Chapter 463: The World Federation's Undercurrents

The hunters' forums exploded with activity. After all, everyone was paying close attention to Renhuang. The video recording immediately caught the attention of curious hunters from all around.

"What?! Renhuang's going to attack the sura forces head-on? Don't they know how many people will perish as a result?"

"Isn't it better to wait for reinforcements? Why fight now?"

"Well, they were going to die regardless—why not go out in a flame of glory? After all, they certainly wouldn't be able to hold the sura forces back either way! Better to let the media and the world federation memorialize them as a group that had once destroyed two sura kingdoms and built a city of their own with only three thousand men, only to die in valiant battle against an onslaught of sura!"

"Whether or not they'll be memorialized, I can't say—but I'll surely remember that there was an idiot who dared to split his forces six ways against an invasion by seven sura kingdoms!"

"Really, what do they think they're doing? Are they trying to die even more quickly?"

"Well, would you rather be a lifelong coward or a minute-long hero—no, I mean, a minute-long idiot? Haha!"

"Does he not understand the difference between bravery and recklessness?!"

"Haha, the speech is leaving me in tears! I can't believe he thinks the seven-kingdom invasion is a good thing."

There were a flurry of comments mocking Zhang Lie's speech.

"Everyone, I have an important announcement to make to you: Renhuang is doomed."

"Everyone, I have an important announcement to make to you: I'm sending the troops of Renhuang to their death."

"Everyone, I have an important announcement to make to you: I, the governor of Renhuang, is an idiot."

"I really feel bad for Martial Sage Hong Tianqi, who has been supporting him all this time. He's trying his best, but he can't help a fool like Zhang Lie!"

"In the past, I thought Zhang Lie was a smart and talented man, and I even idolized him deep inside. But now..."

.

"He just got lucky, that's all! When it comes to a real trial, he clearly has no idea what he's doing!"

"And look carefully—he's dispatching all his troops, but he himself is remaining safely ensconced within the city!"

"What? Does he really think the hunters of Team Zenith can stop the sura by themselves? It's true that Zhang Lie's a strong fighter in his own right, but what about them? Can they even kill superior-grade lifeforms on their own? The sura kings could destroy them with nothing more than a finger!"

"You know how everyone thinks Zhang Lie's an idiot? I disagree—he's smarter than anyone here!"

"Allowing his loyal subordinates to die while he tries to flee—what's smart about that? Everyone can evacuate immediately—the sura aren't even here yet!"

"Perhaps so, but they'll definitely be chased around the second realm by these sura. By sacrificing the members of Team Zenith and the alien races he commands, he's giving the sura a peace offering."

"Is that so? It really might be the case—the sura don't know what Zhang Lie looks like, either. When they destroy these forces only to find an empty city left behind, thinking that they've killed everyone, they won't pursue Zhang Lie any further!"

"At any rate, they would hardly scour the second realm just for one particular human. With everyone dead and their reputation reclaimed, they'll naturally recall their forces."

"Is this how the hunters of Team Zenith's loyalty to Zhang Lie will be rewarded? How pitiful!"

"Isn't Zhang Lie heartless? He'd sacrifice his subordinates for himself!"

"It's only those people of Qi who call Zhang Lie a hero, a champion of mankind—it's clear to everyone else that he isn't a good man! If Zhang Lie really were as honorable and magnanimous as you all make him out to be, why hasn't he published the recipe for these limit-breaking potions of his yet? He's clearly not working for the greater good!"

"So this is how Zhang Lie really is—he saved Qi only to boost his reputation, destroyed a sura kingdom simply because he had made them his enemies, and after causing all that trouble, he's sacrificing his teammates for his own safety! He's not fit to be called a man!"

"I'm ashamed that this man is considered a hero of humanity!"

"Right, I absolutely agree! Zhang Lie should be excised from the annals of mankind—let's start a motion in the world federation for that, shall we?"

All sorts of angry messages were spreading through the forums, and Zhang Lie's fame was turning into infamy. Sitting in his office, Amurong leaned back in his chair and began to smile so widely one could see his molars.

His main obstacle had self-destructed! Amurong had been thinking of how best to remove the mountain that was Zhang Lie, but he hadn't needed to lift a finger! "Zhang Lie really is a fool, isn't he? Well, that's that."

Martial Sage Hong Tianqi had, once again, proposed a motion to send reinforcements from the world federation to aid Zhang Lie, and Amurong had nearly come to blows with him against the resolution.

Hong Tianqi knew that this would be a time-sensitive affair, so he had no choice but to stake his own reputation on the line to amass support for Zhang Lie.

Given Zhang Lie's fame and Hong Tianqi's reputation, it was true that many humans would have been drawn to their cause, and Amurong's meddling had been to no avail.

Hong Tianqi's steadfast support of humanity for many years made him all but untouchable, but just as Amurong was about to despair, Zhang Lie had done something foolish like this of his own accord.

Amurong was laughing so happily that tears fell from his face. He hadn't known what to do, but Zhang Lie had solved his problem neatly for him. The damage to Zhang Lie's reputation caused a chain reaction that caused more and more hunters and forces to withdraw their support and promises of aid.

Everyone was willing to help a hero, but not if that hero was revealed to be a selfish, scheming man. If not for Martial Sage Hong Tianqi's reputation, even more forces would have withdrawn.

"It looks like you won't have to dirty your own hands after all," Amurong's ally murmured.

Amurong shook his head. "Better to be careful. I won't feel safe before Zhang Lie's dead. Since Zhang Lie's trying to run off by sacrificing his subordinates, I'll foil his plan and guarantee his death."