Chapter 17: The Player's Gambit

The aftermath of Aegis's debut was not a ripple; it was a tsunami that crashed against the established order of Fuzhou's Hunter community. The initial mockery and dismissal evaporated overnight, replaced by a thick, uneasy silence that quickly curdled into rampant speculation. The fifteen-minute clear time for a D-Rank dungeon, a feat typically requiring a seasoned team of at least six, was not just impressive; it was impossible.

In the hunter bars, the tone had shifted dramatically.

"Did you see the footage?" a hunter whispered, huddled over a table with his comrades. "The big guy... he took a direct hit from the train car and didn't even break a bone. He's a monster."

"Forget the big guy, what about the girl?" another added, his voice hushed. "She moved like a phantom. The way she took out the boss... it was like a surgeon with a scalpel. No wasted motion."

"And the leader," the first hunter concluded, a shiver running down his spine. "The kid. He just stood there. He barely moved, just gave orders. It's like he knew exactly what the monsters were going to do before they did it. It wasn't a fight. It was a... a performance."

The name 'Aegis' was no longer a joke. It was an enigma, a new and terrifying power that had emerged from the shadows with the force of a thunderclap.

In the penthouse office of the Azure Dragon Guild's headquarters, Lin Xia watched the battle footage for the tenth time. The low-quality video, captured by a long-range drone, was grainy, but the brutal efficiency of Aegis was crystal clear.

Her grandfather, Lin Jianyu, stood beside her, his gaze fixed on the screen. He wasn't watching the action; he was watching the formation.

"A shield, a sword, a healer, and a commander," the old man said, his voice a low rumble. "A classic, perfectly balanced party. The shield is immovable, drawing all aggression. The sword is swift and precise, striking only at exposed weaknesses. The healer provides support from a safe distance, and the commander directs the flow of battle without ever needing to engage."

He pointed a wrinkled finger at the screen, at the calm, unassuming figure of Wei Heng. "This is not the work of a boy playing with money. This is the work of a seasoned general. He has not just trained them; he has forged them into perfect components of a single, lethal machine."

Lin Xia finally looked away from the screen, a fire burning in her eyes. "He called me a piece on a chessboard."

"And he has just shown you how he moves his own pieces," her grandfather replied. "He is not a fool, little Xia. He is a dragon pretending to be a lizard. Do not underestimate him again."

Lin Xia's fists clenched. The humiliation she had felt at the steel mill was now replaced by a sharp, exhilarating sense of rivalry. This Wei Heng was not just a mystery to be solved. He was an opponent worthy of her full attention. 

"I won't," she vowed.

Back in the Aegis command center, the atmosphere was relaxed for the first time. Gao Qiang was laughing, a deep, booming sound, as he recounted the moment the train had crumpled against his chest. Chen Ling, the Valkyrie, sat nearby, a small, genuine smile gracing her lips—a sight none of them had seen before. Even Sun An had a look of quiet satisfaction, the success of their first mission a welcome validation of his new path.

The door to the main living area slid open, and Wei Heng entered. The easy camaraderie instantly sharpened into professional focus. They all stood, their posture attentive.

"At ease," Wei Heng said, his gaze sweeping over them. "Your performance was satisfactory."

Coming from him, "satisfactory" was the highest praise.

"Titan," he said, addressing Gao Qiang. "Your defense was flawless. You absorbed 97% of all incoming damage and maintained threat lock perfectly. However, your Qi consumption was inefficient by 12%. You held the train; you did not need to try and break it. Conserve your energy."

Gao Qiang nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, sir."

"Valkyrie," he turned to Chen Ling. "Your control was excellent. Your final strike was a perfect application of the 'Asura's Heart Sutra.' But you were a half-second too slow in your initial engagement with the smaller hostiles. Hesitation is a luxury we cannot afford."

"I understand, sir," she replied, her voice steady.

"Lifeweaver," he looked at Sun An. "Your support was adequate. You maintained a safe distance and monitored our vitals. Your analysis of the spectral energy's minor psychic residue was correct."

Wei Heng paused, letting his words sink in. "Overall, a successful debut. The city is now aware of us. They are afraid of us. This is good. It gives us breathing room."

He gestured to the lab station where Sun An had been working. "Your findings on the Conductor's core?"

Sun An's professional enthusiasm returned. "Fascinating, sir. Unlike the crawler's core, which is a source of raw bio-energy, this one is a 'spectral capacitor.' It doesn't generate energy; it stores and refines ambient emotional energy—fear, panic, despair. It's why the Gate was located in a place with a history of tragedy. The potential applications for mental cultivation or even psychic warfare are... immense."

"A valuable resource," Wei Heng noted. "Incorporate it into your research. But our primary focus remains on Phase Two."

He brought up the holographic map of the Dongfeng Steel Mill. "The deed is ours. It is time to build our fortress. I have completed the designs for the primary defensive formation, the 'Sleeping Dragon's Veil.' It will require precise placement of energy conduits linked to the ley lines beneath the property. Titan, you will oversee the physical construction. Lifeweaver, you will be responsible for fabricating the conduits and calibrating the energy flow."

Next, he brought up a sleek, professional logo—a stylized, unbreakable shield, emblazoned with the word 'AEGIS'. "Lifeweaver, your Stamina Potions are ready for market. We will brand them under this name. We will undercut the competition by 20%. The Iron Fist Clan currently holds the largest market share for low-grade potions in this city. We will take it from them." 

A direct economic assault. It was a bold, aggressive move.

Before anyone could comment, a soft chime echoed through the room. Mei Ling, who had been sitting silently at her terminal, her eyes closed in concentration, now opened them.

'Sir,' her mental voice was sharp, urgent. 'I have a situation.'

"Report, Oracle," Wei Heng said aloud.

"I was monitoring the Iron Fist Clan's internal communications, looking for weaknesses in their distribution network as you ordered," she explained. "I found something else. They've been illegally suppressing information about a newly discovered Gate for the last 48 hours."

She brought up a new map, highlighting a remote, mountainous area outside the city. "It's a C-Rank Gate. Rich in rare minerals, according to their initial probe. They're planning to clear it off-the-books tonight, to avoid sharing the profits with the Association. They're mobilizing their elite teams as we speak."

Gao Qiang clenched his fists. "That's against every rule in the Hunter's code."

"They are a guild of thugs," Wei Heng stated, his eyes fixed on the map. "And they have just presented us with an opportunity."

He looked at his team. The Shield, battered but stronger than ever. The Sword, newly forged and eager to be tested. The Hand, ready to turn the spoils of war into the tools of their ascent. And the Eye, seeing all the secrets their enemies tried to hide.

"The world thinks we are a joke, a novelty," Wei Heng said, a cold, predatory light in his ancient eyes. "Tonight, we will teach them that when you step into the territory of a dragon, you get burned."

He turned to his pillars, his voice ringing with absolute command. "Prepare for deployment. We're going to crash their party."