Chapter 276: Entering the Dimensional World

"What could I have to do with the Galewind Lake?" Zhang Lie wondered.

"Enough! The Galewind settlement's been entirely annihilated, and I'm sure that's something you're aware of. I've dispatched some soldiers to ask around, and I learned that the hunters of Team Zenith were active in that area just a few days ago. If I'm not mistaken, the one responsible for the region around the Galewind settlement must have been Zhou Ying, who was the first to inform us of the impending calamity." Yan Long and Su Feng, having known Zhang Lie for some time, naturally ignored his lies.

"So what? What can that prove? It was just a mere coincidence that the members of Team Zenith were present in that region, and she had left quite a few days before the disaster happened!"

"You… Fine—what will it take to get you to tell the truth?" Yan Long visibly reined in his anger. Against anyone else, he would already have been shouting in rage, but his superior had been very clear about instructing him to conduct the investigation cordially.

Yan Long hadn't expected this to be difficult considering how well he and Su Feng knew Zhang Lie, but for some reason, Zhang Lie clearly wasn't willing to tell them anything this time around.

Given the lavish rewards Zhang Lie had received during the Void Cup, however, Yan Long's offer was hardly attractive to Zhang Lie. Almost immediately, he replied, "I'm sorry, Commander Yan Long, but I don't have anything to say regarding this matter. From my perspective, we should focus on rebuilding after the disaster, rather than investigating how it had occurred."

Either he truly didn't know, which Yan Long and Su Feng doubted, or he wouldn't reveal a thing.

"If you won't tell us anything, what do you expect us to say to the public, to the other countries on Earth, and even to the Solar System at large?" Su Feng asked, but even this approach was fruitless.

"Just tell them that I had a prophetic dream, or that I sensed impending danger a few days ago," Zhang Lie replied, causing the two commanders' faces to darken.

They turned to leave. Even though it seemed that Zhang Lie hadn't said anything, they did learn more about the event than before—at the very least, from Zhang Lie's attitude, he was certainly aware of what had caused the disaster, but for some reason, he was trying to hide it all.

Zhang Lie had anticipated this sort of interrogation, but he hadn't expected that Yan Long and Su Feng would be the ones summoned to talk to him, nor that their attitude would be so polite. For that, he was sure he had nothing to thank but his status as the champion of the Void Cup.

After sending the two commanders away, it was almost time to consume the disaster-grade lifeform's flesh, but before then, he had to arrange for his sister's introduction into the first realm of the dimensional world.

She had been asking to enter right after the disaster struck, but it was far too dangerous then for her. Now that things were being restored to normal, Zhang Lie no longer had an excuse to refuse his sister.

Once the two commanders left, Zhang Lie sent for his two apprentices and Zhang Hanxiang.

"Let me introduce you to my sister, Zhang Hanxiang." Zhang Lie patted his sister's shoulder as he looked at his apprentices. ?"Hanxiang, these are my first two apprentices, Ye Xianchen and Jun Jiuxiao."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss!" The two children bowed respectfully.

"Ah, none of that. My brother said that we're all friends and family here, didn't he? Why don't you call me sister too?"

Zhang Hanxiang really couldn't bear being addressed as "Miss". Jun Jiuxiao and Ye Xianchen were slightly younger than she was. They turned to Zhang Lie, who nodded, then smiled at Zhang Hanxiang. "Sister Hanxiang!"

The three of them easily became acquainted with each other.

After watching them interact for a while, Zhang Lie cleared his throat to get their attention.

"The reason I've summoned all of you here today is because I have an announcement to make."

"An announcement? Could it be that..."

"Yes—we're going to be making plans for all three of you to enter the dimensional world."

Zhang Hanxiang, Jun Jiuxiao, and Ye Xianchen all gaped in surprise.

"Really, Brother? Are you finally willing to let me enter the dimensional world?"

"Do you mean that, Master? Can we enter the dimensional world again, too?"

All of them exuded anticipation.

"Of course! When have I lied to you, Hanxiang? As for the two of you, I'm worried that you're too small to be going places on your own, so I'd like for all three of you to work together. Meet up at the settlement closest to each other once you enter, then start hunting together."

The three of them all whooped.

"I'm finally going to enter the dimensional world!"

"Right, won't it be fun to hunt together?"

"Brother, when can we enter? Immediately?"

"Immediately? No, of course not. There are a lot of areas you need to be aware of before entering the dimensional world, so we'll do it tomorrow. Tonight, Sun Mengmeng and Fang Yi will give you an important lesson regarding surviving in the dimensional world. After this lesson and a good night's sleep, they'll escort you into the dimensional world themselves."

Their faces fell.

Zhang Hanxiang asked coyly, "Brother, do we really have to wait until tomorrow? Why can't we enter tonight?"

"Hanxiang, your safety is of paramount importance. I won't allow any negotiation on this front!"