Pov: Vik
I am back in Azure mountain city, looking at my mansion from a distance of at least a few kilometers. It is now completely surrounded by police officers. The entire area is locked down.
This isn't a typical lockdown. I can sense some device or magic circle that prevents teleportation by stabilizing the space around that place.
Most of the people around the mansion are police officers with low cultivation, but a few wear high-grade military uniforms. Their cultivation levels range from Foundation establishment to Soul formation. This is surprising for a city like Azure mountain city, where the highest cultivation rank is Nascent soul.
After discussing my escape plans with the system, I returned to the city to see the current situation. I was shocked to discover that almost all the forces in the city are hunting for me. The mayor has personally requested backup, which could arrive at any moment. They also requested help from private guilds like Horizon guild. I doubt Louriel will come after me for money, but I still need to be cautious of other guilds and bounty hunters.
As I thought about this, I sensed a sudden shift in spiritual energy. I looked in that direction and was surprised to see another squad of twenty people arriving in front of my mansion. They wore pitch-black uniforms with "special task forces" written on their badges. The most surprising thing was their cultivation level; all of them were at Nascent soul realm, with the leader at Void traveling realm.
This could be a problem. As I contemplated this, the squad leader glanced in my direction as if he noticed me. Damn! I forgot to hide my spiritual energy. I panicked, realizing that nothing could be done; I had been caught because of my mistake. With only a few seconds to react, I prepared to fight the special forces.
But the system stopped me.
System: "Host, I have an idea to help you avoid this confrontation and escape."
Vik: "System, if you have a plan, tell me quickly. They could be here any second."
System: "Don't worry, host. Just follow my plan, and no one will notice you. You see that garbage dump on your left? Just hide there."
Vik: "No way, system! I'm not hiding in a garbage dump. Why don't I throw you in there and get a premium AI chatbot subscription?"
System: "Host, the choice is yours. You can hide in the garbage dump or stay here to fight innocent people doing their duty. They're trying to catch you, a criminal now in the whole city."
I really wanted to argue, but I had no choice. So, I made up my mind and hid in the garbage dump.
Soon, several short teleportations happened near me as the entire squad sensed something nearby. I heard footsteps and voices. Most of them were men, but a few were women. The leader, a stern man with a rough voice, instructed everyone to search carefully using their spiritual sense. They began scanning, but they couldn't detect me. I had hidden myself perfectly with minor illusions and masked my spiritual energy to blend in with the natural energy in the area.
After a few minutes, they returned to the mansion to search for more clues about me. Most of the police force was stationed there, trying to find information.
Before going back to Anonymous hall with my disciples, I had destroyed any defensive or offensive features the mansion had to make it look ordinary. Now, all the detectives were doing their best to find clues about me while I remained hidden in the garbage dump.
While I contemplated my life choices, the system's voice sounded in my ears.
System: "By the way, host, hiding in this garbage dump was a great choice; you could have also teleported back to Great fire forest using your power or Anonymous hall's features. That would have saved you from suffering here."
Hearing the system's voice, I realized I could have done that. It would have been smarter to teleport away from this place. This realization sparked a wave of anger in me. I said, "System! You suggested this plan, and now you're making a joke out of it!"
System: "Yes, host, but I think you have some connections or past-life relation with the garbage dump since you're still not getting out of it even after those people left a few minutes ago."
The system's comment made me realize an important fact: I was still hiding in the garbage dump. With a tinge of shame, I teleported out of it and reappeared at the borders of Azure mountain city.
There's a small river here that flows from the mountains straight toward the ocean on the southern side of the continent. I plan to follow that river to reach the ocean, where I can find a port city to buy a ship or cruiser. After securing a vessel, I'll teleport my disciples on board. I look forward to ocean adventures.
System: "Host, I still suggest going by air to shorten the travel time. Please don't let childish impulses take over your rational mind."
Vik: "System, what's with that childish impulses comment? You're the childish one. I'm completely rational!"
System: "Sure, you're a completely sane snake wanting to become a sea pirate to discover lost treasures."
The system is getting personal again. I said that as a joke. Sigh! I really think having an AI chatbot would be more helpful than this lunatic system.