"Who gave you the audacity to detain our Li family's young master? Don't you know that your Dragon Palace has poked a hole in the sky of this Demon City!" Li Jianyin roared at the retreating Dragon Palace security guards. His head of white hair stood out starkly amidst the crowd, yet his imposing presence was undeniable.
"Smash! Smash everything here!"
In an instant, over a hundred soldiers in camouflage uniforms behind him, like tigers released from their cages, destroyed everything visible in the lobby. The security personnel, themselves former military men from the Dragon Palace, dared not offer any resistance.
As members of the Demon City Security Force, they were keenly aware of the astonishing influence this formidable old man wielded in the city. His fury could shake the military, government, and business sectors of the entire Demon City, let alone the Li family behind him.
"Elder Li, isn't this a bit too much? This is the Dragon Palace, under the Elder Council!" Liu Hai, who had been on the twentieth floor preparing to address the reserve team, hurried down upon hearing the news of the destruction below.
"Liu Hai, former Captain of the first detachment of the Network Security Department, rank Colonel, currently the Minister of the Dragon Palace Reserve Team. On what grounds are you speaking to me?" Li Jianyin looked at Liu Hai with utter disdain as he emerged.
A Colonel's rank might be considered significant to ordinary people, but in his eyes, it was merely that of a servant who could be ordered around.
After all, their Li family had deep roots in the military and government, boasting three generals and eight colonels. The number of lieutenant colonels and majors was even greater, and key positions in municipal departments across the country were held by thirty-five of their members!
What was Liu Hai, a Colonel with no money or power, in comparison?
Liu Hai's face was contorted with anger, yet he was helpless. In this world that valued power and influence, his Colonel rank truly meant nothing to these powerful clans. They could easily sideline him.
If it weren't for maintaining a balance among various factions, the three of them wouldn't even hold command positions in the Dragon Palace.
"I'll give you ten minutes! If Master Li Le and the others are not seen within ten minutes, then don't blame me for being impolite! Of course, you can choose not to release them." Li Jianyin looked at Liu Hai, then turned and retreated from the lobby, walking to the center of the plaza in front of the Dragon Palace building. He sat on a pre-arranged sofa, crossed his legs, and wore a cold expression.
As for the secretly promoted General, he scoffed. Others might not know, but they were well aware that someone who wouldn't live for more than six months, no matter how rich, was useless without power.
In this world, power and wealth were intrinsically linked. With money, you could attain corresponding power, and with power, it was simple to gain wealth. However, this interdependency was only at the middle to lower levels. To achieve an extreme in both was incredibly difficult.
Five minutes later, individuals in military uniforms began to stream out of the Dragon Palace building. These were reserve and official members who had been ordered by Ye Yun to forcibly withdraw from the game, each armed with a pistol.
"Steward Li, the Dragon Palace is not a place for you to run amok! Nor is it a place where your Li family can interfere!" Zhou Ningdong, whose expression was grim and terrifying, emerged from the building.
"Zhou Ningdong? General Zhou! It seems you are determined to oppose our Li family?" Li Jianyin ignored Zhou Ningdong's words, instead pulling out a cigar and leisurely lighting it.
"The Dragon Palace belongs to the Elder Council. Steward Li, are your current actions representing yourself personally or the Li family?"
"Regardless of who you represent, your actions can be interpreted as a provocation to the Dragon Palace and to China! I believe I have the authority to act first and report later!" Zhou Ningdong stated sternly, pointing his pistol at Li Jianyin from a distance.
All Dragon Palace personnel had their affiliations reorganized, and they were only permitted to carry pistols. The right to use firearms above rifles had been revoked.
*Swish…*
*Bang…*
A figure flashed past.
"Heh heh. General Zhou is indeed a former special forces operative, courageous indeed! It's been many years since anyone dared point that thing at me. Does General Zhou think that my family's standing in China lacks any foundation?"
Li Jianyin stood in Zhou Ningdong's previous position, twirling the pistol in his hand and looking at Zhou Ningdong, who was sprawled several meters away, with a mocking smile.
"Martial artist!" Zhou Ningdong struggled to his feet and spat out two cold words as he looked at Li Jianyin.
"Hahaha, I didn't expect General Zhou to be so knowledgeable. Unfortunately, you have thoroughly enraged me." Li Jianyin smiled faintly. With a flash of his hand, the pistol that originally belonged to Zhou Ningdong was reduced to scrap metal.
"Everyone, prepare!" Li Chenxu stepped behind Zhou Ningdong, and together with Liu Hai, they coldly faced Li Jianyin and his entourage. The situation had escalated to this point, and for the sake of the Dragon Palace or the Elder Council, they had no room to retreat.
"Oh, so you're resorting to force?" Li Jianyin looked at the nearly ten thousand pistols pointed at them, flicked the cigar in his hand into the air. The half-burnt cigar shot upwards like a bullet towards the sky, then burst like fireworks.
"Honestly, dealing with mere foot soldiers like you makes me feel like I'm using a butcher's knife to slaughter a chicken. Consider this an unforgettable lesson, so you know that our Li family is not to be trifled with by commoners like yourselves."
As Li Jianyin finished speaking, more than a dozen armored vehicles gradually appeared in their sight, and several military helicopters flew overhead. What was even more terrifying was that these armored vehicles were carrying live ammunition.
"Unauthorized deployment of armed combat units, how will you explain this to your superiors!" Zhou Ningdong was now panicked. If a conflict truly erupted, the entire Dragon Palace building would be reduced to ruins in an instant.
"Explain? Hahaha, it seems General Zhou truly underestimates our Li family. However, for now... let's see if you survive!" Li Jianren laughed arrogantly, noticing the fear in Zhou Ningdong and the others' eyes.
In the air, the missile bays of two helicopters opened, locking onto all the Dragon Palace members on the ground. Although they hadn't fired, their Gatling guns on either side spewed fire, spitting bullets down from the sky.
"Run! Get into the building, quickly!" Li Chenxu shouted, and together with Liu Hai, he hoisted the severely injured Zhou Ningdong and rushed into the building.
"Damn it, you guys, carry those four cowards inside!" Liu Hai scanned his surroundings, saw the four slumped on the ground, and his anger flared. What a disgrace.
"No, it's not... Old Liu, look, the General seems to have jumped off the building!" Xie Yifeng, slumped on the ground, pointed at the sky with a stunned, tearful voice. If their General was gone, how could they escape?
"Jumped off the building?" Liu Hai froze, and before he could react, he heard a massive explosion in the sky.
Two helicopters, as if struck by missiles, plummeted rapidly towards Li Jianyin's position. Li Jianyin's face turned pale, and he narrowly dodged the falling wreckage.
"Dragon Palace General, Ye Yun, since the Li family has only sent a dog like you, you don't need to go back!" A sonic wave boomed, making the scalps of over ten thousand people in the plaza tingle.