver was bald, with a large golden ring through his nose, nicknamed Desert Lizard, renowned for his skill in abandoning cronies to save his skin.

"But the guys you sent to scout last time didn't get any intel."

Mad Face kept asking.

"Doesn't that just prove they value it?! You're dumber than the donkey you robbed last time!"

"Hmm, Max, you really have a sharp mind, you're the smartest among us."

Mad Face hugged Max's bald head and gave it a wet kiss.

"Wipe off your saliva, it's gross, you maniac."

....

William used to be an employee at an insurance company. He was diligent, often leaving early and returning late, barely taking vacations. He achieved the highest bonus every quarter, earned lots of money, and eventually partnered with someone to establish his own sales company.

The luxury house, luxury cars at home, yearly vacations multiple times, and the tuition fees for his two kids at private schools weren't an issue for him.

He was handsome, tall, and courteous, the epitome of a good man.

That's how his wife viewed him.

However, upon arriving at his company, the gentle sales partner vanished, replaced by a senior inspector of the Western Kingdom Affairs Bureau, Wenlai County Headquarters.

This region bordered the chaotic land, and they mainly dealt with matters related to that area.

Recently, Inspector William received an extraordinarily challenging task from his superiors.

"The Intelligence Department's strategy succeeded, we managed to convert a middle-tier official responsible for border region intelligence in Dragon Country."

"How did you accomplish that?"

"He's a lecher, obviously using women. Never underestimate the enemy, but don't overestimate either, everyone has weaknesses."

"Alright, then what do you need me to do?"

"The intelligence value of this person is moderate, we need to leverage him for greater gain."

William kept silent, acting very much interested in the details.

His superior continued, "Remote control him to relocate immediately, then you arrange personnel to leak necessary hints about his whereabouts. This way, Dragon Country will undoubtedly send people to eliminate him."

William frowned, "Do we act now? Before the Secret Realm battlefield opens?"

"Of course, we take action before it opens."

His superior seemed somewhat displeased with his hesitation, "But not a full-scale fight. The sudden occurrence means they can't prepare well, so they'll have to act in haste. Based on the Intelligence Department's analysis, there's a 92% chance it'll be that Black-clothed Death God."

William's response finally became sharp again.

"To kill him, yes exactly, this Secret Realm has a level cap of only 50. He's the absolute core, eliminating him would significantly weaken Dragon Country."

"Seems you understand, personally oversee it, okay? Assure me you'll complete the mission."

"No."

William, a cautious person, hesitated again, "What if he brings others along?"

"He always acts alone."

His superior seemed somewhat exasperated with William's slow response, "You, a level 44 Advanced Mage, plus an entire special ops team, against one man, and you can't achieve it?"

"However, if you indeed find him with many helpers, you have the authority to abort the mission temporarily. Remember, attack in places with fewer people, don't cause a big stir, or else the Foreign Affairs Department will hassle me."

Thus, after receiving the assignment, William arrived at the desert near Kaiouli's edge.

He discreetly spread cryptic information within the professional black market, trusting Dragon Country's intelligence would certainly have informants sniffing it out.

Simultaneously, he remotely shifted the target from local gangs to the Blood Blade Alliance, further enhancing authenticity.

Now, if the calculations were correct, that Black-clothed Death God would think this was merely a normal defector transfer.

One side was motivated by money, the other by eliminating risk, both side would meet in a brief skirmish.

At that time, Inspector William would lead the elite squad to take down that Black-clothed Death God.

"Chief, situation detected."

The voice from reconnaissance personnel interrupted his thoughts through the earpiece.

"Speak."

"A desert bandit group is approaching the target convoy. Identity confirmed, it is a group called the Screeching Pillagers, two leaders both level 35, advanced, numbers roughly 50 to 70, number of Extraordinary unknown, equipped with heavy weaponry."

William remained unmoved: "Minor characters, ignore them."

"Uh, Chief, another power has entered the target area, it's confirmed to be the Bamboo Gang."

"Hmm?"

"They are pursuing the Screeching Pillagers, because those maniacs robbed a convoy held by Bamboo Gang a few days ago."

William did not expect the development to unfold this way, but in chaotic land it's quite normal.

Suddenly, another group started reporting.

"Unidentified persons spotted in the south, currently investigating."

"Chief, identity confirmed, Demon Witch Zago, along with several helpers, based on attire they're presumed to belong to a certain religious organization."

"Demon Witch? Why is he here?"

"Presumably because he used to join the Screeching Pillagers, maybe here to lend a hand."

"Ha."

William found it interesting, not worried at all.

The more chaotic the situation, the easier it was to achieve his goal, he hoped all these people would clash.