Chapter 1371: Suitable candidate

The City Lord’s manor.

Gu Qing Shan and the girl appeared inside a hidden room.

“Gu Qing Shan, the urgent matter right now is that over a hundred of the City Lord manor’s guards and servants have just died all at once. Such a huge matter would definitely be discovered, and numerous forces in the city are surely asking for an explanation right as we speak” the girl said.

“Were they all killed by the Card I gave you earlier?” Gu Qing Shan asked.

“That is indeed the case. I still have a way to gloss this over, but that would cause everyone’s hearts and beliefs to waver, so I want to know if you have any other solutions” the girl replied.

“I do”

Gu Qing Shan took out his black handbook and casually said: “Remember, as soon as they’ve all gathered, immediately use the first Card I give you”

…

A minute later.

The City Lord manor’s conference room.

All the big shots in the city were gathered here.

—–after all, this was an incident that occurred in the City Lord’s manor at an extremely sensitive time, everyone wanted to know the truth of the matter.

The girl looked over all the big shots sitting at the scene and gave her explanation.

“As everyone here surely knows, I’ve just used a technique to locate spies among us and eliminated quite a few guards”

“…And so, please prepare yourselves”

She raised a Card and whispered the incantation right away: “All things live and die in the fleeting moment, with my power of Condemnation, all wicked machinations upon you shall be eradicated”

A holy glow illuminated the entire room.

Every bigshot in the conference room was completely safe while bathing in the light.

No one died.

The girl sighed in relief and announced: “Very well, at least no one here talking had fallen under manipulation”

“Does this discerning technique of yours truly work?” someone couldn’t help but ask.

“It does work, this has been confirmed”

The girl took out another copy of the same Card and said: “Although everyone here has been confirmed to be safe, there are no guarantees that your subordinates would be the same, so I want to examine them——- keep in mind, every member who had been chosen to enter the Wraith realm must undergo this check”

The big shots exchanged glances.

「 My apologies, can I take a look at that Card? 」

A middle-aged man in a bowler hat asked.

The Card slowly levitated towards him.

“How was it, troupe leader?” the girl asked.

「 Ah, this certainly is a purification Card from the Inner Plane, a relatively high-level one as well, I believe we can try it once 」 the man called ‘troupe leader’ agreed.

He handed the Card to the person next to him.

All the big shots examined the Card once.

Although they weren’t Card experts, they could naturally sense that this Card was meant for discerning thanks to their level of strength.

—–that was enough for them to make the call.

「 There is no harm in being cautious; since the troupe leader of the Card Hunting Troupe has confirmed it, I think we should indeed conduct an examination 」 a tree spirit said.

“Indeed, we are powerful enough that there should be no issues with us, but those below could certainly be easily manipulated” the Hitman Guild master affirmed.

「 I agree 」the Ominous Demon Tower master also said.

“A short check would make us more assured”

“Summon all the subordinates”

The big shots all agreed one after another.

Very quickly, the members chosen to enter the Wraith realm from every organization were summoned to the City Lord’s manor.

In front of everyone, the girl raised the Card up high and whispered: “All things live and die in the fleeting moment, with my power of Condemnation, all wicked machinations upon you shall be eradicated”

A holy white glow appeared.

A group among them immediately howled in pain as a shadow was expelled from their bodies and took flight, attempting to flee.

But under the illuminating light, they quickly melted and faded away like snow under the sun.

The big shots all looked at this with terrible expressions.

Never did they think that so many of their subordinates would fall under control even before they made it to the Wraith realm.

If they had gone to the Wraith realm like this, they wouldn’t even know how they died.

Fortunately, the City Lord’s manor managed to act in time and resolve this big issue.

The girl waved her hand to dismiss the subordinates from the various organizations.

The big shots returned to the conference.

“Then, should we cancel the plan?” one of the big shots asked.

“No, this entire matter had been conducted in secret, I don’t intend to make it come to light, the plan will commence as normal”

Another bigshot said: 『 Wouldn’t these people’s deaths cause the wraiths to be cautious? 』

Someone else shook their head: “Our true plan was only known to everyone sitting here, it wouldn’t have been until hour zero that our subordinates received their orders”

The Hitman Guild master affirmed them: “Indeed, that was certainly the plan, so in theory, the wraiths do not know of our true intentions even now”

An old man carrying a Blade on his back spoke: 『 The deaths of these people would also serve as a threat to the wraiths, warning them not to make any suspicious moves 』

「 That is indeed the case, after this examination, we’ve managed to filter out every spy, the plan will have an even better chance of success 」the Card Hunting Troupe leader also agreed.

He then changed the subject, asking in a seemingly casual manner: 「 However, this Card had truly been a great asset, who exactly was the owner of this Inner Plane Card? 」

Everyone remained silent.

The girl grinned and said: “It’s a secret”

「 Even to us? 」the Card Hunting Troupe leader asked.

“Of course, his safety will directly decide whether or not our hands are clean, I need to protect his identity”

“That is true” someone agreed.

“Indeed, such a rare ability certainly needs to be well-protected”

This subject was then glossed over.

Very quickly, the big shots once again reached a consensus to re-select the suitable people after getting rid of all the spies, swiftly making preparations for the plan.

…

The girl returned to the secret room.

“Everything has been resolved, it’s fortunate that I had you”

She looked closely at Gu Qing Shan and said.

Gu Qing Shan asked: “What exactly happened?”

The girl then carefully explained the entire process.

Gu Qing Shan listened carefully, occasionally even asking questions. It wasn’t until half an hour later that they fully got this matter over with.

“What do you intend to do from now on?” Gu Qing Shan asked.

The girl said: “According to the plan, I will personally make my way to the Wraith realm”

“You can’t go” Gu Qing Shan said again.

The girl paused a bit, then replied: “In truth, even with spies among us, I would still have nothing to fear because I’m still personally strong, not to mention the big shots of Void City, we have the power to directly declare war on the Wraith realm, the only reason why we chose an ambush was to take the initiative”

Gu Qing Shan slowly said: “But you still can’t go”

The girl’s beautiful eyebrows furrowed, then slowly smoothened again.

“Gu Qing Shan, why do you think that I still can’t go?” she held back her temper and asked.

“Because the wraiths seem to need you for something, and my Card can only check those who are under their control, not those who have silently defected to the wraith’s side” Gu Qing Shan replied.

As the girl wanted to refute him, Gu Qing Shan put his hand up to stop her.

“In reality, among the two Cards I gave you earlier, one was real, and one was fake”

He explained.

The girl was surprised and asked: “One was real and once was fake?”

“The Card you used against the big shots was fake; the one you used against their subordinates was real”

“Why was that necessary?”

“Firstly, to prove that it was indeed you investigating the spies among your ranks that caused the death of the City Lord manor’s guards”

“Secondly, to prove that there were spies among each organization, as well as eradicate them all”

“Thirdly, to ensure that everyone understood that there wasn’t an issue with any of the big shots. Not only would this ease everyone’s minds, but it would also cause the wraith defectors among the big shots to believe that the Card wouldn’t be able to discern those who are too powerful. Once they’ve shown their true colors, they will have thoroughly lost their values and I would still be able to kill them with my Card”

“Fourthly, since you’ve just eliminated every spy among you, your organization would become a lot more tight-knit, you would naturally follow the original plan, while the wraiths who had received information would make the appropriate adjustments to wait for you”

“——And so, the true battle had only just begun”

The girl was stunned when she heard his explanation.

No wonder he told me to immediately use the first Card…

And here I thought both of them were real.

However, thanks to that, my gaze, attitude, and language were all without issues…

This guy deceived even me for the sake of this plan.

But the results were unexpectedly great as well.

After a lot of thinking, she finally spoke up: “With me at the backline, would the wraiths not attempt anything against those who enter their world?”

Gu Qing Shan replied: “No, the situation has changed—— what I want to do now is to lure them into using their countermeasures against your plans, only then would we be able to clearly see the wraith’s strength and weaknesses, which would also make it easier for me to work in the shadows”

“But you’re insisting that I don’t leave” the girl said.

Gu Qing Shan observed her from top to bottom, clearly examining her closely.

Being looked at like that, the girl was angry, then thought for a bit and said: “Wait, you mean that you want someone else to disguise as me and enter the Wraith realm, while I remain here in Void City to control the entire operation?”

Gu Qing Shan nodded and slowly said: “A secret plan, a sudden ambush, and the general isn’t in danger, such is the recipe for an infallible plan”

“But who would be able to act as my doppelganger? You?” the girl asked with intrigue.

“I can’t do it, because I have other things I need to do, but I do have a suitable candidate” Gu Qing Shan replied.

“If they’re not strong, acting like me would only mean their death” the girl said.

“Don’t worry, he’s a Titled Hitman” Gu Qing Shan assured her.