The Rise of a Master: It Starts With Rejection

Chapter 701

Inside a temporarily requisitioned shop opposite Tranquil Clinic, everyone wore tense expressions. Their disbelief was evident in their furrowed brows and doubtful gazes.

"Confirm the information again. I find it hard to believe," said a burly middle-aged man, his imposing presence hinting at years spent in a position of power.

He was none other than the Warlord of Thunder, one of Dragonia's five mighty warlords, and a figure of immense authority and influence.

"The suspect currently holding a hostage in the clinic has claimed over the phone to be Candace, ranked as the Five of Hearts among the Thirteen Aces, a group of 'Super S-rank 'wanted criminals. It's still unclear whether the claim is genuine," Alistair reported. This was precisely why the Warlord of Thunder was skeptical. The Thirteen Aces, and not just any member but the fifth-ranked, appeared suddenly in a bustling city and personally called the authorities-it was absurd to the extreme.

Xena, the Phoenix Warlord, was also in the room. She frowned deeply, clearly finding the situation equally troubling. "Has Candace made any demands yet?"

"No, not yet," Alistair replied.

Xena, who had been attending a meeting at Gray City's outskirts base along with the Warlord of Thunder, found herself pulled away mid-session to handle this emergency.

it were a regular hostage situation, it wouldn't require someone of their rank to step in. But dealing with a figure like Candace, a member of the Thirteen Aces, was an entirely different matter. Standard procedures, like conducting investigations, simply

waved his hand decisively." Deploy the assault team for

of Thunder himself was prepared to take action-after all, dealing with a top-five Super S- rank wanted criminal almost always

the target escaping-or worse, launching a deadly counterattack-was simply too high. This was the strategy

of Thunder, wait. The owner of Tranquil

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Chapter 701

25 BONUS

cold glance her way. "Phoenix Warlord, the command authority for the operation

she had risen to his

remained firm. "We need to assess the situation carefully. This is Candace, the Five of Hearts, we're dealing with, and in a crowded area, no less. Even with the street sealed off in time, we've only managed to block one road. If we lose control, the casualties

Warlord of Thunder dismissed it with disdain. "Hah! Do you think everyone is as weak as you? If I take action,

react to the insult. Among the warlords, her combat strength was indeed the weakest a fact she didn't deny. But she was young and confident she would catch up in due time, so there was