Following the Crimson No.2, another exploration town underwent a mutation.

It was an exploration town connected to the Sun Abyss, named Sun No.1, a name that sounds somewhat like a nuclear fusion power station town.

When the mutation occurred, Sun No.1 was in the middle of the night, and suddenly, a light pierced through the darkness and slowly rose.

A sun, seemingly capable of roasting people alive, hung high in the night sky, turning Sun No.1 from night into day.

After that, people finally realized that after years of silence, the Abyss once again bared its claws towards Blue Star People.

So much so that everyone was in a state of panic, discussing whether the apocalypse was upon us.

The residents of Crimson No.2 discovered that Sun No.1 was also experiencing a mutation. Although somewhat unethical, they indeed breathed a sigh of relief.

The mutation of the Abyss was not just a problem for Crimson No.2, but a problem for the entire world.

The mutations in the Crimson Abyss and Sun Abyss were merely precursors to a much larger event; in reality, even more dangerous things were awaiting them.

The United Government lifted the network restrictions, allowing people to speak freely and discuss matters related to the 'apocalypse'.

Because they knew that the world would not end, only that Blue Star would undergo dramatic changes.

At this time, even the Abyssal Believers dared not touch a raw nerve with the United Government, so while people discussed the apocalypse, the Abyssal Believers were the quietest, with not a single one directly participating in the discussion.

The mutation of the Abyss prompted the United Government to intensify its suppression of the Abyssal Believers; this was the best time to strike against the Abyssal Believers.

Therefore, the Pension Association began targeting the Spiritual Spring She Family.

Due to She Wuyou's death and She Wuliang's embezzlement allegations, the market lost confidence in the She Family, and the stock prices of their companies fell rapidly.

Many retail investors and minor shareholders hurriedly sold off their shares, and the She Family hadn't had time to buy back stocks before they found someone was acquiring large amounts of their stocks, holding up the bottom.

The one making the move was naturally the retired Hunter Pension Association.

Of course, the Pension Association would not appear openly; they acquired shares of the She Family's companies through several shadow buyers and negotiated with shareholders who had no significant ties with the She Family, acquiring a large amount of equity from them.

In just three days, three companies under the She Family changed hands and became someone else's possessions.

The She Family noticed some clues but had no way to counter it.

This was nothing more than standard business tactics. Having exposed their weakness, it was certain that someone would take advantage of them.

Even if they conducted a thorough investigation, they wouldn't find evidence of the Pension Association's existence.

Because the Pension Association was merely an informal organization formed by a group of retired Hunters without a registered entity anywhere.

The She Family's in-depth investigation would only reveal that those companies were established by retired Hunters.

It is not uncommon for Hunters to become businessmen after retirement, especially with technological development routes stagnating. Now, if one wants to develop something new, they have to rely on materials from the Abyss, taking an alternative path.

Hunters often interact with materials dropped by Demons, perhaps understanding their properties better than some researchers.

New companies founded by retired Hunters naturally have certain advantages over traditional companies in developing new products.

She Wuliang's embezzlement of Death Hunter pensions would certainly provoke Hunters. Now with the She Family weakened, it would be strange if the companies founded by retired Hunters didn't get involved.

Most of the retired Hunters in Lingquan City are from the Crimson Abyss; they share some camaraderie, so it's not surprising they united against the She Family.

—Even so!

The She Family still felt something was off, but they couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong.

They could never have imagined that, as original Abyssal Believers, they should have been in the shadows, but the situation had reversed—their presence was exposed while the Pension Association was hidden in the dark.

With calculated tactics, the She Family was left disoriented.

However, the She Family's success and growth were not solely due to early advantages; they had some capabilities.

Yet, just as the She Family was preparing to regroup and withstand this trial, another She Family member was exposed for working for the Abyssal Believers.

Working for Abyssal Believers doesn't necessarily mean doing bad things, but participating in the 'Abyss Worship' certainly requires wrongdoing.

If you don't want others to know, you mustn't do it yourself.

Once done, traces will certainly be left behind.

Thus, a She Family member who had ordered the killing of some people while expanding for the She Family was exposed and brought to court.

The She Family didn't have time to respond when another member was dragged out.

With two family members facing legal action, the She Family had the resources to rescue only one. No matter whom they saved, it was an unacceptable dilemma for them.

What pained the She Family even more was that after these two She Family members were charged, their companies' stock prices plunged again, and some large shareholders not closely related to the She Family cashed out and left.

The Pension Association, along with their business friends, purchased a large number of stocks, encircling the She Family.

A hunting ground was formed, with the She Family as the sole prey.

Helplessly, the She Family could only sacrifice a pawn to protect the king, hoping to use connections through the city council to extricate themselves from this hunting ground.

They hadn't accounted for the Pension Association's influence in the city government.

Min Jinglan privately convened a small meeting of council members, where she made her stance clear.

"The She Family are people of the Abyssal Believers; they are the main culprits of the Abyssal Believers in Lingquan City. Eliminating the She Family would sever the connection between lower-level Abyssal Believers and their higher-ups, cleansing Lingquan City. I will not allow anyone to protect the She Family, because this is not just a business dispute, but an assault against the Abyssal Believers!"

With Min Jinglan making things explicit, there was nothing the other council members could do. Several members who initially intended to help the She Family quietly closed the online meeting room and blacklisted all contact with the She Family.

The She Family did not know what transpired within the city government; they only knew they were blacklisted by the council members.

It was only then that they realized—

Their identity as 'Abyssal Believers' had been exposed, turning this siege not just a business dispute, but an attack against the Abyssal Believers.

If that weren't the case, some council member would have secretly leaked information to them explaining what was happening and why they couldn't help, rather than blacklisting all contact outright.

Looking at the merchants besieging their assets, the She Family felt that each looked like someone from an anti-Abyssal Believer force.

Yet those retired Hunters... to be honest, they really didn't believe those retired Hunters were part of an anti-Abyssal Believer force.

Because those retired Hunters acted too brazenly, targeting their weaknesses from the start. If these retired Hunters were an anti-Abyssal Believer force, they should have remained hidden in the background, only striking mid-progress, without hitting too hard to avoid exposing themselves.

But if those retired Hunters weren't an anti-Abyssal Believer force… why were they connected with those who previously reported She Wuyou?

The family fortune couldn't be preserved; the She Family had no choice but to cut their losses and flee.

Abandoning the majority of their assets, the She Family retreated from Lingquan City in disgrace.

They could have stayed, honestly, but knowing that anti-Abyssal Believer forces were among those attacking them, staying would mean risking death.

Fleeing would at least preserve their lives, while staying could result in death. Anyone with sense would know what choice to make.

The She Family's retreat from Lingquan City marked a victory for the Pension Association; they had finally expelled the largest Abyssal Believer force from Lingquan City.

However, news that came back from three truck drivers transporting goods to the Elf World was somewhat distressing.

Yan Luo opposed their plan concerning the Elves and even offered the Lord of Gass City a way out.

Although the truck drivers brought back more things they hadn't anticipated, this outcome was still quite frustrating for them.

Here they were, exhausting themselves trying to clear his name, and Yan Luo was causing trouble in the Elf World?

What was this all about!

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