Chapter 63: Prologue to Chaos

As Chen Ling committed suicide by shooting himself in the mouth under the watchful eyes of everyone, the world fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone stared in astonishment at the empty edge of the cliff, and for a moment, their thoughts stalled...

"Committed suicide?" Yan Xicai was stunned for a long time. "I thought his bones were how hard... and he just committed suicide like that??"

"Something seems wrong... Did you see it just now? His face turned into someone else the moment he was shot."

"I saw it. What was that about?"

"I already thought it was strange. How could a small law enforcer from District 3 dare to go against Young Master Yan so recklessly... So, he wasn't Chen Ling at all?"

"He was a Fire-Tamperer."

Just as everyone was discussing, Pu Wen suddenly spoke.

His expression was extremely grave!

"Tamper with the Heavens, seize the Universe. End-Thief [Silver King]... This is the faith of the Fire-Tamperers."

"Fire-Tamperers!?"

Hearing these three words, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically!

"Is that the evil organization wanted by all human domains? They've come to the Aurora Domain too?"

"I've heard of them. Every member of the Fire-Tamperers is a possessor of the Path of the Thief. They can easily steal anyone's face and then blend into the crowd..."

"They take pleasure in stealing everything from others: identity, money, memories, emotions, family... It's said they can even steal other people's divine paths?!"

"So the one who died just now wasn't Chen Ling at all, but a Fire-Tamperer who had infiltrated us?"

"They've infiltrated the Ancient Vault of the War Path?!"

Everyone spoke one after another, and a terrifying, chilling atmosphere spread rapidly in the enclosed Ancient Vault!

At the same time, the Fire-Tamperers on the side were also bewildered.

They had thought that Chen Ling had killed No. 13 and then pretended to be a Fire-Tamperer to infiltrate them... But just now, after Chen Ling was shot, he clearly turned into the appearance of No. 13 again!

So, No. 13 didn't fail? Was it No. 13 himself who did all that just now?

Did he betray them?

But... but what would he gain from that?

All the Fire-Tamperers felt their heads spinning. They looked at each other, only seeing confusion in each other's eyes...

"He said just now that we would all die." Lu Xuanming, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

If Chen Ling had said this, everyone would have thought it ridiculous, as he was just a powerless small law enforcer from District 3... But if the one who said it was a Fire-Tamperer disguised as Chen Ling, the nature of it was different!

Now, as everyone recalled the words, expressions, and smiles of Chen Ling before his suicide... they only felt a chill down their spines.

"But he's dead now... can he still kill us?" Someone among the law enforcers asked hoarsely.

"What makes you so sure that only one Fire-Tamperer has infiltrated us?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's hair stood on end!

The hearts of the Fire-Tamperers sank to the bottom!

"The Fire-Tamperers infiltrating the Ancient Vault of the War Path must have a significant plot... Do you think they would only send one person?" Lu Xuanming's low voice echoed in everyone's ears. "Look at it from another angle: if he were the only one, why would he take the initiative to provoke Yan Xicai and make us all attack him? Isn't that just exposing his identity and seeking death?"

"You mean he was actually actively attracting our attention? To hide his other accomplices?"

"That doesn't make sense either... Once he dies, we know that Fire-Tamperers have infiltrated. Doesn't that make it even easier to expose his teammates?"

"Could it be that there's infighting within the Fire-Tamperers?"

"That possibility can't be ruled out... But I still feel something is wrong."

Chen Ling had provoked the killing intent of the Aurora City law enforcers, played the Fire-Tamperers for fools, and then this mysterious young man, who was at the center of the storm, had simply committed suicide... leaving them with endless mysteries.

Yan Xicai's expression was extremely ugly. He had thought that once he entered the Ancient Vault, he could kill Chen Ling to vent his anger, but he never expected that he would feel even worse instead...

"So, have Fire-Tamperers really infiltrated us?" He gritted his teeth and asked. "Who is it?!"

Everyone looked at each other, and a trace of wariness and hesitation appeared in their eyes as they looked at one another... According to Lu Xuanming's words just now, anyone around them could have been swapped by a Fire-Tamperer.

"If I remember correctly, that Chen Ling should have come on the same bus as the law enforcers from District 3, District 5, and District 6." Pu Wen seemed to have thought of something. "They add up to only eight people. If they were to be swapped on the way, they would be the most suitable candidates?"

Swish—

Everyone suddenly turned to look at No. 8 and the others.

"And they arrived a day early." A law enforcer from District 4 added. "They are very close to Winter Harbor, especially District 3. Think about it, there was no need to arrive a day early... Even if they were here for fun, it's too much of a coincidence that they happened to run into the law enforcers from District 5 and District 6 who were also here for fun!"

"Come to think of it, the conversation between that Chen Ling and their District 3 captain on the ship was also very strange..."

The hearts of the seven Fire-Tamperers grew more and more tense as the conversation continued. They could clearly feel the fear and suspicion in the gazes of the others as they looked at them, and then they quickly moved away from them. Some of them even showed killing intent.

Damn it... what is this all about?!

The seven Fire-Tamperers were now on the verge of tears.

They were honestly disguised in the law enforcer team, doing nothing, and suddenly their identities were about to be exposed... And with Chen Ling dead, all the clues were broken.

Seeing that their identities were about to be exposed, the few Fire-Tamperers exchanged glances, their expressions turning vicious.

Since they were about to be exposed, why not just kill them all?

Anyway, once they entered the Ancient Vault, no matter how much they slaughtered, the outside world wouldn't know... Although the number of people was ten times greater, the vast majority of the others were ordinary people, so it wouldn't be difficult to kill them.

"District 3 law enforcer Jiang Qin." Lu Xuanming crossed his arms and spoke slowly. "We need to verify the authenticity of your faces. Do you agree?"

Suspicion had already been created. If they didn't confirm the identities of this group from District 3, who could still practice in the Ancient Vault with peace of mind?

"How to verify?" No. 8 asked back.

"I've heard that when Fire-Tamperers steal faces, they just lay the flesh and blood of the other person on their own skin. If you let me cut open your face and see if there's another face underneath, it will naturally be verified."

All gun barrels were instantly turned to aim at the seven Fire-Tamperers.

Seeing this, No. 8's expression changed repeatedly. He was silent for a long time, took a deep breath...

And said viciously:

"Do it!!"

Things had reached this point, and even if they refused to be verified, it would be meaningless. Instead of that, they might as well take action directly and kill this bunch of meddlesome law enforcers!

As soon as these two words were spoken, the seven Fire-Tamperers changed their faces simultaneously, restoring their original appearances!

Everyone who witnessed this scene was shocked. They had almost been fooled by these few Fire-Tamperers... At the same time, they pulled the triggers without hesitation!

But the next moment, the guns in their hands disappeared into thin air and appeared in the hands of the seven Fire-Tamperers instead.

"A bunch of brats who haven't even grown their hair... I've been putting up with you for a long time!"

No. 8 spat, and the fire of the gunshots instantly illuminated the edge of the cliff!

A slaughter began.