Pei Guang was counting heads while simultaneously making operational arrangements.
"Those with combat experience, come here. You'll do this and this…"
"The rest of you, do this and that…"
"Sampo… you're free to act however you want, but if you mess things up, I'll get mad~"
In a situation like this, most people might assume being singled out means suspicion, but for the Masked Fool, it meant something different entirely.
"Relax~ As long as the money's good, old Sampo can do anything~ Ehehe~"
Seeing the sleazy grin on Sampo's face, Pei Guang felt reassured. Although he hadn't interacted much with Sampo, just the fact that he was associated with Elation was enough for Pei Guang to trust that he'd do the job well.
After all, in the Memory World, Aha's competence was recognized by everyone. As for their ability to stir up trouble? Also world-renowned.
Sure, followers of an Aeon might sometimes act in totally unpredictable ways, but there was one good thing about those who followed Elation: if they promised something, they'd do it.
Whether or not you believe they actually did it, or whether the outcome matched the expectation—that's another story.
While Pei Guang was issuing instructions, Amos sent someone to eavesdrop on his plans. After listening in, the subordinate whispered into Amos' ear.
"Got the details. He's not just tagging walls, he's tossing trash around too. Seems like he's organizing a group to clash with the Cloud Knights!"
Amos sneered. "Heh, young people, falling for tiny benefits. Let him take the fall for us. Tell the others: once they make a move, we quietly bail."
Subordinate: "Boss~ what about the contract?"
As one of Amos' men, he had seen the whole process of Pei Guang signing the contract with Amos.
Amos replied, "I don't acknowledge it. What's he gonna do? Like I said, who would dare come ask the Annihilation Gang for money?"
Amos wasn't stupid. Anyone truly capable, upon hearing what he planned, would either arrest him or completely ignore him. Those who did show up? Bottom-feeders. And what, a dragon's gonna rise from among bottom-feeders?
Even if someone was capable, so what? Just bumping into a random stranger on the street—what are the odds they've got connections to the upper ranks of the Xianzhou? And even if they do, stirring up trouble in the Xianzhou is still a major crime, connections or not.
He believed everything was under his control. This "Ace" would be his pawn.
Not just Ace: his whole crew were pawns. As long as it brought him higher status, he'd do anything.
"If this works out, I'll get famous in the gang, and the other factions might finally give us some respect!"
As a follower of Nanook, the Aeon of Destruction, he even secretly hoped that stirring things up in Luofu might catch Nanook's attention.
And honestly, if he did manage to screw over Pei Guang, maybe he really would get a glimpse from Nanook. Unfortunately for him, he wouldn't get that chance.
Because the moment the operation started, he knew something was wrong.
He and his group began tagging graffiti, and Pei Guang's people joined in, also tagging walls and putting on what they claimed was a "protest" and "public denouncement."
He pulled out a spray can and gave it a shake, then pressed down—only to find nothing came out.
"Damn! Clogged?"
Thinking the nozzle was blocked, he instinctively looked at it. And sure enough, the paint sprayed out straight into Amos' face.
Pfft!
Red paint blasted right into his eyes.
"AAAAAARGH!!!!"
The moment it hit him, he cried out instinctively, "My eyes! My eyes!"
As he flailed around blindly, some bastard tossed a few smoke bombs into the middle of the group. As the smoke began to rise, the whole team descended into chaos.
Amos shouted, "What's going on?! What happened?!"
With his eyes covered in paint, his nose overwhelmed by the stench of smoke, and the air filled with screams and shrieks, he began to panic.
Just as he tried to flee in the confusion, he heard something flying toward him through the air.
"Hmph! A hidden weapon? Is that all?" Even though he couldn't see, his combat experience told him this object was moving slowly, easy to catch.
He reached out confidently through the smoke and caught the incoming "weapon" in one hand.
"You think you can use a hidden weapon on me? Try again in eight hundred years!!"
Amos was full of confidence… until he felt a soft, almost liquid-like texture in his hand. He had squeezed a little too hard, and whatever container had held the liquid broke apart.
As the fluid trickled down his hand, his mind went completely blank.
"BLEEEAAARGH!!!!"
It wasn't just him: everyone around began making the same retching noises.
Compared to those caught in the smoke, the people outside, led by Pei Guang, followed his instructions and offered their "special cuisine from the players."
As for how much of this food there was? Pei Guang could only say: more than enough. After all, the only real enemy they'd encountered on the way was Phantylia.
But in a way, he felt these people ought to feel honored: this food had been enjoyed even by a Lord Ravager, so shouldn't her followers get a taste too?
While the ones inside were vomiting, the personnel from Belobog and the Luofu, forming a perimeter under Pei Guang's command, silently watched the scene unfold.
As the silence stretched, Sampo was absolutely delighted. He had been the one who tampered with the spray cans, and the trash thrown at Amos—also him. Yet he generously gave the credit to Pei Guang and began shouting to the people around:
"Celebrate! Celebrate the great Trailblazer one! Let's all cheer up, come on, give me a smile~ Heh heh! As expected of the Trailblazer: someone like me wouldn't even be confident pulling off a sneak attack in this smoke, and yet you did it so effortlessly! Celebrate!"
As if in sync with Sampo's words, a chilling voice from Pei Guang rang out through the smoke. This smoke wasn't part of Pei Guang's original plan; his plan had been straightforward: one group to charge up front, another to provide support from the rear.
But once Sampo set off the smoke, Pei Guang immediately felt the moment had arrived.
And what moment was that? Obviously, to become a demon in the smoke—and go in for the grab.
"Fried fries incoming~~"
It sounded like such a normal phrase, but everyone listening from outside felt a chill run down their spines.
With that kitchen-like proclamation came the sounds of thudding and shrieking from within the smoke.
"Aaah!"
"Ahhh!!"
"Ahhhh~~~"
At this point, Pei Guang had completely become the demon in the smoke. He snuck through the haze, and whenever he encountered someone, he'd pull out his bone club and give them a good whack on the head—his patented form of "physical hypnosis."
Everyone who experienced it said it worked wonders!
If this were Belobog, Pei Guang wouldn't dare use physical hypnosis. After all, a single whack there could mean serious trouble. But here in the Luofu, especially within the Alchemy Commission's territory, you could knock someone out and treat them on the spot—guaranteed no aftereffects.
That said, some of the Annihilation Gang members had particularly thick skulls. If one whack didn't do it, it took two, sometimes three. This was why the screams sometimes came in quick succession.