"Ah?"
The words stunned Bai Ye. Wasn't he supposed to attack?
The One-Eyed King said, "You are from the Bronze Tree, and you are the leader of my Bronze Tree."
Bai Ye paused, then nodded. He did seem to be part of the Bronze Tree now, having entered the Ghoul Containment Facility with them.
Thinking about it that way, the One-Eyed King's words seemed to make sense?
He really had no reason to attack them, did he?
The One-Eyed King glanced at Bai Ye again and said, "Follow me. The battle is not over yet."
After speaking, the One-Eyed King pierced the wall with his finger and climbed, quickly leaping upwards, landing on the upper-level skybridge. He used the skybridge for leverage, shattering it, and then continued to ascend.
In the blink of an eye, the One-Eyed King had vanished without a trace.
"Wait a minute!" Bai Ye suddenly came to his senses and exclaimed, "Does Little Master still care if he's from the Bronze Tree? The restricted zones are all gone!"
The great restricted zone in the Ghoul area was formed when all restricted zones in that area opened simultaneously.
In other words...
The great restricted zone had opened, meaning the so-called small restricted zones no longer existed.
The entire Ghoul area was now one massive restricted zone, and they had to leave before the time limit. There was also a limit on the number of people who could leave; otherwise, they would be eternally imprisoned within this area.
While not dead...
It was no different from being dead!
Even if alive, they couldn't leave this area. Everything in the World Battlefield would be irrelevant to them. They could only wait silently for the World Battlefield to conclude, and then their bones would rest here.
That felt worse than death.
After all, death was just death.
But to be alive like this, unable to do anything, the feeling of powerlessness was even more despairing.
So, in such a situation, why would Bai Ye care if he was part of the Bronze Tree or not?
He was going to run anyway!
Of course, if he could take down a few "big guys" and reap some benefits before fleeing, that would be even better.
Bai Ye finally confirmed he had been tricked, but it was also possible the One-Eyed King didn't intend to trick him. He genuinely considered Bai Ye one of his own. After all, the One-Eyed King didn't have the concept of restricted zones; he was a native.
Therefore, Bai Ye could only curse a couple of times about this misunderstanding and then spread his wings, flying rapidly upwards.
Soon, he reached the top floor of the Ghoul Containment Facility. Bai Ye retracted his wings and strode out of the building.
Indeed, there was no notification of the restricted zone mission completion. The restricted zone of the Ghoul Containment Facility no longer existed. Just as he had guessed, all the restricted zones in the Ghoul area had merged into a great restricted zone.
At the same time, he looked up into the distance.
Black smoke, flames!
As far as the eye could see, the entire city was engulfed in black smoke and flames. Vague sounds of shouting and killing came from all directions.
"I really don't know which bastard started this mess," Bai Ye cursed. "This is madness."
Although the great restricted zone was tempting, it was not the time for it to open.
Even with his current strength, which qualified him to experience the great restricted zone, Bai Ye didn't believe it was appropriate for it to open at this moment.
Because Bai Ye himself wasn't entirely confident he could fare well in such a restricted zone.
However, this also sparked a trace of doubt in Bai Ye.
Who had opened so many restricted zones simultaneously?
Coincidence?
That was impossible!
So many people happened to open their restricted zones at the same time? If it were one or two, it might be possible, but so many restricted zones happening by chance was absolutely impossible.
Therefore, Bai Ye dared to assert that someone had deliberately orchestrated this.
To be able to figure out all the restricted zones in the Ghoul area, and then to open them all, forming a great restricted zone...
Bai Ye couldn't help but smack his lips. "Is this person supremely confident in their strength? Believing they can fare well in the great restricted zone?"
...
Ghoul Area, Southwest Pedestrian Street.
Li Jia Yi was unaware that Bai Ye was pondering him. If he had known, he would have told Bai Ye that he was currently in a bit of trouble.
Great restricted zone?
If Li Jia Yi had known that opening all the restricted zones would lead to this situation, he wouldn't have done it even if he were beaten to death.
Li Jia Yi had only intended to open the restricted zones he had investigated, in sync with Bai Ye's Ghoul Containment Facility.
On one hand, it was to cut losses promptly, lest Bai Ye get mixed up with the Bronze Tree and stumble upon other restricted zones.
On the other hand, Li Jia Yi wanted to accelerate the progress of the Ghoul area and force the One-Eyed Owl out.
Yes, Li Jia Yi's target was the Bronze Tree.
But the reason Li Jia Yi was fixated on the Bronze Tree was its leader—the One-Eyed Owl.
"But..." Li Jia Yi showed a look of helplessness. "I didn't intend to push the progress of this area to this extent, and..."
Li Jia Yi looked up.
Standing before Li Jia Yi was a white-haired man in a white uniform, wearing glasses.
He looked very refined, but Li Jia Yi knew the man was anything but.
This was the man known as the "White Reaper."
The undefeated Special Class Ghoul Investigator—Kishou Arima!
This was also why Li Jia Yi felt he was in trouble.
This man was no easier to deal with than the One-Eyed Owl.
"Sigh!" Li Jia Yi watched Kishou Arima approach, carrying a case, and spread his hands. "Actually, my goal is the same as yours, the One-Eyed Owl. We can actually cooperate."
Kishou Arima ignored Li Jia Yi and focused his gaze behind him, on a bright red, centipede-like Rinkaku.
Li Jia Yi said, "Although I have this thing, I don't eat people. I'm not a typical ghoul."
"Quinque, Narukami!"
Kishou Arima directly raised his hand, and the case rapidly transformed, fitting onto Arima's arm and taking on the appearance of a cannon barrel.
Li Jia Yi quickly dodged to the side.
With a bang!
The lightning ball hit the ground, emitting a loud explosion and shattering a patch of it.
After the initial attack, Kishou Arima didn't stop. A new Quinque appeared in his left hand, a black umbrella.
However, soon, the black umbrella dissolved, flowing forward like mud, and suddenly transformed into black spikes, shooting directly at Li Jia Yi's face.
Clang!
Li Jia Yi's tail, which resembled a fox's tail behind him, split apart, forming nine tails that fanned out like a sector, blocking in front of Li Jia Yi.
After a crisp clang, Li Jia Yi leaped backward again.
"It seems you don't believe me," Li Jia Yi sighed. "In that case, there's nothing to be done. If I can't find the One-Eyed Owl, the legendary White Reaper will do. I'm also interested in the Quinque you wield."
As Li Jia Yi spoke, he suddenly made a hand seal.
"Domain Expansion..." Li Jia Yi's gaze deepened as he stated, "Unlimited Void!"