Apocalypse Circular-Chapter 506 - 504: Imperial Ambition

Huh?

Before he could voice another thought, Lu Luo had already dashed out.

His speed was extremely fast, and his Qi He was shrouded in a dense toxic mist. As Lu Luo charged into the pink fog, this toxic mist began to spread outward.

He intended to force the Unicorn to reveal itself with this maneuver!

"Still not coming out!"

Lu Luo swept his greatsword, the searing flames almost igniting the surrounding fog.

The Unicorn, its space already constricted, could no longer hide within the pink mist. Eventually, brushed by the tip of Lu Luo’s sword, it leaped out.

When Lu Luo saw the Unicorn in its entirety, an odd feeling surfaced.

This thing... it’s way too small!

The Unicorn before him resembled a tiny pony galloping at full speed. Moreover, it was pink. As it ran, its hooves made a "pitter-patter" sound. The crucial part was its incredible speed; it moved like a small pink rocket.

Lu Luo clicked his tongue and gave chase.

Regardless, an Eighth Order Exotic Species was always valuable. The mission from the Imperial Inspection Department was to disperse it, but Lu Luo’s intention was to kill it! The value of an Eighth Order Exotic Species was self-evident.

Besides, Lu Luo... had never tasted an Eighth Order Exotic Species before!

SWOOSH!

Lu Luo’s sword edge sliced through the woods. The molten lava ignited flames, and a crimson fissure of energy shot out in the direction Lu Luo pointed his sword.

The pink Unicorn dodged nimbly. Upon seeing Lu Luo’s sword strike, it turned and neighed piercingly at him.

NEIGH!

The shrill sound made Lu Luo feel that something was amiss.

This sound...

"[It’s a frequency. It’s very likely calling for reinforcements.]"

Summoning, huh?

Lu Luo knew that even if an Eighth Order Exotic Species wasn’t Monarch-level, it was likely to command a large number of subordinates. So, he wasn’t surprised that the Unicorn was now calling for its underlings.

It was just a pity. He no longer had Noah’s Star, so he couldn’t store large quantities of Exotic Species corpses. And in front of these Imperial folks, he couldn’t devour them on a large scale either. Wasting so much energy was truly regrettable!

Lu Luo clapped his hands together, infusing the ground with Sequence Force.

Just as the first reinforcing Exotic Species showed its head, a tentacle erupted from the earth, its sharp mouthparts and spines instantly shredding the creature.

"Those who block me die!"

Lu Luo’s voice was somewhat imperious. Ordinary people merely heard it as his declaration or a battle cry. But to the ears of Exotic Species, these words were like the scythe of the netherworld, a summons from the grim reaper. It was akin to the suppressive pressure a higher-order Exotic Species exerted on lower-ranking ones.

At this moment, Lu Luo also possessed such an ability. Although he was still human, the Exotic Species didn’t perceive him that way. In their eyes, Lu Luo was more terrifying than the Unicorn—an existence capable of hunting it down. To involve themselves in a battle between higher-order Exotic Species at such a time was merely courting death.

As for the Unicorn escaping and blaming them later, that was a problem for the future. It was uncertain if that creature could even survive Lu Luo’s pursuit!

The galloping Unicorn weaved through the jungle, with Lu Luo in hot pursuit. Both moved at extreme speeds. Unhindered by other Exotic Species, they quickly burst out of the jungle, one after the other, onto the northern grasslands.

Leaving the jungle meant they had completely exited the territory controlled by the Empire.

Lu Luo’s current status was exceedingly sensitive, and the Empire’s stance towards him remained uncertain. Lu Luo was well aware that some, like Wu Yi, wanted to gain his power. But others might want him dead. After all, a rising expert could potentially disrupt the Empire’s balance of power. Once that balance was disturbed, some interests would inevitably need to be reshuffled. Thus, the established powers would need to eliminate unstable factors like him.

Therefore, if Lu Luo left Imperial territory, the Empire would undoubtedly issue a stern warning. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Lu Luo, you have now crossed the Imperial border! The grasslands are not an area under the Empire’s effective control. Stop the pursuit and return immediately."

Damn it, I’m so close to catching it, and you guys are just holding me back!

Lu Luo’s sword slashed across the Unicorn’s back, his molten lava blade leaving a blackened scorch mark.

The Unicorn shrieked in pain and ran even faster.

Lu Luo felt certain he could kill it if he continued the chase, but if he didn’t turn back now...

"You must return immediately! The grasslands are not within our control. If you disobey orders, I will have no choice but to issue a warrant for your arrest. That is not an outcome you wish to see, is it?"

The corner of Lu Luo’s mouth twitched. He finally stopped on the boundless grassland. The tall grass swayed in the wild wind, and Lu Luo’s mood was just as unsettled.

It was at times like these that the importance of freedom became apparent. Once his power and identity were exposed, he truly wasn’t free anymore.

"Heh, a warrant for my arrest? Understood. I’m heading back now."

Lu Luo chose not to resist. Resisting at this juncture would be an unwise decision. Returning was the better option.

Hearing Lu Luo agree to return, and seeing his tracking signal cease moving further away, Zhang Zhe breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The strength Lu Luo had displayed was simply too formidable. Their orders were to confront, disperse, and, incidentally, ensure their own safety. After all, an Eighth Order Exotic Species was extremely powerful, and the Unicorn’s speed was incredibly fast, making it difficult to guard against. In such circumstances, Zhang Zhe and his team had never even considered killing the Unicorn.

But what about Lu Luo’s performance just now? Chasing the Unicorn single-handedly with his sword, hacking away wildly. If... He meant, if Lu Luo had genuinely pursued it, he might have actually managed to kill the Unicorn.

But he didn’t dare take that risk. That was a risk Wu Yi herself, the Twelfth Imperial Princess, would have to bear.

After ending the call with Lu Luo, Zhang Zhe dialed Wu Yi’s communicator. So much had happened in such a short time that Zhang Zhe momentarily didn’t know how to begin his report.

"Your Highness..."

"What is it? Speak directly," Wu Yi replied, her voice indicating she had sensed the unease in Zhang Zhe’s tone and had mentally prepared herself.

"Lu Luo has guessed your identity."

"Guessed it? Is that so."

"You’re not surprised?"

"No, I sensed it when I returned earlier. Was it because my previous behavior was too eager? Moreover... the intelligence that woman provided was also problematic."

On her way back, Wu Yi had carefully reflected on her interactions with Lu Luo. She had felt that everything was under her control, but in reality, Lu Luo had never been drawn into her scheme. Judging from Lu Luo’s final actions, he was clearly not an idealist. This meant the intelligence Wu Liji had provided was wrong all along.

"What do we do now?"

"How is the situation on your end? Has the Unicorn been dispersed?"

"Not dispersed, but rather..."

"Just say what you mean. Stop hemming and hawing."

"Lu Luo’s personal strength is extremely formidable. He has the power to single-handedly drive off an Eighth Order Exotic Species, even pursue and kill it. In a direct one-on-one confrontation, I can state with absolute certainty that the Unicorn is no match for Lu Luo. There’s a significant gap in their power levels! After defeating the Unicorn, Lu Luo began to chase it. However, they soon went beyond the Empire’s borders, so I..."

"What did you do? Say it!"

"I ordered him to return."

"You mean, you made him give up pursuing the Unicorn?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I also..."

"I understand. Say no more."

Wu Yi didn’t blame Zhang Zhe at this time. Zhang Zhe was merely following regulations, though perhaps he lacked a certain degree of flexibility. However, his authority didn’t allow for flexibility in this matter. After all... if Lu Luo went missing, Zhang Zhe would be the first to be executed, and his entire family might even suffer the consequences.

"It’s not your fault. But what a pity; I also wanted to know if he truly possessed the strength to kill an Eighth Order anomaly."

Wu Yi’s interest in Lu Luo had grown beyond mere curiosity; it had even sparked a certain longing.

The makings of a king!

Wu Yi felt that Lu Luo had the makings of a king—the kind of person who could become a War God. He was only twenty-six this year. Given enough time to mature and gain experience, Lu Luo would inevitably become an Eighth Order master. In time, the Empire might truly gain another War God-level figure. It was just uncertain whether this War God-level individual would become her, Wu Yi’s, assistant.

"Your Highness, what do we do now? Lu Luo already knows your identity. I’m afraid our previous plan can no longer be used."

Thinking of this, Wu Yi shook her head slightly. She found it unexpected that her plan had been exposed so quickly.

"How did he behave previously?"

"Previously, Lu Luo directly mentioned your name to me; he deduced it by analyzing the characters in your name. Then he guessed your rank among the princesses and, by sensing the fluctuations in my heartbeat, roughly figured out your standing."

It sounded somewhat miraculous, but Wu Yi knew very well this was likely one of Lu Luo’s abilities. Or rather, his Sequence possessed very strong reconnaissance capabilities. That was why he could perceive these subtle details. Many of her and Zhang Zhe’s actions couldn’t escape Lu Luo’s observation, which was why they were exposed. However, Lu Luo not hiding it was somewhat unexpected for her. Normally, if Lu Luo hadn’t revealed his knowledge and had kept it hidden, her performance in front of him would have been akin to a monkey show. Thinking about it carefully, it was quite shameful. But Lu Luo hadn’t done that. He hadn’t let her continue her act; instead, he had directly stated the matter. Telling Zhang Zhe was purposeful. Telling Zhang Zhe was tantamount to telling her. Since Zhang Zhe was her subordinate, Lu Luo was telling her to stop the act, that it was pointless.

He wants to seek a dialogue on equal footing.

"What? Why would Your Highness say that?"

Because since Lu Luo had entered the Imperial Capital, he hadn’t met any true higher-ups; he hadn’t had a chance to display his abilities, nor had he found an opportunity for a truly meaningful conversation. He had always been passive in the Imperial Capital, so he had grown quite impatient.

Wu Yi’s judgment was, in fact, very accurate. This was precisely why Lu Luo hadn’t let her continue her charade.

Although watching an Imperial Princess put on a monkey show was somewhat amusing, it wouldn’t bring him any benefits and might even be detrimental. He didn’t need this. What he needed were his demands to be heard and a real conversation with those in actual power.

"So, what should we do next, Your Highness?"

"Just proceed with the troop withdrawal as normal. You don’t need to pay him any special attention. Lu Luo is a smart man; very smart. It’s precisely because he’s smart and understands the rules that he can be constrained by us. Freedom within the rules is true freedom. He hasn’t yet reached the stage where he is above the rules. So, just add some extra meat to his dinner tonight."

"That simple?" Zhang Zhe found it somewhat hard to believe.

"Yes, it’s that simple. If you’re still uneasy, you can give him a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of liquor. I believe Lu Luo will be very pleased."

...

By the time Zhang Zhe hung up, Lu Luo’s figure had appeared at the edge of the jungle. He appeared refined and courteous at that moment, making it hard to believe he was the same person who had been so explosively aggressive just moments before.

"Back, are we?"

"Isn’t that a rhetorical question, Captain Zhang? Or did you not want me to return?"

"No, not at all. If you hadn’t returned, I would have been in serious trouble."

Zhang Zhe led Lu Luo back to the squad’s temporary encampment. Then, following Wu Yi’s earlier instructions, he handed Lu Luo a meal. However, besides the standard food, there was an extra portion of luncheon meat and a bottle of liquor.

"Here. Campaigning in the field is tough. Here’s your dinner. The meat and liquor are extra. Make do with it."

"Wow, extra rations! That’s really nice."

Lu Luo showed a hint of surprise, and it didn’t seem feigned.

This perplexed Zhang Zhe even more. Could this man really be pleased by a bottle of liquor and a piece of meat?

"Of course. After all, you helped the Empire disperse the Unicorn. You are the hero of this mission."

"Hero? I wouldn’t dare claim that title."

Although Lu Luo was somewhat irked that they had made him return, preventing him from killing the Unicorn, he also knew Zhang Zhe was powerless. So, blaming Zhang Zhe was pointless. It’s like when a refrigerator stops cooling; you don’t usually blame the refrigerator itself, but rather the manufacturer.

"Hero or not, that’s just talk. Advancing the frontier line is never easy. People die every year. Your strength ensured that not a single one of us perished. In my eyes, that already makes you a hero. Oh, by the way, do you smoke?"

Lu Luo was about to say no, but seeing Zhang Zhe’s sincere expression, he eventually nodded.

"Thank you, I’ll take one. How far does the Empire intend to expand its territory?"

"The grasslands. The aim is to occupy the entire grassland because north of it lies the Northern Lands—too much snow, unsuitable for human development. But the grasslands are different; this region is very fertile and well-suited for human habitation. The prerequisite, however, is that the anomalies here must be completely dispersed."