Sky-cracking Rider

Xia Ji and the others took a commercial Light Wing Ship from Morning Star Continent and arrived in the northern part of Zilu Continent. When Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu arrived near Red Stone Airport where the opponents had arrived, riding the evolved aircraft Metallic Dragon Yilan, they were very surprised to lose track of the other party's location.

Neither the technological positioning devices nor the specially made artifacts could track the whereabouts of Xia Ji and the others.

-

Upon landing, the female Metallic Dragon Yilan couldn't wait to revert to her original dragon form, immediately shedding the four hydrogen turbojet engines with a clattering noise, scattering them all over the ground. Her massive Blade Wings fully extended, flapping vigorously a few times, stirring up a swirling heatwave.

After all, the temperature in the combustion chamber was enough to melt steel. Even with the engine off, the residual heat still emitted scorching temperatures.

The Metallic Dragon had to blow hard, trying to disperse the heat as quickly as possible.

"Huff puff huff..."

The reason they didn't opt for the more fuel-efficient turbofan design was mainly because turbojet engines adapt better to harsh weather. Even in stormy weather, rain getting sucked into the engines would only boost them, without the risk of extinguishing the high-temperature, high-pressure combustion chamber.

Seeing Princess Lin Ziyu fiddling around for a while with no success, Chen Fei asked, "Can we get in touch with the local Imperial Security Department?"

Seeking help from the official forces of the Dynasty was the most efficient method.

"No, let's head to one place first. Xia Ji and their schedule were planned by the Imperial Security Department, they are likely to have settled there. Chen Fei, I need your Mobile Base Vehicle now."

Princess Lin Ziyu tucked away the useless phone and artifacts.

"Alright!"

Chen Fei could only listen to Lin Ziyu's decision. Beyond her scholarly identity, she surprisingly also played the role of an Investigative Agent from the Imperial Security Department to perfection.

It made one believe that she was the real Yu Zilin, not Her Royal Highness the Princess.

As if guessing Chen Fei's thoughts, Lin Ziyu proactively explained, "These backup identities are the bottom line of precautions for royal members. We usually have exchanges and practice them."

The Third-Level Investigative Agent of the Imperial Security Department was just one of the Princess's cover identities. As a princess of the Slan Dynasty, it was impossible for her to live a commoner's life.

"You really have a strong sense of crisis!"

While muttering, Chen Fei released the Mobile Base Vehicle from the Space System Alchemy Storage Device.

"To wear the crown, one must bear its weight!"

Lin Ziyu smiled wryly, already accustomed to it.

The cover identities were personally arranged by the Empress herself, and only very few people knew about them. Even the close Shadow Guard Lize Jina was unaware of how many cover identities Lin Ziyu had; only Housekeeper Mars truly knew.

Creak creak...

Yilan continuously blew air while munching on the slightly cooled hydrogen turbojet engines. Her powerful dragon teeth intersected, tearing the solid engines apart.

Baked sweet potatoes... Mmm, that's the flavor.

"Ha... Refreshing!"

The four turbojet engines were quickly devoured, and the Metallic Dragon exhaled a warm breath, quite satisfied.

"Yilan, downsize and then get in the car!"

Chen Fei sat in the driver's seat of the Mobile Base Vehicle, then inserted the Crystalline Block and waved to the still eager female Metallic Dragon outside the vehicle.

The Giant Dragon's form was too conspicuous. From a great distance, it was visible, effectively signaling Xia Ji and his people that their pursuers had arrived.

Having spent time with Yilan, Chen Fei had identified some characteristics of the Metallic Dragon.

The Metallic Dragons not only had the ability to transform, but they could also increase and decrease in size. Although their mass remained the same, their weight could change accordingly.

"Here she comes!"

Yilan's form sharply decreased, reducing to the height of an adult.

However, her weight was still around seven to eight hundred kilograms, and as she stepped into the vehicle, the entire Mobile Base Vehicle involuntarily sank slightly.

"Yilan, you're so hot!"

The moment the female Metallic Dragon entered the car, Princess Lin Ziyu immediately felt the wave of heat hitting her.

"Can't help it, I couldn't just throw away those engines!"

Yilan would have diligently cleared the now-useless hydrogen turbojet engines without Chen Fei having to tell her in advance.

This was also her reward; for this, Chen Fei had spent a total of eight energy points.

"Body temperature 117 degrees Celsius!"

The AI "Adam" of the Mobile Base Vehicle, took the opportunity to identify the temperature using an infrared thermal imaging sensor.

"Your Highness, be careful of burns! 'Adam,' turn on the air conditioning cooling!"

Chen Fei closed the door, pressed the accelerator, and the Mobile Base Vehicle drove from the air-to-ground area toward the nearest road.

The surrounding area was a vast wilderness, with sparse trees and tall grass reaching nearly waist high, and in the distance was South Nandu City in the northern part of Zilu Continent, at Red Stone Airport.

It was now night time, and the number of Light Wing Ships taking off and landing was greatly reduced. Every ten minutes or so, a Light Wing Ship would take off or land, their extended wings particularly noticeable in the night sky.

Hiss...

The air conditioning blew out cold air, enveloping Yilan from head to claws.

The menacing dragon sprawled on the floor, panting, looking quite comfortable from her posture.

The temperature in the vehicle, which had sharply risen, gradually returned to normal.

"Your Highness, which way now?"

Chen Fei could already see the road ahead and conveniently turned on the satellite positioning to start confirming the navigation.

"Let's go here!"

Princess Lin Ziyu took out her phone, which displayed an electronic map and the destination's location.

Through the optical lens, "Adam" captured the image and synchronized the navigation information immediately, which is the advantage of having artificial intelligence AI; it can significantly save manpower and enhance efficiency in many instances.

Princess Lin Ziyu continued, "This is the informant's stronghold. According to the Security Department's plan, Xia Ji's first stop when he arrived in Zilu Continent was the courtyard of 'One-Leg' An Luota. This guy is a real criminal and also the leader of a gang in this region. Not many people know that he was recruited a few years ago."

"Is this guy reliable?"

Chen Fei was puzzled why the Silan Dynasty's Security Department would recruit a gang member instead of simply eliminating him.

"His mistress had a son, his only son, so..."

Princess Lin Ziyu did not continue.

The operations of the Security Department were not very sophisticated. To make the local snake gang leader obey, they took hold of his mistress and only child, which can be seen as coercion or protection from another standpoint.

"Understood!"

The carriage slightly shook as the Mobile Base Vehicle drove onto the highway, and the speed immediately increased.

Through the local snakes, investigating the whereabouts of Xia Ji and others was far more efficient than relying on the local branches of the Security Department.

Shortly after, the Mobile Base Vehicle stopped at an alley in Nandu City.

The courtyard of "One-Leg" An Luota was originally located at the suburban-urban interface. There was almost no public lighting system. Under the cover of night, who knew how much wickedness was occurring.

The Silan Dynasty had spent nearly twenty years unifying Cangqiong Star, and real global governance had been achieved only in the past decade or so. It would still take another forty to fifty years, waiting for the older generation accustomed to previous political regimes to pass away, for the dynasty to become deeply entrenched over time.

Thus, in places where the Empress's reach was limited, the government's control was always somewhat lacking and could not extend its power to every nook and cranny like in Morning Star Continent.

Zilu Continent, once part of the Tessa Empire, had only in recent years begun to accept the rule of the Silan Dynasty. The sporadic resistance and upheaval had quieted down considerably. It was impossible to completely obliterate all the former rulers and powers; now they had simply fallen from power and descended to the commoner class. How they truly felt could only be known by them.

The Security Department of the Silan Dynasty controlled the underworld forces at the social bottom partly to maintain social stability and partly to monitor those unstable elements.

Having put away the conspicuous and large Mobile Base Vehicle, Chen Fei and Princess Lin Ziyu walked into the pitch-dark alley, with the female Metallic Dragon Yilan still maintaining a reduced size, following them.

"Chirp!~"

A sphere of Illumination Technique appeared, lighting up an area of more than ten meters around them.

With a chirp ahead and Yilan behind, despite only two people venturing into the unknown dark alley, their combat capability was quite assured.

Dirty water flowed across the ground, with small creatures occasionally scurrying by, and the air also smelled quite bad.

"Do you need a mask?"

Chen Fei looked toward Her Royal Highness the Princess, who was slightly frowning.

"No worries!"

Princess Lin Ziyu took out a handkerchief and gently covered her nose and mouth.

"Hmm, quite a few people are here?"

The female Metallic Dragon looked around. It also possessed an infrared thermal imaging vision module and spotted many figures of the Human Race in the darkness, even spotting a few Magical Beasts.

As part of the Intelligent Species, those who had fallen into criminal activity were not limited to the Human Race but also included rational Magical Beasts, who might be lurking in the dark, spying on the two humans and one dragon.

It was precisely because of Yilan's presence that no one jumped out to intercept them.

"The gang leader's stronghold is bound to have quite a few people; here we are!"

Princess Lin Ziyu looked at a slightly ajar courtyard door; the location matched the destination coordinates on the map, which must be the lair of "One-Leg" An Luota.

"Wait a minute!" ×2

Chen Fei and Yilan spoke at the same time.

"What's wrong?"

Princess Lin Ziyu looked puzzled.

"In the courtyard... there's no one left, (inhales), or rather, no living people!"

Chen Fei inhaled; a faint smell of blood permeated the air, seemingly drifting out from the courtyard.

"What?"

Princess Lin Ziyu was greatly shocked.

"Something's very wrong here!"

Chen Fei looked around, and just as he finished speaking, the area in front of them suddenly became as bright as day, turning a thirty-meter radius snow-bright.

At least a dozen "Light Burst Flashes" were released simultaneously.

"The eyes!"

Princess Lin Ziyu quickly raised her hand to cover her eyes.

"Can't see!"

The female Metallic Dragon Yilan also closed its eyes, very unaccustomed to the sudden change from darkness to extreme daylight.

"Chirp?"

Little Bird expressed indignation.