Through the scope, Xiaofeng observed the armed helicopter hurtling toward the twin-blade tower of the Brumm Company. Suddenly, his eyes caught a familiar insignia emblazoned on the aircraft—it was unmistakably the emblem of the Evil Dragon Cult.
A tense knot tightened in Xiaofeng's chest. He urgently called to Hebelai, "Uncle Hebelai, come look at that armed helicopter!"
Hebelai approached with a furrowed brow, lifting the sniper rifle to peer through the window. His expression darkened. "Damn it, the Alliance army has truly lost their minds, colluding with these lunatics! How could they allow these fanatics to breach New City's airspace?"
Xiaofeng's voice grew grave. "Have you detected their presence before?"
"No," Hebelai replied grimly, "I know the Alliance soldiers have been surveilling Kerry and Kelly, but they wouldn't dare move against us. Yet with these deranged cultists? Anything's possible."
Xiaofeng reclaimed the Black Angel rifle from Hebelai, scrutinizing the helicopter. One of the scopes indicated a distance of two thousand meters—already perilously close to the Brumm twin-blade tower's security perimeter. "Uncle Hebelai, you'd better arm me with some rounds. Without ammunition, the Black Angel is nothing but a beautiful ornament."
Hebelai frowned and opened a nearby cabinet filled with ammunition of various calibers. He pointed to the longest cartridges. "These are the bullets for the Black Angel."
With deft hands, Xiaofeng loaded ten rounds into the magazine and resumed his aim on the approaching helicopter. If it dared come any closer, he vowed to eliminate its pilot with a single shot.
Hebelai picked up a communicator and dialed swiftly. "There's an armed helicopter outside—dispatch reinforcements to intercept!"
Within seconds, two fighters took off vertically from the twin-blade tower's rooftop, soaring toward the helicopter.
Hebelai raised his binoculars, watching the two silver jets, marked proudly with the Brumm insignia, close in on the intruder.
The helicopter's pilot made no hostile moves. Instead, he signaled the two formidable warplanes hovering before him, then turned sharply and retreated.
Xiaofeng kept the scope trained on the helicopter. "Don't let them slip away… keep them in sight."
Hebelai nodded and relayed further orders via radio. Ground surveillance continued to monitor the retreating craft.
Only after the helicopter vanished beyond the horizon did Xiaofeng lower his rifle. "They're clearly scouting us. I suspect it won't be long before they make a move against you."
Hebelai looked puzzled. "Why do you think they'll target me?"
"Even if not you, then Kelly's father will be a target. Their intentions are clear—I overheard the Alliance soldiers mention that Kelly and Kerry are designated targets nine and ten. By that sequence, you must be number one. You must stay vigilant."
Hebelai nodded solemnly. "I'm aware. We've prepared countermeasures—there's no need for you, a mere youth, to worry."
Xiaofeng smiled wryly. "I know your strength well. Just those two fighters earlier proved your might. Since you're so formidable, then surely you won't begrudge me the Black Angel?"
Hebelai, without ceremony, reached out to snatch the rifle from Xiaofeng's hands. "I told you no! This is the last Black Angel—I cannot part with it."
Xiaofeng raised a hand in a gesture of pause. "Alright, I see where Kerry's stinginess comes from. If you won't give it to me, can I buy it?"
"Do you even know its worth?"
Without a word, Xiaofeng withdrew a small pouch from the black case that held the Blood Vampire rifle. Before Hebelai's eyes, he opened the pouch, revealing an orange-red glowing magic crystal that instantly captivated Hebelai, Kelly, and Lily alike.
All three were worldly and understood the significance of such a radiant magic crystal.
"A D-grade magic crystal?" Hebelai muttered, astonishment and disbelief etched across his weathered face.
Xiaofeng nodded proudly. "Is that sufficient?"
Hebelai hesitated. Although this sniper rifle was irreplaceable, its value didn't reach a million Alliance credits. Yet the D-grade crystal in Xiaofeng's possession could fetch that price, and Hebelai was in desperate need of crystals of this purity.
At last, Hebelai relented. "Very well, we have a deal. But I must verify if this D-grade crystal is genuine."
"Feel free to test it any way you wish," Xiaofeng replied confidently.
Hebelai instructed Lily, "Go upstairs…"
Understanding his intent, Lily's excitement grew palpable.
They ascended two floors via elevator, emerging into a realm Xiaofeng had never witnessed—machines of all kinds filled the space: mechs, aerial vehicles, and uniquely crafted heavy weaponry, utterly beyond Xiaofeng's comprehension.
On this floor, Hebelai's demeanor shifted to one of solemnity, his earlier pride replaced by urgency. Trembling slightly, he hurried to a sleek, triangular-shaped aircraft, its surface gleaming like silver glass.
Beneath the wing, Hebelai extracted a cylindrical component and inserted the D-grade magic crystal within.
He then climbed the ladder into the cockpit, donned a helmet, and, to Xiaofeng's delight, the triangular craft roared to life.
Hebelai's joy was childlike, as if he had just received a wondrous gift.
Xiaofeng admired the silver triangular aircraft, finding it far more captivating than even the imposing Black Angel sniper rifle on his back.
Turning to a similarly astonished Kelly, Xiaofeng inquired, "Kelly, what do you suppose the value of this aircraft is?"
Kelly fixed him with a wary gaze. "What are you planning?"