In the news, the names of the Freedom Alliance players were barely mentioned, even though this is the home ground of the Freedom Alliance.
However, the Alliance didn't actually agree to Chen Gu's proposal to arrange the next match as a one-on-two. When Houjou Kouji competed, Chen Gu was also present to watch.
The Freedom Alliance players are champions, so how could they not have a bit of fight in them? Right off the bat, they caught Houjou Kouji off guard, almost causing an upset.
Yet Houjou Kouji, trained meticulously by all the Ninth Power Levels of Star State, steadied his position and used his formidable strength to slowly turn the tide, ultimately ending the battle in just forty-five minutes.
Fans naturally compared the two matches: it seemed that Chen Gu's match had a clearer advantage.
Just as fans started to waver in their confidence in Houjou Kouji, during the post-match interview, Houjou Kouji suddenly dropped a bombshell: "I think after this match, Chen Gu should be quite disappointed. He advised my opponent, hoping my opponent would win—clearly to avoid meeting me in the final Beast Emperor Duel!"
Reporters were once again thrown into a frenzy, repeatedly questioning: "Are you saying Chen Gu advised the Freedom Alliance players to target you?"
"Of course!"
"Do you have evidence?"
"I do!" Houjou Kouji released a photo, showing Chen Gu conversing with the Freedom Alliance player, appearing as if Chen Gu was instructing the opponent!
"Boom!" The scene erupted, with reporters incessantly snapping photos and asking questions. Chen Gu was right behind the reporters, but he was just there to enjoy the spectacle, so he used the power of the Brain Domain Hacker, making himself invisible in everyone's consciousness, unnoticed by all.
Seeing that photo, Chen Gu was also shocked, recalling carefully that it was earlier this morning, when he happened to meet the Freedom Alliance player outside a training field at a holiday resort, and the photo was taken deliberately angled during a polite greeting.
It looked as though the player was truly listening to his teaching—in others' eyes, it seemed like he was secretly giving bad advice to Houjou Kouji's opponent.
Houjou Kouji followed up: "I believe my opponent's unexpected aggressive attack at the start was due to Chen Gu's strategic advice! Too bad, my opponent trusted the wrong person; Chen Gu's strategy was too basic and ineffective."
"Chen Gu did this because he's afraid to face me in the final showdown!"
Chen Gu stroked his chin; given his power level, if someone secretly followed and photographed him without him noticing, the person must be at least Ninth Power Level!
"Not even the principal, who lacks shame with their Ninth Power Level, would do something like this. So, the person taking photos must be tracking the Freedom Alliance player instead of me. Even so, they must be at least Seventh Power Level and either a Psychological Spy or Brain Domain Hacker type of professional."
"If they were of another profession, they'd need to be at least Eighth Power Level."
"Heh, Star State surely spared no expense!"
Because of Houjou Kouji's accusations, public opinion on Star Web gradually turned against Chen Gu. In fact, under the purposeful guidance of certain forces, a conspiracy theory emerged: Chen Gu's so-called 'Justice Iron Fist' persona is essentially a fraud, he's cunning—a sinister villain!
Chen Gu shook his head secretly; this is Star State's usual tactic; regardless of reason, they'll first seize the moral high ground.
If they can control the mainstream media of Star Sea, these methods work incredibly well, can invert black and white, ignore obvious facts, even blind the regular populace to only see what Star State wants them to see.
However, times have changed.
And in such a match, though Star State employs such manipulative tactics, what good does it do? The final victory in the Beast Emperor Duel still depends on everyone's genuine strength.
"From Star State's perspective, it seems useful." Qing Ruyan analyzed for Chen Gu: "If the competitors' strength is evenly matched, this kind of media smearing will impose heavy psychological pressure on the opponent."
"In short, it's about attacking your mindset."
Chen Gu suddenly understood where Star State went wrong: "Do they really think Houjou Kouji and I are evenly matched?"
"At least in the realm of monster battles, they believe Houjou Kouji is not inferior to you," Qing Ruyan supplemented. Then she gracefully smiled and said, "But we have ways to fight back; the key is whether the Alliance wants to support Houjou Kouji or you."
Chen Gu wondered: "What do you mean?"
Qing Ruyan said: "All the security of the entire holiday resort has already been taken over by a company hired by the Alliance. There are many monitoring devices around the resort; your encounter with the Freedom Alliance player must've been captured."
If the Alliance wants to support you, you can ask them for that surveillance footage, and they'll certainly provide it; if they want to support Houjou Kouji, they'll refuse you."
Feeling even more puzzled, Chen Gu scratched his cheek: "Star State can't figure this obvious flaw? Why would they still use such petty means against me?"
Qing Ruyan pursed her lips: "Because Star State is used to arrogance, they still think the Alliance will inevitably favor them."
Chen Gu nodded in understanding, considering Star State's behavior—it indeed appeared that way. Chen Gu got up, intending to call the president of the Alliance.
After finishing the call, Chen Gu told Qing Ruyan: "I'm going out for a quick trip."
Qing Ruyan asked: "For what?"
"To find the person secretly tracking the Freedom Alliance player." Chen Gu adjusted his garments: "Let him understand that secretly photographing an Eighth Power Level multi-professional is quite dangerous!"
Qing Ruyan suddenly realized that the person before her was no longer the little Bureau of Mystic Security employee from when they first met; he was a powerful Eighth Power Level existence, with the authority of a strong figure.
Those who dare to offend will pay a heavy price, even if the black hand comes from the Star State.
Milgray's eyes lit up, and she quickly stood up: "I'll go with you." Chen Gu nodded.
…
At Houjou Kouji's residence, the people from the Star State opened a bottle of good vintage red wine, having a party amidst laughter.
"This time, the war of public opinion was very clever. Chen Gu's mentality must have exploded, feeling as if the whole world misunderstood him, hahaha!"
The Ninth Power Level of the Star State didn't come either—the principal doesn't dare to come because he's done too many disgraceful things and fears being ambushed.
The Ninth Power Level of the Star State dared not come, fearing the disgraceful principal might ambush them.
Halfway through the joyous gathering, suddenly a secretary rushed in, sweating profusely, and said, "Check online quickly, we've been betrayed by the Alliance!"
Everyone hurried to look, and on the fan forum, a very unfamiliar account posted a surveillance video, fully showcasing Chen Gu's encounter with the Freedom Alliance's participant. From their conversation, it can be discerned that it was really just a normal exchange of greetings.
Although it wasn't officially released, everyone understood that this must have come from the Alliance, as the surveillance video was in the Alliance's hands.
The comments below were purely sarcastic: "I told you, let the bullet fly for a while, don't rush to opinions, and sure enough, there's a reversal."
"The person who took the photo was deliberately smearing [Justice Iron Fist], the angle was too sinister!"
"No need to think, just know it was arranged by Houjou Kouji."
"Sinister, but it fits the usual style of the Star State."
Houjou Kouji's face was gloomy, and a Star State official nearby "bang" crushed the document in his hand, angrily exclaimed, "The Alliance actually dares to be so biased towards Chen Gu!"
Typical Star State logic, as long as they don't accommodate us, they're biased towards the opponent!
The secretary asked, "What should we do now?"
"Get our people mobilized, set the tone on the fan forum, even if this surveillance video shows Chen Gu and the Freedom Alliance participant without any collusion, it doesn't prove they wouldn't conspire elsewhere, just haven't been captured on film."
This is sophistry, but those on the intergalactic network often don't use their brains, so there's still some market for this kind of rhetoric.
Star State is plotting a "counterattack," and it wasn't until the next morning that a Star State official suddenly remembered, "Where is Elton?"
The Seventh Energy Level Psychological Spy, Elton, was the one secretly tracking the Freedom Alliance participant and taking that photo.
Everyone was stunned for a moment, recalling carefully: "Last night we decided on the counterattack, and Elton just went back to his room on his own, and then no one seemed to have seen him again."
All present looked at each other, feeling chills down their spines.
"Quickly, go check Elton's room."
Everyone rushed to Elton's room; the Seventh Energy Level Psychological Spy lay serenely on the bed, hands placed before him, seemingly still asleep.
However, there were several high-energy level professionals present, all clearly sensing that there was no longer any life force on Elton.
"Who did this?!" someone asked in terror.
"Is it… the principal?"
"No." The face of the Eighth Energy Level present was extremely ugly: "The principal has been within the Confederation all along, that much is certain."
"It's… Chen Gu!"
In this villa, there was an Eighth Energy Level on duty, yet a Seventh Energy Level Psychological Spy was silently killed right nearby.
Even if the Eighth Energy Level wanted to kill Elton, it wouldn't be easy; at least the Eighth Energy Level present confessed that while they might be able to defeat and kill Elton, it was impossible to do so without alerting another Eighth Energy Level so close by.
Houjou Kouji was the most terrified; he always thought that even if he wasn't as good as Chen Gu, the gap wouldn't be that big. But now it seems… this gap is truly enormous.
Houjou Kouji found the situation ridiculous: he wanted to create a situation to mess with Chen Gu's mentality, but the final result is that Chen Gu has messed with his mentality!
…
Squads of soldiers poured in, but the mountain-defending line simply couldn't stop those terrifying bugs, watching as ground forces were continuously devoured. A rear official finally collapsed in fear, "Sir, we can't hold them, we must disclose the situation to the public and let them evacuate on their own…"
Sir Busby, the highest-ranking official of the Tystar, gazed into the sky where a huge invisible close-range attack ship had descended; the massive main cannon began charging, about to deliver a fatal blow to the bugs.
"No, not yet, [Beast Emperor's Decision] is ongoing, and we absolutely cannot let this leak out. The military's reinforcements have arrived, we can hold the line!"
