Invincibility starts when I see the BOSS health bar.

Chapter 1018 Acceleration

The best way to cover it up might be, as Qi Sheng had vaguely mentioned before, to package it as "the remains of an unknown alien creature." This would cause a nationwide sensation and a surge in scientific exploration, and even lead many people to be blindly optimistic that humanity is about to acquire alien technology and usher in an era of interstellar migration.

However, this is also extremely risky, because if there are insiders who truly understand the "Seeking Demons" game and have seen the details of the demon corpses, they are very likely to see through the clues and discover that the "alien creatures" are actually demons in the game.

At that time, the resulting unrest may be even more difficult to control.

However, Fang Yu also knew clearly that these intricate games, distribution of interests, and manipulation of public opinion were no longer things that he needed to or was capable of mainly considering and undertaking.

His battlefield is more practical.

With that thought in mind, he temporarily suppressed these chaotic thoughts and asked the question that concerned him most at the moment: "Uncle, I understand. I naturally trust you to handle these matters. So, what is the current situation of our target, that guy in the next city?"

Qi Sheng seemed to have anticipated Fang Yu's question. He withdrew his gaze from the window and refocused on Fang Yu, his eyes becoming sharp and deep: "This is the second reason I came here in person tonight. I've come not only to inform you of the progress in handling the body, but also specifically to see you off on this trip."

He paused, his tone carrying an undeniable decisiveness: "I'm giving you three days. Within three days, regardless of whether you've found your target or not, regardless of how things have progressed, if you haven't completely resolved the trouble over there, you must return immediately."

"Three days?" Fang Yu was somewhat surprised; this time limit was much tighter than he had anticipated. "Why the rush? Has there been any new development over there?"

“It’s not because of the situation over there, but because of our situation here.” Qi Sheng shook his head, his gaze serious. “It’s not that I’m in a hurry to put pressure on you, but I want you to understand a priority. Right now, in Jiangnan City, only you, Fang Yu, have enough ability and strength to protect this city and the safety of us in the face of a truly ‘unconventional’ threat. You are the strongest pillar we can rely on right now.”

His words were very direct, even somewhat cruel, revealing the reality: "If you go to the neighboring city and get stuck in their quagmire, unable to extricate yourself for a while, and at that very moment, our own Jiangnan City's foundation suffers a major problem, and is attacked by similar or even more powerful demons or strange events, that would be a true catastrophe, putting the cart before the horse! Although I sympathize with the plight of those innocent people in the neighboring city and understand your urgent desire to solve the problem, as a decision-maker, I must prioritize ensuring the safety of our own core area. Sympathy cannot come at the cost of sacrificing our own foundation."

Fang Yu fell silent.

He could completely understand Qisheng's concerns.

Although the straight-line distance is not far, traveling across cities is no different from taking a long trip.

If a major crisis were to occur in Jiangnan City, which he considers his home, and he were stuck in another city unable to return in time to provide assistance, the consequences would be something he absolutely could not bear.

His roots are here, the people he wants to protect are here, so the safety of this place should naturally be his top priority.

This is a matter of responsibility, but also personal motives, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Seeing the understanding and approval in Fang Yu's eyes, Qi Sheng's serious expression softened, and he revealed a relieved smile.

"You don't need to feel too much pressure because of this. Although most of us are ordinary people and don't have the extraordinary power you gained in the game, we are not without the ability to protect ourselves after such a long period of preparation and planning. I also have some unknown trump cards. However, your existence is the ultimate guarantee for dealing with the worst situation."

He reiterated: "Therefore, maintaining uninterrupted communication is crucial. Brother Qi will prepare dedicated satellite communication equipment for you to ensure you can contact us even in extreme circumstances. If any situation arises that requires you to return, I hope you can find a way, at any cost, to get back as soon as possible!"

“I understand.” Fang Yu nodded heavily, his tone firm. “Uncle, rest assured, I know what’s important and what’s urgent. I will stay in touch and will return immediately if summoned.”

"Good!" Qi Sheng nodded in satisfaction, his smile widening. He reached out and patted Fang Yu's shoulder again. "Go ahead then. Be careful, I'll be waiting for your good news."

At this moment, Qi Ge, who had been standing quietly at the door like an invisible man, stepped forward at the right time and made a simple and standard "please" gesture to Fang Yu. His voice was as steady and reliable as ever: "Mr. Fang, the car is ready and downstairs. I will drive you there."

Fang Yu took a deep breath, clearing his mind of all distractions, and his eyes regained their sharpness and focus.

He glanced at Qisheng one last time, then without further hesitation, took firm steps, followed Brother Qi, and walked out of the room toward the underground parking garage.

Upon entering the underground parking garage, the cold, damp air, carrying a faint smell of gasoline and concrete, pressed down heavily.

Fang Yu's footsteps were amplified in the empty and silent space, echoing and adding to the coldness.

He strode towards the black sedan that was already waiting in the designated spot. Its body lines were smooth and cold, and it gleamed faintly in the dim light, like a lurking predator ready to pounce at any moment.

Qi Ge quickened his pace, overtook Fang Yu, and opened the passenger door ahead of him.

Fang Yu didn't stand on ceremony, nodded slightly, and sat down.

On the other side, Brother Qi circled around and got into the driver's seat.

Fang Yu was still savoring the unique scent of the leather seats mixed with the refreshing aroma of the car's fragrance.

Suddenly, a soft "click" was heard.

That was Qi Ge pressing the start button with deft finger movements.

Immediately afterwards, a deep and powerful roar suddenly exploded, instantly tearing apart the deathly silence of the garage!
The sound wasn't sharp, but it carried a deep, metallic roar, like a beast being awakened and growling in a suppressed voice, making one's eardrums tingle slightly, and even the chest could feel the invisible vibration.

Fang Yu could even feel the subtle vibrations coming from the seat, clearly indicating the surging power hidden under the hood.

"Hold on tight." Brother Qi's voice was calm and composed, a stark contrast to the wild actions his men were about to take.

Before he finished speaking, his right foot had already slammed down! The accelerator pedal was instantly compressed to its limit.

"boom--!"

The engine's roar suddenly intensified, turning from a low growl into a furious roar!

The powerful push-back sensation was like an invisible giant hand, forcefully pressing Fang Yu against the soft chair back.

The wheels made a brief but intense screeching sound as the vehicle shot off like an arrow, heading towards the dimly lit area at the garage exit.

Outside the car window, the support pillars and parked vehicles blurred into color blocks, rushing past rapidly, leaving only brief afterimages on the retina.

As soon as you step out of the base gate, the view opens up dramatically.

The neon lights of the night poured down, replacing the artificial lighting in the garage.

This was the far outskirts of the city, with wide roads and sparse traffic. On either side were somewhat monotonous green belts and the occasional low-rise factory buildings and vacant plots of land, creating a desolate and empty atmosphere. Without the slightest hesitation, Qi Ge straightened the car on the straight road, and his speed surged once more!
The pointer on the dashboard nimbly swept to the right, easily surpassing the values ​​that are difficult to achieve on regular city roads.

The wind noise outside the window suddenly increased, whistling past the car window as if trying to swallow up all other sounds.

Fang Yu didn't pay any attention at first.

In the suburbs, the roads are in good condition, so driving a little faster seems understandable. He even subconsciously tightened his seatbelt and adjusted his posture, trying to adapt to the astonishing speed.

However, as the roar of the car engine continued and grew stronger in his ears, even with a stubborn determination to reach its limit, he gradually sensed something was amiss. This speed seemed to have exceeded the category of "slightly fast."

The first time I realized the seriousness of the problem was when the red light at the intersection ahead suddenly lit up without warning.

It was like a red eye that suddenly appeared, full of warning, hanging high above the road.

Logically speaking, even the fastest driver would at least ease off the accelerator, slow down, and prepare to brake.

But what about Qi Ge? His right foot seemed to be rooted to the accelerator pedal, welded shut!

Instead of showing any sign of retraction, as if in response to the provocation of the red light, the force under his feet seemed to increase even further!
"Whoosh-!"

Without the slightest hesitation, the vehicle, with a piercing screech that tore through the air, swept past the stationary line with an almost ruthless attitude, leaving the blinding red figure far behind.

Fang Yu could even clearly see the astonished expression on the face of a truck driver who had stopped normally in the next lane. The moment they crossed paths outside the car window, the image was imprinted in his mind like a freeze-frame animation.

"Brother Qi, did you... run a red light just now?"

Fang Yu finally couldn't help but turn his head to look at the man in the driver's seat, his voice filled with surprise as he offered a reminder.

Upon hearing this, Brother Qi turned his head slightly, a smile that was a mixture of ease and a hint of mystery appearing on his lips.

He casually rested one hand on the steering wheel, his posture so composed that it was as if he had merely run over a fallen leaf rather than violated the most basic traffic rules.

"Don't worry, Mr. Fang." His tone was calm, but with an undeniable certainty. "Our passage this time has been 'in consultation' with the higher-ups."

"By air?" Fang Yu repeated the word subconsciously, his brows furrowing slightly.

The word sounded somewhat official and vague, and he couldn't immediately grasp its exact meaning in this context.

Did they give prior notice? Or did they obtain some kind of permission? But what kind of permission can override traffic lights?

His doubts didn't last long. Reality soon gave him a shocking answer.

Ahead, another intersection. The traffic light above displays a red countdown timer, clearly marked "17, 16, 15...", meaning there are still more than ten seconds left before the red light turns red.

Their vehicle was rapidly approaching the intersection, and at this speed, they would inevitably have to wait for those ten seconds or so before the stop line. Fang Yu had even mentally prepared himself for the experience of sudden braking.

However, just as their vehicle was about to enter the intersection's sensing area, or rather, just as it was triggered at some unseen point, the change occurred!
The bright red countdown number "5" seemed to be wiped away instantly by an invisible hand, and the red light went out without warning and with a clean and crisp turn-off!

Almost at the same moment, vibrant green lights slowly illuminated the path, opening it up for them, and seemingly only for them.

The entire process was smooth and precise, without the slightest hesitation, as if the traffic lights possessed a self-awareness and had changed their established operating rules specifically for their arrival.

"This..." Fang Yu swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue, leaving him only with utter astonishment.

And this is just the beginning.

The rest of the journey seemed to be under a magical spell.

No matter which intersection they approach, and no matter the original signal cycle, as soon as their vehicles get close, the red light ahead will always turn green at just the right moment, as if an invisible honor guard has cleared all obstacles for them in advance, leaving only a straight, uninterrupted green channel.

All the way, there were green lights and we had a smooth journey!
The vehicle maintained peak speed throughout, without any pauses or delays.

The roar of the engine became a stirring yet monotonous background melody, while the scenery outside the window rushed by, forming a blurry band of color.

Large sections of suburban roads that would normally take much longer to traverse under normal traffic conditions have had their travel time dramatically reduced thanks to this almost "cheating" level of efficiency.

This feeling is like watching a video that has been deliberately fast-forwarded, eliminating all the redundancy of waiting and buffering.

Is this what they mean by "getting in touch with the higher-ups"?

Fang Yu leaned back in his chair, his heart pounding.

This goes beyond the scope of a simple "greeting"; it is a systematic and efficient intervention of power.

For the first time, he felt so directly that some force beyond the conventional order was at work for him.

The concrete manifestation of this power is this unobstructed green wave. He realized that the "above" that Brother Qi mentioned possessed far more energy than he had previously imagined.

What they are enjoying at this moment is a genuine privilege, a huge and undisguised privilege.

"It seems that Mr. Fang still hasn't fully grasped his own position, and... the status of the Flag Chief."

Qi Ge seemed to sense the turmoil in his heart. He looked straight ahead and spoke in a calm tone, breaking the silence in the car.

His voice wasn't loud, but it struck Fang Yu's heart like a heavy hammer.

"What we're dealing with right now is really just a trivial matter to us."

He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, or perhaps emphasizing a certain fact, “Often, rules exist to maintain general order. But for certain people and things, these rules… have a certain degree of flexibility. You have to gradually get used to this shift in perspective.”

Just as Qi Ge finished speaking, the scenery outside the car began to change significantly.

The sparse, low-rise buildings were gradually left behind, and dense shops, towering residential buildings, flashing neon signs, and bustling crowds began to appear on both sides of the road.

The bustling city nightscape unfolds like a slowly unfurling scroll, announcing that they have officially entered the noisy downtown area from the quiet suburbs.

The lights were dazzling, and the traffic was bustling.

(End of this chapter)