Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!

Bai E's response undoubtedly instilled the highest confidence in every Thorn City official present.

The officials who had only heard scattered rumors gradually pieced together the origins of this esteemed figure who had come to aid them.

A portly man squeezed his way next to Bai E, cautiously asking, "May I ask, my lord, are you the City Lord of Blackwater City, Bai E?"

"Yes."

"I knew it!" The man was overjoyed. "I heard from the delegates returning from the championship that the leader who led his warriors to claim the regional championship for Blackwater City was none other than you, my lord. It was also under your sharp eyes that those Bugs disguised as warriors from Eternal Night City were exposed. To think that the aid arriving for our city would turn out to be you, my lord! It's truly Thorn City's blessing! May I ask how long you plan to stay here and whether you have any special requirements for daily living? We would gladly arrange for a palace to be built for you."

Bai E's gaze remained indifferent, dismissing the flattery and probing embedded in the man's words. "Having your people conduct the most stringent preparations and allowing me to inspect every resident in your city as quickly as possible—that would be the most responsible action toward the alliance. Aside from you, many other cities are also under threat from the Bug Race. I don't have the time to linger here too long, so there's no need to trouble yourselves."

Upon hearing this, the Thorn City officials exchanged glances—some joyful, some anxious.

Only the man Bai E had designated as the city's lord looked disheartened.

'As expected, what I feared from the very beginning has come to pass.'

'This esteemed lord is here solely to resolve the issue and not to truly support anyone to become Thorn City's City Lord. The one who stepped up first will inevitably be treated like a disposable pawn.'

Yet, in front of a man capable of single-handedly confronting both the Bug Race nests and the cities, no matter how reluctant he felt, he dared not utter even half a word in protest.

'Once he leaves, perhaps that will be the time I must flee for my life.'

As if sensing the man's thoughts, Bai E, who was striding into the city, glanced at him from the side and casually asked, "What's your name?"

The man immediately straightened up, stepping forward with excitement as he replied, "My lord, my name is Eugene!"

"Alright, I've noted it down. Later, I'll have some personnel from Blackwater City come and assist you in restoring Thorn City's order and economy. Do your best. Don't let the people of Thorn City down."

The man's face lit up with joy, "I will not fail your trust, my lord!"

"Hmm." Bai E nodded expressionlessly and took the lead, stepping into the city.

When it comes to matters involving the life and death of every individual, even the most bureaucratic cities must display their most resolute execution.

In less than half an hour, an orderly queue of Thorn City's citizens—dressed in their finest—had already formed before Bai E.

One glance was enough to tell that these people were the kin and close relatives of the city's officials. Upon learning that there might already be Bugs disguised among them, each person's greatest concern was, of course, for their family and friends.

Bai E had no interest in demanding equality for all at a time like this. In fact, it could even be said that gathering ordinary citizens might not be as fast nor as efficient as utilizing the officials' personal connections, which at least wouldn't waste time.

The method was the same as that used in Eternal Night City: groups of ten were assembled, each group spaced apart by a certain distance, and they passed in front of Bai E, one by one.

If none of the targets triggered a stronger reaction indicative of Bug Race imagery, they could be deemed safe.

For a city with a population ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions, the efficiency of inspecting ten individuals at a time was undeniably low.

In truth, Bai E hoped that, as in Eternal Night City, once news of the Bug-cleansing operation spread, those Bugs who knew they couldn't escape his eyes would choose to hide, rallying the remaining infiltrators for a desperate last stand.

Even as Bai E appeared inattentive, sitting there as though lost in thought, the officials—though aware this man was here to aid their city—couldn't help whispering among themselves with a mix of doubt and curiosity.

"Does the lord really not have any special detection tools? Something like X-rays or thermal imaging? After all, these Bugs are disguised so perfectly that even in day-to-day contact, we couldn't detect any irregularities. Can he really identify them just by looking?"

"Shh! Do you want to die?! Whatever the lord says is what it is! His eyes are the ultimate measure; just watch closely, and stop spouting nonsense!"

"I mean... I'm just curious. How could someone like him appear among humanity? Even the rumored War God from the Imperial City isn't one-tenth as formidable as him, right?"

If the Imperial City War God truly had the power to single-handedly fend off Bug nests, wouldn't the news have spread worldwide by now?

"What do you know? If you're so knowledgeable, why aren't you the War God yourself? Just sit tight and watch! Why so much idle chatter?"

"...Wait! Over there—the lord seems to be making a move!"

As they were talking, Bai E—who had appeared to be in a daze—suddenly narrowed his eyes and waved to stop a group of visibly uneasy individuals passing before him.

This was the first group of inspected people to be stopped. Both the individuals themselves and the Thorn City guards maintaining order were puzzled.

"My lord?"

Bai E didn't answer but calmly ordered, "You ten, step apart at a fixed distance and pass in front of me again!"

Many of the inspected individuals looked bewildered, instinctively glancing at Bai E before turning to the familiar Thorn City personnel nearby.